A Visit to Chicago

We just got back from a week in Chicago visiting Derek's parents.  Like our visit last March, Derek stayed in the city for the first few days for an exam seminar (next exam is in November).  Connor and I got to stay with his parents, and Derek joined us for the last couple days once his exam seminar ended.  It was a great trip.  Skype is nice, but in person is much better!

Connor did pretty good on the plane, but we were all ready to eat and enjoy the amazing fall weather.

Connor loved spending time with his Grandma and Grandpa.  

Grandma and Connor enjoyed lots of meal times together, and I LOVED having a break from the mess :)

Grandpa discovered one of Connor's favorite things to do

First time he had a "big boy bath" and it definitely took two of us because that kid is squirmy!

On our last day there, Connor got to celebrate Grandpa's birthday with him at Chick Fil A

We brought a mini DVD player in case we needed to distract or amuse Connor (we don't let him watch any TV or movies so we thought the novelty of it would help).  We should know our son by now.  All he needs is books.  As long as he can turn the pages, he could not be happier! 

The Fair

Last Thursday we went to the LA County Fair.  We went last year when I was very pregnant, and what I remember most is how much my feet hurt.  Silly me--I wore the worst shoes.  Note to self: do not wear thin sandals for hours of walking on concrete when 6 months pregnant and HUGE.  This year my feet were great and so was our little guy. 

Connor was a little unsure of the horses

He has a great view from up there!  No wonder he likes it so much!

Maybe this will make Connor NOT afraid of clowns (but aren't all kids (and adults) afraid of clowns?)

We didn't realize that a "small" corn dog was an option, so we got  this "mega" corn dog.  We were mean and let Connor get this close but didn't give him a bite.  He can have all the junk food he wants when he's a grown up! :)

Our family

It looks like Connor had a great time!

Testing

A couple weeks ago I took Connor in to see his pediatrician.  He wasn't due for another visit until his 9 month appointment, but I was concerned about his weight gain (or lack of weight gain) and didn't want to wait a whole month.  He had only gained a few ounces since the previous month.  He weighed in tall and skinny--28" and 15 lbs 9 oz.  The doctor wasn't too concerned, but he did offer to have tests done just to make sure there's nothing wrong that is causing his low weight gain.

We went back the next day and Connor had a blood and urine test and a chest x-ray.  It was so sad!  For the x-ray, he had to sit in this cylinder contraption with his arms straight up.  I couldn't stay in the room.  I'm so glad Derek was there.  I'm pretty sure getting his blood drawn was even less fun for our brave little boy.  I had to hold him on my lap while two medical people did their thing.  Apparently Connor was trying to kick his way free.  The man sitting in front of us holding his arm said he wished he had worn his cup that day.

After a few days of trying not to worry and struggling to trust God with the outcome, the tests came back completely normal.  He is perfectly fine!  I was relieved, and not just for these tests.  I have worried about Connor's weight since he was about 4 months old.  I've questioned my milk supply, stressed about how many minutes he nurses for, etc.  Now I know for sure: Connor is healthy, happy, and skinny! 

In the past two weeks since the tests, he has actually gained almost a pound (major attempts to fatten him up still underway).  While that is huge progress, it's even better knowing that whatever he gains or doesn't gain, he is just fine.

I just love this little guy!

Now I'm really going green

Today I will be gathering up my vast array of cleaning products and getting rid of them.  They will be replaced with some vinegar, baking soda, water, and squirt bottles.  What led me to this decision?  It's mostly due to the fact that I have a very dirty house right now and I've been reluctant to clean it because I don't want to fill the house with fumes.  My deep cleanings have gotten further and further apart since being pregnant and then having Connor.  It's so bad that Derek actually offered to clean the bathrooms the other day.  I'm a clean freak.  I can't have a dirty house!  So I did some research and discovered that it's very simple, cheap, and easy to make non-toxic cleaners.  

I am a little skeptical, especially because I'm a slightly OCD when it comes to cleanliness (although you couldn't tell by our home right now).  Will the counters and the floors REALLY get clean?  I guess it can't be worse than it currently is.  And it will be nice to know that Connor can gnaw on the coffee table without slurping up furniture polish at the same time.  We'll see how it goes!

My old household cleaning products

My new and improved household cleaning products

The verdict: The floors, toilet bowl, and counters sparkle! The mirrors streaked a lot, but I read that it's due to the film left from the other cleaners.  I need to use some rubbing alcohol to take it off and then the new cleaner will work wonderfully.

I was hoping it would get clean, but I didn't expect it to shine.  I'm convinced.  The vinegar and baking soda combo is my new favorite "all purpose cleaner".

Separation Anxiety

I've read that separation anxiety peaks between 7-9 months.  Maybe the "peak" has happened and it's all downhill from here (in a good way).  I really hope that it doesn't get any worse than it was last Sunday (screaming, getting paged after 5 minutes, more screaming, no church for me).  For Connor, it seems to have started at around 5 months, which is really early, right?  I wonder what it is that makes some babies do ok with it and others not.  All there is to do is just ride out the storm, because unlike my immediate reaction on Sunday, I cannot wait for 2 or 3 years to go to church again.

On Cloth Diapering

I'm not a big "green" person.  It's not that I don't care about the environment, but I admit it has never been something I give a whole lot of thought to one way or another.  So when Derek and I made the decision to go the cloth diaper route, I nodded and smiled when people commented on how "good for the environment" our decision was, but really, it was all about the money.  The money we would save.

I'm a saver.  I've gotten a kick out of budgeting and saving since I bought my first 10 speed black/hot pink bike for $100 when I was ten years old.  The thought of saving hundreds and hundreds of dollars over the next few years by NOT having to buy diapers really got me excited.

So we ordered them--all 24 of them.  Connor has had almost 7 months worth of diaper changes so far.  And now I understand why disposable diapers were invented...so that mothers who have 50 million things to do during a day can have one less thing on her list of things to do.

I'm referring to standing over a toilet and hoping that the glob of poop plops right in so as to avoid having to use the mini shower sprayer, which inevitably sprays way more than the oozing poopey diaper.  Then there's the hand "rinsing" of the diaper before putting it in a special bin where all the used diapers go.  And of course, the washing, and then the second round of washing, and the hang drying, and finally, the assembly, which now takes exactly 10 minutes for 12 diapers.  And after it's all said and done and the diapers are put away, there's a new batch of 12 that are ready for the wash.

I should at least mention that for a list person who sometimes adds things to the list that were accomplished before the list was made JUST SO I can cross something off, the revolving chore of cloth diapers is very stretching.  My task won't be done until my child is potty-trained.  But this is slightly off topic.

So what is more important to me?  Saving money or spending a little more time washing cloth diapers?  Hands down, it's saving money.  I've been in the cloth diaper trenches for a while now, but my moments of disgust and dread are far fewer than my moments of delight at the money we're saving.  Yes, it's a little more work with no end in sight (well, if we potty train at 2 years, we have 1 year, 5 months, and 1 week left), but it's worth it to me.  I would encourage anyone who's thinking about cloth diapering to know exactly what you're getting yourself into, and then go for it!

Connor sporting his cloth diaper

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Connor is almost 7 months old.  I can't believe it.  A year ago I was working, getting bigger by the minute, and researching products like strollers, cribs, and high chairs.  I would take walks twice a day on my breaks at work.  I always sang two songs to him: "Jesus Loves You" and "ABCs".  (By the way, his favorite song is The Itsy Bitsy Spider--how did that happen?)  I remember wondering if he could hear me.  I thought about what he would look like, what kind of personality he'd have, if he'd take after me or Derek more.  Now that little person is here and time is flying.

The first few months really did feel like time just slowed down.  Maybe it was the lack of sleep, the newness of everything, the infant who didn't smile or giggle or blow raspberries yet.  I loved almost every second of it, but I was a little anxious for him to get older.  Now I'm ready for him to stay this age.  I feel like 1st grade is right around the corner and then he'll be headed off to college and my little boy will be a grown-up.

A few months ago, I really didn't think that I'd be one of those moms who said, "Time is really flying.  He's growing up so fast."  I thought I'd be ready for one phase to end and another to begin.  I couldn't wait for the smile, the rolling over, the sitting.  Of course I still look forward to the next stages, but he'll never be 6.5 months old again.  It makes me want to go wake him up from his nap just so I can hold him and kiss his little cheeks.  I love when I remember to savor every moment.  I wish it happened more often.

Gotta love the off-centered, curly mohawk