No post, babies are fine but it feels like Fridays are getting longer and longer. Yesterday's massive snowfall didn't help but was so beautiful I'm pretty much over the inconvenience. Although I had to abandon my car at work and take the train home, best choice under the circumstances but a bit frustrating today. After a long day of work, I enjoyed a snow removal party.
Speaking of unplanned car activities, here's an optimistic post that was referenced one of my favorite blogs and I just needed to share it again. It really worked for me.
Have a great weekend.
Just imagine two cute babies waiting for some yummy rice cereal, they love it!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Big Snow Today
Propped Jackson and Tabitha up on the sofa to watch the snowfall today. Took an awesome photo of the two of them checking it out. They are so adorable!
Little Fingers
Jackson and Tabitha are doing great with their cereal! They really seem to enjoy it. This morning they were looking forward to it. I put them in their chairs and they both started smiling. Jackson began to smack his tongue and lips together. They both became a little giddy. It was adorable!
Roger and Sara were out last night, hence they were pretty exhausted and left late to work this morning. Roger loved watching someone else feed his babies. He didn't have to do anything, just enjoy them. I think he was as giddy as they were! And wonderfully enough not at all distracting. It was completely positive for ALL of us. He smartly took the opportunity to video them. They have really improved since my first feeding with them which came three days after Roger and Sara's first feeding, the babies first ever feeding. It is amazing how much they change in a few days. Tomorrow or Saturday they will start on another food, we're planning to do carrots. I LOVE carrots!!!
After solids we go upstairs, to their room, and drink bottles. Tabitha has started getting hers propped while I feed Jackson so neither of them has to wait. This isn't because waiting is bad but more that they have started eating and are hungry. It would be very frustrating for either of them to then just sit for twenty minutes while the other ate. She seems to be enjoying it and we're only doing it one time each day, after their cereal. She's also moving up to number three nipples. She's ready but Jackson doesn't seem to be interested. He gulps a bit then gets frustrated and then starts choking alternately with being annoyed. Whether it is on purpose or not he prefers the number twos and there's no need to rush him along.
When they are both finished I take my time and clean the last traces of cereal off their hands and faces. If you've ever fed a baby rice cereal you know how sticky, pasty and glue-like it can be. Then it dries all crusty and flakey. Somehow it gets EVERYWHERE even if you can only see it around their mouths, chin and cheeks. As diligent as you need to be to get it all off of their necks and faces, I love cleaning it off those little hands. Those little tiny fingers that have only been for fingerplays til now, suddenly are part of their meals. I find it exciting and special and nice. They lie on the changing table full-tummied and relaxed, looking happily up at me in their little food-coma way, while I gently clean their palms then in-between each finger. It is new and different but they just look up at me knowing I'll soon put them to bed, relaxed, full and clean.
What a great feeling.
Roger and Sara were out last night, hence they were pretty exhausted and left late to work this morning. Roger loved watching someone else feed his babies. He didn't have to do anything, just enjoy them. I think he was as giddy as they were! And wonderfully enough not at all distracting. It was completely positive for ALL of us. He smartly took the opportunity to video them. They have really improved since my first feeding with them which came three days after Roger and Sara's first feeding, the babies first ever feeding. It is amazing how much they change in a few days. Tomorrow or Saturday they will start on another food, we're planning to do carrots. I LOVE carrots!!!
After solids we go upstairs, to their room, and drink bottles. Tabitha has started getting hers propped while I feed Jackson so neither of them has to wait. This isn't because waiting is bad but more that they have started eating and are hungry. It would be very frustrating for either of them to then just sit for twenty minutes while the other ate. She seems to be enjoying it and we're only doing it one time each day, after their cereal. She's also moving up to number three nipples. She's ready but Jackson doesn't seem to be interested. He gulps a bit then gets frustrated and then starts choking alternately with being annoyed. Whether it is on purpose or not he prefers the number twos and there's no need to rush him along.
When they are both finished I take my time and clean the last traces of cereal off their hands and faces. If you've ever fed a baby rice cereal you know how sticky, pasty and glue-like it can be. Then it dries all crusty and flakey. Somehow it gets EVERYWHERE even if you can only see it around their mouths, chin and cheeks. As diligent as you need to be to get it all off of their necks and faces, I love cleaning it off those little hands. Those little tiny fingers that have only been for fingerplays til now, suddenly are part of their meals. I find it exciting and special and nice. They lie on the changing table full-tummied and relaxed, looking happily up at me in their little food-coma way, while I gently clean their palms then in-between each finger. It is new and different but they just look up at me knowing I'll soon put them to bed, relaxed, full and clean.
What a great feeling.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Walking & Talking
It was beautiful here today, all the way in the mid-forties! We had to get out for a walk! Despite Jackson's lack of nap and the amazing tummy-time that was occurring I hauled both of them downstairs, folded them into their coats, grabbed their hats and my coat, and headed outside. Mr Sleepy protested his hat venomously. He wanted me to get the stroller in motion and continue until he'd had his fill of stroller sleep. With warm ears we all enjoyed our walk.
Aside from the weather today's best news focused on laughter. This evening, instead of our regular sling-nap, I was helping an evening babysitter get them to bed and didn't see keeping them up late for her, for their parents is fine, but for a babysitter? nope. As I was saying, this evening I was playing with them, talking, reading, just enjoying some social time together, and I had them both laughing! They don't really laugh much, chuckle and smile but not laugh, unless you tickle them. Then on the rare occasion they have each giggled. But tonight, without ticking or actually touching them, I had them each laughing! It was AWESOME!
In less exciting news, I talked with Roger and Sara about Mondays and Tuesdays. It wasn't a planned thing and I didn't expect to do so. But when I arrived and Tabitha was having a terrible time getting back to sleep I just couldn't help myself. Par for the course, Sara was attentive and open to my suggestions. Roger was defensive and tried to convince me that they need less sleep and maybe they aren't sleeping because they aren't tired. Not long into the conversation he excused himself to get ready for work. I explained to Sara that this is as east as it gets for setting routines and expectations. They sleep through the night and can't really do anything yet. No rolling over. No pulling up. No words. Offering that I'm cognizant of how hard it is to hear them fuss and/or cry and that it must be 100x harder as their parents. But letting her know that in a few months typical cries can turn into pleading with specific names or titles. It will get so much tougher.
She mulled this over, paraphrased what I was getting at and asked,
"It gets harder if we don't figure this out. But if we can figure it out, it will get easier?"
She was so hopeful. And right on target.
"Absolutely."
It can and will get easier, if we can be consistent and show them what we expect, enjoy and love.
Aside from the weather today's best news focused on laughter. This evening, instead of our regular sling-nap, I was helping an evening babysitter get them to bed and didn't see keeping them up late for her, for their parents is fine, but for a babysitter? nope. As I was saying, this evening I was playing with them, talking, reading, just enjoying some social time together, and I had them both laughing! They don't really laugh much, chuckle and smile but not laugh, unless you tickle them. Then on the rare occasion they have each giggled. But tonight, without ticking or actually touching them, I had them each laughing! It was AWESOME!
In less exciting news, I talked with Roger and Sara about Mondays and Tuesdays. It wasn't a planned thing and I didn't expect to do so. But when I arrived and Tabitha was having a terrible time getting back to sleep I just couldn't help myself. Par for the course, Sara was attentive and open to my suggestions. Roger was defensive and tried to convince me that they need less sleep and maybe they aren't sleeping because they aren't tired. Not long into the conversation he excused himself to get ready for work. I explained to Sara that this is as east as it gets for setting routines and expectations. They sleep through the night and can't really do anything yet. No rolling over. No pulling up. No words. Offering that I'm cognizant of how hard it is to hear them fuss and/or cry and that it must be 100x harder as their parents. But letting her know that in a few months typical cries can turn into pleading with specific names or titles. It will get so much tougher.
She mulled this over, paraphrased what I was getting at and asked,
"It gets harder if we don't figure this out. But if we can figure it out, it will get easier?"
She was so hopeful. And right on target.
"Absolutely."
It can and will get easier, if we can be consistent and show them what we expect, enjoy and love.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Cranky.
Cranky. I am terribly cranky today. Mondays and Tuesdays are the most exhausting days of my week. They are spent starting over, yes, every.single.week. We just start over. It is so frustrating that 48 hours can usurp what I spend an entire week putting into homeostasis. I'm not working for dumb people. We have good conversations and when they are rational they completely agree with me. But then the weekends come or one of the babies fusses and their rationale dissipates. Where does it go? can their brains literally just deactivate?
These tomatoes came home from the hospital knowing how to eat and sleep. Now suddenly, at six months, they can't do either?
But wait! They can eat, if you hold them at the perfect angle, doing just the right motion using both of your hands, cooing, breathing at the perfect speed and giving it to them at just that perfect second of that one minute when they want it the most. You can't do that?! What's wrong with you? Aren't you a good nanny? This is what they NEED.
Can you imagine what that looks like for sleep? And Roger says they can't be overtired, they sleep all of the time. Yet whenever Monday comes they expect at least ten soothings during each sleep period. Seems like they are getting some seriously deep sleep on the weekends, they two opportunities they do get (opposed to four or five).
And here we are again. Starting over. Yes Tabitha, you can sleep. Roger and Sara said you slept the same time period over the weekend. Yet here you are yelling. You NEVER yell for them. And Jackson, you can't eat? It's the same formula, the same time, the same temperature, the same bibs, feeding location and you are hungry. But you just can't eat? Wow. It's just amazing how Mondays and Tuesdays ALWAYS mean lots of cranky, cranky people.
Listen. I know parenting is hard. I know this. I know that being a parent is completely different from being a nanny. Without question. And there's no instruction manual. But if you had someone you could ask for advice, someone you trusted, someone who had taken care of, say 55 children before yours, and she actually did what she was suggesting you do, wouldn't you listen to her? Honestly people, I go out of my way to make their lives as parents easier every day. They get an extra nap, that I hold them during, just because their parents want them to stay up later so they can have playtime every evening. And I do it, every evening. And I feed them, extra well so that if Jackson refuses to eat two bottles a day because they'd rather snuggle him than feed him, he'll still be gaining enough weight for his brain to grow. I make every bottle, wash every article of clothing, sheets, towels, set the schedule, follow the schedule, offer gentle suggestions and positive reinforcement, yet still, Mondays and Tuesdays happen. Every.single.week.we.start.over.
These tomatoes came home from the hospital knowing how to eat and sleep. Now suddenly, at six months, they can't do either?
But wait! They can eat, if you hold them at the perfect angle, doing just the right motion using both of your hands, cooing, breathing at the perfect speed and giving it to them at just that perfect second of that one minute when they want it the most. You can't do that?! What's wrong with you? Aren't you a good nanny? This is what they NEED.
Can you imagine what that looks like for sleep? And Roger says they can't be overtired, they sleep all of the time. Yet whenever Monday comes they expect at least ten soothings during each sleep period. Seems like they are getting some seriously deep sleep on the weekends, they two opportunities they do get (opposed to four or five).
And here we are again. Starting over. Yes Tabitha, you can sleep. Roger and Sara said you slept the same time period over the weekend. Yet here you are yelling. You NEVER yell for them. And Jackson, you can't eat? It's the same formula, the same time, the same temperature, the same bibs, feeding location and you are hungry. But you just can't eat? Wow. It's just amazing how Mondays and Tuesdays ALWAYS mean lots of cranky, cranky people.
Listen. I know parenting is hard. I know this. I know that being a parent is completely different from being a nanny. Without question. And there's no instruction manual. But if you had someone you could ask for advice, someone you trusted, someone who had taken care of, say 55 children before yours, and she actually did what she was suggesting you do, wouldn't you listen to her? Honestly people, I go out of my way to make their lives as parents easier every day. They get an extra nap, that I hold them during, just because their parents want them to stay up later so they can have playtime every evening. And I do it, every evening. And I feed them, extra well so that if Jackson refuses to eat two bottles a day because they'd rather snuggle him than feed him, he'll still be gaining enough weight for his brain to grow. I make every bottle, wash every article of clothing, sheets, towels, set the schedule, follow the schedule, offer gentle suggestions and positive reinforcement, yet still, Mondays and Tuesdays happen. Every.single.week.we.start.over.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Solids
This past weekend brought Jackson and Tabitha's introduction to solid foods. Both the pediatrician and the GI encouraged Roger and Sara to begin solids. Being new parents with that new-parent-need-for-firsts, kind of like that new-car-smell but it lasts longer, they were jumping out of their pants to get started. Okay, not really but pretty close.
They asked me about which cereal to buy. Personally I think it's all pretty much the same and parents choose based on availability, cost or organic content. I told them this, told them which fell under each category and waited for more questions. None followed. They returned from work with a large box of rice cereal, the kind that falls under the easiest to find or availability category.
Before I left on Friday, they asked about actually giving the babies the cereal. I explained that there is a recipe on the box for their first time. For time of day I suggested earlier in the day because they tend to be more tolerant, have more energy and there's more time left in the day if they do it for the 10am or breakfast feeding. When to do it in regards to the bottle also came up. As with time of day and type of cereal, this is an individual choice, based on babies preferences as well as parents or caregivers. Some infants eat their solids and then refuse their 'milk.' Caregivers for these children switch the solids to after the milk to keep their milk intake constant, later their can be another switch when families are ready to wean off bottles. I suggested they do half the bottle, offer some food because Tabitha can get very demanding and cranky when she's hungry, then offer the remainder of the bottle. Kind of a gentle introduction/best of both worlds suggestion.
On Saturday Roger and Sara put together the highchairs. Then Jackson and Tabitha had their first taste of cereal from a spoon. Roger and Sara took pictures and sent one of each to me just after the tomatoes ate. Aren't they thoughtful?!
Both tomatoes were interested but didn't take very much. Again on Sunday they had cereal before the 10am bottle. Roger and Sara said their quantities weren't affected at all because they ate such a small amount of cereal. Although they both seemed to enjoy it.
After packing this morning Auntie Laverne and Auntie Shirley were thrilled to be the ones to feed Jackson and Tabitha their cereal. I probably made it just a tiny bit thicker than Roger and Sara had, based on the positive response they said there had been. Auntie Laverne seemed to be having a much easier time with Jackson than Auntie Shirley was having with Tabitha. I encouraged them to trade, for pictures of course, and was able to reinforce Auntie Shirley at the appropriate moments until she and Jackson reached a rhythm that worked for both of them. Both babies (and aunties!) finished the two tablespoons I offered them. It was nicely done and the aunties took the tomatoes upstairs for bottles. Neither ate as much as usual but both did fine. I'm looking forward to my opportunity to feed them tomorrow.
Their sleep is still off, but I didn't hear of Tabitha starting any late night parties over the weekend. I'll ask specifically this evening when I reinforce and compliment Roger and Sara on taking their big outing of the weekend AFTER Jackson and Tabitha's big nap - rather than DURING. If this could be the norm you'd hear from a much happier Samara on Mondays and Tuesdays!
They asked me about which cereal to buy. Personally I think it's all pretty much the same and parents choose based on availability, cost or organic content. I told them this, told them which fell under each category and waited for more questions. None followed. They returned from work with a large box of rice cereal, the kind that falls under the easiest to find or availability category.
Before I left on Friday, they asked about actually giving the babies the cereal. I explained that there is a recipe on the box for their first time. For time of day I suggested earlier in the day because they tend to be more tolerant, have more energy and there's more time left in the day if they do it for the 10am or breakfast feeding. When to do it in regards to the bottle also came up. As with time of day and type of cereal, this is an individual choice, based on babies preferences as well as parents or caregivers. Some infants eat their solids and then refuse their 'milk.' Caregivers for these children switch the solids to after the milk to keep their milk intake constant, later their can be another switch when families are ready to wean off bottles. I suggested they do half the bottle, offer some food because Tabitha can get very demanding and cranky when she's hungry, then offer the remainder of the bottle. Kind of a gentle introduction/best of both worlds suggestion.
On Saturday Roger and Sara put together the highchairs. Then Jackson and Tabitha had their first taste of cereal from a spoon. Roger and Sara took pictures and sent one of each to me just after the tomatoes ate. Aren't they thoughtful?!
Both tomatoes were interested but didn't take very much. Again on Sunday they had cereal before the 10am bottle. Roger and Sara said their quantities weren't affected at all because they ate such a small amount of cereal. Although they both seemed to enjoy it.
After packing this morning Auntie Laverne and Auntie Shirley were thrilled to be the ones to feed Jackson and Tabitha their cereal. I probably made it just a tiny bit thicker than Roger and Sara had, based on the positive response they said there had been. Auntie Laverne seemed to be having a much easier time with Jackson than Auntie Shirley was having with Tabitha. I encouraged them to trade, for pictures of course, and was able to reinforce Auntie Shirley at the appropriate moments until she and Jackson reached a rhythm that worked for both of them. Both babies (and aunties!) finished the two tablespoons I offered them. It was nicely done and the aunties took the tomatoes upstairs for bottles. Neither ate as much as usual but both did fine. I'm looking forward to my opportunity to feed them tomorrow.
Their sleep is still off, but I didn't hear of Tabitha starting any late night parties over the weekend. I'll ask specifically this evening when I reinforce and compliment Roger and Sara on taking their big outing of the weekend AFTER Jackson and Tabitha's big nap - rather than DURING. If this could be the norm you'd hear from a much happier Samara on Mondays and Tuesdays!
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