Monday, February 20, 2006

Yikes! Where did the time go?!


Already it's 3:00 in the afternoon. Now that I have two little ones, the days really fly by for me. And I'm always doing something! With that said, I rarely make a dent in my task list on the days I'm home alone with the kids. Maybe that's the way young mommyhood is supposed to be. And most days it doesn't bother me that much... I just do what I can, make sure I'm paying attention to my kids and taking advantage of little opportunities to teach LittleMum something new or read to her or play with NatureForce. That's the most important thing, after all. At the same time, when am I going to get all my tax information together for my accountant? Or when am I finally going to get caught up on the laundry?

Regardless of whatever else is on the list, these things take priority:
  • Feeding kids, especially NatureForce. That's a never-ending job, eh?
  • Changing diapers and clothes. When LittleMum has a poopy diaper, giving her a bath. Sometimes that means two baths a day, which always takes more time than I'd like.
  • Feeding myself. As a nursing mom, I feel like I'm hungry all the time but often wait longer than I should to eat .
  • Reading my scriptures, praying, getting some spiritual practice in during the day.
  • Exercising and showering. There are some days when this doesn't happen, but most days I make this a rule. In fact, I have this weird requirement for myself that I can't shower until I exercise, which means that I've got positive and negative motivation working for me - I hate the grungy feeling (negative motivation) and I'm know I'm going to feel much better when I exercise (positive motivation). This was working much better for me when I was exercising before the family got up.
  • General straightening up. This takes so much time it makes me crazy.
That's what I've done today, with the addition of unloading the dishwasher and putting clean laundry away. LittleMum and I watched Between the Lions (I'm pretty sure LittleMum likes it; I love it... but it's a tad annoying to be singing the "Chicken Jane" song all day after that) on PBS this morning, I held NatureForce to help her go to sleep, and LittleMum and I read a couple of books.

So all of this stuff is worthwhile and necessary, I know. I'm getting back to the point where I can get up earlier if I get to bed early, because NatureForce is now sleeping through the night (hallelujah!) and I am no longer "zombie mom." Hopefully that means that I can begin to exercise and shower again in the morning, before the kids are up. I did that the other day, and it actually worked quite well.

So, now that NatureForce is asleep in my lap, I'm going to put her down (cross our fingers that she stays asleep) and try to get more things done. It feels like the day's almost over...

Sunday, February 19, 2006

The best nursing pad ever!

Okay, let's all face it. Some of you may be a bit uncomfortable about the breastfeeding thing. However, it's something that I feel so strongly about that I want to share a couple of things with my blog readers. Who knows, some of you may have wives or daughters who will be breastfeeding in the future, so listen up!

I'm going to get on a soapbox for a moment... I find the discomfort around this natural and *oh-so-beneficial* practice very interesting. When a mother discreetly breastfeeds in public or around other people, with scarcely any flesh showing, people don't know how to react. Yet they don't bat an eye at a scantily dressed woman who makes no effort to conceal her breasts.

Thank goodness legislation is happening to protect breastfeeding mothers and allow them to feed their babies where they need to. My sister was telling me of an incident in Arizona where a woman was trying to breastfeed her baby at a public pool and was asked to either do it in the restroom or leave the pool. Since then, a coalition of mothers and other concerned citizens have taken the issue to the Arizona legislature, which has passed a bill stating that the indecent exposure statute does not apply to breastfeeding mothers. Thank goodness. Breastfeeding mothers tend to be very discreet about their breastfeeding practices, and do we tell anyone else in our society that they need to either go eat in the public restroom stall, their sweltering or freezing car, or starve until they can get home to eat? A similar incident happened at a Burger King restaurant a few years ago, which prompted the burger chain to adopt a policy that allows mothers to breastfeed in their restaurants.

Okay, rant off... helpful recommendation to breastfeeding moms ON!

Nursing pads: we love them, we hate them. It's a well-known mommy fact that sometimes breastmilk can leak. I've tried a lot of brands of disposable nursing pads, and also a couple of different kinds of washable nursing pads. Although I can't say that Lansinoh(R) Disposable Nursing Pads are the best ever made (although I'd like to gush about them like that), I can say that they're the best I've ever tried. I've had a few extended absences from my baby recently (extended being approximately six hours without time to pump), and those nursing pads worked so well, it was just amazing to me. No leaks, no uncomfortable wetness. They hold the moisture in and lock it away from the skin. It's funny when you've been gone for a while and pull out your nursing pad to change it and it's heavy! Doing its job.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

What? Kids Grow Up?!!


Well, NatureForce's officially out of her 0-3 month clothes. I guess I should have seen this coming - a few weeks ago we went to her two-month appointment and found out that she was 50th percentile in weight, 95th percentile in height, and 75th percentile in her head. So even though she can fit into her newborn clothes width-wise, they're much too short and her daddy gets mad at me if her feet are scrunched. As he should.

It's difficult putting away the newborn clothes, though. It's like you're admitting that your baby is not a tiny newborn any more... all of a sudden she's an infant, which means that soon she'll be a toddler! But wait, don't let me get ahead of myself.

LittleMum walked (scooted, crawled?) the same path. They just get bigger and older, sometimes before we're ready for them to do so. We've been cooped up in the house since NatureForce was born because she was born at the beginning of RSV season, and because it doesn't feel like we've introduced her to the world yet, I guess it hadn't dawned on me that she's really growing.

Of course, I have started to notice chubby legs and wrists. It's the wrists that really get me; they're just so darn cute! Maybe I like them better because we see them more often than her legs.

The speed at which they grow is what throws me off balance. It's like the last time that item went through the laundry, it fit; this time through the laundry, it's too small and will need to be put away. And perhaps we'll have another girl; but perhaps I won't get to put that particular sleeper or onesie or cute outfit on a baby of ours again. It gives you pause, doesn't it?

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Musical Baby

Bushed at the end of a long day alone with the kids, I sat down in front of my computer with NatureForce and flipped on iTunes. I chose Mozart's Requiem to start with, Sequenz #6, Lacrimosa. I immediately relaxed and smiled, and couldn't resist - I grabbed NatureForce's little hands in mine and conducted the music. She grabbed onto my thumbs, and would open her mouth as her little fists swept past. "When are you going to let me suck on those things, Mom?" But she got this little smile on her face as we looked at each other and led the orchestra.

Mozart gave way to Santana, which was a bit of a surprise because I hadn't realized it was on random play. Santana's El Farol gave us some nice slow Latin to sway to. A rousing march was next on the playlist, albeit a Christmas March (March of the Toys). NatureForce seemed to enjoy that one the most. Or maybe it was her mother enjoying animating the trumpets with NatureForce's little arms.

And bossa nova! Who knew that Stan Getz' smooth saxophone and Brazilian rhythms could be such a baby pleaser? Mania de Maria gave us a fun little ditty to move to. We actually had a short Loverboy interlude before Mr. Getz, Turn Me Loose, but Momma forwarded through it pretty quickly after hearing some mention of "making love to whomever I please." It's funny how parent ears become much more sensitive than teenage or young adult ears. So parents, take heart, when your teenagers become parents, perhaps their musical tastes will change!

After Mr. Getz, I finally let NatureForce have her fists to suck on. And she settled in and closed her eyes contentedly.

* * *

It's funny how iTunes has changed the way we listen to music around here. It's much more of an extemporaneous adventure than a planned activity. Just flip on iTunes or the iPod, set it to random, and enjoy the ride. Paul doesn't enjoy the random play thing as much as I do, but I bought him (me?) a little AirClick remote for Christmas so I could forward through something I wasn't in the mood for. With our combined extensive CD collection that we've put on a 60GB iPod Photo (which by now is obsolete, of course), you never know what you'll get.

* * *

If you're dying to see the cover art or listen to partial tracks of the eclectic mix of CDs I mentioned, here are some Amazon links:

  • Mozart: Requiem by Herbert von Karajan and the Wiener Philharmoniker (Deutsche Grammophon) - Love it, although some of the quartet numbers I'm not crazy about. Lacrimosa is my favorite, because it takes me back to when we sang it in my Junior High Choir. I must say we did a darn good job, too.
  • Santana: Supernatural (BMG) - I enjoy Santana to a point. However, listening to this whole CD in one sitting is a little much for me. There's not enough variety and some of his musical guests are also not favorites of mine. It's a good one to have on the iPod so it plays mixed with other stuff.
  • Although it was really the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus off their CD O Holy Night (which is out of print), here's a good alternative for "March of the Toys": American Light Music Classics by The New London Orchestra (Hyperion) - I think light orchestral music that brings images to mind is fantastic for kids. I love Leroy Anderson's music, and we have another CD with only his stuff on it. I must admit I didn't realize how brilliant and prolific the composer of "Sleigh Ride" was until we got the CD. Listen to the sample tracks; you can't help but leave his music in a good mood.
  • Loverboy: Big Ones (Sony) - Umm... not much to say about this one except that it was originally Paul's and it's 80s rock. It'll take you back (that is, if you're from my generation).
  • Stan Getz: The Bossa Nova Years (Polygram Records) - I am crazy for this one. I absolutely love Stan Getz' bossa nova, especially when he jams with Antonio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto. They're legends, and the music just impels you to sway and think of the beach.