Hats

Daughter. Employee. Friend. Mother. Sister. Student. Wife.

It’s important to recognize the different hats we wear, but how do we maintain a balance? They can’t all be equal and they must be prioritized. Sometimes I feel like I’m neglecting my duties in one area or another. As I’ve moved through life my different titles have been ranked and re-ranked. Last year, most importantly I was “wife”, naturally. Now above all I’m “mother.” You may think that’s a new one that was just recently added but, au contraire; it has been there a long time. If you know me, then you know I’m always preparing and planning. I’ve had my “mother” hat tucked away in the back of the metaphorical closet. I’ve just been dying to get it out, dust if off and wear it! (I have to say, it fits nicely!) Now I realize I have to make an extra special effort not to neglect my family, my friends and my husband. It’s an intricate weave that I must master.

Reed had his 4 month appointment today. He’s exactly 4 and a half months old. I don’t know what it is about the doctor’s office but he’s always in such a great mood. Completely happy, smiling, laughing and kicking the table. I’m beginning to think I need a roll of that paper that he can lay on at home because he seems to love the noise it makes as he kicks and squirms on it. Everything is on the up and up. He’s growing normally; still in the 75^th percentile for height and 50^th for weight. He’s laughing, babbling, and rolling over, which makes the clogged tear duct our only battle. It’s messy and irritates the skin around his eyes which looks painful and is not attractive at all. All we can do is try to keep it cleaned up, give it a little massage and the warm compress. I have run across another tid-bit that seems to be helping… it also makes me feel like I have a bit of a super power. I’m a healer. I read that the antibacterial properties in breastmilk can help many ailments. Reed doesn’t seem to mind and it sure is a lot more convenient than standing at the sink with a warm cloth waiting for the water to warm up all the time. Especially when we are out and about!

Dr. Garrison also talked to me about starting Reed on rice cereal. I’ve been looking forward to the discussion- we started giving Reed a spoon, so he can work on his hand eye coordination and I bought him a bowl with a suction bottom and then sat and tapped my finger tips together waiting very patiently. Since Reed is showing interest in our food and lately he seems to be less satisfied with just milk, the doctor said, “go right ahead” its up to us. Well originally, I was very set on breastfeeding exclusively and waiting until he was 6 months old. There are many benefits, however- my supply has gone down and maybe that’s all a sign pointing towards the fact that Reed just needs something more substantial. He’s a growing boy after all! I’m excited to blog about his first gourmet single grain dish.

The shots are always the scariest part, aren’t they? I think the anticipation is worse than the actual shot. It was the same drill as his shots two months ago. I leaned over him on the table with my thumb in his mouth and spoke to him softly as his eyes twinkled up at me. I clipped my thumbnail down real short this time to avoid stabbing him. I just wish I could explain what was coming because I know he gets more mad about the surprise of it than the pain. Two minutes flat and I had him smiling! I couldn’t be more proud. I don’t know why but it just makes my heart swell to think my little boy is just so tough! Here is a specific example of a trait he got from Mike. This ability to move on so quickly, to not dwell on things. He can just get mad and then get over it. I, on the other hand, have to stay mad once I’m set off. I do not have the ability to turn off the emotion once the switch is flipped. It’s a fault, I admit, and sometimes it’s really inconvenient. Mike can say something like, “it was a misunderstanding. There’s no reason to be mad about it anymore.” Oh how I wish I could just say, “you’re right. I’m all better now!” Just another example of why I want Reed to grow up to be just like his daddy. There’s a reason I married the man, I think he’s just about perfect! Why wouldn’t I want my son to be just like him?

The rolling over is getting pretty hilarious. I mean, he rolled over at about 3 months, but he just did it to show he could and then he pretty much put it behind him and only occasionally pulled it out of his box of tricks. The past couple days he’s become obsessive about it. He can’t be on his back anymore but once on his tummy he grunts and squirms. The most untimely of rolls is during a diaper change. He just pulls his knees up like a little pill bug, or as we used to call them a “rolly poly” and suddenly he’s on his tummy. I’m pretty disgusted by our living room rug and busting out the old carpet shampooer has skyrocketed on the list of priorities!

Poor Reed is a tummy sleeper and at home we almost never put him down on his back anymore. His sleep is important and although we would love to try and get him to sleep comfortably on his back, it’s just not worth the trouble! However, at school they’re not allowed to lay them down on their tummies. So Reed was just starting to get used to that at school and finally getting some longer naps on his back right before Christmas break. Then he was out for 2 and a half weeks and home with Mike while I was at work. When he got back to school last week- they had to start all over! I feel pretty guilty about it but they said if they lay him down on his back and he rolls to his tummy to sleep then they can leave him. Someday! Right now, when he’s rolling he’s too amped up. It’s not really a ‘winding down’ activity. I really love his child care facility tho. The mother’s day out we use is great and I really trust his teachers. His two regular teachers are both named Katie, and are so sweet to him. I do not envy them, I enjoy my days home alone with Reed on Tuesdays and Thursdays but to have 7 babies in one room? No thanks!

I love that he’s developing social skills this early. Working part time is the perfect combination, because I don’t feel like they’re raising my baby but I’m not overwhelmed staying home with him every day either. And I still get my adult time and the other personal things that my job fulfills. Plus, Reed gets to experience being around others his age and can be independent of his mommy. I’m really starting to like Kacie, the girl who left her number in his bag. It worries me that I like her so much, Reed really digs her and she’s in love with him. She can’t know about this blog after the rant I made a while back about how much she wanted to charge me to watch him! PS- I still haven’t asked her to watch him. We’ve used our wonderful friends to watch him for free, and then we thank them with a small token of appreciation.

I’m about to break out my student hat again Spring semester starts next Wednesday. *sigh* I’ve got to keep chipping away at it and I don’t want to use Reed as an excuse. So if you’re wondering where I am on Monday and Wednesday nights- I’ll be at school, getting my education on.