Play date Pics

The boys hangin' out

NT pulling in Ben's bib and rolling over

holding hands?

Our boy has big feet!!

Ben in NT's Jumperoo

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

Our first play date

Ben and I went to visit a friend, Sandra, and her 5 month old for a play date yesterday. We had a great time (as Sandra and I always do). The boys are a bit young to do much interacting, but her son was having fun rolling over onto Ben. It was really nice to just sit and chat and talk about baby things from someone who is going through similar things.

I was able to weigh Ben, since they have a scale. He is now 13 lbs. 11 oz. Oh, and he is also able to wear a couple of 6 to 9 month outfits without looking like he is swimming in them.

Other updates....Ben is fighting naps. I have come to count on this time to get some stuff done, have some time free, and not have him in my arms. I think it may be the pre-teething that is making him uncomfortable. The only time he naps anymore is in my arms. He wakes within 5 minutes of being put down. He is also sitting, unsupported for 4 to 7 seconds. Not much, but quite good for his age. He is also regularly rolling to his side from his back, sucking on 3 fingers (on both hands, no choice of which 3 and sometimes from both hands at once), and playing with rattles and grasping them a bit.

We have some fun pictures from the play date, but no time to upload them now. They will be coming soon.

FMS update

Well, I wasn't completely positive about it until a friend who has trained to be a massage therapist gave me a massage, but, I am still in remission from the Fibro. It was very strange during the massage to realize there were no trigger points or tender points being aggravated. Today (the morning after), I'm not writhing in pain or more uncomfortable than I was before the massage.

Ben's doing well, nothing really to update on.

Tummy time

Ben has been resistant of tummy time often. We still encourage it, but don't force it. At Gymboree, there is tummy time each class with a mirror and seeing all the other babies. We have used a bolster to help him be able to hold up his head. and he has been comfortable doing this for increasingly longer times.

Today, while playing with Ben on the floor, I rolled him to his tummy and he lifted his head up better than I have ever seen him do without a bolster. YAY!!!

Ben Standing

3 months old and EC

Benjamin turned 3 months old on Monday. He is doing quite well. His pre-teething continues. We are getting lots of drooling, putting his hands in his mouth, and wanting to put our fingers in his mouth. He bites quite hard when given the chance. Ben has begun to be able to entertain himself for longer periods of time. He is playing with his hands and enjoys playing in his gym. A few days ago, Jeff and I were in the kitchen while he was playing in his gym on the floor and he made a complaining cry. When we came in to see what was the matter he smiled up at us and kicked the ball on his gym. It was very cute that he wanted us to pay attention to what he was doing. He has also been scooting himself across the floor a bit on his back when playing in his gym. We continue to enjoy Gymboree and are learning lots of fun things that we are able to do at home as well that help him with his development. He is beginning to hold his toys for short periods of time and bring them to his mouth to explore them. His smiles and giggles are such a reward everytime we play with him and he has started "talking" to us.

I have been interested in practicing EC since before Ben was born. For those who are unfamiliar with it, EC stands for Elimination Communication. Just as parents learn to read their baby's signs for sleep and hunger, they can also learn to read their baby's signs for needing to eliminate. In fact, most parents already know what some of these signs are, such as the straining facial expression or the telltale grunting and bearing down that precede a soiled diaper. Practicing Elimination Communication (EC) is just a matter of responding a little differently to these signals from your baby by taking your baby to the potty. To find out more about EC, you can check out the website Diaperfree Baby.

I did a lot of reading about EC and decided that we would take a laid back, part-time attitude towards it. My main goal is to help Ben be aware of his body functioning. It has taken me a few months to feel that we are really making progress. Ben rarely makes any sort of signal that he is going to eliminate, but I can often tell when he is going. Recently, a pattern has become apparent that has made a more conscious effort of EC an option. Ben also has become comfortable being held in a way that allows for us to practice EC more effectively. We have been able to make increasingly more catches each day and Ben smiles each time he is offered a "pottytunity" (any opportunity to potty the baby).

Each day offers new excitement and rewards.

Getting out and about

We've had an active few weeks. We are getting back in the hang of things and thus had Cat over for Shabbat dinner. We set up Ben's highchair, and although he is not able to sit unassisted as required by the instructions, we have worked it out.

That Saturday Ben and I went to a Girl's Lunch and Tea which was quite enjoyable. Lots of just hanging around having adult conversation.

Ben and I started going to Gymboree last Tuesday. He really seems to enjoy going and seeing the other babies. I like having somewhere to go twice a week. We also decided to brave going to a two day event in Bakersfield (about 2 hours away) over the weekend. This required me to get some sewing done for both Ben and myself. I started on Sunday and I managed to get an outfit mostly completed for me (finished the closures on site and still need to hem the skirt) and a shirt and had done for Ben. Getting the sewing done in a weeks time was a bit of a challenge. I managed to sew while Ben napped and a couple of times while he just hung out in his high chair or swing or on Jeff when he was around and awake. Friday, Cat was kind enough to watch Ben while I got my hair cut and then we decided to get together for Shabbat dinner. Cat was kind enough to offer up her home and cook a lovely meal. I got little sewing done there, but it was nice to have a break. We got home and Ben headed right to bed while I finished up what machine sewing I needed to do. I ended up staying up too late between sewing and packing getting to bed around 2 am. We got up around 5:45 so that we could hopefully be on the road by 6:30.
We carpooled and our rider was a bit late getting here on Saturday morning, so we had everything packed and ready to go once he arrived. We got on the road at 7 and made it to the site by 9. Knowing I had a baby who would be unlikely to sit quietly for any lengthy time, I spent most of the day in the lobby talking with friends and caring to Ben's needs. Unfortunately, it was quite warm and since the doors remained mostly open, the AC did little to help. By about 5, Ben was tired, overheated, and hadn't eaten well most of the afternoon, so we headed to check into the hotel. Ben then alternated between sleeping and eating for several hours while the 5 of us (Jeff, me, Eric, Cat and Kim who was visiting from MN) hung out in the room. We headed out to get some dinner. We got back and Ben was quite awake for a bit. He and I finally got to sleep around 11 while the others hung out in the room.
In the morning we got up and headed to breakfast and then to site. We joined Lyondomere for the day under their shade. Despite the heat (in the 90's) I was able to keep Ben cool by wetting his hat.

He slept and visited all day. We got to watch Jeff in each of his fights and he ultimately won the tournament. The day went longish and we didn't get on the road till 7:30. Jeff had to be at work by 11, so we knew we needed to get going on our 2 hour trip. We got packed up and on the road, but Ben was quite fussy. We ended up pulling off to get gas and try to get Ben comfortable. I fed him again, changed his diaper, and then put him in his car seat and wrapped a blanket around him so he felt swaddled. He was asleep before we even got onto the freeway again and slept until we were almost home. Once home he ate and went straight to bed while Jeff left for work and the rest of got some nourishment and then talked a bit.
Monday, I got some laundry done and then Ben and I went out around Long Beach with Kim. That evening we went out to dinner. Ben was not his usual happy self in the Moby and at dinner, so it was an interesting meal. We packed up Kim's stuff into the car after dinner, Jeff dropped Ben and I at home and then took Kim to the airport.
Yesterday Ben and I went to Gymboree, but otherwise stayed home choosing to skip the fighter practice we usually go to with Jeff.