(little) grrrl meets world

So long, and thanks for the mammaries

[title stolen from Dixie's infamous post, which I appreciate even more these days!]

As of this week — Emma is now weaned, ladies and (if any that read this space) gentlemen.

It’s been a baby-led process, mainly because I’m sappy enough to have wanted to keep her close to me forever. For the last month or so, the feedings have slowly started to get shorter and farther between, and she’s been taking a bottle more and more. I took advantage of the opportunity, and stopped pumping (yay!), and I think we’re at the point where Emma’s officially weaned. (now if only my burgeoning breasts would get the message!)

While I’m glad that my baby growing up and is starting to eat more regular food now, I’m also a bit sad that this transition is here. I was sharing these feelings with another mama friend of mine the other day, and she said something that really helped me feel better. She said that when babies self-wean, it’s because they feel loved enough to find their comfort in other relational ways. Hearing that helped me feel a bit better.

Though now, when I’m up at 4am to feed Emma (on the rare occasion she needs to eat), I know that I’ll be feeling the pain of having to wait on a bottle to warm up!

Au natural

(well, almost)

Emma was fussing like crazy the other night, so I took off her clothes to put on her ‘jamas, when all of a sudden she was laughing, talking, and having fun. I guess she needed her “naked time.”

Emma plays fetch

Her concentration while playing with the ball is hilarious!

Happy Thanksgiving (and early Christmas) holidays!

What, I’m only a couple of three weeks late in posting these pictures!

As peace offering, I give you not one, but TWO Animoto videos for your enjoyment. The first is for everyone, but the second is dedicated to my momma — it’s her favorite Christmas carol, after all!

The Flickr set with more photo-goodness is here.

First day away

Emma started going to her daycare home today — it was only for a couple hours, mainly to get her (and her mama!) used to going to another place during the day. As I told the babysitter, I’m not worried so much for Emma as I am for myself, getting used to being away from her during the day.

We know the babysitter through a friend, so I feel really confident and good about Emma staying with her during the day — and, thankfully, Emma’ll only have to go to this other house a couple days a week. With Jerry’s schedule, he’ll be able to spend some time with her during the days I teach. And, with my marking, I’ll be able to spend some of my office time working at home — which is also a good thing.

It’s hard to believe my year-long mat leave is almost over! I feel like I’m in this awkward holding pattern until January 2nd — I almost wish I could start working already, rather than have to wait for this leave to run out. Then again, I want to make the most of next three weeks I have at home.

[by the way, Emma's feeling much better now! Thanks for all your well wishes and calls.]

Early morning wake-up call

This morning at 4AM Emma woke up crying — I went into her room, and she then proceeded to throw up several times. Luckily I was conscious enough not to get any on me, and to position her so she wouldn’t make too much of a mess. But, man. If you thought it was pretty gross and uncomfortable when you yourself threw up, it’s even worse when a little one does. Yuck.

[by the way, the Thanksgiving pictures ARE indeed coming! Hopefully they'll be up before I start uploading the Christmas ones!]

"The carousel of time"

Becky with portrait, originally uploaded by Momma B.

(funny how that Joni Mitchell song is on as I look at these old pictures!)

So, do you think Emma looks a little like her mama?

While we were home, we had a chance to look at old pictures and scan them into picture files. For more embarrassing shots of me, check out my mom’s Flickr site. I’ll put up some more, soon.

We’re still around!

Sorry for the lack of posting here, folks.

Life’s been busy with baby, and usually I’m too busy running after a rapidly crawling Emma to sit down and blog about running after a rapidly crawling Emma.

I’ve got TONS of Thanksgiving visit pictures to post, but until then, I’ll put up the one picture Diva is dying for me to blog already (so she can safely post it on her own blog):

Here’s Emma with Santa!

The beautiful holiday dress was picked out by Uncle Andy! Some of you will be getting a copy of this in the mail, so act surprised when you see it.

Back soon, with more pictures and stories of our VA visit.

Emma rocks!

Poppa found Emma a new chair, just her size, today! She loved it.

Why don’tcha rub a little more salt in that wound?

Women who want to lose the extra weight gained in pregnancy should try to get more sleep:

[Researchers] found that mothers who slept five hours or less a day when their babies were six months old were three times more likely than more rested mothers to have kept on the extra weight at one year.

“We’ve known for some time that sleep deprivation is associated with weight gain and obesity in the general population, but this study shows that getting enough sleep — even just two hours more — may be as important as a healthy diet and exercise for new mothers to return to their pre-pregnancy weight,” said Erica Gunderson of Kaiser Permanente, which runs hospitals and clinics in California.

Emma’s sleeping has been horrible lately. Maybe that’s why I feel so fat? (it can’t be all the Chick-fil-A!)