Friday, April 26, 2013

The Perfect Point of View...


Loved this post by Ava Neyer about babies and sleep and all the advice we read and hear!

"You shouldn’t sleep train at all, before a year, before 6 months, or before 4 months, but if you wait too late, your baby will never be able to sleep without you. College-aged children never need to be nursed, rocked, helped to sleep, so don’t worry about any bad habits. Nursing, rocking, singing, swaddling, etc to sleep are all bad habits and should be stopped immediately.

Naps should only be taken in the bed, never in a swing, car seat, stroller, or when worn. Letting them sleep in the car seat or swing will damage their skulls. If your baby has trouble falling asleep in the bed, put them in a swing, car seat, stroller, or wear them. Use the crib only for sleep and keep it free of distractions. If the baby is having trouble adjusting to the crib, have them play in it first. If the baby wakes up at night and wants to play, put fun toys in the crib to distract them.

Put the baby in a nursery, bed in your room, in your bed. Co-sleeping is the best way to get sleep, except that it can kill your baby, so never, ever do it. If your baby doesn't die, you will need to bed-share until college.

Keep the room warm, but not too warm. Swaddle the baby tightly, but not too tightly. Put them on their backs to sleep, but don't let them be on their backs too long or they will be developmentally delayed. Give them a pacifier to reduce SIDS. Be careful about pacifiers because they can cause nursing problems and stop your baby from sleeping soundly. If your baby sleeps too soundly, they’ll die of SIDS.

Don’t let your baby sleep too long, except when they’ve been napping too much, then you should wake them. Never wake a sleeping baby. Any baby problem can be solved by putting them to bed earlier, even if they are waking up too early. If your baby wakes up too early, put them to bed later or cut out a nap. Don’t let them nap after 5 p.m. Sleep begets sleep, so try to get your child to sleep as much as possible. Put the baby to bed awake but drowsy. Don't wake the baby if it fell asleep while nursing.

You should start a routine and keep track of everything. Don’t watch the clock. Put them on a schedule. Scheduling will make your life impossible because they will constantly be thrown off of it and you will become a prisoner in your home.

Using the "Cry It Out" method (CIO) will make them think they’ve been abandoned and will be eaten by a lion shortly. It also causes brain damage. Not getting enough sleep will cause behavior and mental problems, so be sure to put them to sleep by any means necessary, especially CIO, which is the most effective form. CIO is cruel beyond belief and the only thing that truly works because parents are a distraction.

Formula and solid foods will help the baby sleep longer. Solid foods shouldn’t be given at night because they might wake the baby. Don't stop the baby from nursing when asleep. Be wary of night feeds. If you respond too quickly with food or comfort, your baby is manipulating you. Babies can’t manipulate. Babies older than six months can manipulate.

Sleep when the baby sleeps. Clean when the baby cleans. Don’t worry. Stress causes your baby stress and a stressed baby won't sleep."

2 Months Old!

At Hunter's 2 Month appointment (he was actually 9 weeks) he was 12lbs 4oz and 23 inches.  Definitely weighs more than his sister did at this age:)




Friday, April 12, 2013

Really?????


Man's 'poodles' are actually ferrets on steroids
An Argentinian market is reportedly selling well-groomed, souped-up ferrets as toy dogs — and people are falling for it.
Mon, Apr 08 2013 at 10:41 AM

Related Topics:

Photo: YouTube
A man in Argentina thought he'd gotten a deal on a pair of toy poodles, but when he brought them to the vet for vaccinations he learned he'd actually adopted a couple of ferrets on steroids.
 
He bought the animals at La Salada, Argentina's largest outdoor market and paid $150 for each of them, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
 
The veterinarian said the ferrets had been given steroids at birth to increase their size, and had undergone grooming to give their fur a fluffy poodle-like appearance.
 
A local Argentinian TV station broke the story and interviewed a woman who also claims to have been duped by a pet vendor at the market. She said she thought she'd bought a Chihuahua, but later learned it was also a ferret.
 
It's unclear what the swindled pet owners did with their newly acquired ferrets.
 
If you're considering picking up a pet pooch at an Argentinan market, perhaps you should first consult this handy checklist from the Daily Mail on how to tell the difference between a dog and a ferret:
 
  • Ferrets typically have brown, white or mixed fur and are around 51 cm in length - which includes a 13 cm tail.
  • They weigh around three pounds and have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years.
  • When happy, ferrets may perform a routine known as the weasel war dance - which is characterized by a series of hops and frenzied attempts to bump into things.
  • This is often accompanied by a soft clucking noise called dooking. When upset ferrets make a hissing noise.
  • Toy poodles are known for their intelligence and are around 25 cm tall and weigh around nine pounds.
  • If a toy poodle exceeds 25 cm height, it cannot compete in any dog show as a toy poodle.
  • Toy poodle have long lifespans and have been known to live as long as 20-years.
  • They are described as sweet, cheerful and perky and lively and love to be around people.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

In case you were keeping track...

Things that I found in the diaper bag this morning:
1.  Hannah's half full water bottle (which may have been leaking slowly since yesterday)
2.  Half of a granola bar ( I cannot claim to know how long ago that was put in the diaper bag)
3.  Hannah's dirty socks

Things that I did not find in the diaper bag this morning:
1.  diapers

Thoughts running through my head every morning as I drive Hannah to school:
1.  Am I going to get a shower today?
2.  Did I turn off my straight iron?  (This only applies to mornings that I took a shower)
3.  Did I leave the dog outside?
4.  Did I put Hannah's lunchbox in her bookbag?
5.  Does Hannah have shoes on?
6.  Did I shut the garage door?
7.  Is Hunter in the car?

Things often said while grocery shopping with both children:
1.  You cannot ride in the grocery part of the grocery cart.
2.  Stay with me
3.  Don't touch that
4.  We don't need that
5.  You'll never eat that
6.  Yes, I know he's crying
7.  Keep walking
8.  Stop walking in front of the cart

Things that do not cure Hunter's colic:
1.  Shushing
2.  Pacing
3.  Car rides
4.  Going outside
5.  Singing
6.  NCAA basketball

Things that help with Hunter's colicy nights:
1.  Alcohol (so I've heard)
2.  Earplugs
3.  Taking shifts with Todd
4.  Loud music
5.  Running water

Children I love more than anything:
1.  Hannah Mae Lyle
1.  Hunter Todd Lyle

Monday, April 8, 2013

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Fashionista

The other night I was taking pictures of Hunter and Hannah wanted her picture taken too.  As I was about to take it she quickly stopped me and told me that she had to go change into a picture outfit first (true girl).  Complete with headband!  I'm already praying about her teenage years.



Another funny conversation between myself and our eldest this morning:

Hannah:  How do you spell Hunter?
Me:  H-U-N-T-E-R
Hannah:  How do you spell Dad?
Me: D-A-D
(This goes on until we have covered everyone in our family including the dog)
Hannah:  How do you spell Mitt Romney?
Me: Yikes


Saturday, April 6, 2013

Monday, April 1, 2013

Boy Parts

After almost 7 weeks of us waiting for her to notice, tonight Hannah finally discovered Hunter's boy parts while she was "helping" me bathe him (aka pouring water over his face resulting in him being "super happy").  Todd and I had yet to discuss what our terms for these things were going to be.

Conversation goes as follows:

Hannah:  Mommy, what is that pokey thing down there?
Me (turning to Todd):  Todd, do you hear this?
Hannah (also turning to Todd):  Daddy, that thing that he has down there (pointing to her crotch).
Me:  That's something that boys have...
Hannah (interupting me):  Yeah, boys have it and girls don't.
Me:  That's right.
Hannah:  Can I have milk with some M&M's?

So I guess the full answer to her question is not yet needed to quench her curiosity.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

For the Momma's I know....


This was written by a lady named Jai Wallace Tracy.  I think she's brilliant.



Sometimes I think Facebook is the worst thing to have happened to a mom. Well, Facebook and smart phones.

Think about it. Because of these two inventions, you can now get a look at the life of every mom you call "friend." AND it's all delivered instantly right to your phone. Now moms have a front-row seat to all the cookie-baking and paint projects and plenty of time to judge their own mothering skills against such. We see the handmade paper chains decorating the Christmas tree across town, and suddenly our own Target ornaments seem way too trite. The next thing you know, we're freaked out that our own kids are going to become resentful of the handmade-ornament kids, join a ornament-hating gang, rob a Hallmark store and end up in jail serving 5 to 10. So Target mom says to ornament mom, "Why can't you just take it down a notch????"

But it goes the other way, too. Ornament mom looks at Target mom with raised eyebrow and says, "Can't you up your game just a bit?"

Ouch. How did we get here? Facebook? Smart phones? Maybe.

Before our lives became so easily promoted and quickly communicated, we were all in our homes doing our own thing. Coloring ornaments or opening a box. Baking cookies or opening a box. Doing life handmade or opening a box. And nobody knew, and really nobody cared. Because we were all making it work best way we knew how. Our kids were loved, and that was all that mattered.

Until we saw the way SHE was doing it. In color Instagram photos splashed across her timeline. And suddenly, what was right for us became less than. Or what was right for us became right for everyone. So our days become full of self-deprecating or self-righteous status updates as we search for some sort of validation -- something, ANYTHING -- to let us know we're doing ok.

Wait -- maybe that's it. Maybe I have it wrong. Could it be that social media and technology have just given voice to what we mommas have wondered all along --- am I a good enough??? Well, I'm here to tell you the answer to that question. Yes, you are. You're a good mom. Better, you're a rockstar mom. How do I know? Because I know you.

Yes, you.

The one who feels guilty for going through the drive-thru for the third time this week. And you, the one who makes sure there are vegetables at every meal. And you, the one who buys birthday treats at the grocery store on the way to school. And you, the one who stays up literally all night decorating birthday cookies. You for whom the words "art project" mean markers (on a good day) and a coloring book. And you, the Pinterest addict whose kids are always covered in paint.

You are an amazing mother.

You're crafty. You hate playdough. You serve chicken nuggets. You raise chickens. You read every food label. You serve artificially flavored and colored cereal for breakfast. You homeschool. You public school. You have spotless floors. You are trying even now to remember the last time you mopped. You work. You stay at home. You make beds. You make messes. You turn on Dora. You don't own a television. You make stuff. You buy stuff.

You live in big houses and little house with lots of kids or one kid with dogs and cats and wooden toys and noisy toys and candy and fruit, and you drive mini vans and SUVs while wearing snot-stained sweats or wedge heels and you do it absolutely beautifully, and your children adore you because you were made to be their mom.

Yes, you. No one can do this thing better than you. Fight for that. Contend for it. Remember it on your worst days and your best days. And when you see HER doing her thing, high-five her. Thumbs-up her. (Because, trust me, she needs that today.) And when you give her props, do it without losing yourself. Without doubting yourself.

No one can do this better than you. No one.

So go ahead and post your picture of your kids eating hand-ground, organic beef burgers. And you post yours of your kids opening their Happy Meals. And I pledge to look (with non-judgmental eyes) beyond the food to see the sweet, little face in the background.

And I promise I will smile and think, "That kid has an awesome mom."