Tag Archives: babies

How to “Walk the Walk” As A Baby

Hmmm, daddy’s shoe is pretty cool, I wonder if I want to take it….

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Oh, hello there, baby peers. Have you started walking yet?

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That’s cool if you haven’t, but you’re really missing out. I just started and I’m already working on my dance moves.

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Remember when I talked about surviving the first 5 months of your life? Or when I shared my thoughts as a crawling baby? Well, that was cool and all, but I’m obviously past all of that “child’s play”.

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And it’s freakin’ awesome…..Haaayyyyyy!

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Okay, just had to get that out of the way. I’m done.

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Just kidding, one more time!! Heeyyy…..Oooohhhh!!

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Seriously, I’m done now.

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Now that we’ve established I can walk *cough* and dance *cough*, I’ve noticed an increase in my ability to get what I want and figured I share a few of them with you other, less advanced, babies. I’ve even been taking notes in my cool book to remember all of my new findings.

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First off, as a walker, you can reach things you never could when you were floor-bound. Speaking of, I’m a little hungry, let me just grab something from the fridge. Oooo, I see a nice jar of NuttZo calling my name!

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It’s okay, daddy bought it, but it’s mine because I said so. I even had him make me some tasty Pumpkin NuttZo Oatmeal Bread like this.

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Since I’m high-maintenance, I care for sugar laden food in my diet, so I make sure he only sweetens with high quality stevia like Pyure Sweet. Another tasty dish daddy made is this chocolate black bean puree with NuttZo and Pyure Sweet mixed in.

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Before I eat, I need to take my shirt off so I don’t get it messed up.

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It’s my choice, I swear, I like to keep my clothes clean! C’mon, dad, I’m trying to give advice here, hurry with food!

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Ahhh, seriously?! Can’t you just get one good spoonful in my mouth? This is annoying and embarrassing when I’m trying to talk here! We’re done, put it up, dad, I’m leaving.

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See, when you’re walking, you can be more upfront and demanding. Plus, if you don’t like how something is being done, now you have more options in expressing your disdain. For example, since daddy sucked at getting the food in my mouth, I’m going to move this stool in front of the fridge.

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Yep, that’ll show him. And I still have my shirt off even though I’m a girl. Like I said, whatever I want, I do! Grrrrr!

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I am also learning to take matters into my own hands. If I am trying to play and find that something around me stinks, I make a point to find the source.

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Obviously, if you’re smart like me, you go to the trash first.

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But nope, can’t find anything there. Maybe under the rug?

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Negative. I hate to admit it, but I’m a little stumped.

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This is a good time to bring up another pointer; when you begin to question whether you have what it takes to rule the house, go find something and pick it up.

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The bigger the better, and try walking it with it if you can.

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If you’re as good at ruling as I am, go for a one-hander and make sure mommy and daddy sees you in all of your glory!

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Uhhh, crap, I think that just helped me find the source of the stench from earlier. It’s in my diaper. Which bring me to another thing I’ve picked up on………I can take my diaper off whenever I want!

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If I’m in the kitchen and feel like pulling it off, well, I’m gonna do just that! Mommy and daddy reallllly don’t like this, so I do it more. For some reason, when my diaper is smelly and I take it off, that means I have to take a bath. I don’t understand exactly, but I like baths anyway.

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Even if I’m enjoying the bath, I keep my parents in check by showing them what happens if they make me mad.

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What? You think I’m kidding?

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I NEVER kid!

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One time, daddy was being annoying with the camera….

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I told him to stop or I’d eat the turtle’s (his favorite animal) head.

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When I heard the camera shutter after I warned him, I showed him I was serious!

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Then I slowly started walking (because I can do that now) closer to him to show the now headless turtle. But….

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Surprise, I never bit the head off!

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You might think I chickened out, but in reality, my reasoning is two-fold. Smiling and pretending to be cute makes your parents forget all bad that you have done, and I enjoy the tasty food they hand me.

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Because, without the food, I resort to my sleeve, and that just doesn’t taste as good.

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In sum, as a walking baby, you have to make freedom for yourself. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself stuck in your crib with a stuffed bear all day.

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So heed my advice, babies, or suffer the consequences. You have been warned!

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How Dads Can Play an Important Role in Breastfeeding and a Giveaway

Happy Father’s Day to all of you awesome dads out there! These two girls make me a happy father/husband every day!

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Yep, I’m one proud and lucky guy, and I’m elated to be celebrating this day for the first time! Avery also turns 7 months old today; she’s past the half year mark!

I finally get to find out what my wife has been keeping me from in our front room for the past month. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you soon.

Besides having two beautiful girls in my life, I’m proud of the fact that Going Mom chooses to only breastfeed Avery and will never consider formula. I understand some situations where it’s not possible, but just giving up isn’t a good reason or fair to babies.

No doubt, breastfeeding, from what I’ve seen and heard, is no walk in the park and has many hurdles to get past, but it’s not impossible. Going Mom is one of many mothers who deal with the #boobissues on a daily basis, and I do my best to support her however I can.

In honor of Father’s Day, Medela shared with me that they have collaborated with Kuroji Patrick, one of Medela’s 2013 Breastfeeding Hall of Excellence inductees, to create a list of tips for dads to get and stay involved with the breastfeeding journey.

We take pride in raising our daughter with the best nutrition from Mother Nature, and I hope this list will held dads support their partners and be an advocate for breastfeeding.

Daddies and Breastfeeding: Ways to Stay Involved
Before the Baby Comes
  1. Be supportive of your partner’s decision to breastfeed by understanding the benefits of breastmilk.
  2. Help your partner find information on what breastpump your insurance will cover. The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to provide equipment and support with no co-pay, but the actual pump provided will vary from company to company.
  3. Join your partner in preparing for the experience of breastfeeding by taking a course that will provide you both with the information you’ll need to know.
  4. Seek out other fathers who have supported their partners while Breastfeeding to gain real world advice.
At the Hospital
  1. At the hospital, be an advocate for your partner. Make sure the staff knows that she wants to breastfeed and that formula should not be given to the baby without consent.
  2. Find the lactation consultant if mom is struggling. Many hospitals have one on staff, and early intervention and support from a professional is crucial, particularly for first-time moms.
  3. Ask the hospital staff about local breastfeeding support groups for after your family goes home. Peer encouragement is helpful, and it’s an excuse for mom and baby to get out of the house.
At Home
  1. In addition to making sure your partner has what she needs while she heals from childbirth, you can help the breastfeeding transition to home by making sure she is comfortable while nursing—by bringing her pillows, foot rest, water, etc.

  2. It doesn’t sound glamorous, but diaper changes are a great way for you to get involved in baby care. In addition to giving your partner a break, it’s a chance for you and your baby to start practicing conversation skills by making eye contact, cooing noises and engaging your baby with changing facial expressions.

  3. If your partner starts pumping, you’ll have a chance to bond with your baby over a bottle and give your partner a break. You can further help your partner by washing and sterilizing pump parts and bottles.

  4. Be your partner’s biggest cheerleader. Breastfeeding can be frustrating and difficult in the beginning, but you can provide moral support by acknowledging the difficulty of nursing and offering to find a professional to help, such as lactation consultant (which should be covered by your insurance). And remind your partner of why she wanted to breastfeed in the first place!

I have been utilizing tips like these since Avery’s birth and know I have a stronger bond with my daughter and wife as a result. The benefits of breastfeeding are powerful and I’d hope any parent would want only the best for their children.

Medela’s online education course, Breastfeeding University, costs a reasonable $25 and offers you priceless information, but they have agreed to allow me to offer 3 readers free access codes to the course! This would be perfect for the expecting couple to complete together or any couple looking to add to their breastfeeding knowledge database.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below telling me about your experience or plans with breastfeeding. I will randomly select 3 commenters to receive access codes to use to take the course for free. Contest ends next Friday, June 20th.

This giveaway has ended, but don’t worry, I’ll have plenty of other opportunities to win great prizes in the future!

Thanks to everyone who read and commented on this post, it’s something I am deeply passionate about. The three winners are Maggie, Ashley, and Stacy. Congrats and I have sent an e-mail for your code!

Hope everyone has a great day! Treat the dad in your life extra nice today! 🙂

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post and all views are strictly my own.

What Pigs and Pterodactyls Have in Common With Our Daughter

Do you have one or two (or more) children and multiple “animals” like Kelley and I? Whether domestic, farmland, or extinct, I’m willing to bet we all associate our offspring with one or more different species.

A pig is pretty common and is probably used to describe most breastfeeding babies when they are feeding or ready to feed. Avery makes a very distinguishable snorting while she is trying to latch and even during feeding; she even does it to let us know she’s hungry.

Of course she's a cute pig!
Of course she’s a cute pig!

If I had a choice of how she lets us know when she’s hungry, it probably wouldn’t be a pig, but it sure is cute and makes for a good laugh. I really don’t see her snorts getting old, and we will miss them when the phase is over.

We discovered her pterodactyl mimicking abilities when I was trying to help relieve any gas in her stomach a while back. I read about folding a baby’s legs up to her stomach to help push any trapped air out, so I proceeded to do so. Once her knees were up to her stomach she let out a long, “ugghhhhhh” sound and I automatically called it a pterodactyl sound. Why? No freakin’ clue, it could be any other living thing, but I chose pterodactyl and now it’s stuck.

Pretty cute for a pterodactyl too.
Pretty cute for a pterodactyl too.

Our friends, Sean and Erin, weren’t able to make it down to visit last weekend, so they came this weekend. They have a 20 month old daughter, Brooklyn, who is full of life and very adorable. It was great to see them since it’s almost been a year, and Brooklyn helped to foreshadow what we’re in for when Avery is a walking, talking, terror little angel.

I proudly showed Sean and Erin how Avery can be a pterodactyl and at one point thought, “Wow, this is my entertainment now.” Put ashamed I am not, in fact, I’m way more proud to be doing this than plugging away at a computer. This just fits me better and I can’t wait to run around after Avery as she tears through the house turning my hair gray. Sure, ask me if I still feel this way when that time comes…

The day they arrived, Avery was not accepting her normal nap times and only got a few, short 30 minute naps in. She just wouldn’t stay in the crib like was doing; probably because there was too much going on. Can’t blame her I guess. Anyway, she spent most of the night in bed with us. But, Kelley and I didn’t care because as I said about my view on Sleep Training, we are enjoying this time while we can.

Avery also started becoming more vocal while Sean and Erin were here. She has been cooing and “talking” to us some already, but she really ramped up the conversation that day and continues to a couple days later. As new parents, every single thing she does just puts us in awe and we have to tell everyone via text or on Facebook. Who doesn’t, right?

I used to be annoyed seeing all of those baby posts by my peers, but now I totally get it. Our babies become our lives and they are the most wonderful yet stressful beings!

It was a short visit, but we enjoyed seeing our old friends and hope to go visit them soon. Maybe when Avery can run around make a nice mess!

Do you associate your kid’s sounds with any animals? Please share, I’m interested what other parents are raising in their household.