It's been forever and a day since I last wrote, but in light of the last few weeks, I've been feeling an itch to get back to writing. Like reading, writing has always kept me sane. I think the insanity of late might feel a tiny bit less insane if I check in here.
It also seems appropriate to resume writing on what would have been Ella's birthday. In my last post I talked about her death... and since then, I've felt pretty depleted, meeting daily parenting, marriage, and work challenges. Again, writing will help.
Plus, I made this Thai noodle salad last night. It was so good, but then today, I ate it cold, and man, oh, man, it was even better. Highly recommend.
Keep sweeping.
Martha
Finished reading The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close
Showing posts with label ella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ella. Show all posts
3.23.2020
11.17.2015
my view at dusk
Today was a good day.
I haven't been able to say that for a while now. When my pericarditis hit this fall (update soon, I promise), I didn't realize how much it was affecting me physically or emotionally until the cardiologist finally said I needed to take it seriously. I had thought - as I did after Boy Beeton was born - that I was just an inadequate mother. I had thought - because I was so tired all the time - that I was just selfish. I had thought - because I had no patience for anything or anyone - that I was just a bad person. But, it was just the illness, which on top of being physically painful, was also making me tired and depressed.
I know this because today was a good day. I woke up with energy. I played with Boy Beeton this morning. I put away the porch furniture. We went to school. I took a walk. I graded. After school, we picked up some groceries. When we got home, we played soccer in the yard until it got dark. I made dinner. We had a dance party. I calmly dealt with a before bed tantrum. I was myself again.
Keep sweeping,
Martha
Watched The Peanuts Movie.
3.03.2014
moody
I love the mood boards that home design bloggers often post to show their inspiration for certain rooms. In high school, I obsessively collected various home design magazines (Country Living was a favorite), clipping photographs of inspiring rooms and tucking them away in a folder. I still have that folder in one of the drawers of my desk, and I pull it out occasionally to see how my taste has - or has not - changed.
Though I have a mood board for the kitchen and one for the dining room, I didn't come up with one for Baby Beeton's room. Instead, I realized as I was putting pieces that I loved together that those pieces were the inspiration for the room.
The felt board the elves made for Christmas.
The Seattle print that Great Aunt K gave us one year along with a clementine box that I saved because I loved the colors.
The mini-rocking chair that Great Grandpa made with the seat cushion that Great Grandma made.
These items - with their navy, orange, red, and turquoise hues - are what has defined Baby Beeton's room. They dictated that I bring in an old yellow and aqua owl bank from Mr. Beeton's Grammy as well as Mr. Beeton's Snoopy bank from when he was a little boy. It's the reason why a photo of Ella and Baby Beeton rest on the side table next to a Westie plant potter that Mr. Beeton got me one Valentine's Day.
Slowly, the room is coming together. We have a radiator cover that we got on craiglist that we'll paint navy, the grating white. We'll stack books on top with these bookends. I'd love to get a Color + Plus turquoise lamp for the dresser. And these Superhero prints from Etsy. And a big wall clock like this one. Maybe a bird cage or two. And a crazy quilt for snuggling.
Decorating is the best.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Finished reading It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, A Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita by Heather Armstrong.
Though I have a mood board for the kitchen and one for the dining room, I didn't come up with one for Baby Beeton's room. Instead, I realized as I was putting pieces that I loved together that those pieces were the inspiration for the room.
The felt board the elves made for Christmas.
The Seattle print that Great Aunt K gave us one year along with a clementine box that I saved because I loved the colors.
The mini-rocking chair that Great Grandpa made with the seat cushion that Great Grandma made.
These items - with their navy, orange, red, and turquoise hues - are what has defined Baby Beeton's room. They dictated that I bring in an old yellow and aqua owl bank from Mr. Beeton's Grammy as well as Mr. Beeton's Snoopy bank from when he was a little boy. It's the reason why a photo of Ella and Baby Beeton rest on the side table next to a Westie plant potter that Mr. Beeton got me one Valentine's Day.
Slowly, the room is coming together. We have a radiator cover that we got on craiglist that we'll paint navy, the grating white. We'll stack books on top with these bookends. I'd love to get a Color + Plus turquoise lamp for the dresser. And these Superhero prints from Etsy. And a big wall clock like this one. Maybe a bird cage or two. And a crazy quilt for snuggling.
Decorating is the best.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Finished reading It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, A Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita by Heather Armstrong.
12.25.2013
7.22.2013
nothing to see here, sheryl
A few more moments of leaning back...
And what I don't have documented is an extended Momma and Baby Beeton dance party last night after dinner, swimming and picnics at Prince George's Swimming Pool (thanks to A and C), celebrating new babies at Jackie's (can't wait for the newest bean to arrive!), and general summer malaise. It's been a heatwave, after all, Sheryl.
Keep sweeping, Martha
A tea party in a tent with a frog.
A picnic on the bed before nap time with a rabbit.
A swim in a pool with a dog.
A summer haircut (courtesy of Shampoo) with a cell phone and messenger bag.
And what I don't have documented is an extended Momma and Baby Beeton dance party last night after dinner, swimming and picnics at Prince George's Swimming Pool (thanks to A and C), celebrating new babies at Jackie's (can't wait for the newest bean to arrive!), and general summer malaise. It's been a heatwave, after all, Sheryl.
Finished reading Mary Higgins Clark's Daddy's Gone A Hunting. Finished watching Dexter: Season 7 and Top of the Lake. Started Veep. Still into The Killing.
Keep sweeping, Martha
2.21.2013
zzzzz
I hesitate to even write this post for fear of jinxing the good stuff that's been going on around here the last two nights. But, right now, I feel like dancing like these two crazy kids, and I've got to capture it. Partly, because it feels so good. And, partly, because I want to bookmark this post and read it obsessively when those bad, middle of the nights strike again in order to remind myself that, yes, THIS is possible.
After Baby Beeton's incredibly ridiculous sleep regression of late, he has finally been settling down into a more predictable, less hair pulling inducing routine. And, the past two nights?
He. Slept. Through. The. Night.
Not once did we go into his room to soothe, sing, or rock. He cried out and settled himself. We stayed warm under the covers. It was glorious.
It's amazing what eight straight hours of sleep two nights in a row after, literally, twenty-one months without such consolidated sleep can do for your mindset.* Again, I'll refer to Pete and Trudy.
In any case, I'll end this post with the hashtag #throwbackthursday - an early sleeping picture of the baby.
Keep sweeping, Martha
* You may think that I'm exaggerating this statistic. I am known to do that. But, this one, dear readers, is accurate. There were three or four nights in the past twenty-one months where Baby Beeton had fairly consolidated sleep, but we did not. Usually, this was due to one of three reasons: 1) we couldn't sleep because he was sleeping, 2) Ella was throwing up (she has a delicate constitution), 3) Metro Connect, which comes to pick up our neighbor every morning at 4:45 am, decided to wake us with its infernal, back-up bleating. How am I so sure of these facts? I have three notebooks filled with sleep logs from the past twenty-one months. Yes, I'm crazy. I know.
After Baby Beeton's incredibly ridiculous sleep regression of late, he has finally been settling down into a more predictable, less hair pulling inducing routine. And, the past two nights?
He. Slept. Through. The. Night.
Not once did we go into his room to soothe, sing, or rock. He cried out and settled himself. We stayed warm under the covers. It was glorious.
It's amazing what eight straight hours of sleep two nights in a row after, literally, twenty-one months without such consolidated sleep can do for your mindset.* Again, I'll refer to Pete and Trudy.
In any case, I'll end this post with the hashtag #throwbackthursday - an early sleeping picture of the baby.
Keep sweeping, Martha
* You may think that I'm exaggerating this statistic. I am known to do that. But, this one, dear readers, is accurate. There were three or four nights in the past twenty-one months where Baby Beeton had fairly consolidated sleep, but we did not. Usually, this was due to one of three reasons: 1) we couldn't sleep because he was sleeping, 2) Ella was throwing up (she has a delicate constitution), 3) Metro Connect, which comes to pick up our neighbor every morning at 4:45 am, decided to wake us with its infernal, back-up bleating. How am I so sure of these facts? I have three notebooks filled with sleep logs from the past twenty-one months. Yes, I'm crazy. I know.
1.20.2013
the new normal
This weekend signified, for me, what I'd like to think of as "the new normal." Pre-Baby Beeton I spent a lot of time complaining about how much work I had to do - papers to grade, articles to write, committee work to accomplish. And I spent even more time avoiding all that work so that it often seemed insurmountable, mainly because I had whittled down my time so that there wasn't really any way to get 45+ hours of work done in 2.5 hours of time. It was a vicious cycle.
Perhaps one of the biggest blessings that Baby Beeton has brought with him is a sense of perspective. I've realized that I'm not as busy as I pretended to be, and I certainly can finish up what needs to get done - as long as I use my time wisely. And, this realization means that weekends, for me, have now become weekends... the kinds of days where you head out to Rock Creek Park and take a nature walk or stop by Trohv to visit a pop-up coffee shop. It's pretty blissful.
Winter break followed along the same lines. The end of 2012 was filled with a certain craziness that only the holidays can bring - Christmas Eve service, followed by dinner at Lia's, Christmas Day festivities in Purcellville, an unexpected ice storm, a trip to Pennsylvania for more family time, wedding dress shopping, and an unexpected snow storm.
When we returned, we took it easy. Some trips to Silver Spring to watch the ice skaters and dance to the music as H&M. Two trips to Zoolights since we love it so much. And a fantastic spur-of-the-moment visit to the Baltimore Aquarium where we saw dolphins - aka pishy, pishy - and picked up a penguin puppet - aka guck, guck. We finished that night off with dinner at Phillips.
I know it probably shouldn't have taken this long, but after nineteen months, I feel a lot more comfortable with this new life I've got. And, while Mr. Beeton and I question ourselves everyday about our parenting choices, I think - hopefully - that maybe we're not doing all that badly at raising this little one.
I have to say that one of the absolute highlights of the winter break was Baby Beeton's finally embracing the word "Momma." He learned "Dada" very quickly and would use it in reference to both Mr. Beeton and myself. Sometime over winter break, though, it clicked, and now it's "Momma, Momma, Momma." I particularly like it when he says, "Momma. Sit," and pats the floor space next to him. In fact, he's doing all kinds of word combinations now - "Tickle, tickle, Ruby" and "Bye-bye Geek Geek (read: Curious George)." It's adorable. This is also probably why he decided for a week straight to wake up at 2:30 am, 3:30 am, or 4:30 am to face the day. He has a lot to say, and he won't let sleep stop him. I'm trying to take it all in stride, though.
I like this new normal.
Keep sweeping, Martha
PS - If you're looking to support a good cause, head over to Enjoying the Small Things where Kelle Hampton is raising money for The National Down Syndrome Society. She's already raised around $200,000!
Finished reading NW by Zadie Smith.
Perhaps one of the biggest blessings that Baby Beeton has brought with him is a sense of perspective. I've realized that I'm not as busy as I pretended to be, and I certainly can finish up what needs to get done - as long as I use my time wisely. And, this realization means that weekends, for me, have now become weekends... the kinds of days where you head out to Rock Creek Park and take a nature walk or stop by Trohv to visit a pop-up coffee shop. It's pretty blissful.
Winter break followed along the same lines. The end of 2012 was filled with a certain craziness that only the holidays can bring - Christmas Eve service, followed by dinner at Lia's, Christmas Day festivities in Purcellville, an unexpected ice storm, a trip to Pennsylvania for more family time, wedding dress shopping, and an unexpected snow storm.
When we returned, we took it easy. Some trips to Silver Spring to watch the ice skaters and dance to the music as H&M. Two trips to Zoolights since we love it so much. And a fantastic spur-of-the-moment visit to the Baltimore Aquarium where we saw dolphins - aka pishy, pishy - and picked up a penguin puppet - aka guck, guck. We finished that night off with dinner at Phillips.
I know it probably shouldn't have taken this long, but after nineteen months, I feel a lot more comfortable with this new life I've got. And, while Mr. Beeton and I question ourselves everyday about our parenting choices, I think - hopefully - that maybe we're not doing all that badly at raising this little one.
I have to say that one of the absolute highlights of the winter break was Baby Beeton's finally embracing the word "Momma." He learned "Dada" very quickly and would use it in reference to both Mr. Beeton and myself. Sometime over winter break, though, it clicked, and now it's "Momma, Momma, Momma." I particularly like it when he says, "Momma. Sit," and pats the floor space next to him. In fact, he's doing all kinds of word combinations now - "Tickle, tickle, Ruby" and "Bye-bye Geek Geek (read: Curious George)." It's adorable. This is also probably why he decided for a week straight to wake up at 2:30 am, 3:30 am, or 4:30 am to face the day. He has a lot to say, and he won't let sleep stop him. I'm trying to take it all in stride, though.
I like this new normal.
Keep sweeping, Martha
PS - If you're looking to support a good cause, head over to Enjoying the Small Things where Kelle Hampton is raising money for The National Down Syndrome Society. She's already raised around $200,000!
Finished reading NW by Zadie Smith.
12.21.2012
'tis the season
I've been feeling a little down lately. I think the holidays are catching up with me. I was going strong for a while. We decorated the house with our Moravian star, outdoor lights, and window candles. We've been listening to Christmas carols at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, singing along loudly. And, I've drunk more than my share of gingerbread lattes. But, this week, this week, I crashed. It wasn't just the fact that TWO tree lots we visited were closed and that we ended up getting our tree at Home Depot where a bird pooped on my head. And, it also wasn't the fact that while we were enjoying blueberry pancakes at IHOP our Christmas tree - strapped to the roof of our car - was getting rained on in a torrential downpour. It certainly wasn't the fact that our credit card got declined at the IHOP for insufficient funds due to our overzealous holiday shopping. Instead, I think I've come down with Elf on the Shelf Syndrome.
Let me explain.
If it hadn't been for Petula Dvorak and her article in The Washington Post this past December I probably wouldn't have the language for what's been ailing me. But, when I read her article, it all made sense. Anyone who knows me knows that one of my deepest desires is to be "together." I want containers filled with crayons. I want to organize my jewelry in a spice rack. I want to be able to find my house keys. For goodness sake, why do you think I take my pen name from "Martha Stewart" and "Mrs. Beeton!" Those women have(had) it together. Yet sadly, there are no labeled containers of sugar here. No toile covered ironing boards on my watch. In this house, chaos seems to reign. And, the holidays are, for me, all about magnifying my inadequacies.
(Yes, that's laundry on the couch along with a frog, a Santa, some ornaments, bubble wrap, and a vacuum to show my good intentions.)
As one friend once described me: "Caroline has the uncanny ability to channel Bridget Jones (which means, while she might not actively seek out mischief and embarrassment, it finds her nonetheless)." Yup. That's me in a nutshell.
Dvorak's article helped to explain things a bit, though. If my stress is ten fold during a normal holiday season, imagine how intensified my anxiety becomes as a new parent. Not only must I find the perfect gifts for everyone on my list, but I've also got to find the perfect gifts for a pretty special little someone. And, I've got to secretly assume the role of that magical, marvelous "Ho Ho" - all while feeling pretty un-magical and un-marvelous. And now, according to Dvorak, I'm facing off not only against my inner Martha but also the crazy over-achieving parents she mentions in her article - the ones whose elves are having pillow fights and baking cookies! What's a mediocre mom to do?
Well, I think tonight this mom is going to stop sending her husband out to the store to find Christmas lights for the tree in the hopes that they can finally (FINALLY!) decorate it. And I may also just ignore this chaos in favor of a glass of wine and an episode of Revenge. I know the elf is watching. But quite frankly, I don't care.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Let me explain.
If it hadn't been for Petula Dvorak and her article in The Washington Post this past December I probably wouldn't have the language for what's been ailing me. But, when I read her article, it all made sense. Anyone who knows me knows that one of my deepest desires is to be "together." I want containers filled with crayons. I want to organize my jewelry in a spice rack. I want to be able to find my house keys. For goodness sake, why do you think I take my pen name from "Martha Stewart" and "Mrs. Beeton!" Those women have(had) it together. Yet sadly, there are no labeled containers of sugar here. No toile covered ironing boards on my watch. In this house, chaos seems to reign. And, the holidays are, for me, all about magnifying my inadequacies.
(Yes, that's laundry on the couch along with a frog, a Santa, some ornaments, bubble wrap, and a vacuum to show my good intentions.)
As one friend once described me: "Caroline has the uncanny ability to channel Bridget Jones (which means, while she might not actively seek out mischief and embarrassment, it finds her nonetheless)." Yup. That's me in a nutshell.
Dvorak's article helped to explain things a bit, though. If my stress is ten fold during a normal holiday season, imagine how intensified my anxiety becomes as a new parent. Not only must I find the perfect gifts for everyone on my list, but I've also got to find the perfect gifts for a pretty special little someone. And, I've got to secretly assume the role of that magical, marvelous "Ho Ho" - all while feeling pretty un-magical and un-marvelous. And now, according to Dvorak, I'm facing off not only against my inner Martha but also the crazy over-achieving parents she mentions in her article - the ones whose elves are having pillow fights and baking cookies! What's a mediocre mom to do?
Well, I think tonight this mom is going to stop sending her husband out to the store to find Christmas lights for the tree in the hopes that they can finally (FINALLY!) decorate it. And I may also just ignore this chaos in favor of a glass of wine and an episode of Revenge. I know the elf is watching. But quite frankly, I don't care.
Keep sweeping, Martha
10.13.2012
lunch is the new dinner
Dearest, dearest readers. I don't know what kind of voodoo magic you all have been doing on our behalf but whatever it is I thank you for it. Following that last post, we entered a divine week of really, really good sleep. And, as a result, I had been feeling like a million bucks. Of course, minor disruptions have set in again, but the memory of that week keeps me going.
I think another mood booster has been our commencement of "Date Fridays." Fridays originally began as a day devoted to work. It's the day when our babysitter C (who's so wonderful!) spends the afternoon with Baby Beeton, and it was our intention to spend the four hours that she's here working on whatever it is that we need to do (thinning plants, writing grants, revising chapters, assembling promotion materials - yikes!). But, after the first few weeks, we realized that all this work could be done outside of our home, that we could actually leave and return when her shift was done. So, we began going out to lunch and then heading somewhere to do work. This past Friday, we went to Busboys and Poets, and in weeks past, we've gone to Takoma Bistro, Adega, and Wasabi. And, we've found ourselves typing away in the Silver Spring Whole Foods, the Stamp Student Union, and the McKeldin Library. It's been the best way to end the work week and begin the weekend.
We even managed to sneak in a dinner date. We had intended to use a gift certificate we received for Christmas from two years ago (thanks K & B) to Marvin in the U. Street Corridor a few weeks ago. But instead, we spent the evening in the veterinary hospital with Ella who was attacked by a nasty, nasty dog on the Sligo Creek Trail (I'd love to track down the dog's owner who walked away rather quickly after the vicious attack and who most likely lives in one of those mansions lining the parkway... it would give me great satisfaction to present him with the $2000 bill!). Once Ella - and we - recovered, we decided to try again, and thanks to Grammy and Papa who came to sit with Henry, we were able to not only have a terrific meal but also join our friend E for her 30th birthday. I can't say that I've ever had a cocktail as delicious as the one I had that night (even if it cost $12 and took me 20 minutes to get). Unfortunately, I can't remember the name and googling "champagne" and "marvin" has produced ridiculous results.
In any case, that's a brief update from here. I realize that I'm long overdue for a post about Baby Beeton, but in order to do that, I need some photographs so that you can see our growing boy in all his glory (maybe today... we're headed to the pumpkin patch). Let me just say that lately, I feel a lot like I live in a zoo - "minou, minou, quack, quack, woof, woof."
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched What to Expect When You're Expecting and Conception. (I realize that there's a theme here, but don't worry, dear readers, it means nothing. Believe me.)
I think another mood booster has been our commencement of "Date Fridays." Fridays originally began as a day devoted to work. It's the day when our babysitter C (who's so wonderful!) spends the afternoon with Baby Beeton, and it was our intention to spend the four hours that she's here working on whatever it is that we need to do (thinning plants, writing grants, revising chapters, assembling promotion materials - yikes!). But, after the first few weeks, we realized that all this work could be done outside of our home, that we could actually leave and return when her shift was done. So, we began going out to lunch and then heading somewhere to do work. This past Friday, we went to Busboys and Poets, and in weeks past, we've gone to Takoma Bistro, Adega, and Wasabi. And, we've found ourselves typing away in the Silver Spring Whole Foods, the Stamp Student Union, and the McKeldin Library. It's been the best way to end the work week and begin the weekend.
We even managed to sneak in a dinner date. We had intended to use a gift certificate we received for Christmas from two years ago (thanks K & B) to Marvin in the U. Street Corridor a few weeks ago. But instead, we spent the evening in the veterinary hospital with Ella who was attacked by a nasty, nasty dog on the Sligo Creek Trail (I'd love to track down the dog's owner who walked away rather quickly after the vicious attack and who most likely lives in one of those mansions lining the parkway... it would give me great satisfaction to present him with the $2000 bill!). Once Ella - and we - recovered, we decided to try again, and thanks to Grammy and Papa who came to sit with Henry, we were able to not only have a terrific meal but also join our friend E for her 30th birthday. I can't say that I've ever had a cocktail as delicious as the one I had that night (even if it cost $12 and took me 20 minutes to get). Unfortunately, I can't remember the name and googling "champagne" and "marvin" has produced ridiculous results.
In any case, that's a brief update from here. I realize that I'm long overdue for a post about Baby Beeton, but in order to do that, I need some photographs so that you can see our growing boy in all his glory (maybe today... we're headed to the pumpkin patch). Let me just say that lately, I feel a lot like I live in a zoo - "minou, minou, quack, quack, woof, woof."
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched What to Expect When You're Expecting and Conception. (I realize that there's a theme here, but don't worry, dear readers, it means nothing. Believe me.)
9.03.2012
the dog days are over
It's not time yet, but I know that soon, very soon, we will be packing up the screened-in-porch and heading inside for good. It's only partly untrue that this space is one of the the only reasons I agreed to move. (Picture Anastasia from the Lois Lowry books, making a list of all the things she wanted before she would move out of Glover Park paradise... a screened-in-porch, on street parking, a garage, a yard... be careful what you wish for.) And we've made the most of it, eating every meal outside and spending most evenings there after dinner, playing with our toy car, practicing walking. We spruced it up significantly, painting the floor, adding a table built by my grandfather, some chairs left behind by the previous owner which we spray painted fiestaware colors. New chair cushions and colorful placemats. A bamboo rug. A $20 wicker loveseat from Craigslist (what would I do without Craig?), which we'll also spray paint. A new cushion and pillow. Lanterns from West Elm. It's definitely my favorite place to be. With a great view of our garden and all the "minou-minous" (i.e. alley cats), I can't think of a better place to close out summer.
Happy Labor Day!
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watching Revenge: Season 1.
Happy Labor Day!
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watching Revenge: Season 1.
7.31.2012
(not) time
Fair warning. This post is about breastfeeding. So, if you're not interested, just move on by. Nothing at all for you here.
Breastfeeding is definitely a topic that my mom would warn against posting about. She likes to remind me that my relatives read this blog. And, she does not feel - as many Generation X, Y, and Zers feel - that it is okay to publish every little thing you do on the web. But, I feel as though something that I devoted myself to for that past 14 months deserves at least one post. Right?
Have you ever seen the movie, Lovely & Amazing? If you haven't, you should. It's just as the title describes. In it, Catherine Keener plays a character who feels like a failure in nearly every aspect of her life. She goes to a launch party for her sister, who is an actress, and when people engage her in small talk, all she can do is go on and on about how she delivered her child naturally. She keeps saying that it was her biggest accomplishment.
Sometimes, when I think back on this past year, I feel like Catherine Keener's character. When I'm low or feeling inadequate (which, if you've been reading this blog, has pretty much been the entire first year of Baby Beeton's life), I think to myself, "But I'm breastfeeding." Silly, I know. I'm sure if I said that to some agent at a launch party they'd walk away from me, too.
This road for me has been really hard, and the breastfeeding road, specifically, wasn't exactly easy. With the complications from the surgery, I had to stop breastfeeding for about two weeks or so. And, then, like a lot of women, I had some trouble early on. The Breastfeeding Center of D.C. was on speed dial. There was an uncomfortable trip to Chicago, some fights with that blasted pump, and the discovery of Lecithin. Finally, I gave up on pumping entirely and let my body do what it needed to do. When that happened, it got easy.
And, then, about a week ago, Baby Beeton decided he was done. I had been slowly phasing out feedings so that we were down to first thing in the morning and before bed. Then, we tried skipping the morning feeding, and Baby Beeton didn't seem to notice. Instead, he seemed to really enjoy sipping his whole milk while taking Ella for her morning walk. We had planned to stop the night feeding when Mr. Beeton finished with science camp, but smack-dab in the middle of that week, Baby Beeton was more interested in flipping through pop-up books than nursing. I took it as a sign. And here we are. Weaned at fourteen months.
I realize that breastfeeding is a completely normal, natural thing for a woman to do, but I also think in this day and age woman can face a lot of opposition in making this choice. Abbreviated maternity leave. Little or no insurance coverage for lactation services. The normalization of bottle feeding. Articles like the Time Magazine one don't help. But, I think one of the biggest obstacles is the lack of a supportive environment. Luckily, that wasn't the case for me. I can honestly say that I owe my breastfeeding success to my dear friend C who lent me lots of books and who reminded me when things got tough that it would one day get easier (I didn't believe her, but she was so right!) and the moms in my weekly-meeting mom group (I could go on and on about these women, and I will in a future post!). Breastfeeding in that environment was easy because so many of them elected to do so. As a result, we were able to help each other out during the whole process from sharing what pumps worked best to what places sold the trendiest nursing tops. Having the support of these women made me feel more secure in my decision.*
I remember reading Sherry's post on Young House Love when she finished nursing her daughter and thinking, "Holy smokes! How did she make it that long? And without pumping? Ever?" I re-read the post the other day, and I realized that Baby Beeton was about the same age as her daughter when he moved on - 14 months! Made me feel a little proud of both me and my baby.
In celebration, Mr. Beeton is taking me out for drinks (ah, drinks!) and dinner at Marvin. His idea, not mine. I thought it was sweet that he wanted to mark the occasion. Because, after all, it's a milestone, worth of being recorded - even if it's on the web.
Keep sweeping, Martha
* I should note that all the moms in my group were equally supportive of the bottle feeding moms (as I am, too!). That's something I love about these ladies. They embrace the feminist notion of choice.
Breastfeeding is definitely a topic that my mom would warn against posting about. She likes to remind me that my relatives read this blog. And, she does not feel - as many Generation X, Y, and Zers feel - that it is okay to publish every little thing you do on the web. But, I feel as though something that I devoted myself to for that past 14 months deserves at least one post. Right?
Have you ever seen the movie, Lovely & Amazing? If you haven't, you should. It's just as the title describes. In it, Catherine Keener plays a character who feels like a failure in nearly every aspect of her life. She goes to a launch party for her sister, who is an actress, and when people engage her in small talk, all she can do is go on and on about how she delivered her child naturally. She keeps saying that it was her biggest accomplishment.
Sometimes, when I think back on this past year, I feel like Catherine Keener's character. When I'm low or feeling inadequate (which, if you've been reading this blog, has pretty much been the entire first year of Baby Beeton's life), I think to myself, "But I'm breastfeeding." Silly, I know. I'm sure if I said that to some agent at a launch party they'd walk away from me, too.
This road for me has been really hard, and the breastfeeding road, specifically, wasn't exactly easy. With the complications from the surgery, I had to stop breastfeeding for about two weeks or so. And, then, like a lot of women, I had some trouble early on. The Breastfeeding Center of D.C. was on speed dial. There was an uncomfortable trip to Chicago, some fights with that blasted pump, and the discovery of Lecithin. Finally, I gave up on pumping entirely and let my body do what it needed to do. When that happened, it got easy.
And, then, about a week ago, Baby Beeton decided he was done. I had been slowly phasing out feedings so that we were down to first thing in the morning and before bed. Then, we tried skipping the morning feeding, and Baby Beeton didn't seem to notice. Instead, he seemed to really enjoy sipping his whole milk while taking Ella for her morning walk. We had planned to stop the night feeding when Mr. Beeton finished with science camp, but smack-dab in the middle of that week, Baby Beeton was more interested in flipping through pop-up books than nursing. I took it as a sign. And here we are. Weaned at fourteen months.
I realize that breastfeeding is a completely normal, natural thing for a woman to do, but I also think in this day and age woman can face a lot of opposition in making this choice. Abbreviated maternity leave. Little or no insurance coverage for lactation services. The normalization of bottle feeding. Articles like the Time Magazine one don't help. But, I think one of the biggest obstacles is the lack of a supportive environment. Luckily, that wasn't the case for me. I can honestly say that I owe my breastfeeding success to my dear friend C who lent me lots of books and who reminded me when things got tough that it would one day get easier (I didn't believe her, but she was so right!) and the moms in my weekly-meeting mom group (I could go on and on about these women, and I will in a future post!). Breastfeeding in that environment was easy because so many of them elected to do so. As a result, we were able to help each other out during the whole process from sharing what pumps worked best to what places sold the trendiest nursing tops. Having the support of these women made me feel more secure in my decision.*
I remember reading Sherry's post on Young House Love when she finished nursing her daughter and thinking, "Holy smokes! How did she make it that long? And without pumping? Ever?" I re-read the post the other day, and I realized that Baby Beeton was about the same age as her daughter when he moved on - 14 months! Made me feel a little proud of both me and my baby.
In celebration, Mr. Beeton is taking me out for drinks (ah, drinks!) and dinner at Marvin. His idea, not mine. I thought it was sweet that he wanted to mark the occasion. Because, after all, it's a milestone, worth of being recorded - even if it's on the web.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched Friends With Kids.
* I should note that all the moms in my group were equally supportive of the bottle feeding moms (as I am, too!). That's something I love about these ladies. They embrace the feminist notion of choice.
4.10.2012
my oh my
I love mornings.
I know. Who would have ever thought I would write those words? Mornings have never been my cup of tea. I cried each and every morning I had to get up to go to high school. I gagged my way through breakfast when I worked as a teacher's aide in a junior high school for two years after college. That's why I've always taught college classes that began after 10 a.m. (except for one miserable summer in graduate school when I was assigned "Business Writing" at 8 a.m. ... I must have made someone very mad).
But, lately, mornings are my favorite part of the day. Baby Beeton will wake up and nurse. We'll head downstairs to take Ella for a walk. We'll come back and have breakfast. Since Baby Beeton is mostly interested in finger foods, I'll try to give him some oatmeal and fruit, but he'll end up just gobbling down cheerios dipped in yogurt, toast with fruit spread, and chunks of soft fruit like bananas and pears. Feeding him is so much fun. He loves to eat and gets to excited to try out any little thing he can pinch! Then, when he's done, we'll head downstairs to the basement playroom (which, while carpeted and painted - finally - has no furniture in it as of yet... it's actually a good thing because head-hitting hazards have been eliminated) for a while. And, then before you know it, it's nap time. Baby Beeton is usually so tired from eating and playing that he'll go down very easy. These mornings have a sweet predictability, which I've come to love.
And, when a morning like this is followed by a two hour nap, that makes it all the sweeter. If it hadn't been 10 am when this respite started, I would have made myself a cocktail - a Pimm's cup to be precise. This drink is going to be my new drink of summer because it's just so tasty (and makes me feel like a Grantham). You just take Pimm's, mix it with lemonade (I like the sparkling kind), and add a few slices of cucumber. When our tax return comes rolling in, you can find me sitting on something like this on my screened-in-porch with lanterns like these reminding me that summer is the best time of the year. I'll be drinking a Pimm's cup and toasting to breakfast.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched Young Adult.
I know. Who would have ever thought I would write those words? Mornings have never been my cup of tea. I cried each and every morning I had to get up to go to high school. I gagged my way through breakfast when I worked as a teacher's aide in a junior high school for two years after college. That's why I've always taught college classes that began after 10 a.m. (except for one miserable summer in graduate school when I was assigned "Business Writing" at 8 a.m. ... I must have made someone very mad).
But, lately, mornings are my favorite part of the day. Baby Beeton will wake up and nurse. We'll head downstairs to take Ella for a walk. We'll come back and have breakfast. Since Baby Beeton is mostly interested in finger foods, I'll try to give him some oatmeal and fruit, but he'll end up just gobbling down cheerios dipped in yogurt, toast with fruit spread, and chunks of soft fruit like bananas and pears. Feeding him is so much fun. He loves to eat and gets to excited to try out any little thing he can pinch! Then, when he's done, we'll head downstairs to the basement playroom (which, while carpeted and painted - finally - has no furniture in it as of yet... it's actually a good thing because head-hitting hazards have been eliminated) for a while. And, then before you know it, it's nap time. Baby Beeton is usually so tired from eating and playing that he'll go down very easy. These mornings have a sweet predictability, which I've come to love.
And, when a morning like this is followed by a two hour nap, that makes it all the sweeter. If it hadn't been 10 am when this respite started, I would have made myself a cocktail - a Pimm's cup to be precise. This drink is going to be my new drink of summer because it's just so tasty (and makes me feel like a Grantham). You just take Pimm's, mix it with lemonade (I like the sparkling kind), and add a few slices of cucumber. When our tax return comes rolling in, you can find me sitting on something like this on my screened-in-porch with lanterns like these reminding me that summer is the best time of the year. I'll be drinking a Pimm's cup and toasting to breakfast.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched Young Adult.
3.21.2012
bliss
I know I should be writing right now about our fabulous trip to Rochester (and it was fabulous)... but, Mr. Beeton is at school, working on his plants, and Baby Beeton is asleep (knock wood). That means right now it's me, Ella, a big bowl of yogurt, granola, and honey, and an episode of Bethenny Ever After. See the title of this post.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Finished reading Origin by Diana Abu-Jaber.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Finished reading Origin by Diana Abu-Jaber.
2.05.2012
12.30.2011
in three quarters time
Before my due date, I remember there being a lot of discussion from "seasoned moms" about the best baby gifts that they received. Some said that the casseroles they received were life savers; others thought that nothing could be better than a month's subscription to a cleaning service. But, to me, the best gift that anyone mentioned was the one that my sister-in-law A got from her sister L.
I remember A telling me how when my niece was born her sister would get up each morning when Lil M awoke and take her downstairs so that A could get a few more hours of rest after a restless night. I remember thinking how thoughtful it was of L and how grateful A must have been for the additional rest. And, since Baby Beeton's birth, I often think about that story, how wonderful it must have been to drift back to sleep, knowing full well that you needn't worry because someone you loved and trusted was with your baby.
Around here, it's been me, Mr. Beeton, Ella, and Baby Beeton most of the time. We don't have lots of friends and family stopping by to visit or help out. And, we haven't found a babysitter that we trust. While I love our little family, sometimes it would be nice to have a bit of a break - to have a glass of wine at Cedar Crossing with my husband, to paint the basement without having to first mastermind a safe space down there for Baby Beeton to hang out while we work, to nap without worrying that we're letting each other down.
We got that little break over Christmas when we stayed at my parents' house in Pennsylvania. Nana, Pops, and Auntie M were all on hand to play with Baby Beeton, to keep him entertained, to hold him while I tried on some desperately needed new clothes, to watch him while we went out to eat. While we didn't sleep well, I napped and felt more relaxed than I have in months. Having that kind of love and support not just over the phone but in person was wonderful. I didn't realize how much I needed it until I had it.
So, while we've gotten some great presents and eaten some fabulous holiday food, what I'll remember most about this Christmas is that time we spent in Pennsylvania, feeling like it wasn't just us against the world, feeling like we had a little extra wind at our back.
To me, that was the greatest gift of all.
Happy New Year!
Martha
I remember A telling me how when my niece was born her sister would get up each morning when Lil M awoke and take her downstairs so that A could get a few more hours of rest after a restless night. I remember thinking how thoughtful it was of L and how grateful A must have been for the additional rest. And, since Baby Beeton's birth, I often think about that story, how wonderful it must have been to drift back to sleep, knowing full well that you needn't worry because someone you loved and trusted was with your baby.
Around here, it's been me, Mr. Beeton, Ella, and Baby Beeton most of the time. We don't have lots of friends and family stopping by to visit or help out. And, we haven't found a babysitter that we trust. While I love our little family, sometimes it would be nice to have a bit of a break - to have a glass of wine at Cedar Crossing with my husband, to paint the basement without having to first mastermind a safe space down there for Baby Beeton to hang out while we work, to nap without worrying that we're letting each other down.
We got that little break over Christmas when we stayed at my parents' house in Pennsylvania. Nana, Pops, and Auntie M were all on hand to play with Baby Beeton, to keep him entertained, to hold him while I tried on some desperately needed new clothes, to watch him while we went out to eat. While we didn't sleep well, I napped and felt more relaxed than I have in months. Having that kind of love and support not just over the phone but in person was wonderful. I didn't realize how much I needed it until I had it.
So, while we've gotten some great presents and eaten some fabulous holiday food, what I'll remember most about this Christmas is that time we spent in Pennsylvania, feeling like it wasn't just us against the world, feeling like we had a little extra wind at our back.
To me, that was the greatest gift of all.
Happy New Year!
Martha
11.15.2011
the hope is
I didn't wake up tired this morning. Instead, I fed Baby Beeton while I was fully awake, and the two of us slipped out of the room when we were finished - Ella at our heels - to let Mr. Beeton get a few more hours of rest. We played downstairs, practiced sitting up. I was able to eat breakfast, get laundry put away, and straighten up the living room. When Mr. Beeton woke up, he watched Baby Beeton for a while so that I could get some work done on my editing project. Baby Beeton took a long morning nap. Then, we all went for a family walk, which was followed by another nap. More playtime, dinner, and bath. And, now, the Baby is swaddled, fast asleep.
Today was a good day.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched Bad Teacher.
Today was a good day.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched Bad Teacher.
10.14.2011
"a place where we ache to go again"
Lately, I've noticed that when Friday hits I forget that's it's actually Friday - the start of the weekend, a night to unwind. Our days around here have always been much less structured than other people's days (one of the luxuries of being in academia), but with Baby Beeton, they have taken on this eerily similar quality. One day runs into the next with feedings, playtime, naps, and nightly bedtime battles. Not much marks the difference between a Tuesday and a Wednesday.
Tonight, I decided we needed to do something, anything, to kick off the weekend, a small attempt to reclaim just a little bit of our old life. It's been heavily raining the last few days, but around 2:30 pm today, the clouds broke, and the sun was shining. The heavy humidity lifted as well, and it felt the way a day in October should feel. We packed up Baby Beeton and Ella and headed to Glen Echo Park - which began as a National Chautauqua Assembly in 1891 (read up on the Chautauqua movement - it's fascinating!) and served as an amusement park until 1968.
Now, there are a host of little buildings devoted to various arts, a ballroom, a playground, and the old carousel. They have all sorts of good stuff - especially in the summer - like puppet shows and concerts, and today we saw a wedding with the reception all laid out in the old bumper car area.
We walked around for a while, gawked at the bride, and swung on the swings. We were even able to get dinner from the concession stand and eat it out on the picnic benches.
But, perhaps the best part of the whole day was in the parking lot when we pushed Baby Beeton really fast in the stroller and heard his first squeal of delight - genuine laughter! Of course, we made him do it over and over again. I'd say that that's a pretty good way to get the weekend started.
Keep sweeping (or swinging), Martha
Tonight, I decided we needed to do something, anything, to kick off the weekend, a small attempt to reclaim just a little bit of our old life. It's been heavily raining the last few days, but around 2:30 pm today, the clouds broke, and the sun was shining. The heavy humidity lifted as well, and it felt the way a day in October should feel. We packed up Baby Beeton and Ella and headed to Glen Echo Park - which began as a National Chautauqua Assembly in 1891 (read up on the Chautauqua movement - it's fascinating!) and served as an amusement park until 1968.
Now, there are a host of little buildings devoted to various arts, a ballroom, a playground, and the old carousel. They have all sorts of good stuff - especially in the summer - like puppet shows and concerts, and today we saw a wedding with the reception all laid out in the old bumper car area.
We walked around for a while, gawked at the bride, and swung on the swings. We were even able to get dinner from the concession stand and eat it out on the picnic benches.
But, perhaps the best part of the whole day was in the parking lot when we pushed Baby Beeton really fast in the stroller and heard his first squeal of delight - genuine laughter! Of course, we made him do it over and over again. I'd say that that's a pretty good way to get the weekend started.
Keep sweeping (or swinging), Martha
9.18.2011
simple kind of life
Holy cow. This parenting thing is hard.
When I was pregnant, I got a kick out of how all the doctors I saw insisted on bringing up repeatedly the fact that I was A.M.A. For those of you who are not in the know, that means "Advanced Maternal Age." I laughed when they said it. After all, though I may be 37 years old, I still feel like a 14 year old. But lately, I've been wondering if they were right to draw my attention to my A.M.A. Parenting certainly is exhausting. Teaching, researching, writing can in no way compare. Caring for Baby Beeton day in and day out is like an extended lesson on a really boring topic, like the proper use of the semi-colon - you've got to get psyched to face your audience, you've got to make it entertaining, and you've got to be energetic. When Baby Beeton hits the sack at 8 pm, I feel all of the energy drain out of my body... until he wakes up again for that 1 am feeding. Then, I've got to switch it on again.
Maybe I would have been better off starting this family a little earlier.
After Baby Beeton was born, I found myself thinking with nostalgia about when I first moved to D.C. I lived in a tiny studio apartment on Wisconsin Avenue. I taught only two classes a semester. And, most days, when I finished teaching class at 2:15 pm, I'd head home to walk Ella and take a snooze on my balcony. I was spoiled, even if I didn't know it at the time. In that actual moment, I remember being pretty miserable. I didn't have many friends; I struggled to make sense of my students who were so very different from the students at the University of Delaware. I felt like I was super busy and super stressed. I didn't know what busy and stressed really look like.
But this past week was a nice calm. It made me think that maybe - just maybe - this is what is in store for me. And, if so, I like it. Monday, Baby Beeton and I walked up to McDonald's for a coffee. We came home and napped together. On Wednesday, we went to the local new moms' group, and when we got home, Baby Beeton napped while I read. Thursday, I headed to Figs to have lunch by myself and really start working on this book I'm supposed to be writing. On Friday, Baby Beeton and I drove out to Leesburg to spent the day shopping with Grammy Beeton. And, on Saturday, we had our neighbors now friends over for dinner. I found myself - during this week - finding pockets of time where everything felt like my same old normal life, only quite a bit better. Like I said, if most weeks are going to be like this, I'll take it. I've got to remember these moments for what they really are.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Finished reading A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (definitely going on my top books of all time list).
When I was pregnant, I got a kick out of how all the doctors I saw insisted on bringing up repeatedly the fact that I was A.M.A. For those of you who are not in the know, that means "Advanced Maternal Age." I laughed when they said it. After all, though I may be 37 years old, I still feel like a 14 year old. But lately, I've been wondering if they were right to draw my attention to my A.M.A. Parenting certainly is exhausting. Teaching, researching, writing can in no way compare. Caring for Baby Beeton day in and day out is like an extended lesson on a really boring topic, like the proper use of the semi-colon - you've got to get psyched to face your audience, you've got to make it entertaining, and you've got to be energetic. When Baby Beeton hits the sack at 8 pm, I feel all of the energy drain out of my body... until he wakes up again for that 1 am feeding. Then, I've got to switch it on again.
Maybe I would have been better off starting this family a little earlier.
After Baby Beeton was born, I found myself thinking with nostalgia about when I first moved to D.C. I lived in a tiny studio apartment on Wisconsin Avenue. I taught only two classes a semester. And, most days, when I finished teaching class at 2:15 pm, I'd head home to walk Ella and take a snooze on my balcony. I was spoiled, even if I didn't know it at the time. In that actual moment, I remember being pretty miserable. I didn't have many friends; I struggled to make sense of my students who were so very different from the students at the University of Delaware. I felt like I was super busy and super stressed. I didn't know what busy and stressed really look like.
But this past week was a nice calm. It made me think that maybe - just maybe - this is what is in store for me. And, if so, I like it. Monday, Baby Beeton and I walked up to McDonald's for a coffee. We came home and napped together. On Wednesday, we went to the local new moms' group, and when we got home, Baby Beeton napped while I read. Thursday, I headed to Figs to have lunch by myself and really start working on this book I'm supposed to be writing. On Friday, Baby Beeton and I drove out to Leesburg to spent the day shopping with Grammy Beeton. And, on Saturday, we had our neighbors now friends over for dinner. I found myself - during this week - finding pockets of time where everything felt like my same old normal life, only quite a bit better. Like I said, if most weeks are going to be like this, I'll take it. I've got to remember these moments for what they really are.
Keep sweeping, MarthaFinished reading A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (definitely going on my top books of all time list).
8.30.2011
dear future martha
When we were visiting family in Chicago at the end of July, K's mom said, "Just wait until three months. Everything changes then." Today I was thinking I should write a note to my future self, detailing what's important to keep in mind when facing life with a newborn. The opening line would be, "Remember what K's mom said. She was so very right."
I can't believe how much things have changed in the last two weeks. When Baby Beeton first smiled, things began to get lighter, easier, and then, lately, things have really settled down. We've gotten into a groove with feeding. I no longer feel constantly stressed about the upcoming meal. He's much, much more active, wildly moving his arms and legs and grinning widely at everything Mr. Beeton, Ella, and I do. Being more active means he's sleeping more regularly. Usually (knock wood), he'll go to sleep between 7-9 pm, sleep until 1-2 am, eat, and then go back down until about 7 am (we're so lucky, I know). He's also started to nap more regularly (thanks to K's sister K's recommendation - Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child). Usually, a morning nap in the Snugabunny bouncer and an afternoon nap with Momma and Daddy or in his crib. I've never been one to crave a routine (I mean, just look at my profession), but with Baby Beeton, a routine has made all the difference in my sanity. I love it.
These are the things that I need to remind my future self of if and when my future self begins thinking about adding another one to our pack. Grins and naps... and all the items that have made my life a little bit easier these past few months. When we registered for our showers, we didn't know what the heck we were doing, but we made our best guesses. Some of our requests were hits; some misses. Here is a short list of my favorites...
1. Fisher Price Surround Sounds and Lights Monitor - Lots of people advised us that a video monitor was the only way to go, the only way that we would get peace of mind. But, we're frugal people, and we couldn't see spending that kind of money (or expecting someone else to spend that kind of money) on a baby monitor. This is the one that we ended up getting, and it's served us very well. We don't live in a mansion, so we probably could have done without a monitor. But having this on at night when Baby Beeton is upstairs makes me more relaxed.
2. Halo Sleepsack Swaddle - Mr. Beeton would disagree with me on this one. He thinks a good old fashioned blanket swaddle is best, but I had such trouble with that method that when a friend of mine from college gave us this velcro number as a gift I was over the moon. No more needing to wake up Mr. Beeton in the middle of the night and say, "Can you swaddle him?" (Baby Beeton, by the way, is addicted to swaddling. He can't get enough of it. I had to rush order a bigger one for him today since he seemed to grow out of his old one over night.)
3. The Rachel Bag by Timi and Leslie - I love, love, love this diaper bag precisely because it doesn't look like a diaper bag. But, it's got all these fabulous pockets and baby accessories that hide inside it. When I sling it over my shoulder, I hear Stacy London say, "What a cute mom-on-the-go!"
4. Anything that gets me out of the house (i.e. our stroller, our Ergo baby carrier, and/or our Baby Bjorn) - We have a variety of methods for getting out of the house, depending on Baby Beeton's mood. We scored our stroller, which is a Bugaboo Gecko, on Craigslist; a very tall woman (who lived in this amazing green building in Silver Spring) decided to sell it for half the price because she was frustrated that it didn't have an adjustable handle. We got the bassinet, the upright stroller, and the car seat converter from her for multiple means of travel. Our his and her baby carriers (Ergo for Mr. Beeton and Baby Bjorn for me) are for when we don't want to lug out the cumbersome stroller or when we want a guarantee that Baby Beeton will remain calm (he loves to be "babyworn" as much as he loves swaddling).
5. Anything Boppy - Originally, I had asked for the Boppy to help out with breastfeeding, but it doesn't really work for me in the way that I expected. Instead, I prop it behind me when I'm feeding Baby Beeton. But, it's best for morning playtime. Baby Beeton likes to sit in it and laugh and laugh and laugh. Oh, and the Boppy changing pad sets are a lifesaver. We use them in the bassinet, in the carriage, and on the changing table. Instead of constantly changing and washing sheets, we can just throw the pads in the wash when spit up occurs.
6. Breastfeeding has been a challenge for me. I must remind myself that this is not my fault for a host of reasons, including Baby Beeton losing more weight than he should have his first few days out, the crazy antibiotics I was prescribed that unleashed their havoc on my system, and my tendency to be susceptible to blocked milk ducts. There's a host of products that have made this unpleasant obligation a little more bearable (see here, here, here, here, and here... ooo! and all the herbal remedies recommended by the women working here). (By the way, things are now going swimmingly... head control makes all the difference.)
7. Angel Dear - How sweet is this little blankie? We call him Zboo, and we take him wherever we go. Thanks, Auntie M.
8. 3marthas.com burp cloths - My hairdresser at Georgetown Aveda gave Baby Beeton a "Welcome to the World" gift from Dawn Price Baby - a bib and burp cloth from 3marthas.com. I love, love, love these burp cloths. They are not only functional (essentially a cloth diaper) but also stylish (the cute little sewed on characters add flair).
9. Books, books, and more books - At all three of my showers, we got lots of books for our little prince. Right now, our favorite is Henry and Ribsy (thanks Honorary Aunt J).
10. Wee Gallery Art Cards - I admit. I was skeptical about this one. The description alone made me want to cringe: "Wee Gallery art cards are created from bold, whimsical, hand-painted originals that cater to a baby's visual strengths. The black and white images and their repeating patterns captivate little ones. Place them in the crib to transform it into a wee gallery or use them as flash cards for older children." How pretentious. But, they are pretty fabulous - especially the free ones that came from a formula company. We like them so much that we made a mobile out of them.
A friend of mind teased that any good shopaholic would be delighted to have an addition to her family. After all, a whole new world of shopping opens up. I have to agree, though with our little one comes even more limited resources. So, I'll bookmark this post to reference if the future brings more Baby Beetons. Stocking up on the essentials and eliminating the dross means more money to pour into our very own little Money Pit.
Keep sweeping, Martha
I can't believe how much things have changed in the last two weeks. When Baby Beeton first smiled, things began to get lighter, easier, and then, lately, things have really settled down. We've gotten into a groove with feeding. I no longer feel constantly stressed about the upcoming meal. He's much, much more active, wildly moving his arms and legs and grinning widely at everything Mr. Beeton, Ella, and I do. Being more active means he's sleeping more regularly. Usually (knock wood), he'll go to sleep between 7-9 pm, sleep until 1-2 am, eat, and then go back down until about 7 am (we're so lucky, I know). He's also started to nap more regularly (thanks to K's sister K's recommendation - Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child). Usually, a morning nap in the Snugabunny bouncer and an afternoon nap with Momma and Daddy or in his crib. I've never been one to crave a routine (I mean, just look at my profession), but with Baby Beeton, a routine has made all the difference in my sanity. I love it.
These are the things that I need to remind my future self of if and when my future self begins thinking about adding another one to our pack. Grins and naps... and all the items that have made my life a little bit easier these past few months. When we registered for our showers, we didn't know what the heck we were doing, but we made our best guesses. Some of our requests were hits; some misses. Here is a short list of my favorites...
1. Fisher Price Surround Sounds and Lights Monitor - Lots of people advised us that a video monitor was the only way to go, the only way that we would get peace of mind. But, we're frugal people, and we couldn't see spending that kind of money (or expecting someone else to spend that kind of money) on a baby monitor. This is the one that we ended up getting, and it's served us very well. We don't live in a mansion, so we probably could have done without a monitor. But having this on at night when Baby Beeton is upstairs makes me more relaxed.
2. Halo Sleepsack Swaddle - Mr. Beeton would disagree with me on this one. He thinks a good old fashioned blanket swaddle is best, but I had such trouble with that method that when a friend of mine from college gave us this velcro number as a gift I was over the moon. No more needing to wake up Mr. Beeton in the middle of the night and say, "Can you swaddle him?" (Baby Beeton, by the way, is addicted to swaddling. He can't get enough of it. I had to rush order a bigger one for him today since he seemed to grow out of his old one over night.)
3. The Rachel Bag by Timi and Leslie - I love, love, love this diaper bag precisely because it doesn't look like a diaper bag. But, it's got all these fabulous pockets and baby accessories that hide inside it. When I sling it over my shoulder, I hear Stacy London say, "What a cute mom-on-the-go!"
4. Anything that gets me out of the house (i.e. our stroller, our Ergo baby carrier, and/or our Baby Bjorn) - We have a variety of methods for getting out of the house, depending on Baby Beeton's mood. We scored our stroller, which is a Bugaboo Gecko, on Craigslist; a very tall woman (who lived in this amazing green building in Silver Spring) decided to sell it for half the price because she was frustrated that it didn't have an adjustable handle. We got the bassinet, the upright stroller, and the car seat converter from her for multiple means of travel. Our his and her baby carriers (Ergo for Mr. Beeton and Baby Bjorn for me) are for when we don't want to lug out the cumbersome stroller or when we want a guarantee that Baby Beeton will remain calm (he loves to be "babyworn" as much as he loves swaddling).
5. Anything Boppy - Originally, I had asked for the Boppy to help out with breastfeeding, but it doesn't really work for me in the way that I expected. Instead, I prop it behind me when I'm feeding Baby Beeton. But, it's best for morning playtime. Baby Beeton likes to sit in it and laugh and laugh and laugh. Oh, and the Boppy changing pad sets are a lifesaver. We use them in the bassinet, in the carriage, and on the changing table. Instead of constantly changing and washing sheets, we can just throw the pads in the wash when spit up occurs.
6. Breastfeeding has been a challenge for me. I must remind myself that this is not my fault for a host of reasons, including Baby Beeton losing more weight than he should have his first few days out, the crazy antibiotics I was prescribed that unleashed their havoc on my system, and my tendency to be susceptible to blocked milk ducts. There's a host of products that have made this unpleasant obligation a little more bearable (see here, here, here, here, and here... ooo! and all the herbal remedies recommended by the women working here). (By the way, things are now going swimmingly... head control makes all the difference.)
7. Angel Dear - How sweet is this little blankie? We call him Zboo, and we take him wherever we go. Thanks, Auntie M.
8. 3marthas.com burp cloths - My hairdresser at Georgetown Aveda gave Baby Beeton a "Welcome to the World" gift from Dawn Price Baby - a bib and burp cloth from 3marthas.com. I love, love, love these burp cloths. They are not only functional (essentially a cloth diaper) but also stylish (the cute little sewed on characters add flair).
9. Books, books, and more books - At all three of my showers, we got lots of books for our little prince. Right now, our favorite is Henry and Ribsy (thanks Honorary Aunt J).
10. Wee Gallery Art Cards - I admit. I was skeptical about this one. The description alone made me want to cringe: "Wee Gallery art cards are created from bold, whimsical, hand-painted originals that cater to a baby's visual strengths. The black and white images and their repeating patterns captivate little ones. Place them in the crib to transform it into a wee gallery or use them as flash cards for older children." How pretentious. But, they are pretty fabulous - especially the free ones that came from a formula company. We like them so much that we made a mobile out of them.
A friend of mind teased that any good shopaholic would be delighted to have an addition to her family. After all, a whole new world of shopping opens up. I have to agree, though with our little one comes even more limited resources. So, I'll bookmark this post to reference if the future brings more Baby Beetons. Stocking up on the essentials and eliminating the dross means more money to pour into our very own little Money Pit.
Keep sweeping, Martha
8.19.2011
going public
Mr. Beeton wisely informed me that in linking to my sister-in-law's blog in my last post that my anonymity would no longer be in tact. You may have probably guessed from reading this blog that my name isn't Martha Beeton (in fact, that's a nom de plume I came up with from two of my idols - Martha Stewart and Mrs. Beeton of the book of household management), my husband's name isn't Mr., my dog's name isn't Ella (shortened from Nigella, another domestic goddess), and my new baby's name isn't Baby. I suppose when I started this blog I was afraid of getting dooced, but then I quickly realized that aside from my occasional complaint about having too many papers to read I haven't really written anything controversial enough to get me fired from my job at The First President University. And, now that Baby Beeton is here and we're taking pictures left and right, I want to be able to post them without linking to my Flickr account. Like this one here...
Isn't it cute?
It's from our 48-hour stay in Ocean City, New Jersey where we spent some time visiting with my mom, dad, Auntie M, her Lord Boyfriend, my brother, his wife, and their darling Little M. We also got to see my Uncle T though, sadly, we missed visiting with my cousins from Maine because one of the kids had a bit of the stomach flu (we didn't think Baby Beeton could handle those germs right now). Though we didn't get to the beach (except to snap this shot), we did get to walk the boardwalk and pick up some salt water taffy from Shrivers.
Another highlight of our visit was Little M's love of Baby Beeton. You see, Little M is expecting a brother in September - for now nicknamed Baby Puddin' - so she was pleased as punch to be able to have a temporary little brother all to herself. She helped Baby Beeton take a bath; she read him stories; and she sweetly asked, "May I pat Baby Beeton on the head?" and "May I tickle Baby Beeton?" She's going to be a great big sister, and she's going to love her little brother just like I loved her dad - my little brother - when he was born. I hope they have as much fun playing pretend as we did (cue the Monkees soundtrack here).
Keep sweeping, Martha
Isn't it cute?
It's from our 48-hour stay in Ocean City, New Jersey where we spent some time visiting with my mom, dad, Auntie M, her Lord Boyfriend, my brother, his wife, and their darling Little M. We also got to see my Uncle T though, sadly, we missed visiting with my cousins from Maine because one of the kids had a bit of the stomach flu (we didn't think Baby Beeton could handle those germs right now). Though we didn't get to the beach (except to snap this shot), we did get to walk the boardwalk and pick up some salt water taffy from Shrivers.
Another highlight of our visit was Little M's love of Baby Beeton. You see, Little M is expecting a brother in September - for now nicknamed Baby Puddin' - so she was pleased as punch to be able to have a temporary little brother all to herself. She helped Baby Beeton take a bath; she read him stories; and she sweetly asked, "May I pat Baby Beeton on the head?" and "May I tickle Baby Beeton?" She's going to be a great big sister, and she's going to love her little brother just like I loved her dad - my little brother - when he was born. I hope they have as much fun playing pretend as we did (cue the Monkees soundtrack here).
Keep sweeping, Martha
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