My love for KD.

Or as some may know it, Mac N Cheese. I have a problem. It began when I was pregnant with J. I could eat a whole box in one sitting. The love affair continues now, but to a lesser extent. I usually only manage half a box for lunch (or 3/4 today). I know its bad for me. I know its not healthy. But I just can't help it. Mmmm.

Food...

I had no idea what to title this post, so I went with "food". J has started solids so I thought I'd start with that, but boy, do I have lots to talk about! 

So food. He's tried avocados, bananas, mum mums, green beans, broccoli, asparagus and cheese tortellini. Oh and apples, both cooked in applesauce and uncooked. I think that's it. He loves it all. I have a feeling he's going to be a big eater like his buddy L. We started a bit early because he was showing total signs of readiness and I knew it would be a while before he actually ate anything. I started just putting it on his high chair in front of him (he's been sitting with us for dinner since he was 3 months old). He went from ignoring it, to staring at it, to screaming at me to put it in his mouth to taking it from my hand and putting it in his mouth to picking it up himself and feeding himself! yay! He mostly plays, but he does eat a little bit. We decided to go with baby led weaning. A friend went through it with her little guy and he did awesome, so I read into it, have been reading the book, and I feel really good about it. My favourite part is that he feeds himself, he decides what to eat and how much and he sits with us while we eat. Oh, I forgot the part about him deciding when to cut down milk feeds. I will breast feed this child as long as he will let me! (unless he starts pulling my shirt down, making moo-ing noises, or grabbing my tata's in public).

What else is new? Swimming. Jack LOVES to swim. We spend this past weekend in Niagara falls. A had a conference so J and I tagged along for a vacation. We went swimming almost every day, and although it wasn't great for his ridiculously sensitive skin, he loved it! He would kick his legs and arms like a good little fish. It was incredible to watch. We tested out our new cloth swim diapers and I love them. Luckily, we didn't have any poop incidents. I don't think any swim diaper could hold breast milk poops in!

We also did a lot of walking in Niagara and I've learned my son LOVES people. Especially women. He will smile and grin at any woman who looks his way. He catches so many peoples attention. I feel like I'm pushing around a movie star in the stroller! I know he's cute, but man, it just never ends! We put his new sunglasses on him for a walk along the river and seriously, just about every person that walked by had some comment. Aww! Look! So cute! The baby has sunglasses on! I know its cute and I love the attention, but I think J is going to turn out like his Uncle R, who to my mom used to sing "You are so Vain". Oh well.

Next up? Work. I have to go back to work. I am dreading it. I think I am in denial. I go back in June. J will be a few days shy of 7 months. Its horrible. I'm so sad about it, but there's nothing I can do about it. It's best if I go back. I love my work, and I don't want to be away from it for too long. A will also be finished his PhD soon and then wants to move us all across the border to the US so I want to be working before the move. Gotta stay in the field. But I'm going to be a mess, at least for a week, if not longer. The good news about it is that my in-laws are moving in with us and watching J. There's no one better to care for J (other than me and A) than his grandparents. I'm glad I can go back to work and just miss him. Not worry that he's safe and well taken care of. He has so many "bad" habits, I know my MIL can deal with them. He still nurses to sleep, often. He eats and sleeps whenever he wants. There's some sort of schedule, but I don't make him stick to one. He does have routines though, bedtime, nap etc. 

I'm going to have to stop here. Talking about work is making me sad. A will beat me if I cry all over my laptop! 

Great Giveaway over at Mommy Kat and Kids!

There's a great motherease cloth diaper giveaway over at Mommy Kat and Kids!
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Thursday Thoughts...

I don't have a mommy group I go to on a regular basis. I have friends with babies. We get together, chat, hang out, but there's no big group. I'm sort of glad. In talking to a friend recently, there's some things bothering me.
First of all, why must some moms make other moms feel like what they're doing with their own child is wrong, just because they disagree? Every baby, every mom, every family, is different. Different babies have different needs. Some do better co-sleeping. Some do better in a crib in their own room. Some do better with purees and cereal. Some do better with baby led weaning. Some sleep through the night at a young age, some take over a year to sleep through the night. Why must we always be comparing our children to other children and our parenting styles to someone else's? Why can't we just say "I do what works for me. I am *insert child's name here* Mommy and I know what is best for him/her". Why can't we just accept that some people are going to do things differently. Some people are going to disagree with you and your parenting style. That doesn't make it wrong. Everyone does what works for them and that is what matters. If you have a healthy, happy, growing baby, then that is what matters. Who cares if he/she gets up 6 times a night when someone else's sleeps right through? As mothers, we need to trust our gut and do what is best for our child and our families, even if its not what works for someone else.
Secondly, listen to your baby. Really listen. Currently Jack wakes anywhere from 3-6 times a night. He used to wake once between 8pm and 7am. It sucks. I don't get much sleep. I don't like it. But I'm dealing. I'm making the best of it. He needs me. He needs me when he wakes, whether to eat (he eats just about every time he wakes, even if its an hour and a half later), to comfort, to cuddle, whatever it is, I believe he NEEDS me. His little brain is in overdrive right now, learning to roll, trying to learn to crawl, and if that makes him wake up and want me, his mommy, then so be it. I know there will come a day when I wish he would wake up so I can cuddle him. So I don't get angry, I don't make him cry it out, I don't get frustrated with him. I get my lazy butt out of bed and I go to him, and I tell him its okay, and I feed him and soothe him, and when he's asleep or almost asleep, I put him back down, even though I don't want to. Those night cuddles in the pitch dark and quiet are the best, as far as I'm concerned. He's so "go-go-go" during the day that its nice to have him sit still for 10 minutes and cuddle with me, even if he is asleep. So Mommy's - listen to your baby. They don't cry to bother you, to wake you when you have a big day ahead of you. They wake you because they NEED you.
Lastly, be supportive of each other. Being a mommy isn't always easy. It can be pretty darn difficult at times. We need our friends support. We need a shoulder to cry on. An ear to listen. Someone to tell us we are doing a great job and it WILL be okay. Don't be critical. Be supportive.

On a side note, I must send a major thank you to my mommy friends. You guys are wonderful. I have learned so much from you and you have been so incredibly supportive. I don't know how I would have made it through some days without your support. From the bottom of my heart - I love you guys.

Great Applecheeks Giveaway!

Applecheeks Giveaway

Yes, it is the first of April, but this giveaway is no joke!

  

Happy April, everyone! It's promising to be a bizarre one on the weather front with temperatures getting up around 25°C/77°F this weekend here in Montreal. But global warming concerns aside, we aren't complaining! I for one will be taking time to smell the crocuses this weekend, assuming I can get that close to the ground what this big belly cramping my style and all.

Though local outdoor pools won't be open for another two months or more, we know you're all gearing up for the summer swim season, so that is why this month's giveaway will be our new Washable Swim Diapers! WOOOHOOO!! Rock on SUMMER!!

For those of you who somehow missed it (because I know you all RELIGIOUSLY read everything I write, right?), here is my original post about our new, adorable Swim Diapers, which should be available for purchase from your local retailer in two weeks!

We will be giving away FOUR Washable Swim Diapers total, in the size and colour of your choice. Four winners will be picked at random from your comments on this blog entry.

Here's how to qualify. Each point will earn you one entry unless otherwise specified:

1. Make sure you're following me on Twitter.

2. Tweet this giveaway. One tweet per hour, please!

3. Follow my blog publicly.

4. Repost my post on YOUR blog.

5. Tell me your favourite of our two gorgeous colour choices (this will require you to read my other blog post as I'm not mentioning them here).

6. Subscribe to our mailing list. Note that this list is for our eStore customers and will keep you apprised of special offers. It is not updated very often, but when it is...it's worth subscribing to!

For those of you who would like to be kept up to date on other special AppleCheeks™ offers and updates, make sure you're follow us on Facebook! 

This contest will close on April 14, 2010, at midnight DST(EST). Any entries submitted after that point will not be accepted.