Tomorrow...

My baby turns two months old.  I'm a stockpot of mixed emotions.

My bath loving...

Outdoor air appreciating...

Cousin and brother adored...

Sweet, perfect baby.

You can keep your critters...

Today's birthday party was brought to you by The Critter Keeper.  H wisely chose not to hold the pythons, scorpions, giant cockroaches, and other creepy crawlies that I can't name, but he did manage to pose for a quick picture in front of the giant snake.

Good for you, Henry.  Your caution is an asset. 

Homecoming 2011

During tailgaiting time, Elgin and I checked out Pyler Hall, or the Townes Science Center, for a nursing and diaper change session.  He was way too happy in the sunroom, so I had to temper it with a speech on the perils of student loans and the necessity of scholarships, along with the value of a good state college.

I could only get my tightly wrapped boy to stay for a picture in front of the Kappa float...

Daddy's float was a hit, though, but only because of the 2000 composite picture that was attacked by a FUSAB sponsored dinosaur.

 But, best of all was the "Up" float and the Peter Pan float.

 At the football game, Elgin stayed in his usual snuggled position and missed the reunion activity...

 No, it wasn't Mama and Daddy's reunion year, but H had a very lovely reunion with an old school friend.  They were peas in a pod--happy as clams--birds of a feather--even snug as bugs in rugs...

Just cute...

... And worn out, warranting a ride in a baby stroller in order to make it to Saturday's birthday party where balloon animals made up for having to leave such a fantastic football game where Furman beat Wofford.

Furman lost to Samford but beat Wofford.  We're even, in-laws.  Even.

Boo! In the zoo!

I got my boys ready after naps were under their sashes (Get it?  Not belts but sashes!), and we headed out to meet up with Niklas for our now traditional, if two years in a row counts for tradition, Boo in the Zoo.

Here's Elgin in his preferred boo-in-the-zooing mode of transportation.  

What a cute Jake and Spiderman!

How do you spell relief?

B-O-T-T-L-E

After Elgin's first fledgeling but promising bottle feedings at just after the four week mark, I felt hopeful that his desire to eat from a bottle would only increase, and his comfort level would grow.  Instead, he eventually made a clear choice to reject the bottle and express his strong distaste for eating from anything else but my breast.  

Flattering?  Sure.  Worrisome?  Yeeeeeesssss.  

I went through the same thing with Henry, but I didn't go back to work full time until he was 11 months old and was using a sippy cup while away from me.  It worried me then, but even in his early months, he would eat very well in the afternoons and sometimes from a few of his chosen people from which he would agree to take a bottle.  

Elgin's bottle refusal was about to send me into a tailspin of ulcer onset.  When I go back to work, will he go 8 hours without eating if I can't make it over to feed him at lunch?

After enlisting combo feeding pro Stacy to help a couple of weekends ago, and still only hearing cries from my hungry baby, and then Elgin's scant eating while I was away at a book club meeting, I decided to wait a while before trying again.  I also researched more bottle options and was intrigued by the consistent stories of moms who had the most success with a certain inexpensive brand and their latex nipple option.

Last night, I made an optimistic dash to purchase one of those bottle combos.  My anticipation at replacing our most-expensive-bottles-on-the-mass-market with a cheap but proven option was also making me feel OK about shopping. 

I located the Playtex brand bottles, my bottles of hope, but just two brands over were shelves lined with the Born Free bottles and a video promising that my baby would be getting the best nipples and least amount of air and that the small amount of air combined with the perfect nipple and the very best plastic would ensure a full scholarship to an ivy league university at age 16.  

These bottle failed us with H, and they were failing us with EW.  

But, I felt myself strangely drawn to the most expensive option.  I even picked up a pack of a different nipple style that cost more than the Playtex bottle and nipple combo.  What the heck?  I spent years in marketing!  I know lipstick when I see it, people.  It's one major reason that I don't like to shop. What is it about having an infant that makes me feel compelled to spend more--to gravitate towards certain brands?

Thankfully, reason and research prevailed.  I put back the pricey nipples and firmly grasped the Playtex bottle and walked with great determination to the checkout where I explained to the cashier that I was going to take the bottle home to see if my baby would eat from it!  (She didn't look up.)

I made it home and warmed a cheapie bottle of breastmilk just before Elgin started his sweet, funny rooting.  Cory and I wordlessly made the bottle hand off, and he offered it to our baby who took it immediately and even continued to eat when I walked into the room to snap a picture.  By the time the feeding was over, he ate 2.5 ounces, the most he ever took from a bottle, even when we first thought he was doing OK with it.

Thank you, Playtex latex!  You are perfect... and cheap.  I think I'll buy some more of you.   

Born Free.  You can suck it!  (Because Elgin won't.)

How girls are different than boys...

Yesterday, Henry got up from his table and came to the stove to tell me that, "I like things that are awesome.  Girls don't like awesome things!"

"Oh?  What do girls like?"

"Girls only like pretty things!"

I have some example setting to do.  Any suggestions?  Keep in mind that I am far from athletic.

Spa Days

Daily body wrap and a steam room for Elgin...

Got to keep those nasal passages cleared!