Straps? That counts as two strikes....

I shouldn't be posting this because I know all of you are going to cringe when you read this....just know that baby Dane is OK and was laughing throughout the whole incident....It sounds worse than what it really is.....honest.....

OK - here we go....Darren always gives me crap about not strapping Dane into his swing or bouncy seat. I always say -where is he gonna go? He just lays there? We even had this same discussion at our friends house just this past weekend. The wife straps their kid in but not the husband...him and I were on the same page -seriously, where is the kid gonna go?

WELLLLLL, I had Dane in his swing...it's about 1.5 feet off the ground. I didn't even have it on, it was completely still and he was watching TV while I got ready for work. He was laughing and cooing and talking to his toys. All of a sudden I heard the swing swinging...it was weird....so I walked over to see if maybe he pushed with his foot to get some momentum to get the swing going and baby Dane was on the floor face down! He was laughing and giggling....it was scary and funny at that same time. There wasn't a thud or anything...I have no idea how he managed to get out of the swing...especially to land on his belly with his head where his feet were. I think the fall gave him a "woopdedoo" because he thought this whole incident was too funny! Meanwhile my heart is in my throat and I feel like the worse mother ever!! I WILL be strapping him in everything from now on....sheesh....

Darren said I get three strikes (he's kidding BTW)....and this little incident counts as two for the day! Yowza! I better be extra careful for the rest of the day! :o)

Our little Houdini strikes again!

The pics are from this weekend. Darren, Dane and I went for a walk around Medicine Lake. Enjoy!

Stuffy Stufferson

Poor little man is SO STUFFY! He actually has so much snot he blows bubbles out of his nostrils.....poor little man! He was so uncomfortable last night trying to sleep I ended up letting him cuddle with me in bed all night. He fell right asleep once I did that, however I didn't get any sleep because he was snoring so loud! I tried to suction thingy his nose, but it's more in his throat so I didn't get anything out. He still doesn't have a temperature and is his happy go lucky self....but I'll keep an eye on it though just in case it turns into a cold and isn't signs of teething....

it's time to learn to self soothe my little man...

Today was the first day I put Dane down for a nap when he wasn't already asleep. He was really tired, just wining with his eyes closed and rubbing his eyes and yawning, so I definitely knew he was ready to go to dream land. I wrapped him up all nice and tight in his blankets, rocked him a little until his eyelids got heavy, then gently placed him in his bassinet (yes people, he is still in his bassinet! We are working on moving him to his crib....baby steps...) Oh boy was it hard for me to let him just cry!! Now, in reality it was only for about 30 seconds that he was crying (he wasn't really even crying, it was more of a wine) but it felt like an eternity. I wanted to pick him up and hold him and rock him to sleep so bad - but I didn't!! I was strong! My little man needs to learn to self soothe. I will still rock him to sleep every once and a while, but today was a big step for me.....Go Nicki!

Dane is also a little stuffy and coughing a bit. He doesn't have a temperature and doesn't act like he is ill, so I can only assume it's from teething (at least that is what all the websites say). I will continue to check his temperature and will take him to the pediatrician if I think it's necessary, but I really do think my little man is getting some teethers!! I will miss his toothless smile, but little baby teeth are just as cute!!

Day Care Diaries - "Blowout....correction, Major Blowout!"

Everyday that Dane is in daycare I always call at 10:00am to check on him. When I called today and asked how he was doing, Lera said "He is doing well......now!!" I asked if he had a rough morning or something and she said "no, he just had a blow out...correction....a major blowout! So he is feeling MUCH better now...in fact he is napping right now!" Oh my! You should see the clothes he was wearing....I dont think there is an area without poop on it! Thank goodness I didnt end up having to clean it up - haha!!

He is doing really well otherwise at daycare. Lera has him doing tummy time everyday and he is getting really good at pushing himself up with his arms when he is on his tummy. We still havent mastered rolling over yet - but I am not pushing that one! I am not ready for him to be mr. roly poly!

I think daycare is really good for him (and me). Let me explain - he takes way better naps since daycare. NOTHING wakes him up! It's probably because it isnt exactly quiet there so he learned to just ignore ambient noise and just go to sleep (wish i could do that, water dripping or clocks ticking will keep me awake!). He is also willing to let other people (other than mommy) hold him without wondering where I am.....Even though that hurts my feelings a bit it is really good for him to get all this socialization. He is being introduced to so many more things than he would be if it were just him and I at home. Daycare/being back at work is really good for me too. I need the ability to get out of the house and socialize. I was going a little crazy sitting at home all day during maternity leave!!!

Now, I am all for breastfeeding - but a breastfeeding doll??

What do you guys think?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,537261,00.html

A controversial new doll is leaving some parents wishing for the good old Cabbage Patch days.
A Spanish toymaker known as Berjuan has developed a breast-feeding doll that comes with a special halter top its young "mothers" wear as they pretend to breast-feed their "babies." The halter top has daisies that cover the little girls’ nipples and come undone just as easily as the flaps of a nursing bra would.
The doll — called Bebe Gloton, which translates as “gluttonous baby” — makes sucking noises as it "feeds."

Like many other dolls, Bebe Gloton can cry, signaling she wants more milk.

What's so funny?!?!?

Oh my goodness, i just had Dane on the floor gym and we were practicing rolling over (which he can roll back, but not initiate the roll) and practicing push ups (which he can do!) and all of a sudden I said to him "Do you have poopy in your pants?" and he started laughing uncontrollably!

It was SO FUNNY!! I kept asking him the same question and he kept laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes!! He was squeeling and clapping and laughing so loud!! Of course I didn't have the camcorder handy, so I called Darren and let him listen in. He was laughing too!! Ugh, my little man is such a character I love him so much!!!

When I picked him up from daycare today he again was having a conversation with Brenda. They must talk all day or something! Hopefully he doesn't tell her anything embarrassing... :o)

Three and a half months ALREADY???

Babies simply love to be touched. In fact, they thrive on it — touch is a critical part of growth and development. All that skin-to-skin contact not only helps you and your baby bond, but it's comforting when he's upset and soothing when he's irritable.Nurture your baby's sense of touch with a variety of materials, such as fake fur, felt, and terry cloth. Your baby will probably try to eat everything, so choose carefully and don't leave her alone with anything that could come apart in her mouth. Look for books like Pat the Bunny that make reading a tactile experience.

Dane loves touching crinkly things and furry things (look out Cora and Chai)! It is so neat to see him learning and exploring his surroundings....Of course his favorite thing to so is watch CNN.....If I have the TV on and put him in his play gym on the floor - he will stretch his head in such a way that he can see the TV! Awwwwww, our little couch potato! haha!!

Day Care Diaries - Tuesday 08.25.09

Another great day! Although it was a rough night! Dane was WIDE AWAKE starting at around midnight. I think it was because he napped essentially all afternoon and evening and just wasn't tired anymore. Collectively I got about 2 1/2 hours of sleep last night....Around 2:30am I passed the reins to Darren to take over and keep Dane occupied while I tried to catch some Z's. I think I finally fell asleep around 3:15 and then had to wake up at 5:00 anyway for work! Oh I hope I get some sleep tonight!!

Dane was the life of the party again at daycare. When I got there he was in the bouncy seat and Brenda was sitting next to him and they were having an in depth conversation! I didn't want to interrupt because it sounded pretty deep....haha! She just loves him so much! Too bad Thursday is her last day, she is a school teacher and only works at the daycare during the summer.

I took this picture last night - during one of Dane's many naps. He is covered in a sea of blankets!!

Day Care Diaries - Monday 08.24.09

Dane did really well today! Brenda and Lera said he was all smiles all day long! When I got there to pick him up he was sleeping all swaddled and everything, I hated to wake him - but I oculdnt hang out there all day! So I s-l-o-w-l-y unwrapped him and lifted him into the car seat. If it werent for the darn clips and straps he'd probably have stayed sleeping..but alas - he awoke. He wasnt upset or anything, just opened his big beautiful eyes and smiled as if to say HI MOM!! Once he got in the car he fell right back to sleep....

Last night he didnt sleep through the night...He went to sleep around 9:30pm - then awoke at midnight, 2:00am, 3:30am, and then 6:30am....it's ok though - more cuddle time for me!!!

3 Nights in a row!!!! Let's keep it up!!!

I am so excited! For three nights in a row, baby Dane has slept from 9:00pm - 2:30am - then 2:45am - 6:00am!! This is so wonderful! I am actually able to sleep long enough in a row that I am starting to dream again - and what CrAzY dreams I am having! Hopefully he keeps this schedule up!! I can handle getting up once a night instead of 3 or 4!! Woop Woop!!