10.28.2008

you forgot it in people

I sing the joys of motherhood. 
Today my son puked a mucous of half digested milk all over my neck and shoulder. Of course it was a clean shirt. Why do I try? He also landed some of it on his clean shirt. On my way to the bathroom I sneezed, and discovered my apparent incontinence - peeing myself just a bit. Oh, wonderful. Not only have I not had time to take a shower, but now I'm covered in puke and pee. Good thing it's just me, the baby, and the dog today. They don't care what I smell like. They're smellier, anyhow. 
Scott and I were debating whether or not to introduce Finn to a pacifier, but after his increase in fussiness, we decided to give it a try. I feel somewhat guilty, like I'm just trying to shut my kid up, but that's not the case. The pacifier is not taking away any of my attention or love from my child. After I've been holding him for an hour, and he's been fussing the entire hour, and when I try to put him down he escalates the fussing into the threat of crying, the pacifier becomes my friend. I put him down, just for a minute, to use the bathroom, and give him the pacifier. Lo and behold, he takes it, it soothes him in ways all my rocking, walking, bouncing, nursing, etc. cannot. He quiets, sucks it contentedly, and falls asleep in the time it takes me to use the bathroom. Eureka! Now I have time to scrub some dishes! Glorious. 
I'm not sure whether to try for a shower. So far I've managed to take one every day since his birth - I did not expect to maintain my cleanliness as a new parent, but I have succeeded so far. Today might break the record, though. But hey, if I forfeit my personal hygiene for the betterment of my family (dishes done, house tidied, baby taken care of, dog walked twice, perhaps some food cooked), then hey, it's a cause that's worth it. 
Now if I could just find an incredible recipe for whole wheat brownies. 

10.21.2008

littlest birds sing the sweetest songs

I know I should be napping . . . I'm tired and Finn's asleep right now, but I haven't written since he was born. He'll be a month old tomorrow, and I can't believe it! He's already looking so much bigger, and he's hitting developmental milestones like being able to hold his head up a little, and move it around, and turn to follow my voice or face. 
I'm holding up pretty well, getting more sleep than I had anticipated. He only wakes up twice a night to eat; the third time he wakes up is 5am, so I don't count that one. I swear he gave me his first intentional, eyes-crinkling up, full fledged smile this morning!!! It's the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. 
I am missing my other baby - baking. I've made cookies only once in the past month. I've got my eye on a pumpkin bar recipe I found on a food blog called Cookie Madness, and I plan on whipping that up as soon as possible, maybe tonight after Finn goes to bed. The thing is - Finn usually goes to bed around 9, and I'm usually ready for bed at that time, too. 
So I'm a stay at home mom now . . . it's not all bliss, but mostly. There is the fact that I haven't had time/free arms to vacuum in the past week, though I've been eyeing 
the carpet every day with more and more anticipation of vacuuming. The leaves are falling outside, which means we're tracking them inside the house. I'm not dying of boredom, I have plenty of books to read, and Finn is absolutely enchanting. I miss Scott when he's busy working or schooling, and when Finn gets fussy it's frustrating that I can't hand him to Scott for a break. But really, there's nothing to complain about. (Nothing about which to complain - my brain instantly corrects all sentences ending with prepositions) 

Here's some really good songs: 

"Wizard Flurry Home" by Mariee Sioux
"It's Only Me" by Elvis Perkins 
"True Love Will Find You In The End" by Beck 
"Master And Everyone" by Bonnie Prince Billy 
"The Littlest Birds" by Jolie Holland 
"I Felt Your Shape" by The Microphones 
"Make It Hot" by Mirah 
"Don't Be Upset" by Jeffrey & Jack Lewis 

and here's Finn at one month: