My sweet child. Oh how long I waited for you, dreamed of you, and hoped for you. Because of our journey to bring you into this family, I anticipated how I would savor every moment, be cautious, and perhaps be even more click-happy as I knew you would be my last baby. And then you…
Category: Parenting
A Case for Empathy
We’ve just finished dinner. After some convincing to clean her plate of chicken and broccoli she’s rewarded with the promise to enjoy some fun before going to bed. “Let’s play, Daddy!” “What should we play?” “Super Connie and Super Daddy!” They run through the house exhibiting their superpower: flying. And it was super. Hearing her…
What I’ve Learned in My Two Years as a Mama
Preface: The below reflections were originally written in April 2017. I managed to draft this and must have intended to include more and never got around to doing so. It’s been in drafts and I discovered it today as I was about to write about yet another birthday and another year of reflections. The below…
Vivian’s Newborn Images
Treasured images of our sweet baby girl and us, as a family of four. Rachel Manzke has been capturing the chapters of our lives for several years now. When she couldn’t commit to being there for Vivian’s birth due to a mix of a needed surgery, the holidays, and work, we were grateful she recommended…
Valentines Day Hype
The drama, hope, and heartache of Valentine’s day… I can remember being in high school on Valentine’s day watching the office fill with balloons and flowers and waiting for the long announcement listing the names of students who had items to collect. Many were receiving signs of affection from their boyfriend or girlfriend or BFF….
Sleep Training
In previous posts, I alluded to our experimentation with sleep training. Miss Connie has slept well from the start. I cannot complain about sleepless nights or having days and nights mixed up. She spoiled us from the beginning. When we brought her home, we started with her sleeping in our bed (co-sleeping). I would lay…
Mammary
mam·ma·ry, ˈmam(ə)rē/, adjective, relating or belonging to the milk-secreting organ of a female mammal In the past few weeks, I really feel like my mammary glands are giving up. When we were in Jamaica I pumped a few times each day and managed to extract roughly 25 ounces over the 5-day period. It was deflating, literally! I was…
Teething Experiments
Tooth #1 arrived on September 22nd, just after turning 5 months old. The nanny discovered it and brought her in to ask if I knew it was there. I had been occasionally checking for breaks in the gums, but had not noticed it and was happy to realize it came in without much fuss or…
First Summer with an Infant
This certainly was not my typical summer. Modifications were made, priorities shifted, and activities were limited—the result of having an infant. I only managed to get to the lake a few times and this is the first summer since I was 7 that I wasn’t on water skis. Just typing that is sad—I love to…
Bear Vale Life 