You know you have a boy when . . .

you are running the bath water and suddenly feel a warm spray coming from a totally different direction. There was a little shout of surprise, a wet outfit and a big smile - no need to freak the boy out when he can't do any better. I guess maybe running water before a bath will help him when we decide to potty train - we'll see.

Regaining Trust

Well last night was a long night. We are very fortunate that typically our little one is a good sleeper. In fact for about a month he slept the whole night through - no questions asked. I was getting spoiled! Last night that was not the case. He woke up a little before 3 am. I went in to check his diaper and help him calm down. I am trying to follow the advice of all the books - don't stimulate him at night, don't feed him immediately, allow him to put himself back to sleep, etc. Then it was 4 am and I figured he was coming close to going back to sleep. Sometimes he'll stay awake for about an hour at night - just fussing a little. Then it was 4:30 and still he wasn't calming down - in fact he was getting more upset. So I sent his dad in. Finally at about 5 am in desperation I pulled out a book and read it without my glasses on. It advised that if your little one gets up at random times at night (which he does) then maybe he is hungry and going through a growth spurt. So, I decided to feed him. He was RAVENOUS - poor boy. I was hoping this would mean he would sleep in - but no. He woke up at about 6:45 and was still somewhat hungry. He did take a short morning nap - which was helpful.
So the rest of the day I've been tired and felt badly for not feeding the poor boy. He is hungry a little before he normally eats and is eating a lot. So I think he might be growing again (he is already above the 95th percentile in height and weight). Today I have tried to spend extra time cuddling him and I am staying with him until he goes to sleep. We had gotten to a place where I could leave him in his crib and he would go to sleep. Well, I think that last night kind of ruined that for a while. All my friends say once you feel like you have a sleeping pattern they change. I am finding that to be true. Now it's about regaining his trust so that he will go to sleep more easily - again.
The moral of the story is to listen to your kiddo - through all those screams they are probably trying to tell you something!

So many choices . . .

As our little one gets closer to eating solid foods I am thinking more about using the table. Before he was born my husband and I were doing much better at sitting at the dinner table and turning off the TV for the whole 15 minutes that we ate dinner. We have stopped doing that - we probably need to try that discipline again. As I read more about using Montessori methods in the home they focus on feeding a lot - it's obviously an important life skill. They actually suggest not using a highchair at all. They encourage feeding on your lap until the child can sit up well enough in a "weaning" chair. I have yet to actually see this "weaning chair" in action. From what I can gather it is a little wooden chair that they can sit up in at a table that is their size. Another Montessori mom recommended using the bumbo chair to feed in (my niece looks VERY cute in her chair) until they get old enough for a chair without "restraint".

I have a very nice highchair and we will use it. I guess I'm beginning to think more about the toddler stage. I have watched many a toddler deftly manuever in and out of "big" people chairs. At times I have been very frightened for their safety as they come close to banging into the table or the floor. There are some chairs that are designed to help alleviate this problem and they look like good furniture but I am not convinced that they are worth the price. They are totally adjustable from infant up to adulthood - so they really could last a long time. They don't look that comfortable but for more money you can get a chair cushion. There are two kinds - the Stokke Tripp Trapp on the left. The other choice is the Svan highchair. They are intended to help your child be able to get in and out of the chair easily by himself. They also pull up easily to the table. Another feature is the foot rest - so the child feels more comfortable and secure. Another interesting entry is the Combi transition chair (below). I have a Combi stroller and love it. One of my friends was here yesterday and picked up the stroller. His comment was that it doesn't give you enough of a work out because it is so light. Anyway, this is an interesting idea.

So, those of you with older children out there - what do you think?? Do these contraptions make sense? Are they worth the investment?

The enneagram again

Last night at women's group we started talking about the enneagram again. This is a personality typology that has multiple layers and is VERY insightful. The enneagram identifies nine different types. The greatest thing about the enneagram is that it recognizes that we are all on a journey and it makes room for a person to grow (or to shrink back). Actually, the whole point is to grow and become less like your typical self and more like a healthy you (is that too much psychobabble?). Yesterday, my friends recommended an enneagram site I hadn't seen before. I like this site because it tells you the basics of how to get along with different types of people, what they value and even what they might have been like as children. Reading my type and my husbands type was helpful. If I start feeling to overwhelmed or the need to control - I now recognize that I need to resist that and trust that God is in control and not everything needs to be perfect. Likewise, as I read over my husbands it reminded me again how important it is for him to have his space and think about things. His type is typically introverted - so the big party we had this weekend was fun - but also taxing - on him. It is a stretch for him to engage in the parties that I love.

So, once again I recommend that you consider how you have been created and how to submit and use who you are to God's glory. There is no one "right" type - the point is that we are all uniquely created and should enjoy the diversity God has given us.