Christmas Recap in Pictures

Ivor enjoyed the Christmas decorations.

Ivor got lots of playtime with Daddy.

Not quite sure about the whole opening packages thing.

Christmas morning- opening presents in bed.

Pretty sure the stocking is bigger than he is!

One spoiled baby!

With packages opened it was time for feasting.

One tired baby.

Somebody is now 7 months old!

Cousins

Merry Christmas

December is usually such a busy time, filled with parties, family gatherings, decorations, baking and all the shopping, preparation and clean up that come with them. However, instead of getting caught up in the craziness of the season, I ended up spending the last week cuddling my sick teething baby, while he used my shirt as his personal tissue. Being covered in snot and holding a crying baby was not exactly how I envisioned spending this Christmas, but it has given me a chance to slow down and reflect on the real significance of Christmas- Emmanuel!

Looking at my sniffling totally dependant little baby, I am never more amazed at the great love and humility of Jesus who took the form of a baby, 'made himself nothing' (Phil 2:7), just to save a sinful world. It is this beautiful and compelling love that I want to celebrate this Christmas.

'The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.' -Isaiah 9:2

We hope you all have a wonderful time celebrating.

He may have a cold, but playing in boxes is still fun!

Merry Christmas from the Campbell Family!

Free Entertainment

How to keep a baby entertained:

Step 1

Start a load of laundry. Place baby in view of said load.

Step 2

Move baby closer.

Step 3

Admire your happy baby.

A seat at the table

Now that Ivor is eating three solid meals a day, we decided he deserved his own seat at the table. After perusing half a dozen stores for highchairs, we found one we liked. The package arrived today and I couldn't wait, so I put it together while Ivor took his afternoon nap.

The first part went relatively well, until I realised that I had missed out one of the steps and had to undo a couple of the rails so that I could fit the table top piece on... Unfortunately, the delay meant that I didn't get it all put together by the time Ivor woke up.

Ivor didn't get to eat his dinner in it, but I let him check it out before bedtime. Look at my big smiley boy!

He is still a bit small for it, so I'm sure we'll keep using the bumbo for a while, but I think he likes being able to sit up at the table and see. The highchair also separates into a little chair and table for coloring or crafts when he is older. (Yes, I admit it was this dual functionality that sold me. I'm a sucker for products that can be used for more than one thing!)

Baby Shall Not Live on Banana Alone

Weaning is wonderful.

Weaning is fun.

Before I started Ivor on solids, I read several articles and books on everything from making purees to Baby-led Weaning. They all seemed to share one recommendation in common: Start slow. There are pages and pages of advice about being patient and allowing your baby to get comfortable with the idea of eating food. From the literature, I was expecting weaning to be a real chore and was a bit nervous.

However, my child did not get the whole 'slowly slowly' memo. The first time I gave him baby rice, he looking confused, spit some out and took one more spoonful into his mouth before deciding that was enough. The next meal, I expected much the same and was taken aback when Mr. Hesitant Eater was out the door, replaced by Mr. Is-there-any-more-of-that? Each meal I kept doubling the amount of rice I served up and he kept woofing down.

After the rice seemed to be going down well, I introduced Ivor to pears. From this point on, every meal I am faced with Mr. I'm-hungry-so-you-better-spoon-that-food-up-quicker! He starts slapping the tray and grunting if I don't get the next spoonful up to his mouth quickly enough, and every meal ends in tears as soon as I tell him he's eaten all his food.

Ivor's food options now include pear, apple, potato, sweet potato, carrot, mango, parsnip, nectarine, pea, zucchini and banana. His least favorite food so far seems to be parsnip- it is the only food that seems to put him off the idea of eating altogether. His favorite is by far the banana. This little boy would eat an entire banana in one sitting if I let him and I confess that a significant part of his diet is now made up of banana and carrot.

If you've read this far, you are probably wondering what the big deal is. Don't all children eat? I'm sure they do, but Ivor's appetite for solids is a big deal for different reasons. After two months of poor weigh-ins, doctor consultations, worrying and extra feeds, my son has actually gained weight! For me weaning is not just fun, it has brought us massive relief from the nutritional nightmare that was the last couple months.

I walked into the clinic yesterday, preparing myself for another disappointing weigh-in. Ross and I thought Ivor gained weight over the past weeks, but we thought that the last time and were totally defeated when the scale showed he had barely gained an ounce! This time I was pleasantly surprised to find that he gained way more than I expected- Ivor gained over a pound in two weeks! I know that many of you were sure it would all work out fine, but I really needed to see those numbers going up. (There was a point when I feared we would never reach the 13 lb mark.)

I spy a double chin and some chunky rolls developing.

At 6 months, Ivor now weighs in at 13lbs 8 oz. and is just over 27 inches long.

And, of course, Ivor celebrated this massive step forward with bananas for dinner.

This Boy

This little boy is 6 months old today!

Sometimes Having a Baby is a Little Like Having a Kitten

1. They are startled by loud noises
2. They like milk
3. You will spend a lot of time putting the trash back in the bin
4. They seem to think that 3am is playtime
5. They will scratch you with their sharp little nails
6. They like to gnaw on computer/phone cords
7. You'll swear they understand more than most people give them credit for
8. They can be easily entertained by flashing lights/laser pointers
9. They are most interested in whatever you don't want them to play with
10. They are cute, cuddly and get big way too fast

I could add a lot more to this list, but my munchkin is once again trying to gnaw on the computer cord, so it is time to put the laptop away. (Maybe I should try using a spray bottle to get my point across...)

Baby Photography 2: Capturing a Smile

My baby is a pretty smiley little guy. So why is it so hard to capture that smile on camera?

Probably because whenever I ask him to smile he opens his mouth wide and squeals with glee instead. As a result I have a lot of photos showing off his toothless gums and pink tongue:

Take 1- The waiting for dinner 'smile'

Take 2

Take 3- The now I'm just doing this because you keep laughing 'smile'

Take 4

Take 5- An attempt to capture a playtime smile

Take 6

Practicing Failure

What is a 'good' mother? Specifically, what is a good Christian mother? My answer to this particular question has changed a lot over the past 5 months.

Before I had Ivor, people used to tell me that I was going to be such a good mom. I also thought I could be a good mom, but when I dreamed about motherhood, I didn't picture myself throwing a bib across the room in frustration because after 2 months of trying, Ivor still refused a bottle/cup, or sobbing with exhaustion after yet another night of Ivor waking every hour. And I definitely didn't picture myself pouting after yet another disappointing weigh-in or shaking in fear/shock after I dropped my son on the floor. (Don't worry- he is totally fine.)

Months into motherhood I wasn't sure what a 'good' mother was, but I knew that I wasn't one. Surely a 'good' mother wouldn't raise her voice to her baby or cry when things don't go well. A 'good' mother would spend more time praying, keep a cleaner home and wouldn't complain so much. Surely a 'good' mother wouldn't be so careless as to drop her little one. And surely a 'good' mother would be able to figure out a way for her son to gain weight, take naps in his own bed, and sleep better at night. (Somewhere along the way I must have decided that a 'good' mother knows all, never needs help and is the picture of serenity at all times.) I have this beautiful baby boy and I am not all the things I want to be for him. I don't have it all together and I was feeling awful about it.

Exhausted and discouraged, I finally asked for help. My mother-in-law came over a few times during the day so that I could take naps. My friends dragged me out to bible studies and coffee dates, and prayed for me. My family reassured me. And little by little, I began to see how wrong I had been.

I am realising that being a good Christian mother is all about failure. I believe that the most important thing a Christian mother can do is point her children to Christ, but I can't point to Christ if I am too busy pointing to myself. I can't teach grace if I am too caught up in trying to be perfect and good on my own steam. I can't speak truth when I am buying into falsehood and the truth is that I am sinful, selfish and undeservingly loved by an amazingly gracious God. The truth is that being a good Christian mother means admitting my own failures, holding on to the glorious victory of Jesus, and teaching my son that he needs to do the same. It means seeking the Lord, trusting He'll continue to the work He started in me and trusting that He didn't just die for me- He died for Ivor too.

I might get better at this mothering thing, but I will still fail a lot of the time. And God's grace will be sufficient every time.



  

Month 5

I know I am behind in posting, but I have been a little overwhelmed and under-rested this last month. I'll save the details on that for another time, but for now here are a few pictures from the last few weeks.

Bring on the food! We've started Ivor on solids and he is loving it.

Napping in the crib. (Talk about a major milestone!)

Almost sitting up.

Bundled up and hoping Mommy doesn't force him into another layer.

Looking lip-smacking cute in his winter hat.

Hats

The cold weather is closing in on us and the days are getting darker. Add to this the fact that Ivor has been a major fussypants baby the last week or so (this whole screaming-at-all-hours-of-the-day-and-night is a phase we can't wait to see the back of), and this mama's mood has been a lot darker too! Despite lack of sleep and my patience wearing thin, there are a few things keeping me going.

First, the cooler temperatures means that this is hat-wearing weather! This baby may be fussy, but he is also stinking cute- especially in hats. (See photos as evidence to this effect.) The lower temperatures also make this prime baby-wearing weather and Ivor loves being in his sling.

Second, I have Ross on my side. He is constantly encouraging and backing me up. Last night, when I was reduced to tears of defeat, he took screaming Ivor out, so I could sleep for a while in a quiet flat. I don't know how he has the energy to work the chaos of a screaming baby and weepy wife at home, but he doesn't complain. Thank the Lord for such a sweet husband.

Third- did I mention that this baby is stinking cute? When he laughs or flashes a big smile, that frustration I just had a second ago, when he was screaming about absolutely nothing, somehow melts away. And I love seeing all his new 'tricks'.

Lastly, I was just introduced to the 'Wonder Weeks' book. The book basically links sudden spurts of 'bad behaviour', like increased clingyness, crankiness and crying, with developmental milestones in infants. It helps parents to engage with the developmental changes in their baby, rather than just focusing on frustrating behaviours. I am not normally someone that buys into fads or psuedo-science, but when I read the section on Mental Leap 4, I couldn't believe how well it fit with what has been going on with Ivor.

It is obvious Ivor is undergoing a massive developmental 'growth spurt'. In the last two weeks, he has become a totally different baby- rolling around with purpose, vocalising so much more, starting to anticipate things (like how he'll raise his arms when I ask if he wants up) and realise that pushing buttons on his toys produces an effect. I've noticed all these things, but didn't really consider that these changes might also be playing some part in how he's started waking up every hour at night, fussing/screaming during the day for no apparent reason, wanting more cuddles, etc...

Last night I hit my wall. I was exhausted, frustrated and sick that I couldn't seem to comfort my screaming baby. I was sure it was all my fault; I had failed as a mother and couldn’t stop my child’s pain. Knowing that this is just a phase common to many babies has saved me from switching to formula, introducing baby rice, pumping desperately to try and increase my supply, instigating gut wrenching controlled crying sessions, or any other of the poor 'solutions' I could come up with. Instead, I feel like a light bulb has gone off- this too shall pass.

My coping mechanism for now: Let's see another picture of that baby in a hat!

Commonwealth Games

Glasgow is hosting the XX Commonwealth Games in July 2014. (You can read more about it here: Glasgow 2014) With so many events taking place near our home, it seemed silly not to take advantage of the opportunity. Ross and I decided to apply for tickets to a few different swimming and athletic events, but knowing the demand for tickets was high, we weren't sure we'd get anything.

They sent out notifications via email and...

Sadly, we missed out on tickets for the swimming, but we got tickets to the Athletics! We will be taking in the first heats of the 100m, 400m and Shot Put, the final of the 5000m, and the Para-sport Long Jump. Even better, our tickets are for a Sunday, so we won't have to take time off work.

The Commonwealth Games is one of the few international sporting events where Scottish athletes get to compete under the Scottish flag, rather than being lumped in with the 'British' team. We are looking forward to cheering on Team Scotland and joining in the sporting fun!

Monday in the Life of Ivor

In case you've ever wondered how we fill our days.

7:30 AM: Ivor wakes up, smiling, cooing and ready to play. (If he is still sleepy, I can sometimes nurse him back to sleep for another 30mins to an hour.) Daddy plays with him in the other room so I can get an extra 30 minutes of Ivor-free rest. While Daddy gets his shower, Ivor and I play in bed for a few minutes, enjoying the warmth of the covers.  Morning is the perfect time to practice new tricks, so he entertains Mommy by blowing bubbles, squealing and cooing. I finally leave the cozy confines of my blankets to get Ivor changed and dressed.

8:30 AM: Once Ross leaves for work, it is time for Mommy to get ready. Ivor hangs out in his carseat with some toys while I grab a shower and clothes. On a typical day, Ivor gives me about 30 minutes to get myself clean and dressed before he melts down about being stuck in his car seat. (He has learned how to shriek and scream loudly to announce his anger- God help me...)

9:15 AM: Ivor is released from his carseat. I enjoy some Swiss Muesli and check my email, while Ivor gets fed and takes a little cat nap. (We are back to feeding him every 1-2hrs to try to get his weight back up. )

10:00 AM: Play time! Mommy tries to make Ivor laugh without any luck. (Some days we do Baby Yoga in the mornings, but today we just play.) We examine the contents of the toy boxes at least twice, chew on some stuff, read a story, chew on the book, roll around, wrestle, smile and sing songs.

Ivor's current favorite is 'Row Row Row Your Boat', which he loves because I pull him back and forward, as if we're rowing, while we sing.

Row Your Boat, Ivor

Ivor also loves playing rocket ship and airplane. Really anything that gives him a different vantage point is exciting. (I let him sit next to me on the couch in his bumbo the other day and he was so excited about being 'up high'.)

11:15 AM: After playing hard, Ivor is rubbing his eyes and getting fussy, so I nurse him and lay him down for a nap. He does not sleep. (We are currently having an on-going argument about naps. I think he should lay down in his bed and Ivor thinks he should be held...) Since we are going to Baby Massage class later and I don't want screaming overtired Ivor interrupting the class, I nurse him back to sleep again and read 'World War Z' while he naps in my arms.

12:30 PM: Ivor wakes up. I feed him, change him and pack his bag, so that we can take him to the health clinic where he will get weighed and attend our Baby Massage class. Once ready, I slip Ivor into his wrap sling and we head down to the clinic.

Different day, same sling

It is a beautiful sunny Autumn day and I wander outside in the sunshine for a bit before going inside. Ivor loves to be outside and to see all the flowers, trees, and people. He also loves chewing on the sling- I keep moving it out of his face and he keep grabbing it back. By the time we arrive, he's managed to soak the sling with his slobber- it's a good thing these slings are washable!

13:00 PM: We chat to the other moms and babies while we wait our turn at the clinic. Last week the clinic was closed for a holiday, so it is particularly busy. I brought a couple toys, but Ivor prefers to occupy himself by eating his feet. Ivor weighs in at 11lbs 13oz. Our health visitor reassures me that this is a good gain and promises to discuss it with the doctor. I give Ivor another quick feed before our class starts. (A full baby is a happy baby.)

13:30 PM: Baby Massage class starts. This is the first of four sessions and this week we focus on massaging the legs and feet. Ivor seems more interested in starring at the other babies, twisting and contorting his body into various positions to eye-ball each and every one. Despite wiggling, he stays on the mat the whole class, and waits until I stand up to grab his bag before rolling off the mat. (He then shrieks because he doesn't like the cold linoleum floor.)

After class I pop Ivor back in the sling for the walk home. I take the long route home so Ivor can look at the cars and I can window shop. On the way home, I stop at the local store and grab some fruit to enjoy with my lunch. Ivor flirts with the lady at the checkout, who is captivated by his big blue eyes.

14:20 PM: Ivor is so exhausted that he falls straight to sleep as soon as I lay him in his crib. I enjoy my lunch, email and fold some laundry done while he sleeps.

15:30 PM: The neighbor turns on loud Techno music, which wakes Ivor up. Thanks for that!

I try putting him down again, but he wakes up again. After leaving him for a while to see if he'll settle, I take Ivor out of his crib, feed him, and put him in his baby seat to play while I put on another load of laundry and start preparing dinner (Chicken Soup made from leftover chicken and veg).

16:10 PM: We play a little. Ivor eats again. I put him in his baby seat for a few minutes while I vacuum the living room floor. (My hair is falling out and I keep finding clumps everywhere. I've been trying to vacuum almost everyday so Ivor doesn't have to play in clumps of dust and hair.) Once the floor is clean, we play again.

17:15 PM: Ivor starts to fuss, so I nurse him and hold him while we both nap. (This 'hold-me-while-I-sleep situation is why I manage to get through so many books and always have a dirty house. It is also a really good excuse to take a nap myself.)

18:20 PM: Ivor wakes up and I nurse him. Ross comes home from work- Ivor's favorite part of the day! The volume goes up as the boys play and wrestle and squeal, while I finish up the soup and cheesy bread for dinner. (I think I know who taught him about shrieking...)

19:00 PM: Dinner time. We all eat dinner while we watch the news. After dinner, we all play and catch up on each other's news of the day.

19:35 PM: We start getting Ivor ready for bed. First, he gets his bath.

Then we get him in his pajamas, turn down the lights and read him a story or two.

All cozy in his sleepsack.

We say prayers and I nurse Ivor. (I sing him a version of Psalm 23 as he nurses.)

20:30 PM: Once he starts getting drowsy, I burp him, turn on his Giraffe- a little stuffed toy that play different music/sounds on a timer. I usually set it to the white noise option, which blocks out other noise enough that he can drift off to sleep.- and lay him down in his crib.

Good Night, Ivor.