The Weekend Was GOOD

After all my complaining about the past week, we really got a lot of bang for our buck out of the one day we had Dylan at home. He arrived on Friday evening, and Gavin was so happy to have Daddy get him out of bed on Saturday morning. It's no secret that Daddy is his favorite, and this was evident over the weekend more than ever. In following tradition, we had donuts for breakfast because Dylan was home from a trip. Except we didn't bring them to the playground because it was 204 degrees outside, and also Gavin was the only one to enjoy the over-indulgent treat this time. D took G to the gas station down the road where he carefully picked out his donut, and that was that.

Saturday afternoon found us at the Jordans' house for swimming and a BBQ. It was terribly hot outside, but we stayed in the shade and dipped in the pool, and it was perfectly enjoyable! Elaine and I relaxed on the swim step, Graham enjoyed sitting in my lap in the water and Gavin and Luke splashed around with their dads. It's most definitely summertime. The food was excellent. Thanks for having us, S&E!

We had a make-up swim lesson this morning, and since Dylan's departure time was pushed back, he was able to join us. In fact, we even had a family outing to Wildflower afterward, and I was very pleased by Gavin's cooperative behavior. Maybe he's onto something new? We had a visit from Nonna in the afternoon, a viewing (or two) of Toy Story, some craft time and even a little help from G in the kitchen. Tomorrow morning we're off early to Gavin's first dentist appointment. Luckily, my mom stuck around town and will help us out at this appointment so I don't have to worry about G's inevitable resistance against having his teeth cleaned while simultaneously wearing a crying baby. If only I knew how footloose and fancy free my life really was three years ago.

The plan on Friday was to stay at home and stay out of the heat.

Until the day got really long, and frozen yogurt sounded like a really good idea.

All smiles in the morning.

Nom nom nom

Donuts 'cause Daddy's home!

An out-of-order photo from Wildflower

Horsing around with Dad

Climbing on Dad when he's trying to relax

Taking a break from Dad to do something important like putting a bag on his head.

Video games with Dad

Lunch with Dad

Hugs for Dad.

Then Dad left town again and Gavin got put to work in the kitchen. #typical

In other news, Graham moved to the nursery for nighttime sleep. We finally bit the bullet and handed over an arm and a leg for the extra monitor camera because Gavin has proven a couple times that he still needs to be on the monitor. Graham didn't sleep any better or worse on his first night in the crib, but we also made another significant change to the routine at 3am. Dylan got up with the baby and gave him his first taste of...wait for it...formula. Dylan couldn't get Graham to fall back asleep, so I went back on duty for that, but then the baby slept till 8:30 am. Amazing!

So, here's the formula back story. Normally, I love this life and my position in it. But it's not always easy...in fact it's usually not. And sometimes it gets to be too much, and when it's too much, it's like really too much. I do and say things that would cause my childless self to smack my current self in the face and say "Get a grip, crazy person." So, I decided that something had to give. When Dylan and I went to a movie the other morning, I pumped in the car on the way to the movie. Then I pumped on the way home. And I was still at a 2 ounce deficit from what the baby ate while we were away, and it was maddening, and that's when I decided to do what I did. I wanted to leave for a few hours and not think about my boobs for crying out loud! I'm no milk machine, and thus, I am a slave to nursing. So, on my next visit to Target, I bought some formula and just let it sit on my counter for a week. On the whole Graham gets plenty to eat, but I don't think he gets enough in any one sitting, and so he generally hits the tap every hour to two. Then, yesterday when I was scrambling to prepare food and pack for the entire family to swim and get out the door, I had to repeatedly stop what I was doing to feed the baby. I felt the fury and decided that night was the night the formula can would be opened.

I still intend to nurse Graham most of the time, but I do know this is a dangerous rabbit hole to jump down and could ruin breastfeeding if I let it. I think, though, that things on the whole will be better...for me and everyone in this house if I can grab a little bit more freedom in my day. And darn it if I didn't give nursing everything I possibly had. I sat in a chair and fed the baby for hours on end for his first couple months. My butt is permanently imprinted on the chair...and I'm not the type to enjoy sitting around for very long. So, I give myself all the credit for doing everything I could to make breastfeeding work right off the bat. And then I went off dairy for a few months because I had a gassy and unhappy baby, and that sucked because I love yogurt and cheese. Well, I started eating yogurt and cheese again, and though Graham has some epic gas, he doesn't seem much more unhappy than normal. So, we're giving the regular formula a try, and if he's intolerant of it, then we'll yank it from the regimen. I positively won't do the Nutramigen thing because, frankly, it doesn't fit into the budget. Not unless someone around here wants to sell a kidney or something, and my body's been through enough in the last year, thank you very much.

So, we'll just see how it goes. Graham's almost six months old, he's been eating food and now he's in his own room. It's a season of growing and changing. Hooray for that! I was telling Dylan the other day that I had started feeling like that mama orangutan at the Phoenix Zoo. You know, the one with the tiny baby orangutan that clings to her body and looks out at the world with wide eyes as she climbs around the exhibit? It's so sweet, but at the same time, don't you look at that mama orangutan and think...that looks kind of cumbersome. When Graham isn't eating, he's usually being worn in the front carrier because he only gives me a few minutes here and there before he needs/wants me. Sure, it's sweet, and yes, I've been completely patient and go-with-the-flow about it. But sometimes it's also completely infuriating because I have a lot going on...not to mention that it's hard to pee while wearing a baby, and I'm reaching the end of my rope. I lasted longer than I ever would have imagined. I nailed the discreetly nursing in public and nursing in a parked car. I could probably nurse on the moon if need be, but I really don't want to do that. I'm just so over it. Yes, I know, all this stuff is temporary, it's just this season of life I'm in, etc, etc, blah blah blah. So, I'm embracing the changes and hoping to grasp just a bit of freedom out of it. And, however this baby ends up being fed for the next six months until his first birthday will be completely fine because it will be what it will be. And anyway, I know some exceptional people who were raised on formula!

Also...Gavin's eye continues to look better and better, and I am super grateful for that. Okay, Monday, take it easy on us. Here we come!