Benjamins Crib

5 5

So here is my wonderful crib I finally have! It was my graduation present from Daniel's parents and I have waited to get it until I knew where we were going to be living. I researched for a really long time which one I wanted. I wanted it to be sturdy so Ben couldn't shake or break it, dark wood, and be able to used in any position (no apparent front or back). It was easy to set up and is really beautiful. I am so happy with it! It also came with a toddler bed conversion rail, so I don't have to find or purchase one. I can also use it for a play area away from the dogs nad where he can't roll off. I love it and it is the nicest piece of furniture we own!

PPD...

Last week I didn't feel right. There was one day I felt icky and gross and maxed out, but I couldn't cry. I have never felt like that before. Usually I am overloaded, cry and be done with it. I couldn't cry. I felt like an empty shell. I felt broken. Daniel took me out thinking it was just being cooped up too long. I didn't want to eat anything, but felt better after I did. That night I got angry at Daniel for no reason. That had been happening for a while now too. I couldn't explain why I was always angry at him, I just was. The next day was better, but not much. The next day I was angry again, but this time I broke down and cried. It felt good to cry. We thought maybe I have depression. The next day I talked to my mother in-law and my mom. It was clear something was missing or wrong with me. I realized that all the things I enjoy weren't making me happy anymore. I didn't want to sew. I could care less about any movies or television. Chocolate didn't even make me feel better. I looked up some articles on Postpartum Depression. Some of the things made sense and fit my problem: I experienced a big life changing event right before the birth ( moving to Missouri and graduating college), I had had problems with the birth (I had a c-section), I can't take a nap during the day if my life depended on it because I am too anxious, even if someone watches him. Some other problems that don't help is that I live in a tiny room with two other people and three dogs, I have no car to get away, and I have no money to do anything. So I think that I probably have PPD. Ben has an appointment next Wednesday, so I am going to ask my doctor then about this problem. It definitely helps to talk to people about it and to know that there is a fix, but I still feel Br0Ke_N. .. .

Chiropractor

I have been hearing for months now that some people take their baby to the Chiropractor to get adjusted and they said it helped tremendously. Well, I was a little afraid of this...I have never been to one and didn't know what to expect. I finally broke down and went. It was a little cooky... he used this method were he felt the electricity in his spine to determine where to correct him. I took my mom with me and she was freaked out by this weird process. So he said he needed a few thing adjusted, so I laid him on the table and he twisted and popped his neck...scary! After that he used a little tool to pop his spine back into place down his back. Well, I thought if it doesn't help anything I won't go back in a week. So by the time the next appointment rolled around I was trying to remember what improved (a really hard thing to do now). I realized that he slept better and longer, wasn't so fussy, and wasn't so gassy. It was a little improvement, but at least it helped. So I went back again and he readjusted him again and I observed more improvments. He used to not like his tummy at all and now he is really good at laying on his tummy and pushing up his chest. Then what I thought was Ben teething because all of the symptoms, wasn't it, becasue they all have gone away! He seems like a new baby! Don't get me wrong he still cries and has some gas, but it is such an improvement from before we went. I am taking all my babies from now on!

It happened!

Well there comes a time in motherhood where I have become absolutely mortified with myself...I dropped my baby. Our changing table is a big thick pad on top of our dog crate (space saver) and so last week I was woken up by my cupboards falling completely off the wall crashing and breaking on their way. So they were still hanging on the wall part way, so I needed my husband to help me take them the rest of the way down. He was in the shower, so while I waited baby woke up and needed to be changed. So in the middle of changing Daniel comes to help me with the cupboards. So he needed my hand for a second, and I turned around and the next thing I new Ben was on the floor crying! He had not fallen off the sides but kicked his legs and pushed him self off the front. So I cried and Daniel wanted me to take him to the doctor. So I made an appointment and took him to the Doctor. He was fine. I also took him to a chiropractor to check him out. Needless to say I feel awful about the whole ordeal.

Wonderful World of Teething!

I knew it was coming, but thought I still had some time. Nope! Ben is teething and wanting to gnaw on everything, including my face. I am raw and sore from trying to soothe him by feeding. He wants to be held all of the time and he is suddenly a drool machine too! Help!

Christmas Eve 2008

His Sunday outfit: White shirt, vest, and tie

Baby Clause

Daniel playing the Piano for Ben

Hamman Family

This year I had a Santa suit that said baby's first Christmas on it for Ben. So we dressed him up and took photos around the Christmas Tree with "Baby Clause"!

Ferber Method

Since Ben had colic, our doctor recomended motion to help soothe him. We started to put him in the swing just before bed and between feedings in the night to help with the colic. So for a few months now Ben has been sleeping in the swing. This was fine, but we are running through batteries like toilet paper so I finally decided to try and ease him back into his crib. I tried during nap time and he seemed to take to it just fine. I then realized I was putting him to sleep before he even reached the crib. So I looked up ways to get your child to like their crib and fall asleep without your help and I came across two methods. The first one is the Ferber or "cry it out" method and the second was where you are chained to the crib until they fall asleep. I didn't like the sound of being locked to his bedside till he fell asleep, so I was going to try the first method. The first night I told Daniel what I was doing and he gave me moral support through the whole thing. The crying started and escalated. There were periods where he would stop. I think he was confused why I wasn't coming to his aid. It was so hard not to jump up and soothe him. Daniel had to keep telling me not to get up and not to say anything, that it wold make it worse. So after a loooong ten minutes, he miraculously stopped. I thought he would cry much longer than that. So the next night came around and I was prepared for it to be longer than the first try. The crying lasted about three minutes, maybe close to five. Wow! I must have a smart baby. Then for nap time today I started him in the swing and just before he dozed off I placed him in his crib and no crying! It was wonderful! I didn't even have to use a binky. He smiled at me and then just dozed off! I hope he continues on this wonderful habit of putting himself to sleep! What other methods have worked or didn't work for you?