WEEK NINE

As I found out this week you can't call in sick when you're a mom. When a cold (or throat infection as the case may be) strikes there will be no sleeping it off or curling up on the couch in pj's with a cup of tea watching a movie. Nope, when you get sick you have to pull out your supermom super human strength and keep on going. And that's just what I did. Of course I had a few weak 'pity me' moments but I was surprised just how far you can push yourself if you have to. I just hope that the little guy doesn't get sick. I keep checking his temperature obsessively for fear that he may get a fever. Luckily, he seems healthy as always (knock on wood).

It's amazing as the weeks chug on how I find myself more in tune with Oliver's cues and quirks. I can now sense the difference between hunger and when he wants to cozy up in the sling a lot quicker then I used to. I can see a fussy spell inch up slowly and hopefully alleviate any discomfort before it turns into full blown hysteria. This whole new level of observance has relieved some of the stress in my day and his. It has also brought on new confidence. Now if he freaks out in a store I no longer break out in a sweat and rush for the nearest exit. Instead I have no problem calmly taking him out of his stroller and plopping him in the sling. This week I even tried on jeans with him in the sling. Have I mentioned how much I love that sling??? I find myself not feeling sooo self-conscience as a new mother and therefore, am able to get out and do a bit more with him.

It's very sweet how this week he's really discovered his hands. He now clasps them together purposefully and puts them in his mouth. He also spends a lot of time just looking at them. I can't image what this must be like... to suddenly realize that you have control over these limbs that have been flaying about in front of your face for your whole life. No wonder he looks at them so intently. It must blow his mind!

I have a new favorite product this week. My ottoman. I love my glider, but I find after a certain point my knees become sore and I become so fidgety. No matter how tired I am I can't seem to dose off in it; which would have some in handy some of those long sleepless nights. Up until this week I've actually been using a diaper box as an ottoman (chic I know...) but it just wasn't cutting it. So when I got one this week that actually glided, it was the difference between night and day. Literally. Now instead of getting up with the birds (which start chirping at 3:30am by the way) I'm getting up with the sun. When Oliver started fussing because of gas at four in the morning, instead of bringing him down stairs and starting our day I've been rocking him in the glider and we both manage to get an extra hour of sleep or so. I love it!! Because of this, we are both much more pleasant when its actually time to get up. I always thought that the ottoman was kinda silly to get, but no longer! For all the time I've spent and am going to spend in that chair, it's defiantly worth it to have something comfortable to put your feet up on and catch some extra zzz's.

Getting better at tummy time!