Monthly Archives: July 2010

Something Clicked In His Head

Posted on by
1

That’s the only explanation I can come up with for the magical change we have experienced in Micah’s bedtime routine this past week.

It all started last week when he decided one night that I wasn’t going to leave his room. Ever.

Per our usual routine, I changed his diaper, took him upstairs and found his pacifier, put on his t-shirt (summer jammies) and tucked him in. I nursed him and as soon as he was asleep I popped the binkie in his mouth.  Now normally, he would remain asleep and I would slip out undetected. (Though it was a little time consuming, it worked for us. I enjoyed the relaxation and he enjoyed the cuddling. ) But this time, I had barely sat up and he let out a shriek and immediately tried to get up and grab me. I couldn’t get out the door without him following me. So, I quickly plopped him back in bed and told him daddy was going to come back if he got out again. I ran out the door and shut it. I didn’t even get halfway down the stairs and I heard him slam his little body into his door, howling and carrying on. Eric was downstairs listening to the whole thing.

This is exactly what daddies are for, don’t you know?

Eric went upstairs, and in a very matter-of-fact tone, told Mr. Micah to go “night-night” and plopped him back in bed, again. Twice. He left the room, we heard a giant scream, and then… nothing. He went to sleep.

The second night, it played out the same way.

The third night, Eric wasn’t home at bedtime. I was nervous, but I was determined to copy Eric’s technique. As I expected, Micah shrieked and carried on when I got up, but I put him back down, tucked him in and said, “night night Micah.” I walked out like it was no big deal and shut the door. Then I heard nothing. Nothing! He simply went to sleep. By himself!

Then we went camping for the weekend. I forgot the binkie, which added a whole new level of stress to bedtime. We made it through, but not without tears. I think binkie withdrawal over the weekend made Micah really appreciate the binkie when we got home. I could have continued to not give it to him, but I changed my mind. I don’t think he is ready to go without the binkie at bedtime. I will let him have it a little bit longer. Frankly, I have bigger things to worry about than whether he sucks on a piece of silicone at night. For now, the binkie means bedtime. It is his cue, and it has taken on magical properties. I’m reluctant to give it up just yet.

For the past two days, all I have to do is give Micah his binkie and tuck him in, and he will go to sleep on his own. It’s like the twilight zone. Did I come back from the camping trip with a different baby? Micah has always been a very high needs baby. For him to go to sleep this easy is just plain weird. I love it, not going to lie, but it’s still very weird. Tonight, I didn’t even know where Eric had put Micah’s binkie, so I asked Micah and he pointed to it up on the shelf. He happily popped it in his mouth when I gave it to him and jumped in bed by himself. I turned off the lights, pulled his blanket up to his neck and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. “Night night, Micah!” I said happily as I closed his bedroom door. Downstairs I heard him talking to himself a little bit, but after a few minutes he was silent.

I think Micah developed a new awareness of himself and his surroundings that no longer allowed him to be so easily lulled to sleep. Before, going to sleep was something that just sort of happened to Micah. I made it easy for him by tiring him out and then soothing him to sleep. But now, all of a sudden, he needed to actively fall asleep. He needed to do what everyone else takes for granted: block out distractions, close his eyes, lie still and fall asleep. I could hold him still but I couldn’t put that busy toddler mind to rest. If anything, my presence was keeping him up. He would get so close to sleep, and when I would try to leave he would get mad because he wasn’t there yet. I think repeating “night night” over and over as a command finally clued him in that it was something he needed to do himself.  Something clicked. Once he figured it out, he was a happier kid. Now he tells me when he wants to go to sleep and it is much easier for us both. I also think restricting binkie usage to bedtime helped a lot because he associates the binkie with sleeping now. Popping it in his mouth lets him know it’s bedtime and it might even make him sleepy, who knows? Eventually we’ll transition the cue from the binkie to something else like a toy.

I have a lot more free time on my hands now that bedtime takes 2 minutes instead of 20-30. Phew! I wonder what the next big parenting challenge will be…

Wedding: Amber and Peter

Posted on by
2

I just finished editing Amber and Peter’s wedding photos and I am so thrilled with the results. I cannot wait to get these photos in their hands. When I was narrowing down my favorites to share here, I couldn’t pick any fewer than thirty-six. There are a few that give me the chills every time I look at them, because they remind me of newlywed bliss and how much I love weddings, romance, and the dark haired stud muffin who is sitting on the couch next to me (watching the entire first season of Lost, I might add.)

Getting Ready

The Bride

The Wedding

After the Ceremony

At the Reception

More Fireworks Photos

Posted on by
Reply

We got to see fireworks twice this year! The second night, on the 4th, we went to go see Rockford’s Sky Concert. This fireworks display is big by anyone’s standard. It is set to music, which you can listen to by tuning in with a radio. We brought our boom box, but ended up leaving it in the stroller because someone else already had their radio blasting. The best part about the show this year was the view. We watched it from the roof of the building where Eric works, which is eleven stories high. It was amazing and I reveled in the chance to get some unique photos of the fireworks. There were only a few dozen people on the roof, but we could see hundreds down below.

It seemed like everyone came out for the fireworks downtown. The streets were crowded with unusual and eccentric people. Crowd watching became a spectator sport as we sat in the car at a red light. What is with neon fishnet tights? Pants on the ground? (Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground!) Sunglasses at night? The outfits on some folks were as bright as the fireworks themselves. We live in an interesting city, to say the least.

Some guy on the roof asked me if he could see my camera? Heckno-Techno! I told him it was my baby. He just wanted to see what kind of zoom I had. I only had my 18-55, nothing special. Eric kept an eye on him, convinced by his behavior that he was high. He seemed harmless enough. He seemed strange enough, too. All I know is he smelled weird. Here’s some life advice for you: never give your camera to someone you don’t know, especially if they stink.

After ten minutes of snapping pictures, I realized I wasn’t going to get anything new, so I packed away the camera and enjoyed the rest of the 30 minute show with Eric and Micah. Micah was strapped into his stroller and he had a cup of cereal to snack on. He continued to shove cereal into his mouth, but never took his eyes off the display unless it was to look at me and laugh. He thoroughly loved every second of it. When it was over, he saw everyone clapping and joined in.

It didn’t take long for him to pass out in the car on the way home. When I took him out of his seat and carried him upstairs, he never woke up. He slept in his clothes until morning, and the next day he took a 3 1/2 hour nap.  That’s what happens when you keep a little guy up until 10:30pm ~

Micah’s Apple Cinnamon Bran Pancakes

Posted on by
Reply

When I first found out about Micah’s food allergies, I thought I had to buy special mixes for baked goods and other foods like pancakes. We tried a pancake mix from Cherrybrook Kitchen, and to be honest, it was really gross. The problem for us is that Micah is allergic to three common allergens (eggs, milk & soy), but not the fourth typically associated with these allergies: gluten. As a result, any mixes that are egg-free, dairy-free and soy-free are also gluten-free. I feel bad for those who are allergic to gluten – the alternatives are not that great. The combination of flours used to imitate the properties and consistency of all-purpose flour result in a strange flavor I am not accustomed to. I tried drowning the mix in apple and cinnamon, but it was still sticky and chewy. I couldn’t stomach it.

Then I discovered three products that allow me to bake pretty much anything and still use my beloved flour. Coconut milk, EnerG Egg Replacer and Spectrum All Vegetable Shortening (Made from Palm Oil). I developed this recipe for Apple Cinnamon Pancakes and Micah can’t get enough. I love them better than my old pancake mix (in a box). So, if you are allergic to eggs and dairy, but not gluten, these are the pancakes for you!

3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup Bob’s Red Mill Oat Bran Hot Cereal
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon (or to taste)
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt

1 1/2 tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer + 2 Tbsp water, beaten
1 Cup Coconut Milk (I use the original flavor, not vanilla)
2 Tbsp All Natural Applesauce

1. Combine the dry ingredients and set aside. Beat your Egg Replacer and water first, then add the coconut milk and applesauce. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir just until moistened. The batter should be lumpy. Don’t worry if it’s a little runnier than you are used to.

2. Lightly grease your griddle with the Spectrum All Vegetable Shortening. Spoon about 1/4 Cup batter onto the hot griddle, scraping your spoon along the bottom of the bowl each time you scoop (the oat bran tends to settle a little bit). You should get about 8 pancakes depending on how big you make them. Cook until they are bubbly and the edges look dry, then flip and cook a few minutes more. Only flip once and avoid over-stirring the batter for fluffy pancakes.

Having a Blast!

Posted on by
Reply

My husband and his friend Sam love blowing things up. They love it so much that they went through all the trouble of getting a license so they could play with the really big toys. Very expensive, very dangerous, very much illegal (if you don’t have a license) EXPLOSIVES. Also known as FIREWORKS! And every year, the night before the fourth, they light these suckers and put on a big show for friends and family out in the country at Sam’s childhood home. It is awesome…

I think more people turned out for this year’s display than ever before. The word keeps spreading and the party gets bigger every year.

Everyone ate, talked and played games while the pyros set up the launch area on the other side of the property.

The black and red box allowed the guys to light the big fireworks by pushing a button on the box or remotely with a cell phone.

These are just plain scary.

This is Lindsay: Sam’s wife, cloth diaper addict, awesome neighbor and Frappe expert. Baby Ava is just five months old!

Micah watched his first fireworks display with Grandpa and Grandma in their van. Half way through the show he passed out because he was so sleepy! Eric’s mom said he loved every minute of it while he was awake, though.

Tomorrow (the 4th) we’re going to watch the city fireworks from the rooftop of the building downtown where Eric works. We should get an awesome view without the crowd. I’m looking forward to it!

Happy Independence Day!