Maybe Mommy’s right about this tummy time gig!
Maybe it’s not so bad after all!
Look at my girl go! She’s been rolling over as well. From her belly to her back although the other day I thought she might go from her back to her front. Of course, tummy time still ends in tears, but it takes a lot longer to get there.
She’s learning every day – it’s just so wonderful to watch! I’ve been trying to do some tummy time every morning. I take off her diaper and let her go free for a spell – you know – air out and stuff. She’s definitely slowed down the poops – way down – which makes me a bit nervous always waiting for the next big poop, but so far we’ve been okay. I’d just hate to put her in one of her super cute little outfits and have her blow out in it. She’s sleeping great at night still, even if she’s stopped napping the last couple of days. She falls asleep but wakes up so easy. Although today she’s going long. She still gets up once or twice a night, but now that I’ve mastered nursing on my side, I just pop in the boob and we go right back to sleep. I don’t turn the light on or sit up or watch the clock so it’s almost like I never wake up. And yes. Meli is currently sleeping with us. In our bed. (This little revelation is NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION. We’re doing what’s right for us as I’m sure all of you wonderful parents out there are doing what’s right for your family. I appreciate your opinions, but don’t really want them on this particular topic. The opinions of the grandparents are enough, thank you very much! 😉 )
Her visit with her cousins was chock full of excitement! My sister and I were quite ambitious and managed to hit the beach one day, the State Fair one night, lots of pool time, fireworks and even breakfast out and a shopping trip. Craziness! Their time with us just flew by and we miss them lots. Although we’ll be seeing them soon enough.
Thank you all so much for your great comments the last few posts. I’m so glad to hear from each and every one of you and I’m thrilled about the knitblog discussion. I’ve been visiting new to me blogs and am heartened by the community once again. Knitting should make an appearance here soon – I’ve been knitting – although my sister’s visit put my current project on pause. It’s a great pattern though and one I can’t wait to show off! Super cute!
I’ll end this post with another picture of Meli – this is what she has to say to me when I tell her listen to your mother! Tummy time RULES!
LOVE IT!! She is so adorable. And, I am happy to hear you are doing what works for you and your family. It is hard listening to the grandparents, but after a while they stop – or you learn to really ignore them. I have had to put my father in his place a time or two, but we seem to have figured out who is the mom!
Woohoo look at her go!!!!!
btw: I totally agree with it. I did the same. =) sorry about talking about it but I wit all of the “right and wrongs” out there isn’t it amazing how we survived as a species? =)
Enjoy that cute little bundle!!
So… I’m not a mom, obviously. I’ve always had this burning question… Just like tummy time… what about bath time? Isn’t there a chance the kid will pee or poo in the tub/basin, and their diaper is off, and so much for getting clean???
Grumperina – the great thing about pooping in the bath (er, that is, the BABY pooping in the bath) is that you can just turn on the faucet and hold the baby under it to clean them off.
Cara – our baby still sleeps in bed with us most nights, at age 2. I slept with my parents till I was 8. I applaud you for doing what feels right, not what we are TOLD is right (only as of the last few decades do babies not sleep with their parents). YOU are the mama! YOU decide. (I hope you don’t mind my discussing it after you said not to! I don’t feel that parents are encouraged often enough when they make decisions that go against the “norm” and I try to make up for it whenever I can.)
Adorable. And rolling over, too. Just look out for that rolling thing: I’ve been told that I could only roll in one direction for a couple of weeks, so Mom would have to crawl under the sofa and turn me around so I could roll my way out. 🙂
Meli is too beautiful for words. I love reading your blog and seeing your lovely photos. Keep it up!
Not discussing — just offering support in case those grandparents bother you 🙂 My boy slept in our bed till he was, gosh, four or five. He is twelve now and sleeps on his own and is just fine, thank you very much 🙂 Follow your instincts!
It’s neat to watch her face changing. Thanks for sharing your family with us.
It’s neat to watch her face changing. Thanks for sharing your family with us.
Your little one is so adorable. 🙂
My hubby and I loved having our little girl sleep in the bed with us. It was the only way we could get her to sleep for several hours at a time in the first few months of her life. When we tried to move her to the bassinet next to our bed it just felt strange. My body wanted hers to be right there next to mine. My hubby woke up in the middle of the night one evening to find me attempting to nurse a pillow. (Our daughter was sound asleep in the bassinet at the time.) I kept muttering in my sleep that I couldn’t find her face.
He laughs about it to this day.
That Meli is really something. I’m a long-time lurker but just have to tell you that she is a real cutie. And they get so big so fast! Can’t believe L’il I (#3) will be one next month.
(And, for the record, they don’t stay in your bed forever — neither of mine did and we were all a lot better with a decent night’s rest without the ups and downs) 🙂
Your baby is so frickin’ cute! She really is a doll and so lucky to have you. Must close this window now, because my ovaries are really starting to ache. I hope to one day be as blessed… Thank you for sharing.
Our son slept in our bed until he was 2-1/2, then on a crib mattress on our bedroom floor until he was almost 5 and we moved into a house with his own bedroom. Everything was what was right for us, for our situation and he is healthy and well-adjusted. The best thing you can do is listen to your gut as a Mama!
Great photos of an adorable baby!
She is so expressive! Junior went about 2 weeks where he would try to roll from back to front but only got to his side. It made me crazy!
She is SO darling!!! Nursing in bed is the BEST! I love being able to sleep at night and nurse my babe at the same time. Good for you, doing what is best for your family and listening to your gut to know what that is 🙂
I love your photos of Meli – the card that you made of her is on my desk. I am so glad that you trumped your fear of IVF and were so successful. I had to clear my deck in order to get pregnant as well, but I think it’s worth it no matter how much time it takes. Feeling mentally and emotionally prepared is so important when you’re about to do the thing that you are least mentally and emotionally prepared to do. BTW, the snoogle has become one of those things I cannot live without. I don’t think I could sleep if I didn’t have it, so thank you so much for sending it – you rock!
Love, J
What a face!!!! I can’t wait to have one of these myself!
Cutest baby ever! I love her little tongue!
Those photos are beautiful!! Meli is soooo cute!!!
I just want to thank you for continuing with your blog.. no matter what you talk about. I lurk quite often, but enjoy each and every post.
Your daughter is absolutely beautiful!
You should be doing baby photos for a living, your pictures of the girl are too cute 🙂
FWIW – Not listening to grandparents is the easiest way to get them to back off…saves a lot of arguments, just nod head and do own thing.
You should be doing baby photos for a living, your pictures of the girl are too cute 🙂
FWIW – Not listening to grandparents is the easiest way to get them to back off…saves a lot of arguments, just nod head and do own thing.
we co-sleep too. i wouldn’t have it any other way :).
Can I discuss it if I say “GO FOR IT”? Smartest thing I ever did – both kids slept with me until around a year or so. When my mother complained I reminded her that she let her cats sleep in my crib. Cats don’t care about babies. Mothers do.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that first picture!! To me it looks like she’s saying “look Mom, what did I tell you about this tummy time stuff?!” She is precious! So beautiful!
SO CUTE! She’s looking so grown up in those pictures. I won’t flame you for sleeping with her. I think it’s great. I WISH it had worked for us, but it didn’t. Do what works for you and toss out the rest!
Sorry babe, I must comment on the baby in bed thing, too. Our oldest slept with us until his baby brother came along. Both of them nursed every 45 minutes for a half hour and there was no way I was getting up with that!
Is that a gorgeous baby or what?!?
I don’t know what my parents did when I was very young, but I do remember coming up on 5 and still running in to sleep with my parents. They finally told me (or so they say) that little girls who sleep with their parents don’t get to go to kindergarten, so I never did it again 🙂
OMG! She’s adorable. Enjoy sleeping with her. The time passes so quickly and there’s nothing quite as nice as having a baby snuggled up to you at night:)
What a little cutie! It is the only way to get some decent sleep for that first stretch of babyhood (much longer sometimes), especially when bfing. Little ones in bed is one of those things lots of people do and don’t talk about!
I’ve read your blog for probably three years, but I don’t think I’ve commented until now. This is one of the world’s cutest babies!! Look at her holding her head up and grinning like a big girl. Way to go Meli. I say one of the world’s cutest babies because I know another Meli here in South Dakota who is running a dead heat with her for cutest babe. It is strange, they even look a little alike. So cute though it’s nice to have doubles. 🙂 I also really enjoy your writing style and photo skills. I miss the knitting colors but this cutie makes up for it. Way to go.
She is just adorable. I remember my little girl never liked tummy time but that was because she was lactose intolerant and her tummy was probably a wee bit sore. Your little girl looks so happy too, what a great smile she has. I wouldnt worry about her sleeping in your bed, we used to let our daughter too, it just creates a better bond although she still likes to sneak in every now and then and she is 6 yrs old now. We do enjoy the extra cuddles though.
Meli is so incredibly amazingly cute that I am about to explode!
I can just see her listening to you talk to her in those photos! (And I see that cute little bum too. Just wait till she’s, oh, 12 or so like my older daughter and she realizes you put her butt on the internet.) Sounds like, with all the HUGE changes that parenthood brings, that you and she are having a wonderful time!
Tushie! Tushie! I spot a cute little baby tushie!!!
(And this is NOT a comment on your co-sleeping, but rather a comment on our own co-sleeping: Being there next to our little guy when he wakes up in the morning, getting to lounge around and cuddle and nurse and now that he’s older chat and tell jokes–while cuddling and nursing–has been one of the most rewarding parts of this whole mom thing.)
Meli is adorable! And as for the co-sleeping, I can only agree with Cari above me; one of the greatest gifts and joys of my life is sharing our bed with our son (now 3 and still there, lol). They are little such a short time, and who wouldn’t prefer to be warm and safe, nestled between their parents? Always follow your gut mama!
Who cares if you don’t write about knitting…watching Meli grow is way more interesting and important…..besides I read a lot of blogs thathave nothing to do with knitting anyway….I’m a flexible person…LOL
Ack. The cuteness overload!!
Gorgeous photos! Our co-sleeping experience came about entirely by unpremeditated instinct. My first child is on the autism spectrum, and slept in our bed until age 3,and on a mattress next to us until she was 6 and felt ready for her own room. I treasured those nights because many days, cuddling her in bed was the only conflict free time we had. (Plus she was colicky and nursed every hour round the clock for the first year…) Then my son came along, and was an easy baby… but we already loved the co-sleeping, so in he came. He’s now 5 and ready to move into an adjacent mattress (the delay mostly being for lack of space)… but I wouldn’t have missed participating in his sleep world for anything: listening to his dreams, sleepy morning kisses, middle of the night snuggles. We had to tell the grandparents to back off, and when we lived in conservative prairie towns, we kept it carefully to ourselves, but I never doubted my instincts.
oh, that last photo is so adorable! You are truly blessed and I’m so happy for you.
absolutely adorable! i am away with my 10 month old daughter and she is sleeping with me and sleeping well. at home i would bring her in around 5 or 6 am to sleep with us after getting up with her at least once or twice. i should’ve listened to my heart earlier about co-sleeping. she’s so much happier, and i am so much more well rested.
My DD is 8 and she still sleeps with us!
You’ve got a cutie! Tummy time rocks!!
Hope you don’t mind one more comment about how awesome co-sleeping is — Lu was in bed with us for the first four months, and now that she’s a very mobile sleeper, her crib, which had previously hardly been used for anything but her laundry, is a sidecar to our bed. It’s a great solution for us, and I bring it up just because I was really struggling at that point — Robb & I were getting no sleep because of how much she tosses and turns around, and I had no idea such a thing existed. So if it starts being frustrating for you, I wanted to point out that there is an interim option that keeps baby super-close.
Also, it’s really fun when Grammy says “So, is Lucy sleeping in her crib now?” and I say “Yes.”
Because what they don’t know won’t kill them. 🙂
Take what works for you and G and Meli and to heck with the rest.
You are doing a fabulous job at being a mom and I’m glad you are standing up for yourself and your decisions. Good for you!
You are doing a fabulous job at being a mom and I’m glad you are standing up for yourself and your decisions. Good for you!
You are doing a fabulous job at being a mom and I’m glad you are standing up for yourself and your decisions. Good for you!
oooops. sorry for the triple post. 🙁
Her aplomb reminds me of many nightly news commentators. She would look perfect managing a news desk! Happy knitting (and good going on setting limite on what advice you do/don’t want).
love love love that last photo of your beautiful girl.
as well as all the stories.
It makes me miss having a baby in the house 🙂 (Mine are sooooo totally grown up now)
Knitting? cool… but babies rock too.
That is one heck of a cute kid.
I am a first time mom to a seventh month old. I am still amazed at the amount of unsolicited opinions and judgements that people are more than happy to give me. It is truly astonishing. I have some scripted responses I give . . . that’s funny, I don’t remember asking for your opinion . . . my husband and I have nothing but our child’s best interests at heart . . . excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have researched this topic carefully and we have made our decision thank you anyways . . . woah! did you see that? I think it was a UFO!!! Obviously, I change my snarkiness and politeness according to who I am talking to. But, man, I can’t believe how anyone and everyone feel the right to judge our parenting choices!!! Do what is best for your family and close your ears to the unsolicited opinions!!
My eight-month-old likes tummy time better now that he has figured out how to go from his tummy to sitting up, LOL! Not quite crawling, but ALMOST!!!
I never could figure out nursing on my side with the first two, but I am SO glad that I can with this little guy! It is so much nicer to be able to get some sleep while he’s nursing in the early morning hours! 🙂
I really love all of the photographs of your Meli! She is so cute, almost as cute as my kids! (Hey, every Mom is supposed to think that their kids are the cutest, right? :-))
It’s been a while since I’ve commented here, but I read and check your blog everyday. Meli is so cute and I enjoy looking at the beautiful pictures of her!
Believe me you are not the only one that keeps your baby in bed with you. I did it and my son and daughter-n-law keep there kids with them tell they are almost two. My little granddaugher is now four and is a happy, healthy little girl and my grandson that is now a little over one and is still sleeping in there bed is also very happy and a very loving little boy.
You know once they start rolling it won’t be long and they take off and become mobile. Good luck this is the best time of your life!
Aww – such sweet pictures. Keep them coming, and keep enjoying this time with her!
OK, maybe it’s that you take pictures for a living, but darned if your’s is not one of THE most beautiful babies I’ve ever seen (and I’m biased–I have two that were pretty stinking cute in their time.
As for co-sleeping–my children are pretty well adjusted *despite* sleeping with mom and dad for years. And believe it or not, they read and communicate with others!! Keep it up, girl, it’s pretty clear that Meli is one happy baby!
She’s too too precious! I love bare baby bums!
My almost 5 month old son (who, BTW, sleeps between me and hubby at night) loved watching Miss Meli’s video a few nights ago! He smiled and “talked” to her. I thought he was going to jump out of my lap and into the computer! LOL
Meli is so flippin’ adorable! I still drag my 5-year old to bed with me ’cause I just sleep better knowing she is so close. I only felt a million times stronger about sleeping with my babies when people disagreed. It gives me a chuckle to think they thought they had that kind of influence on me.
Great photos. Not a mom but Meli should sleep exactly where you want her to sleep. If that is in your bed, I say go for it!
I think this is my favorite set of photos so far; how much she’s growing!! I love how quickly they change/learn at this stage… it really is amazing how much can go on during one day.
If you don’t already own it, I can’t recommend enough the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. Not only does it cover what you should expect for each developmental stage in terms of the child’s natural sleep needs/habits, but it also offers a number of tips to smooth out any bumps you may have along the way, including tips for different parenting styles. The book is completely non-judgmental, covers current sleep research, has a number of interesting anecdotes from other sleep deprived parents, and is the number one book that we attribute to saving our sanity. We give it to every new parent that we come across, and not one person hasn’t found it useful. I still reference it today with both my three year old and my one year old… it really is that useful!
OK, enough prostletizing for one day… … sorry.
She is adorable. Definitely in the running for CUTEST BABY EVER.
I see I am not the only one that is not going to end the discussion. My son slept with us as well. I think until he was like 2. He is going on 11 and there was no permanent damage. I always said FU to those who told me how to raise my kid.
Funny, I used to call them blow outs too. I mean up the back and into his hair….. eeeewwwww.
Meli is very cute.
We had a ‘family bed’ for YEARS, and after my husband left, my dd slept with me until she was ready to move into her own room. (I won’t say how old she was ’cause some folks would surely disapprove.) She’s almost 16 now, very self-assured and well-adjusted. I am satisfied that I made the right decision and would not only do it again, but would recommend it to anyone who is willing to ignore all the nay-sayers. And when I’m a grandmother? I’ll recommend it to my daughter.
Can I tell you a secret? We co-sleep. My older DS is 3 and my younger is 10 months. We, DH and I, believe the best sleep method is the one that results in the most sleep for the most people. So we are like a big pile of puppies at bedtime.
And you know what? Most of the time I love it.
That is one cute smile! And while I know it’s not right for everyone, I do love the extra nighttime baby cuddles that come with co-sleeping. 🙂
Cara, Our daughter slept with me on my futon until she was at least 3 years old, when I stopped nursing. We live in Japan, and until she was 8 years old, we all slept on futons together. Today, she is a happy, healthy 10 year old that sleeps in her own bed, in her own room. I still miss those early days together, and I would not trade them for the world.
The best book I have read, “The Family Bed” by Tine Thevenin.
Take good care, Meli is a beautiful baby.
Your joy filled photos bring back so many memories. Ah, if I could only turn the clock back or slow it down a bit. She’s beautiful!
Meli is so beautiful. Look how big she is getting!! The photos are great as well.
What a cutie! And don’t worry – Raley still hates tummy time enough for two babies, so maybe she’s just taken Meli’s portion :). Of course, she’s still trying to raise her head using only her neck/back muscles, so it might be a little frustrating. I thought she was going to roll over yesterday (lifting way up off the floor), but no go.
I haven’t been letting her go fully naked at all… I guess I’m still not over all of the times that she fountained on the changing table 🙂 Maybe we’ll have to try some of that, tho.
Can you believe she’ll be 4 months old tomorrow? Doesn’t it seem they were born yesterday????
Hugs to you both!!!
We did the same with the sleep situation and I know I got a lot more sleep than the crib mommies! My daughter would only sleep on a person, day or night. She would wake up to nurse, and I would fall asleep again before she was done, perfect!
Of course, when I had the second one and there were four of us in there for a while, it was tight!
And of course Grandma was all “Is she sleeping in the crib yet?” But she NEVER did. Went from family bed to toddler bed and that was the best for us.
Glad you’re having such fun with Meli! She’s a cutie pie!
Simply adorable pictures. She will appreciate your talent some day when she has this beautiful portfolio of pictures documenting her babyhood. Can’t wait to see the knitting. I know all about the opinions of grandparents. Keep doing what feels right to you. There comes a time when they are ready to move to their own bed – it always happens sooner or later.
Simply adorable pictures. She will appreciate your talent some day when she has this beautiful portfolio of pictures documenting her babyhood. Can’t wait to see the knitting. I know all about the opinions of grandparents. Keep doing what feels right to you. There comes a time when they are ready to move to their own bed – it always happens sooner or later.
Okay – she has just got to stop getting cuter by the post!! It’s too much 🙂
Okay third time for me to comment – YES!!! The family bed rocks!!!!!! Out of my 8 only 1 did not sleep with us and that was number 1 (he’s 16 now and he makes up for it by hanging out on our bedroom floor watching Arrested Development and Simpsons with us after he gets home at night). It was really funny when my twins were sleeping with us – eventually as they got older daddy took one to a different bed in a different room and I took the other with the brand new baby (21 months younger than the twins). You do what works for your family. Number 8 just turned 2 and she’s still in bed with us and still nursing. Her soon to be 4 year old sister joined us in the middle of the night last night as well.
I know you don’t know me from Adam, BUT if you have any questions please just ask – you seem to be on the road to being an awesome momma. Also, check out attachment parenting – back in the day I didn’t realize that what I was doing had a name – I was just following my momma’s intuition:)
Oh my gosh. I was away for about a week and a half, and there’s all this discussion here about knitting blogs and evolution of blogs and stuff. And you went to FL? Cool. We used to live there, a little northeast of Tampa. I remember the July hot. Actually, it’s pretty much hot all damn year. Which is why we now live in KS. Ahhh, fall. I can make it through July knowing that fall is coming.
Anyway, I missed reading you, whatever it is you’re writing about…baby, knitting, life, blogging, nursing (love the memories that brings back), and all of it. Write whatever, whenever; you’ll have readers.
Your child has one seriously photogenic personality. Absolutely adorable!
YIPPEE for the co-sleepers. It is the best thing out there.
Your daughter is so cute. How could you stand to spend so many hours away from her? Co-Sleeping only gets better. I also applaud you for mentioning on your blog. It is nice to get support and to know that you aren’t alone and there are other moms like you!
long time lurker who love to co-sleep.
Yep – the sleeping thing worked for me, too. I’m convinced it saved my sanity – because I actually got to sleep all night & my daughter got to eat, and all was right with the world. Oh, and fyi – she doesn’t still sleep with me (she’s now 9). 🙂
such a cutie – she has definitely got your EYEBROWS!!
It’s great to hear that she’s with you in bed. It is a wonderful thing. We’ve had all ours in our bed, and even 2 at a time (queen bed) with me expecting is my limit. If we had a bigger bed, I wouldn’t mind that many! She’ll grow up secure, relaxed, smarter and even more obedient for the time she spends with you!! *proven, I just don’t have the links right now.* I just love seeing all the pictures, she is quite precious!! Thank you for sharing your life and family with us…it’s a priviledge to even comment!
Many more blessings to you!
Mrs.C. (BellaMama also at bellamamashandwork.blogspot.com)
I can hardly stand the cuteness! Miss M is so cute!
Oh she’s such a cutie!!! And if it makes you feel any better, I know lots of people who did the co-sleeping thing with their little ones, and it seemed to work out quite well for them. Ya gotta just do what’s right for you, I think.
Hi there,
Your baby is so gorgeous. We loved sleeping in the bed with our babies – the middle of the night feed is easy-peasy for everyone concerned and now they are 9 and 11 and in their own rooms – but I do talk about getting an 8 ft wide bed made for us all to sleep in one day!
YOU ROCK way to listen to your baby and your family
These are THE most adorable pictures!
Brilliant!