Friends on a walk

Long week...

Why do short school weeks always seem so long?! Maybe this one seemed so long to me because I worked 3 days instead of 2. It was a really long, stressful, and somewhat depressing week. Maybe it was hormonal (and NO, I'm not pregnant and don't plan to be!). I just really struggled through this week. First it was the H1N1 vaccine for Jacob and all the pressure to either get it or not. I went so far as to call the Department of Health to try and get a thimerisol free vaccine but was unsuccessful. So after much discussion, research, and several sleepless nights, we decided we were more scared of Jacob getting the flu than of the vaccine. Eighty six kids have died since April! Jacob got the vaccine Tuesday and is doing fine. The big guy didn't even cry (of course I put the numbing cream on his thigh!). I felt like I was giving him a little bit of poison while trying to keep him safe... what a conflict! I don't understand why the government and pharmaceutical companies don't just make all vaccines thimerisol free? I don't care how many studies say it doesn't cause autism. We know it is not good for you and vaccines can be made without it. Seems like a no brainer to me!

And next comes the issue of sleeping... and the question of letting him cry or not. Everyone has a different opinion and there are many good websites supporting both views. All I know is that it goes against my basic core beliefs about being a mom. I cannot and will not let my baby cry. It is my job to be there when he needs me no matter what time of day. He is sleeping through the night in his crib more often now, and did last night. But many nights he wakes sometime between 2 and 4 and then sleeps the rest of the night with us. I really need to move on from the stress of this issue because I don't like feeling this way.

We just got back from swimming. Jacob had a great time and is fast asleep now. We saw our friend Kim with her two boys, Owen and Wyatt, coming in to the "big kids" class after ours. It was fun to see them. Hopefully we can get together soon. And we are looking forward to see some other friends this weekend and meeting their new babies.... Ruby and Kellam.

Feed Me!

I'm still hungry!

Monday...

I don't usually work on Mondays, but I re-arranged my schedule this week so I could work and attend the faculty meeting after school (yuck- I must be crazy!). But now Griffy is sick with a fever and vomiting, poor boy, so I'm staying home this morning. We don't want to take any chances with Jacob's immune system and the neutropenia, so... Grammie Me is covering this afternoon (I'll work 1/2 day) and Grammie Ma is covering tomorrow afternoon. We're going to be overly cautious for now and give Griffy time to feel better.

We had a fun weekend... did errands and some cooking Saturday and went to Grammie and Papa's Sunday for their 40th anniversary. We missed Jonny and Dawn and the boys, though!

Jacob is making lots of new sounds- which are often quite loud! Good thing he's so darn cute! He's also got a good case of stranger anxiety and needs people to give him a good amount of time before coming too close or talking with him.

7 Months Old!

Jacob turned 7 months old yesterday! His second tooth came through on the bottom left... he's almost ready for some sushi! He's been happy and feeling well lately. No more stuffy nose and the teething doesn't seem to be bothering him. He's found his voice and has LOTS to say. It's very cute and makes us laugh, even at 2am! He slept well last night- in his crib from 8:30-4:45. We're off to swimming this morning and then might stop at school for a quick visit if he's not too tired. Then I need to find a dress for a wedding next weekend, which is very challenging in Rutland.

Playtime vs. sleep...

I'm not naming names, but someone thought it was playtime at 2:30am! We listened to him talk until almost 4- he's found his voice! Then I tried giving him a bottle, followed by playtime until 5:30! He went back to sleep, but only until 7:45. I thought babies needed more sleep than adults?! Apparently Jacob doesn't need that much sleep! The good news... he's been very happy and talkative. We'll see what the day brings.

Brrrrrrr!

First time with mittens on!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

See my tooth!
Jacob's stuffy nose is slowly improving and our happy baby has returned (knock on wood!). We went to the doctor's this morning for the last of his 6 month old shots. Next he has to get the flu shots... 2 for the seasonal flu and one (I think) for the H1N1 flu. It's so scary to give all these vaccines to him. I wonder if we are over vaccinating children? Not that I want him to get any of these terrible diseases. It's just a lot. After the flu shots, no more until 12 months... then dreaded MMR. We will definitely be separating that one and doing single vaccines.

Jacob's napping now, and hopefully will for a while. I might go to Rutland later and look for some shirts for him. Everything I have is too snug for him and he hates putting on tight clothes. Poor baby!

Hangin' Out

We've had happy moments...and not so happy ones lately. I'm not sure if its the stuffy nose or the teeth, or more likely a combination, but Jacob has not been himself. He's not sleeping well and has times when he's fussy. And to top it off, I still feel rotten. If his head feels anything like mine, then I know why he is fussy. I feel bad for him. I've been giving him Tylenol again today. I don't know if it helps or not. He has hardly slept today... and was just so tired he couldn't eat and fell asleep. So now, at 5:30 when I don't want him sleeping, he's totally out. He's been waking up a lot a night also. I get him back to sleep, lay him down in his crib, and he wakes up. Then we start the process over again. I do it a few times and then just give in and put him in bed with us. Am I just starting a bad habit? I just want to sleep!

Jump!