Lights On, Lights Off

We were getting ready to go on a walk and I laid Weston down under the light in the hallway. I wonder how long he would have laid there transfixed as I turned the lights on and off...

A Drinking Problem

Weston's practicing using a cup at dinner time. Note the stream of water pouring down the front of his shirt as he figures out how to get the spout in his mouth.

R.I.P. Microwave

I have the solid food thing down.  I steam a batch of finger foods on the weekends (carrots, sweet potato chunks, green beans, apples, etc.), freeze them, and then pull them out on an as needed basis.  Throw them in a little dish with water, pop them in the zapper for about 20 seconds, and then serve them up to my little man.  It works well, it's convenient, and it's fast.  We are doing well on solid foods!

That is, until three days ago when the microwave died.  Done.  There were occasional flickers of hope as the indicator lit up to 88:88 every couple of hours, but it was nothing more than just a last breath.  We tried banging on the door, jiggling the side, and adjusting the power cord in a vain attempt to resuscitate it, but it now sits on the kitchen floor as a giant drum for Weston to bang on as it awaits trash day next week.

"Go buy another one," you say.  I would, except that we're moving into a house within the next month and the kitchen is brand-spankin' new, complete with all appliances, including a microwave.  So, we're sucking it up and figuring out how to live life B.M.O...Before Microwave Ovens.  

At first, I panicked when all the times we use the microwave flashed through my brain.  Oatmeal in the morning, making tea, warming up water for Weston's bottles, reheating leftovers, defrosting meat because we forgot to take it out of the freezer the night before...  How are we ever going to pull this off for a month???  It was like me thinking of life without the Internet.  How would I ever find the lyrics to a song?  Directions to the nearest Target?  Movie times?  Recipes for twice-baked potatoes?

Then I remembered my dear friend Vanessa in Milwaukee.  She doesn't have a microwave, and she's actually had people over to her house for dinner on multiple occasions.  There was hope!

Steaming basket thingie

The reality is that I've been washing a lot more pots lately, but it's okay.  I'm grateful for the steaming basket thingie that we have because that's how I heat up baby's little finger foods.  Nate said making tea is a lot faster on the stove top.  Oatmeal made on the stove is way better than how it turns out in the microwave.  Sure, it takes more time to do all these things, but that's okay.  It'll make the return of the microwave next month that much more enjoyable.

Weston the Geek, Part Deux

A day at Dad's shop...

Very seriously measuring conduit whilst perched atop the CNC machine

Almost unable to contain his excitement

Two geeks, geeked out about tools and machines

Excellent explanation

After Winter Break Bummers

Yuck.  I had to go back to work last Monday after almost two weeks of 100% baby time.  It was absolutely wonderful to spend all day with Weston.  I was also very excited about not having to pump and looking forward to just breastfeeding.  Like I've said before, I am glad that I am able to continue to breastfeed Weston while I work, but pumping has certainly worn out its welcome.  It's a pain in the ass sometimes.

Anyway, as I packed my Medela Freestyle on Sunday night, I packed all four bottles thinking that after exclusively breastfeeding for 12 days, I would have copious amounts of milk to express during my first pumping session at work on Monday morning.  Since going back to work in August, I've usually been able to bring home about 10-12 ounces of expressed milk from two pumping sessions at work.  However, to my utter horror on Monday at 8:30 am, I sat looking at less than an ounce after pumping.  What??!?  What the hell had happened?  I quickly searched for other moms relating the same story on the Internet, but couldn't really find anything other than a few women talking on a forum about low milk production after taking vacation.  Fortunately, they said that their bodies regulated and once again got used to the pumping schedule.  I pumped again in the afternoon and then squeezed in one more pumping session about an hour later, but was only able to take home a bit less than 5 ounces.  Yikes!

Good news though...I've seen an increase this week, with each day yielding a little bit more, but I only brought home 7 ounces today.  Thank goodness for freezer stashes.

Happy Eight Months!

Eight months by the numbers:

• What I can't believe: that it's 2012
• Weston's percentage of the way to 1 year old: 66.7% 
• Height: ~29 inches
• Weight: 19 1/2 lbs.
• Diapers used: 1,344 diapers (can that really be true??  ~6 diapers a day x 7 days a week x 32 weeks)
• Diaper size: Holding steady at a size 3 Pampers
• Plants eaten: 0
• Plant leaves torn off and ready for mouth: at least 10
• Times slept through the night (no waking up from bedtime to wake up the following morning): 2
• Average number of times he wakes up in the night: 1.2
• Favorite time of the day: 6:00 pm--BATH TIME!
• Boxes of Cheerios consumed: still working on his 1st box
• Pajama size: 12 months
• Hours spent Skype-ing with family members: at least 4
• Top 2 Skype-ers: the Grandmas
• Average time occupied with the vacuum cleaner: about 10 minutes
• Time interested in his other toys: < 1 minute
• Interest level (1-10) with the dishwasher, cords, plants, an open refrigerator, lights, and toilet paper: 11
• Time I've spent winding toilet paper back on the roll: enough to permanently relocate it OFF of the dispenser
• Naps taken per day: 2 (very rarely will take 3)
• Teeth: 6
• Times I've been bitten while he's nursing: 2
• Eyes: 2 beautiful baby blues
• Nose: 1 Polish button
• Smiles: too many to count

Testing out blueberries (and loving his mommy)

Telling me how much he loves me!