Yea for good sleep

Not mine, but Gabriels... So last night, Chris and I were totally pooped by the time we got home, so we pretty much vegged out in front of the tv. Gabriel was getting tired, so we put him down at about 7:18 (yes, I said about, but I'm pretty sure it was 7:18...but what if I was wrong, huh). I waited for about ten minutes to make sure he'd actually fall asleep (which he did and stayed asleep for the most part) and then got started on the new garden project. See, here's the thing: the guy before us put up a retaining wall for the garden area surrounding the base of our house...but instead of gardening it, he filled it with rocks (like 1/4-1/3 lava rocks and the rest just plain old white-ish rocks). I'm so confused about so many things this guy did... Anyway, so Chris and I had always said that if we were going to stay in our house long-term that we wanted to make it into an actual garden, but originally planned on fixing it up to potentially sell about 3 years after moving in. The problem is: the longer we stay there, the more projects we start and the more we (more him than me) don't want to leave said house. Anyway, so we bought blueberry bushes and Chris started taking the rocks out and got the larger half of the front area totally done. So last night I started moving the retaining wall in (b/c I don't want a garden that big in the front of my house) and we put the compost (that we got for free from the city...how did I not know about this last year when we spent over a hundred dollars starting up my garden and bought large, large amounts of compost???) in and there's ALMOST enough of it for that right side, but we'll have to wait until next Wednesday to get more compost; the three blueberry bushes that will be located on the right side are in place. I think one more load of compost will be enough for that right, front area...and then we'll get started on the left side. I'm excited to have my veggie garden in the back yard and then have my berry bushes, rhubarb, etc in the garden area around the base of our house. Personally, I'd like to have a garden that you can eat anything out of. Here's hoping... (The point of this is to say how happy I am that I feel we're actually getting somewhere with some of our projects and that, although I was nervous I'd regret it when we started the project, I'm actually very happy it's happening!)

On another note: Gabe loved his cereal again and was angry when there was no more, so I let him play with the spoon instead, which I thought was a nice compromise. Honestly, though, I started out feeding him by my lonesome and I'm wondering How Do Single Parents Do It? I mean, I'm totally not being rude, but am seriously wondering. It felt like it took super powers to get halfway through the bowl (of which only about a fourth got into his mouth and the rest ended up on his bib...on his cheeks...on his eyebrow?...and, okay, a little on his ear). But when Chris AND I tag-teamed it, it was much more efficient. Just like baths. A one person job ends up he doesn't really get cleaned and it takes forever to clean up afterwards. A two person job still takes forever to clean up afterwards (read: I have to change my clothes b/c it looks like I've showered with them on), but at least Gabriel gets clean...and it's funner that way. I love the fact that I tried to feed him all by myself (like a big girl) but am very grateful for The Hubster who's willing to do things right along with me (and me alongside him).

Started Cereals

1) I never posted that Gabriel started rolling over somewhere a little after three months.
2) We started cereals last night. I decided to go for it and if it didn't go over well, we'd wait until after the two vacations...which would actually be about 7 months, not 8. Well, not that it matters. Gabe LOVED it! He got upset when there was no cereal left, but I didn't think he needed more than that and wanted to make sure there was no reaction to the cereal. It was about an oz of milk and two baby scoops of cereal. I think I'll try to make it a little thicker tonight! Gabriel thought it was the funnest thing ever, as did Christopher and I.

I'm so absurd to be stressed about solids

I'll admit. I'm not so great about making decisions. I take FOREVER to weigh the pros and cons and then once I make the decision, I simply go for it (but always wonder in the back of my mind if it's right or not). Somehow, it's easier to stick to the harder decisions than the easy ones. Before Gabriel was born, I'd planned to exclusively breastfeed him until at least 6-8 months. Now he's about 4.5 months and I'm considering letting him have some cereal for the first time. We have a very small stockpile of food I've started for him, but I just keep going back and forth. Different studies show different things, but I'm not TOO concerned about allergies, as Chris and I have none, but still... Gabe has started being very interested in us eating (although he's interested in just about everything we do) so I gave him a spoon to "play" with while we eat, which he LOVES to put in his mouth (but, once again, he does that with everything). He's already past double his birthweight, so that's one milestone and he loves rolling around, but isn't sitting up totally unassisted yet. On the one hand, I want to let him try it and then wouldn't push it if he wasn't interested/didn't like it and I'd wait a few weeks. I'm excited to try simply because I think it will be fun and I'm excited to try to make some of his own food and excited to not be so obsessed with how much I'm producing b/c there will be solids to fall back on. On the other hand, we cloth diaper and I don't want to have to start using disposable liners, and I don't want him to develop allergies and me think it was b/c I started him on solids too soon... Our family is taking two vacations this summer and I don't want to start right before, in between, or right after the vacations b/c I think it would be too many changes at once. So pretty much we're going to start him on solids by Friday, or we'll wait until a week or two after the last vacation, which will be around 8 months... I still have yet to decide fully what I want to do, but I surprise myself by being so absurd sometimes!?!

So much harder to do with a baby!!!

I never realized JUST how hard it is to do things with a baby. And not just take a 10 minute shower, go to the grocery store, eat my dinner warm... Everything seems to have changed. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my little guy and wouldn't trade him for the ease I used to have (but didn't realize). Here's my current list of house projects that will need to be done during the summer months (3 months left maybe of decent weather) so that we can keep the windows and doors open all the time and/or stay elsewhere b/c of fumes, etc...
-Electrical, drylok, insulation, walls, and ceiling for basement entertainment room
-Fix the stairs to the basement
-Hardwood or tile for kitchen and bathroom floors?
-Refinish all hardwood floors
-Tear down and put in a new appropriate breezeway
-Tear out walls and fix bathroom (shower, step/compartment, mold-resistant walls, tile, vent)
-Lawn care (organic yard care to cut down on the bad-word weeds that overrun our yard)
-Roof reinforcement (before it snows)
-Replant rhubarb (on south side close to dog run)
-Roof for half of dog run for rainy/snowy seasons
-Plant seedlings in our massive gardens and grow away
-Move our compost
And when these will ever get done, who knows...
And, yes, we'll have to save up (time and money) in order to do these projects. Who knows when we'll have enough to complete even 2 or three of them...

I sure hope not...

I've been feeling quite down lately. I'm not sure if it's the lack of sleep due to Gabriel's sleep regression (which has totally gotten better in the last few days, thank the stars), if it's that bad things seem to be happening all around me and I'm starting to think I'm a bad-luck-charm, if it's the nasty weather we've been having lately or something else. Which brings me to my point: I'm VERY much hoping it's not late-onset PPD. That would be really stinky. And I'm not sure if it's just a crabby time, which happens for everyone and should pass relatively quickly...or something not as easily swayed. Hopefully the former. And hopefully the medium mood picks up a LOT in the next few days. The end.

Who cares if it's weird?

So back in the day, when Hubby and I were trying to get pregnant and not having much luck, we had lots and lots of talks. We'd reaffirmed that we know we wanted to adopt someday, whether we were able to get pregnant or not. We also reevaluated other things. Point being: During this time, I heard for the first time I can remember about milkbanks and milksharedotcom. These are both places that connect parents in need of antibodies for their child with milk from donating mothers. What an awesome idea, I thought. I know that if we're able to adopt a baby, I'd like to give him/her as best a start in life as I could and this is one way to ensure that start. I was hoping that, if I ever got pregnant, I'd be able to help out other moms and dads in this area. I'm proud to say that I have been able to do just that! It's not been easy, and definitely gets frustrating at times, especially when I feel tied to the pump, but it's an amazing feeling knowing that not only can I produce enough for my little monster, but I'm also able to help (currently) another adopted little girl grow! When I get discouraged with having to pump so often (and the fact that I feel starving 90% of the time and am snacking constantly...and thus have actually gained weight back after the two week post-partum mark), I think about how blessed I would feel receiving the liquid gold from some other mom...and how blessed I feel knowing I can help another baby in the way that only new moms can.
Here's how it works:
For a milkbank, a donor would contact the closest milkbank. Said milkbank would send paperwork to fill out and pay for donor to get tested (HepA, HepB, and HIV, I believe). Once results came back, donor would send frozen milk to said bank. The bank then tests/sterilizes/mixes said milk with other donor's milk and pasteurized. Then this milk is set up to be received. This milk is available by prescription mainly to premature babies, babies with medical conditions, and some adopted babies.
For a milksharing website, the milk is not pasteurized or anything. It's a direct connection to donor and recipient. A donor signs up at a site such as milkshare . com and posts their donation. (Ex: I posted that I had x amount of milk and would like to donate to either a preemie or an adopted baby.) Hopeful recipients choose a donor and connect. Donor chooses recipient and they connect. Sometimes the pair are able to meet in person and sometimes the frozen milk is shipped. Donor provides/sends milk and applicable testing (Hep and HIV testing is strongly suggested for all pregnant women, so this testing should already be completed and donor would just need to get a copy of said results). Recipient usually reimburses donor for any bags or bottles and, if shipped, also pays for shipping fees.
I've felt so blessed to be a part of this circle and try not to get offended at the people who act offended that I donate my milk to another child in need. Trust me: I comprehend that it's not the "normal" way of doing things. But why wouldn't I? I have something that another parent strongly desires for their child. Why would I deny that?
I am happy to be a part of the milksharing circle!

Rolling already?

Granted, I've been afraid he's gonna start rolling the SECOND I look away the first time he's on the couch/changing table/anywhere really...but he started rolling for the first time yesterday, April 11. Right as Chris opened the fridge door and couldn't see, Gabriel-Monster rolled from his tummy to his back. I yelled to Chris, but was too late...and then I was oh-so-sure he woulnd't do it again, but he DID!!! Great. Now not only does he scoot around on his back for several feet, but he can roll. He's gonna be scoot-scoot-scootin' around all over the place and rolling when he gets stuck...Goodness time flies. Plus, while we were "sleeping" together on the floor in his room the other day, I found that he likes to roll from his back to his side so that he can face me right-on, but as of yet can't roll totally on to his stomach.