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    Home » Babies » Page 4

    Babies

    Baby Eating Part 1 (gear and strategy)

    August 17, 2016 by Lindsay 1 Comment

    I think, besides learning to smile, that teaching Beck about food and eating (and eventually cooking) is my favorite part of babylife so far. Of course, it's great because I love food so much, but making things for my daughter, having her enjoy them, and gain weight because of them? Quite satisfying, and entertaining to watch if you follow me on Instagram.IMG_9894

    Per our ped's recommendation, we didn't start any real food until 6 months old. There is some new research that suggests that straight milk (breast or formula) is healthier for babies for the first 6 months and can lead to lower instances of obesity and diabetes later in life. Sold. So we did that, and then added vegan foods at 6 months, little bits of dairy at 7 months, and will start yogurt and little bits of meat (maybe a little ground chicken mixed into veggies, etc) around 9 months. Honey and milk will be the last foods introduced at 12 months, and then Beck will start cooking for herself because I've had enough. Those recommendations for when to start new things are fluid, of course, but are in line with most reading I've done and what our doctor said, so that's why we've chosen those milestones....

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    About a Beck! 8 months.

    August 15, 2016 by Lindsay 1 Comment

    8 months and a week, if we're being honest.  I'm a bit behind.  But just like that, a big girl.20160811_122233-01

    I was looking at the pictures I took from this month of Beck, and I realized that the pretty quilt my mom made needs some adjustments to keep being the backdrop for our little photoshoots - Beck can sit up now! This month marks the first time that I was able to photograph her sitting, because it is the first time that she's been able to do so for more than 5 seconds. In the last few weeks, her little body has caught up with her big head and we have a full-on sitting up big girl. But she's still a baby, so work with me on that....

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    How Beck (quasi) Learned To Sleep (part 2 because I overshare)

    July 20, 2016 by Lindsay 1 Comment

    Ok, let's finish this boring story, take away a few lessons, and then get back to our growth spurts and unpredictable nights, ok?  Like I said, at about 4.5 months I started to fully lose it due to Beck not sleeping for more than 90 minutes at a time and barely napping unless I was holding her.  It was a nightmare, and since I was nursing all the time Jay couldn't do a ton to help her/me.  It's probably a good thing that he was sleeping through the night, though, because both of us being exhausted might have led us down a dark marriage road, amirite?  Someone needs to be able to handle exhaustion-related meltdowns, and it wasn't going to be me at that period.  

    20160713_093136-01.jpeg

    Babies need sleep during the day, and babies that aren't getting it aren't "different," they are simply exhausted and fussy and buttheads.  And, in my life, it really isn't feasible to have Beck take 3+ naps per day in my arms.  Sorry, kid.  My friend Eleanor read and executed The Sleepeasy Solution with great success in naps and nights after less than a week, so I was all I DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ JUST TEXT ME WHAT YOU DID.  So she did, because she is a better mother than me and a wonderful friend.  The plan involves timed checks, but the baby does cry until they go to sleep.  Naps don't involve letting them cry indefinitely, just for the amount of time a nap "should" be - 30 minutes, 60 minutes, kind of whatever you decide.  ...

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    How Beck (quasi) Learned To Sleep (part 1 because I overshare)

    July 18, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    Ok, you moms with kids who sleep through the night, prepare to howl with laughter.  20160609_082817-01

    Everyone else who is curious or having sleep problems, this one's for you.  I'm starting to think that sleep problems maybe are just....sleep situations in which your child doesn't sleep through the night.  It sounds nicer that way, right?  Anyway, this is our story.  

    In the last year or so I have read an exorbitant amount re: baby sleep.  When I was pregnant I couldn't sleep a lot and was super curious, and then when Beck was teeny and nursing all night I just wasn't that tired; my new-mom-adrenaline lasted for about 3 months, so I had 12 weeks of full nights to absorb information that may or may not ever work for my kid.  That's the winning bit of information - everything won't work for everyone.  I think that mostly, the super popular programs will work at some level for every kid if followed to the letter.  They might not be perfect, but change will occur.  That's the other piece of advice, though...gotta follow that ish to the letter.  And what I've come to believe is that it just isn't always possible to do that.  First, some parts of some plans might sound terrible to you.  They might not work for your kid.  They might not be possible for your schedule, or if you're sleeping in the same room, or whattheheckever.  So, a plan then "fails" because you don't do it exactly like the shiny book says and then you start to think that your kid will never ever sleep ever and whyyyyyyyyy god.  

    At least that's how I was.  

    ...

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    About a Beck! 7 months.

    July 14, 2016 by Lindsay 3 Comments

    My baby is 7 months.  wp-1468254942257.jpg

    I honestly still feel like she's a newborn, but then in five seconds she'll be a toddler.  Just as soon as she starts sitting up and then crawling and then pulling up and then walking.  Then she'll be a toddler!  So maybe we have a way to go.  

    ...

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    Postpartum Life at 6 Months

    June 15, 2016 by Lindsay 5 Comments

    20160609_083007-01

    So, on a normal day where I'm not working at the hospital, here is a snapshot of my day with Beck:  

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    About a Beck! 6 months.

    June 9, 2016 by Lindsay 1 Comment

    6 months.  20160609_082527-01

    Not even in all caps, there's so much gravity to this situation.  

    She's like a person, you know?  A really stinky person, I think she might need more than one bath per week.  

    ...

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    6 Month Baby Favorites

    June 8, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    In honor of Beck's 6 month birthday tomorrow, we're talking about her this week!wp-1465342761766.jpg

    As opposed to every other week, where we also talk about her.  It just feels right.  

    Baby gear might very well be my current favorite topic.  It's all so shiny and new and exciting and useful and useless and there. is. just. so. much. of. it.  I have to remind myself LOTS that African woman do not have a gazillion bouncy things or rattly things or colorful things to engage their children, they just treat them like humans and they fare pretty well.  I TRY to remind myself that, at least.  We were hugely lucky to get lots of hand-me-downs, so only a few of the things below are things we've actually purchased.  But, without further ado, here's what we love and use a ton!

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    Fathering at 6 Months {jay}

    June 7, 2016 by Lindsay 2 Comments

    wp-1465307198019.jpgI can’t tell if it’s better to be a Father or a Dad.  I guess they’re two different jobs that share multiple responsibilities.  I feel my fatherly duties will be to discipline, educate, and provide a roof over my daughter’s head.  My dad duties will be showing her how to make chocolate milk, make fart noises with her armpit, and how to tell believable white lie.  Being a good dad means trying to be the Cool Dad and being a good father means trying to raise a smart, well rounded, confident young lady.  Regardless of the job description, I’ve been doing it now for six months and I’m almost positive I haven’t fucked up my kid yet.  Yay for not raising a serial killer (However, Beck has recently started laughing in her sleep.  It’s cute now but that’s what insane folks do in the asylum.)....

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    Baby's First Car Wreck

    May 23, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    Woohoo Monday and a totaled car!  Well, sort of-ish.  20160518_132743-01.jpeg

    Let me cut to the chase with the important details:  Beck and I got rear-ended last week and we are totally fine.  

    ...

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    About a Beck! 5 months.

    May 9, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    It's here!  5 months.  20160509_094334-01

    It feels very grown up, right?  Like a real kid.  

    ...

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    Beck's First Flight (tell us how to do it)

    April 27, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    Guys we're going to NYC on Friday!PicMonkey Collage

    I found out I was pregnant the day after we got back from this trip last year, and this year Beck is coming with us!  We're super excited and also terribly unsure of ourselves because duh, first time parents and a 4 month old in a big city. We aren't scared of cities, which is a good thing.  ...

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    Exhaustion is Cumulative {a list}

    April 19, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    20160419_090035-01.jpeg

    When Beck was first born I was emailing my Varsity Vocals boss about some work stuff, maybe when Beck was 3 days old.  Beck was still sleeping long 3-5 hour stretches and wasn't terribly hungry, and I was still pretty well-rested and so happy to have my baby OUT, and I don't remember feeling very tired at all.  Amanda said to me "get off the computer and go rest.  exhaustion is cumulative, and you won't be able to get this time back."

    Truer words were never spoken, I'm sure of it.  

    ...

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    About a Beck! 4 months.

    April 11, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    FOUR MONTHS IS ONE THIRD OF ONE YEAR THANK YOU CAPTAIN OBVIOUS SEE I CAN DO MATH.  PicMonkey Collage

    Ok so here's my thing on the time flies thing.  It does and it doesn't.  I remember when I was pregnant thinking one second that 40 weeks was so long and the next second that omg we will never get everything done how do people DO this?  I feel exactly the same way now.  Mostly time is going fast, but sometimes I want crazy crying phases to end already and can you please learn English so we can effing communicate?  How hard IS it?  

    Hard at 4 months, obviously.  

    ...

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    Breastfeeding Gear Favs

    April 7, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    Another list of stuff to buy!  You're welcome.  20160308_103332-01

    I had such a good time yesterday talking about nursing Beck and how it's been for us so far, so thanks for indulging me in that one.  And now, as promised, gear!  I go back and forth on these posts because on the one hand I believe in not getting something specialized for every. little. thing.  BUT there are a few products that really make the whole experience better, so I try to keep the number of products I require to a minimum and make sure they're really good ones.  

    ...

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    Breastfeeding at 4 Months

    April 6, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    Alternate title:  Why new moms really shouldn't have to work.  20160308_103332-01

    I waited and waited to write about nursing because there's kind of a lot to say and also nothing to say.  It's just ... a thing we do, you know?  But, for better or for worse "choosing" to breastfeed is a hot topic in our culture, so here's my take.  

    ...

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    DIY Paper Crane Mobile

    March 22, 2016 by Lindsay 1 Comment

    I forgot Beck's ACTUAL favorite thing!20160209_095109-01

    It's this.  This mobile we made for her out of paper cranes while I was pregnant.  They match my tattoo, they're a symbol of peace and healing, and she loves it SO much.  

    ...

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    Beck's Fab Baby Gear - Nursery Edition!

    March 16, 2016 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

    Aaaand round two.  Other things we're loving + a little bit about Beck's Nursery.  I've mentioned before that we went super hard on the hand-me-downs for the nursery, nothing matches, rather, we tried to coordinate and kind of keep a vague theme going throughout.  20160315_155113-01.jpeg

    My biggest thing with all of our choices was that I really didn't want anything besides a crib that absolutely screamed nursery - I wanted everything to be able to grow with either Beck, other babies, or our house, and then I used little accents like the mobile to make the room feel like a baby room.  

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    Beck's Fav Baby Gear!

    March 15, 2016 by Lindsay 2 Comments

    OK SO.  wp-1451420725086.jpg

    If you've hung out with me for more than 5 seconds since I had Beck or, frankly, for months before I had her, you probably have some inkling of how obsessed I am with baby products.  Some hugely useful, some just super cute, some cool as all get-out.  I spent a ton of sleepless nights while pregnant researching all kinds of stuff, and our MO when registering was 1. get as much used stuff as we could, 2. save receipts for returns/exchanges, and 3. mid-range stuff that was really well-reviewed was our preference for new stuff.  

    Before we start, on registries:  We registered at Target, Amazon, and BuyBuyBaby.  This was for a few reasons.  Target is everywhere and everyone loves it, PLUS if we got anything that we really didn't like or couldn't use we could use the return store credit for regular stuff like toilet paper, which is kind of a nice baby gift.  Amazon has a great welcome-to-your-registry box that I really wanted AND a good completion discount, but we got exactly zero presents from that registry.  I can use the completion discount for up to a year, though, so at any moment I could add a bunch of older-baby stuff and order it for Beck.  BuyBuyBaby was a no-brainer when I found out that you can use Bed Bath & Beyond coupons there.  They also have a great welcome bag (so does Target!) and the store is just SO nice.  They always  have tons of stock in the store and the employees generally know what they're talking about.  BBB is far and away my favorite place to shop for baby stuff, and don't even get me STARTED on how much better it is than Baby's R Us BUT I think that might be a local thing, our Toys R Us and Babies R Us are in one big store and the employees are useless and it's just really awful, but that might not be the same everywhere, in fairness to the company.  

    Onto products!

    ...

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    About a Beck! 3 months.

    March 9, 2016 by Lindsay 1 Comment

    WHAT, THREE MONTHS!  That means we made it through the 4th trimester, homegirl is fully AWAKE, and we're like totally parenting experts and nothing can sway us.  20160308_113305-01

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH. 

    ...

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