starfiin

I = bad blogger.

it's hard to keep up with blogging.
heck, it's hard to keep up with laundry and dishes.
if I could blog from my brain and not have to sit down and type and resize photos- you all would be totally caught up and in the know...
because I have a shoot bright and early tomorrow, and sleep is a precious commodity as the boy is still rockin' the "every hour or so wake ups" through the night and the oh, 12 minute naps...or 28 minute naps...or 43 minute naps during the day.... I present a super quick review in bullet points.

*Keaton is getting funnier and funnier...and also thinks we are getting funnier...which resluts in much laughter. current thing that cracks him up the most? me looking at him...then not...then looking at him again. isn't that HILARIOUS?? he thinks so. Ben is still waiting for Keaton to think belly raspberries are funny...I think we're close.

*he has started doing raspberries on his own. which I adore.

*he also sings songs from behind his nuk...and occasionally also TO his nuk. And sometimes he mumbles while it's in his mouth and it sounds like garbled words mostly, but we have definitely heard "wiggle wiggle wiggle" a few times...

*his new favorite pacifier to play with (not for like comfort or sleeping with...) is this $9 number from Peapods...it's name is Goldi. And his favorite blankie for sleeping is named George. I SO have to do a layout about them...if for no other reason than together they sound like an old married couple.

*he is basically sitting. not for very long on his own, especially if he spots his toes (in which case he simply folds in half in an attempt to get them in his mouth...) but I think he'll be a pro in no time.

*his other fave new toy is the  hanging johnny jumper thing you put in the doorway. LOVES it. He's super good at maneuvering around. If he's facing away from you and you call his name he can work his feet to get himself turned toward you...

*he's decided he doesn't hate the stroller. which is fabulous, cuz we kind of splurged on a sweet ass stroller.

*he's been to the park by our house a few times recently to hit the swings... that place is going to be a life saver next summer, I just know it.

*as of a few weeks ago- he is totally wary of strangers. while it's a complete heartbreaker when he busts out the lip and sad face, it is kind of amazing to be the one he wants, the one he nuzzles into...

*we went to the North Shore last weekend. Keaton LOVED it. Loved all the people (apparently when it's 70 and sunny, we aren't the only people who think it'd be genius to spend the day in Duluth...) loved the seagulls, loved the restaurants, loved the antique shop, loved the lake... hated the drive home. poor guy. trapped in the carseat while there's a whole world to look at out there.

and now photos. and then bed.

 

what is it about cloth?

well before baby Buster arrived, I was intrigued by the idea of cloth diapers...
being the research nerd that I am, I dove in and read everything I could find online about them...how many we'd need, how to wash them, all the different options (the times of just a folded up flat piece of cloth are long gone...though there are mamas who still love that system!) Now there are fitteds and pockets and All-in-One's and All-in-twos...with cover options of PUL, fleece, wool... it boggles the mind. I was quickly in love. I rattled on and on in Ben's ear, and he was soon in love with the idea, too. Maybe not as manically as I am, but he's on board.

So I set about amassing a stash. I thought we'd like fitteds best- so I stocked up on a variety and waited for a small butt to use them on.

Que Keaton's arrival...we learned pretty quickly what worked for him/us and what didn't... Some of the diapers in his stash he didn't get beyond trying them on before we knew they weren't going to work.  He also became quite the super soaker early on and that ruled out some of the diapers, too.  Also early on, I realized that the pocket diapers I'd read about- that before babe made no sense to me, now made perfect sense.  The stay dry inner + customizable stuffing = heck yes.

So we washed and put away the ones that didn't work, and I began looking in to other options (now that I had an actual human with habits and needs to consider) to add to the keepers.
Then just last week I finally got my act together and sold the diapers we weren't using. Yes- you can sell the diapers when you don't need them...how rad is that? Reason #26 that I *heart* cloth diapers. So we sold them. For about what I paid for them. Yup. And then I had this sweet wad of cash- just waiting to complete Keaton's perfect stash. sweet!!! (If you are in the cloth diaper world, you know what I mean. If you aren't- just know this: every cloth diapering mama is always dreaming of/working toward her perfect stash of diaper nirvana...  at least every one I've talked to... )

Thus began the days and days of planning... searching online for what we'd like to try, what we'd like to add to the mix. Right now we have and are loving- muttaqins, goodmamas, bamboozles, fuzzibunz and monkeysnuggles (see- even the names are adorable!) ...what to add? I delighted in the search. Reading message boards for others' reviews, looking over the features of fancy new diapers, planning what colors/prints we might order things in...

In the midst of this great quest- sitting at the dining table at my mom's house, hunched over the laptop, reading thread after thread of what diapers people loved, what they hated, what they were itching to try...

I said "what IS it about cloth diapers... I could read and think about them all day..."

she said "I have no idea."

and that got me thinking. cuz honestly - it was the first time it struck me that I COULD sit there all day and read about them...and that wasn't the norm.

so... what IS it about cloth...? why do I (and plenty of others) love it so...?

here are my initial thoughts:

environmental- I LOVE LOVE LOVE that we aren't throwing diapers away. Ben brought down the bag from the diaper pail just this morning and held it up and said "Can you imagine throwing this many diapers away every day?"  ...and I can't. seriously can't.

material- cloth diapers are made of fabulous fabrics. Organic cotton...bamboo velour...cozy fleece and wool. So much more squooshy and soft and fantastic than a disposable paper diaper. I mean- have you ever felt a goodmama? If I could curl up and nap in one I would...

financial- the initial investment in cloth can seem a bit much- depending on the route you go. I mean if you really want to go classic and bare bones it- you could get a few dozen prefolds and a handful of covers and be set for less than $100 (for each size).  I however also liked the cuteness factor (see next point) so we sunk in a few hundred dollars (over a few months before Keaton was born) and got a flippin adorable stash... I then weeded out what wasn't working- RESOLD (still think it's rad you can resell the diapers. Can't do that with disposables. gross.) and made back a couple hundred...which I can now put back into new diapers that I know will work, and some I'd like to try in the hopes they work...  

ANYWAY- point is- with cloth- you sink a bit in at the beginning, but then that's it. You can be done. You can also continue to tweak, which is part of the fun... but you CAN be done. And you can then use those for your next kiddo. Which means no cost for diapering that kiddo... it's genius.

cuteness- seriously- the cuteness factor is ridiculous.

exhibit A:

Keaton's muttaqin diapers are all customs- I picked out the fabric at Crafty Planet- mailed it off- and received 7 of the cutest flippin' diapers I've ever seen.

there are so many adorable diapers, covers, pockets...it boggles the mind.

so there's that.

that's what I came up with after pondering a moment.

it still doesn't fully explain why I could seriously read thread after thread on the Diaper Q&A message board..."What's the best night time diaper for a super soaker?"..."Old vs New style fuzzibunz" ... "What's your favorite one-size pocket?" 

but it's a start...

*and for those that are curious- I finalized and placed our new diaper order today:

GroBaby- "try it" system in Kiwi and Mandarin.

Bumgenius 3.0 in Moonbeam and Ribbit

Rumparooz G2 in Fire Engine and Bermuda (we were considering Platinum, but I was afraid it would look less metalic and more like an old dingy once-white now gray diaper...)

Thirsties Duo covers in Meadow, Ocean and Storm

Planet Wise wetbag in Green Meadow

Greenhorn Super Sleepytime inserts

so stoked.

scrap happy! (woooo.)

hey...so I scrapped.
I know, right?!?!

I did the dare this week...that's been a long time comin'.

some of Keaton's favorite songs...many are just songs that we put his name in. Like "Keaton of the sea"? Yeah- that's the Chicken of the Sea jingle... But instead of "What's the best tuna?" we say "Who's the best baby? ...Keaton of the sea!!!"
also- can't believe I left out "Hand Jive"...cuz that is definitely a fave. Am I right grandma?? You know you love it...

and here is the rest of the scrapping I've done since he's been born:

(this one isn't really crooked...just looks that way cuz I photo-ed it rather than scanned it... cuz the camera is handy, and hauling myself and Keaton and the laptop up to the third floor studio to hook up said lappy to the scanner is not handy...)

yup. four layouts in four months. wait- five counting the one I did for green tangerines.
and yes, I know that the design of the last  two there are almost the same. which was not on purpose. I only realized it as I was wrapping up the last one. but hey- it worked once, why reinvent the wheel?

grounded.

yup.
that's it.
the boy is grounded.
I explained to him very clearly when he was born that I loved his hair-
LOVED HIS HAIR...
and he had to keep it.
or he would be grounded.
and at nearly four months I thought we were set.
but then suddenly-
POOF!
he's rockin' the "high and loose"
(which is his version of the marine haircut "high and tight"- cuz it's out of control on top.)
you can kind of see it here:

though that was two weeks ago- and already the top is more... sparse.
so that's it.
he's grounded.
no dates for a week.
(sorry Kristi)

and just cuz one pic never really is enough...

the high and loose in camo:

nutty professor:

can you punch a tv show in the face?

cuz I'd like to.
I realize "The Bachelorette" is not high brow.
and I shouldn't expect much.
but seriously.
Ed?
she picked Ed?
and I believe Jillian promised on her blog (yes, I read her blog. once. what of it?) that the last five minutes would shock the pants off of everyone... or something to that effect.
I was only shocked by the lameness.
the utter, utter lameness.
why did they even let Reid come back, and look all smokin' casual hot if he was just going to get the boot again.
and did Jillian not ever get a glimpse of Kiptyn's abs? they don't quit.
as evidenced in the Kiptyn montage.
how do you chose Ed- the idiot tool box- over that?
obviously I think a marriage can be based on sculpted abs.
I dare you to prove me wrong.
and finally- Ed looks like the douche nozzle doppleganger of Michael McDonald from MadTV.
I super wanted him to say "look what I can do! look what I can do!" and spazz out.
whatever trevor.

moving on.
to other eligible bachelors...
Keaton had a sweet pool party at grandma's this week...
He donned his new swim trunks...

and splashed his little heart out...

ok- so "pool" might be a stretch...since grandma was able to fill it up with three gallon jugs...but it was just right for the boy.
plus-it was set up on grandma's balcony- so it combined almost all of Keaton's favorite things- the great outdoors, water and near nudeyness.
I have said before that if I could pop Keaton in an aquarium and wheel him around he'd be happy...I guess this is as close as we can get until he actually sprouts gills.

sensitive naked man...

Keaton says "hey ladies..."

ah, my sensitive little man.
more discoveries.
it's never ending.
my LC (that's lactation consultant for those of you sans newborn and/or sans boobs) suggested I take a different herb since we discovered that Fenugreek + Keaton = hurting baby... I asked her "is there any chance he could have a bad reaction to this? like what should I watch for...?"
She said it'd be no different than me eating like a lot of lettuce... that he'd be fine.
And I'm sure in any other case with any other mom and any other baby she'd have been right.
But Keaton is here to break all laws of the universe and blow everyone's mind.
He was not a feel good guy after I started taking it.
I stopped and a day or so later he was feeling better...
Then my allergies kicked in and I was so crazy dizzy and I had to take something to stop the tilt-o-whirl in my brain... I asked a pharmacist and looked on Dr. Hale's site- I was told it was fine to take dramamine...might make Keaton a little sleepy if anything.
Like maybe he'd take a nap?
sweet.
My mom warned me that when I was little things that warned drowsiness actually made me hyper...
Keaton apparently took on both.
He was wired and scream-y...but only for like 45 minutes.
Then he was crazy tired and NEEDED SLEEP NOW.
He did sleep for like an hour and a half- but only if I laid next to him and held his hand.
Then he'd wake up- still looking tired- and do the wired thing again...and crash within the next hour.
AHHH.... man.
such a sensitive system this boy has.
poor guy.
and me.
if I can be so self pitying for a moment...

so- lesson = Nisa takes no extra meds.
or supplements.
and eats no NutraSweet.
or other fake sugars.
or real sugar.
or wheat.
or caffeine.
or peanuts.
or broccoli.
or garlic.
or...like 17 other things...
cuz happy feel good baby is what we're after.

yikes.

today the badness was all out of his system...
and we had a delightful day.
he was chatty.
he was snugly.
he traveled well.
he napped well.
he sang songs.
he chewed his hands
and played with his feet.
and everything I did was hilarious.

 

 

discoveries re: baby McLovin

sorry to have left you with Buster and the bird for so long...
but we have been very busy...on a roller coaster of discoveries of sorts.
like major discoveries that have lead us to a much happier baby.
exhibit A:
 

our discoveries...

discovery #1:
the boy has silent reflux.
I totally didn't suspect or even look into the possibility of reflux- cuz he's not a big spitter.
and isn't that what reflux is?
usually... but then I was looking for the cause of his troubles...anything that would tie together and answer why all the screaming and crying and curling up in pain...
I kept coming across reflux.
and it turns out that there is a silent form. where babe has the reflux- but swallows it. which sounds even more sad for the babe...
so he's on some meds for that.
and as much as I am not stoked about medicating my tiny man- it's only temporary- and if it stops the pain and need for all the sad sad screaming... count us in.

discovery #2:
Fenugreek is no friend of Keaton's tummy.
I started taking the supplement to boost milk production when we were concerned about his weight.
yeah- turns out is was also the cause of much sad sad screaming.
I know for sure because I stopped a few days before we started his reflux meds...
and we had three delicious days of a shiny happy baby.
and I thought- maybe the Fenugreek wasn't a problem.
maybe I should try taking that again to keep up the milk sitch.
Oh- look at that.
the screaming is back.
and it's getting worse.
and it's not going away.
well eff.

so I went off it again and we waited out the three or so days for it to get out of both of our systems.
lesson learned.

discovery #3:
Keaton = high needs baby.
(if it looks like you need to sign up for a newsletter to read that- look below- there should be a "no thanks" button or something...that will take you to the info)
now, unlike the reflux and Fenugreek thing this is not something we are looking to fix, obviously.
I just feel better knowing that's him. that's how he is.
I don't need to try to whip him into shape and get him on a schedule.
I don't need to let him cry it out and deal with things himself.
(cuz believe me, he will not. this is not a baby who's cries taper off... they just escalate.)
He is crazy erratic in the sleeping... sometimes just 20 minutes a day. (lately this has gotten better...but I also think he's hit a growth spurt, so the no sleeps days may return...)
He also wakes like mad easy.  The other day I had him asleep in our bed in the upstairs back bedroom for a nap and all the way down the hall, down the stairs and around a corner- his cousin Nora bumped a little apple toy that makes a sweet tiny jingly noise... And Keaton's eyes popped open, big as saucers. End of nap.
He eats about every hour. If I try to space it out more he cries "Nehng Nehng" relentlessly and then there's no denying what he needs...
He is crazy alert. Everyone who meets him has said so from day one. One lady in Barnes and Noble said it's cuz "these new babies are computerized"... that I'm not so sure of...
and like everything on that list of 12 features...? that = Keaton in a nutshell.
so...
I just need to roll with what he needs.
lord knows he will tell us.
he is not shy about voicing his likes and dislikes.

discovery #4:
a bath can bring him back from the brink of a total meltdown.
this is a life saver.
he will seriously go from red faced incensed screaming to smiley boy if you even just get him naked and say "who's nude? who wants a bath?"
the other day I had him in the tub and shut off the water and started getting his towel ready so I could yoink him out of the bath... and he started bawling. I turned the water back on just to see, and sure enough he went immediately back to smiling and kicking and splashing.
what's so great about lying on a wet sponge on the bottom of the bathtub, I do not know.
but this boy digs it.

Keaton's discoveries:

discovery #1:
the boy can roll over.
both ways.
as of nine weeks old.
madness.
apparently rolling over has less to do with physical abilities and much more to do with temperament.
we are in trouble.

discovery #2:
fake coughing.
he has figured out how to pretend to cough.
cuz it's funny.
cuz it gets my attention.
ridiculous.

discovery #3
giggles.
this is my fave.
it's still a bit of a rarity.
he is very picky on what's funny.
and what's funny one day will probably not be funny the next.
so far, Keaton views butt shaking, faux fart noises and this silly "Buh-buhhhhhh" noise we do worth a laugh.
sigh.

he really does make a mama proud.

seriously? who is this punk?
what 9 week old sticks out their tongue and flips you the bird?

my child apparently.

upsidedownside

so I'm reading a book.
and I love it.

I won't say it's rare...but it is a celebration. See, I'm kind of a book snob. Not in like a "I only read LITERATURE" nose in the air way. Not like "I only read fiction published before 1950" - that was my old boyfriend. I'm not sure exactly what his reason was. I'm going to go with he was a total dick. But I digress...   Yes, bit of a book snob. Like- I can't stand super popular fiction. (ouch, that does sound nose in the air...sorry) What I mean to say is- Nicolas Sparks and Jodi Picoult (sorry Kirsten) make we want to scream. I want to break into their homes and tie them up so they can watch me destroy every writing implement in their possession.
The exception to the "I hate super popular fiction" rule is: I effing LOVE Time Traveler's Wife. true.
Anyway- I am reading "Dark Places"- the long awaited gift to me by Gillian Flynn who wrote "Sharp Objects" ...ok, maybe she didn't INTEND it to be a gift to me, but I am receiving it as such.
Trouble is- I just realized I am at a very "Upside/Downside" part in this book, that one gets to in anygood book really...
I'm about 3/4 way through...

Upside: I am loving it. I love how she writes. I love how she tells a story. I love how she rewards you for being a smart reader and paying attention. I care about these people. In this book- I don't really LOVE any of the characters, no one is like a really fabulous good person you'd want to hang out with, but I care about them. I'm kind of worried about them. Concerned. I think about them when I'm not reading the book. Like "I wonder how Libby is getting on...?" And I know I'll think about them even after the book is done.  I'm past halfway and there are times when I'm reading at night and both Ben and Keaton are curled up on either side of me and I'm cozy and devouring this book and it's getting better and better and I just want to read til the end and how many more pages would that be...94? ok...maybe that's too many for tonight since the little one to my left will be up and hungry in like 2 hours...better set it down for now...

Downside: Only 94 pages left? Why doesn't this story go on for infinity pages? I really like reading her words. Reading about these people... I'm going to have to wait like 2 more years for another book by this chick... I should really savor these last 94 pages... BUT DAMN I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!

it's not an especially bad place to be. this book limbo. but I do feel torn.

and, because- what is a blog entry without a pic of Buster these days...
please gaze upon the littlest book lover in our house:

Happy Father's Day

to my Benj.
it's been so amazing to see him become a daddy.
I can't wait to watch more.
see he and babe grow together.
see him teach Keaton how to take this apart and put that back together. 
see them laugh and play and make stuff.
sigh.
so love.
so Happy Father's Day to my Ben. And the sweet boy that made him a daddy.

and also to my dad. and his dad.

and- just cuz it's cool I will share-
growing up it was always kind of a big family deal that my grandpa - dad - and I were 30 years apart/each. Like my grandpa was 60 and my dad was 30 when I was born. Growing up my dad always said I had to have my first babe when I was 30 (my dad and I are both oldests) And growing up, I thought- please- that old? whatever. But here we are. In the photo we are: 90, 60, 30 (in one month) and 0. So I did it. Kept it going. Now it's up to Keaton in another 30.