Mister was officially 3 months old on December 2nd (also JTom’s birthday)! But because of how the weeks fell, he is 13 weeks old.
Sleeping
Max has been sleeping from about 7:15pm until 5:30-6:30am. Today (December 4th) I let him cry it out when he woke up at 5:20am. I went in and checked on him, calmed him down, then put him back in the crib and left the room. He cried and fussed on and off for about 30ish minutes. But he went back to sleep until 6:50am! So we have been CIO today. It’s not easy, but he is getting it. After his first nap he only cried (on and off) for 10 minutes before falling asleep. I am keeping one arm unswaddled, because he can use that hand to soothe himself if he needs to. (Oh yes, he is in love with his hands this week!) If it takes him longer to relax and fall asleep, I go in after 10 minutes, pick him up until he is calm, then place him back in the crib. I know today is pretty much going to mean very little sleep for him, but after a few days, he should be sleeping on his own. I think he is ready; I feel that way because when I try to get him down he struggles, wiggles, and fights me. He just can’t settle with me holding him as well anymore. So, I think it’s time he tries to settle himself. I will update at the end of the week on how it has gone.
*update*. It has been 3 days now and Mister is doing great with his day time sleep! We have rough patches through the day, but overall he is putting himself to sleep with very little crying or fussing. I watch him in the monitor, and he usually is just sucking in his hand, with his eye closed, while he rolls around some until he settles. He has been paci free for 3 days, and I think he is nursing better as a result.
Eating
He seems to be feeling better, reflux wise, so it looks like the dairy free is helping! One week of no dairy and he is like a different boy during the day. Looks like we have a dairy protein allergy. (I will make another post on that later).
Devleopment
Max is starting to try to raise his shoulders up, and he can do it pretty well. He rolls from his tummy to back easily and Lexie LOVES to watch him do it! He is already rocking/rolling onto is sides, and can almost make it to his tummy from his back! Im sure this will happen before the end of the month. I am still not sure if he is teething… I really want to say yes because of all the chewing and drooling (oh my!) but developmentally this is when babies’ saliva glands start producing more (it was part of evolution to help break down food/breastmilk as it changes with baby’s growth. Also to help build the stomach flora as baby grows bigger). And since that falls right in line with baby discovering his hands and enjoying chewing … I just don’t know! His gums have looked like he may be teething since the middle of October, and he started chewing in the middle of November … so we should have something happen by the end of this month if he is in fact teething. They do seem to be a bit more puffy and white there at the middle bottom, than the rest of his gums. So we will see.
Max is laughing, smiling, and starting to find his voice a lot! He is squealing some, especially when he is tired and ready for a nap, he starts really jabbering. He blows bubbles non stop and spit just flies every where! Lexie thinks this is a serious problem, “He’s dwooling, Mama. He’s dwooling!” She is so serious! It’s sweet.
Love Bug
Lexie has started napping again at home! We seem to have found her sweet spot during the day for tiredness, and now that those molars are in and she is no longer scared of going poopy in the potty, things are getting back to normal. But who knows how long that will last before we get more molars, or something else changes and throws her off for a while. Regardless, I will take any sleep she can get! =)
She’s enjoying gymnastics, and can do her bridge, straddle, pike and tuck. She really enjoyed the foam pit last week, and got brave enough to kick her leg up in the balance beam. It will be interesting to see what she does this week (tomorrow, Friday). We are doing Advent activities each day, and taking about Baby Jesus, Christmas, love, being kind, and God’s love for us. Sue Sue has given us some really great resources to use during the month of Advent. She has really enjoyed the Christmas stamps I got out.
She loves her daddy getting her up in the mornings, and doing her bed time routine at night. My favorite part about her being in a toddler bed now, is climbing in bed to snuggle with her when she wakes up! She makes me a spot, says “here, Mama, you need lovie.” and we snuggle. It’s wonderful! She walks around talking on her phone like a grown up (and Im never on the phone in front of her?), and loves to cook in her kitchen. Now she wants to play with Max all the time, which is basically just them laying on the floor together.
crafting
Prissy Pot Tots Shop- Upcoming Giveaway!
Hi everyone! I’m not sure if I have mentioned it or not, but I’ve been rather busy in my sewing corner- and now introducing my embroidery/applique/monogramming corner! I finally ordered the embroidery machine I have been wanting for so long.
I now have an Etsy shop set up and a Facebook page. I offer handmade dresses, tops, and now super cute, personalized toddler backpacks! Everything I make and sell can be personalized with applique, initial monogramming, or name embroidery; I also offer monogramming on items you already have. For instance, if you would like a TShirt, bag, jacket, etc personalized I can do that for you!
I am making a cute drawstring backpack for my mom now, for her to use in her classroom on fieldtrips. I will post pics when it is complete. We are piecing together baby Max’s bedding now, and I plan on monogramming his name in the center of the bumper pad, and the accessories (like his lovey, pillows, etc).
I am so excited, not just to have the machine, but to offer services to friends and others who would like professionalization of different things. Anyway, here is the link to the shop on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrissyPotTots?ref=si_shop
and here is the link to my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/PrissyPotTots
(open to US residents only in 48 contiguous states)
So Much Happening-life update
Wow- sorry I have been MIA lately. We’ve had a lot going on around here in the last 2 months, this month being so hectic!
As you read, we were all sick with stomach bugs last week. The weeks before that we were drowning in party preparations, chicken coops, and packing for a mini vacation. But, it looks like things will be a tiny bit more laid back in the weeks to come.
All my free time has been spent sewing! I finally got my sewing machine out after a ( …. 6 year?) hiatus, but didn’t start really enjoying it until the first of this month. I’ve been sewing Lexie some cute dresses and just finished some toddler bibs for a friend’s son’s birthday, which is this weekend! I got a serger for my re-found hobby! It is amazing- it’s this one: Janome Juno 3434D serger I can now have those really great-looking, professional seams on anything I create. And I can do rolled hems! I am very excited about that. I used the rolled hem on a ruffle top I made for Lexie, and it’s so pretty. Anyway, so I am excited about that. I have made her 3 dresses and a top, just in May. It’s rather addictive. I am currently working on dress #4 and plan to have it completed tonight or tomorrow at nap time. =)
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The chickens are doing great! The 5 Rhode Island Reds are such sweet baby girls. One is extremely feisty, and I think she runs the roost for them (Tessa). Also, I think maybe Dolly is a girl after all, but am still waiting for confirmation on that. 😉
Saturday I went to Bismarck and picked up three 12 week old barred rocks. We named the nicest one Elmo, the other two can be a little crabby towards the babies. They’re not far enough in age or so much bigger than the babies that they hurt them, but they do peck and chase them some. They’re still working out the pecking order, but there have been no injuries, so we’re good.
Yesterday, we hung them some cabbages to play with, and they’ve literally destroyed them. haha They’ve been having a big time. Chickens are like kids- when they get bored they start making trouble with they others (pecking, bullying, etc). So you can add things to their run, like cabbages, to keep them interested and busy. It’s funny to watch them boxing the cabbage.
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I am almost 26 weeks pregnant now- 26 weeks on Sunday. The baby has decided he likes my ribs as much as Lady did.
Perfect.
But we’ve been going to kettlebell classes twice a week and yoga on Wednesdays. Now that she will be done with school next week, I will probably go to yoga more often which I’m really excited about. The baby seems to like yoga; he shifts around and kicks a lot during the class.
We go to the doctor on the 6th for a regular appointment and my glucose test *blah* Then it’s appointment every 2 weeks until the last month. I just can’t believe we will be at 30 weeks so soon. Of course it still seems so far far away, but sometimes it is just flying by.
Kitchen Updo
I forgot to take before photos, nut we have officially hit the midway point of finishing the kitchen! … Walls. We got most all the paper off, J.Tom primed with the Zinsser shellac based primer which covers and seals all surfaces, and we are now ready to paint! We’ve taped everything off, and are about to add in the texture to the paint.
I chose a soft green color. Hopefully it will look nice, because we don’t really have the work time to do a sample, change our minds, go back to lows, etc. So, this is just what it’s going to be! After we paint, we are doing the counters. Hopefully that will go as well as painting up to this point.
The Zinser primer literally covered everything! One coat did it, and it dried in a split second; guess that’s because of the shellac. But it certainly is helping us, because we are able to maybe finish today. I’m thinking we may only get one coat one… But hopefully we can do two. I’m wearing a respirator for the few minutes that I’m in the middle of everything. I was gone wile he used the extremely strong primer. The paint shouldn’t be nearly as bad. Lexie is with her sue sue and papa, gone to Benton to visit Gran. So we have until about 6:00 to work. Jtoms run to alcohol, and I’m resting my feet, which are KILLING me this pregnancy. My ankles are already swollen, which is no good. Trying to drink lots of water, but it doesn’t help with the aching.
Wish us luck! We I’ll post pics when the painting is done. =)
Waldorf Dolls … I have fallen in love!
Okay, so if you are a never-ending researching Mama (or educator) like myself, you may have heard of the Waldorf Method. **UPDATE* I just found another, better link for the Waldorf Method information, click HERE to view it- it’s just amazing ….** In my mind it is based on nature and all things natural and fosters a love of learning and adventure. Children learn to do things with their hands like garden, work with fabric, paint, etc. The foundation of their educational philosophy is similar to other proven methods (which we in America see to have strayed from, btw)- children learn through play and use of their imagination. Here is an excerpt from the link above:
My fondest memories from my childhood are those of my brother and I running around the pastures and woods at my Memaw’s house, pretending. I would dress up in all sorts of spare fabrics my grandma had stashed for me. My absolute favorite piece was a super shiny, silk black with shimmery gold patterns on it. Interestingly, in my research on all things Waldorf, I learned that this method uses what Mamas call “silks”- large, soft, silky fabrics to enliven the imagination! They can become forts, dresses, blankets … anything a child wants!
Have I ever mentioned how GINORMIS my imagination was as a child? Wow .. I had a basket of flowers that acted as my chicken when I was Dorothy from Return to Oz. Weekly I dressed in my very best attire, hat and umbrella included, to rescue children as Mary Poppins, and my personal favorite- Jeremy and I stomping through the woods, BB guns and walking sticks in hand as Conan The Barbarian, or characters from the XMen comic books he so loved (I was always Jubilee or Storm).
Okay, back on topic. So, how did I come about this whole Waldorf thing? Long story short, the wonderful girl who made Lexie’s birthday outfit, also makes clothes for Waldorf dolls. I didn’t know that’s what they are called, but the minute I laid eyes on the absolute to-die-for yarns and colors of these dolls, I had to have one for Lexie (or me? … no no no. lexie…)
So, I did a little research on these unique dolls, with their very emotion neutral and simple faces they are very old fashioned and SO NOT CREEPY (yay). They have these soft chubby bodies made of 100% pure cotton for the skin and warm, carded and washed wool insides. This is so the doll picks up the smells of home and also become warm when snuggled and loved. Their hair is hand spun and dyed from different wools, all of which which is usually harvested by a local family to the doll maker, yes even today! Of course there are commercial versions of these dolls, but they lack the love, care, hard work, and detail of a real Waldorf style doll.
Can you tell I am in heaven? She had to have one… Due to the great, natural fabrics and high quality materials used to make Waldorf dolls, they do not come cheap.. fortunately for her, I put back a bit here and there for special Lexie gifts. You can have a Waldorf doll specially made for your child, but these are usually quite more pricey ($140+) than buying one ready for a home. There are makers on sites like Etsy, which is where Lexie’s new friend came from. When she is a bit older, and continues to show a love for dolls, I will get her a larger, more personalized doll (or maybe attempt making one myself?). But for now, this one screamed “Lexie Raye!” at me for several days until I finally decided to get it for her.
Her name is Shelby, which just seemed like a perfect little Southern name for my country bumpkin’s doll, and she is 11″. This is a small doll, as many of the Waldorf dolls are 13-18″. Can’t you just imagine toting her everywhere and playing with all that hair?! Aaah, having babies really does bring out the inner child in you.
Here is the description from her creator, Lemonsandlimesutah
Running update, pictures, and videos
| yes, that’s her leg. She finally passed out for her morning nap. |
| sweet girly face |
| those curls … |
| “duck” |
| “hi!” |
| silly face |
| pretty face- I promise I did not do this to her hair. |
| “help, please, mama” |
| playing with her farm |
Hooded Bath Towel Tutorial
-Meg

