Author: Lil Dino Mommy

Patio Gardening: A Farmer in the Making

Published: 6 October 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Moss Sphere Salad Planter

For a few months now I have wanted to do the moss ball salad greens thing. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s all the rage. Check out this video!

A Visit to the Nursery

A couple weeks ago we went to our local nursery to see if they had the moss spheres in stock. What we discovered was even better.

As we walked around looking at all the plants, I noticed an event flyer and gave it a once over. Lo and behold they were going to have a class on edible gardens the following week! My husband and I got really excited and decided we would attend the class.

So a week went by and we went to the class. We learned so much! The gardening expert talked about fertilizing and watering, and all sorts of tips and tricks to aid us in our gardening adventure. After the lesson, we got started. We picked out our plants, and followed along as the leader walked us through what to do.

Hanging Basket Edible Garden

Between the two of us, we ended up making three hanging baskets. Here in South Texas we have two growing seasons, so one of our baskets we filled with Strawberry plants that we will harvest in the Springtime. The other two we filled with salad greens and common herbs we use in the kitchen. Once they fill out, we can just snip off the bit of salad we need, and set it on the dinner table. Pretty cool, huh? I really want to cut down on our groceries in this respect, not to mention waste. Oftentimes, I will buy a bag of salad greens and won’t be able to get through it before it spoils (usually because I am the only one eating them). When we lived in our house, we were able to plant some different greens and lots of herbs, but we had to say goodbye to many of the things we planted when we moved into our apartment.

Headed Home – Never a Dull Moment

So we finished our baskets, paid for them, then headed home to set them up on our patio. My husband and I were chatting about this and that, very excited to get to garden again.

Then I heard a gagging sound and turned in horror to see my son vomit up a mixture of milk and…you guessed it! Dirt. Once I ascertained that he was ok and we didn’t need to pull the car over, I had to laugh. He was still reaching out to grab at the planter we had set next to him on the seat. He still had a fist-full of dirt and was trying to shovel it into his mouth. He had completely uprooted a strawberry plant, so while turned awkwardly in my seat, I replanted it as best as I could, then played referee between my son and the planter, as he kept finding gaps to grab at the dirt.

Gardening on the Patio

Naturally when we got home, we had a certain amount of cleaning up to do, but our joy was not quashed by my son’s little mishap. We were all three in good spirits and still very much looking forward to replanting some of the plants we had salvaged from our home and care for our new edible garden.

My Son’s First Gardening Adventure

We stuck a pair of sweatpants on my son, so that his knees wouldn’t get scraped up on the concrete from the patio, then let him loose. He had a blast! Forgive the juvenile adage, but…it was the best day ever! We had several pots that just had dirt with nothing planted in them. We decided to dump all this soil into our largest pot and start with fresh soil and replant a few of the edibles we’d had for a while.

As we did this, my son stood over a pot and proceeded to take dirt by the handful and simply throw it on the ground. Every now and again he would pause to “taste” something he had found. At one point I had to fish around in his mouth, where I recovered two small rocks he was storing in his little cheeks like a chipmunk! He was a crack up!

A Farmer in the Making

He even grabbed a spade we had left near him and dug around in the dirt with it. I wish I could relate the joy both my husband and I experienced watching our son enjoying the outdoors and quite literally playing in the dirt! He even chased a little spider around for a while.

For us, it was a glimpse of what’s to come. We are really working towards the goal of owning some property and having a small farm one day. We really want that for our son, as we both experienced our grandparents’ farms as children. It truly was such an awesome day!

But for now, my husband and I make plans (read our story here on my husband’s blog), while my son and I go out every morning after breakfast and care for our little patio garden and do the watering. He absolutely loves it and it’s such a pleasant time to spend together.

Our Hanging Baskets

I know, I know, they aren’t hanging. Turns out the arch of our apartment patio is concrete, so we are still brainstorming how to make these hang. In the meantime, they are still lovely to look at on plant stands.

Also keep in mind they will fill in A LOT, so look for a future post about how they turn out!

This planter contains two types of lettuce, as well as two types of Basil. We are especially excited about the Cinnamon Basil, which we intend to test out in drinks, such as tea and maybe even as a flavoring in water.
The Basil will die off this winter, so we’ll harvest what we can and dry the leaves and store.

 

 

This basket contains Kale and what I like to call, savory herbs, such as Oregano, Parsley, Sage, and Thyme. Hmm…seems like we’re missing one… Don’t worry, the Rosemary is in it’s own pot. It’s a little too aggressive to plant in with the others.

 

 

 

I can’t wait to harvest these strawberries in the spring and can our all-fruit jam! Did you know that the strawberry leaves can be used to help with stomach ache? 

Genesis 1:12

“And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

What about you?

What hobbies do you enjoy? What experiences do you really want your children to have? We really want to know!

 

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One Great Poopy Disaster

Published: 2 October 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Fair Warning

The title doesn’t lie. This story is gross…

Well, Here’s How It Started…

A few weeks back, I had a cold. No biggie. I took care to hydrate myself and avoided sugar, and increased my intake of Vitamin C. One way I do this is by adding Emergen-C packets to my water. It’s a tasty way to get a high dose of Vitamin C as well as some energy boosting B Vitamins. I mention these packets, because I have my suspicions that they affected my son, as he gets what I eat via nursing. Let me explain…

And Then He Pooped…

My 10 month old son and I were going about our normal routine. He was playing on his little miniature piano and “singing” (yelling) up a storm. He stopped for a moment and I heard him tooting. I thought, “Ok, he just pooped.” So I waited a couple minutes to make sure he was done. (Because who wants to change a diaper only to have another one filled up right away?) Then I scooped him up playfully, yammering on to him in a funny voice about how he pooped, and was poopy, and how we had to change the poopy. (I’m sure you can imagine how I sounded…like a crazy I’m sure.)

Oh No, Did Cloth Diapers Fail Me?

I put him up on his changing table and realized there was already poop showing. Uh oh…

(Now let me take a moment to say that my cloth diapers did not fail me. I still maintain that blowouts are much less to nonexistent as compared to disposables. However, I sometimes let him air out a bit and just stick him loosely in a prefold, without a cover. This way, if he pees, it doesn’t get everywhere, but he’s a little more free as well. There are ways to put the prefold on to keep in a loose stool, but I wasn’t expecting a poo on this day, so I wasn’t prepared.)

As I looked closer there was runny poo running down his legs. So I started to clean him up a bit, but realized this was the biggest poopy adventure we’d had since we was weeks old, so I quickly ascertained that it was shower time! I scooped him back up, still talking to him playfully about the situation (Hey, it was’t his fault Mommy got lazy with his diaper) and headed for the guest bathroom as it is the closest one to my son’s room. It was on this short journey, that I realized what an unobservant person I truly am…

There Was Poop Everywhere!

Let me say it again. THERE WAS POOP EVERYWHERE!  As I backtracked out of his room and into the hall, I see that poop had dripped onto the floor, onto a bookshelf I had passed and lifted my son over, and of course, it was on the changing table, and changing pad as well. It continued to drip off him onto the floor in the bathroom and onto the shower floor as well, where I was finally able to get this child clean!

Finally Clean.

I got him cleaned up, dried off, and into a fresh diaper, (with a cover this time – no shortcuts!), did a quick clean up of the poopy items and spots on the floor that had been affected by this mishap, and we went on about our day. It just so happened it was nap time, so I walked straight to my bedroom (where my son’s crib is), and proceeded to read him a book, then sing and rock him to sleep. I also took a nap.

The Excitement Never Ends!

Once we woke up, we went back into the living room and play area I have set up for my son. I sat down on the couch to do a few things and my son went about playing with his toys. Pretty soon, he started to crawl over to me. Nothing out of the ordinary as he frequently “checks in” with Mommy while he plays. But as I looked up to greet him, I was horrified to see…. MORE POOP!

What in the world happened? Did he poop AGAIN? Nope. I don’t know how I missed it, but as I looked over toward his little piano, which is set up on a patch of tiled floor in the carpeted living room, I saw poopy smeared all over the tile. I quickly realized that this mess was leftover from the previous poopy disaster. I guess because I was being so silly with my son when I scooped him up to change him, that I didn’t see the mess that had run down and hit the floor.

Poop Clean Up: Take Two

So now that we had found this leftover mess (I can’t even say NEW mess!), or should I say, my SON found this mess and had happily played in it (Gag reflex anyone?!), it was time to clean up again. Back we went to the shower. Again I cleaned him up, dried him off, and put him in a fresh diaper. Then I stuck him in his crib and went to clean up his play area. I will spare those of you who are reading the rest of the details, as I’m sure you can imagine well enough for yourself.

Sharing the Load

During my son’s second nap, I unloaded my Great Poopy Adventure to my husband in a text. Needless to say he felt sorry for me (and was probably extremely glad this hadn’t happened on a weekend while he was home). I was blessed later that evening with a good foot rub. Gotta love a happy ending!

What About You?

I know you have them to share! What are some disasters that have happened to you in parenthood?

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

James 1:2

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Moments I Could Have Missed…

Published: 22 September 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

*Note: Our family has been in the throes of moving chaos and this post got lost in the shuffle. It was originally written in mid-July, about two months ago, but it is just too sweet not to share. Please enjoy this snapshot into my family’s dearest moments.

Please Just Go To Sleep

Tonight my son had a difficult time going to sleep. We started his bedtime routine on time just as we do each night, and went through our whole process. It took him almost an hour longer to fall asleep than usual. Any parent reading this I’m sure has also pleaded in weariness, “Why is this happening to me?”

As a first time Momma, I’ve read a lot in an effort to learn about babies and sleep. In the spirit of full disclosure, I definitely wasn’t following many of the suggestions that have been given on this particular night. We’ve been going through quite a transition lately because we are in the process of moving. The routine is all over the place and despite my best efforts to maintain consistency for my baby’s sake, some days it just hasn’t been possible.

Why Are You So Stinkin’ Cute?!

So tonight, instead of keeping everything dark and quiet, as my son began to cycle awake, I just went with the flow, too tired to fight it. When his eyes popped open and he smiled, I knew we were in for it. He didn’t want to nurse anymore, so I put him up on my shoulder. Then he saw his Daddy laying quietly on the bed. Another smile and a bounce.

I was still rocking him in the trusty ol’ rocking chair and he started to giggle. I realized with him on my shoulder, rocking was a bit more of a ride than a calm way to settle him. You would think I would have stop upon realizing this, but instead I gave in to the fun! So, as I rocked back, I gave him a little bounce and a “Weee”. This produced another giggle. We continued this way for a few minutes and the giggles grew into a continuous chain of laughter from all three of us. I can honestly say, neither my husband or I have seen and heard my son laugh so much and so hard. It was hilarious, entertaining, and heart-warming to see my son having so much fun…even if he was SUPPOSED to be sleeping.

Cry It Out Isn’t For Us

There is a lot of pressure for parents today to let their babies “cry it out” as a method of sleep training. This post is not meant to condemn those who choose this method, but rather encourage those who do not WANT to choose this method for their child. In another post, I will address the reasons my husband and I have decided that this method is not for us and our son. And although there have been times I’ve nearly caved to this sleep “training” method, today I simply want to say, I’m so glad we didn’t miss this precious and enjoyable moment. It was so very special.

No amount of couch time, TV watching, game playing, book reading, or even adult conversation (which I do desperately crave these days), or progress in unpacking could have been any more enjoyable and fulfilling than those few minutes of playtime and laughter with our son. My husband and I will remember it forever.

If We Had Chosen CIO, We Would Have Missed This!

There are other experiences with my baby I hold dear that would not be the same if I didn’t nurse, sing, or rock him to sleep. One of the sweetest things that comes to mind is how my son pats my face while I rock him and sing. His little hand finds my mouth (sometimes I’m like a fish on a hook with his little fingers in my mouth) as he feels my warm breath on his hand. His little fingers crawl up and find my nose which becomes a handle, as he closes his eyes. I can’t tell you how many times he has fallen asleep with his hand on my face and I absolutely love it.

In fact, it’s become a new part of our nap time routine for me to name the features of my face as his fingers touch them. “Mouth”, “nose”, and sometimes even “eyes” if I lean down close enough. We are also working on signing for milk which we can incorporate a bit before he falls asleep.

I wouldn’t trade these sweet moments for all the 8-hour uninterrupted nights I’m missing out on. They are just too precious.

A dear friend told me that waiting 18 months for this sleep thing to work itself out “sounds like torture”. She is not a stranger to sleepless nights as her son is only a few months older than mine and we like to help each other in sharing our thoughts on various parenting topics.

One Day, He’ll Be Grown

And yes, I am tired. However, I have peace in the knowledge that one day my son will sleep through the night. One day he will wean and not need Mommy’s milk (affectionately called nursies in our home) for nourishment or even comfort anymore. One day, he’ll be too big to rock to sleep. One day, he will not need me to sing to him so that he can fall asleep, in fact, he may not want me to sing to him at all. One day, I won’t lay him in his crib (and co-sleeping will be a dream) as he’ll crawl into bed on his own, shoo me away, read his book on his own, flip off the light, and go to sleep…all by himself. And I’ll miss him.

Today, my son is nearly 8 1/2 months old and I can hardly believe how fast time is passing. These few months, which may add up to only a couple years will pass quickly enough, with or without sleep (and to be honest, I am finding ways to get rest). I simply choose to cherish all these moments while I have the opportunity to do so.

Proverbs 23:15-16

“My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; and my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.”

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Falling in Love with Cloth Diapering

Published: 19 September 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Falling in LOVE with Cloth Diapers

I absolutely LOVE cloth diapering. I never imagined how much I would enjoy it! I mean, they are diapers after all.

How it All Got Started

My husband and I decided the summer before my son was born to go the cloth diaper route. Initially my reason for looking into it was cost savings.

Before researching cloth diapers, I was doing a cost analysis of a list I had made for everything I thought we needed for the baby. I actually researched approximately how many diapers we might need in the first year and the cost was staggering. It was something like $1,500. Wowza!

My husband and I have been making gradual changes for a couple years now to try to lead a less wasteful life style, and try to save and make money where we can. We garden vegetables and herbs, compost, recycle metal, hang dry our laundry, and are looking into commuting by bike rather than car. Once we have some land, we plan to do a lot more.

So right off the bat, the first thing we liked about the possibility of cloth was the idea of reusing diapers rather than a one-and-done approach.

We liked that many of the diapers we bought would last from newborn stage right on through potty training! We especially liked the idea of using diapers for more than one child.

Making the Decision to Cloth Diaper

The truth is I didn’t know anything about cloth diapering. No one in my world used them. So I searched and read as much as I could online. Interestingly enough, both my mother and my husband’s mother cloth diapered with us, but didn’t like it. They both thought we were crazy for considering it, seeing it as unnecessary in this day and age. (They have been surprised at the options now available compared to 30 years ago!)

Before I actually decided cloth was for us, I decided to look into how I might save money buying disposable diapers. I read some crazy articles about constantly watching out for sales at six different stores, and buying in bulk and creating stock piles of different sized diapers and such. Those articles I read mentioned how I never needed to pay more than $.17 per diaper – a deal which I couldn’t find on my own as I have yet to learn the art of couponing. (A work in progress.)

There were a few things that made this approach unappealing for me, not the least of which was the uncertainty of just HOW MANY diapers I would need. If I was to stockpile diapers of various sizes, how was I to know what was enough…or worse, too many. It seemed easy to fall into the trap of wastefulness once again.

Another reason I didn’t want to go this route was because I’m not a big fan of shopping. Oh yes, I love to go shop for a new dress for myself, a gift for my husband, or toys for my son every now and then – and motherhood has certainly made me appreciate those trips to the grocery store as a way of “getting out of the house”.  However, the thought of watching for sales like it was my job, and bouncing around from store to store looking at clearance sales was almost stressful for me. I do love online shopping though.

Not What I Expected

So my search for the most cost effective and easiest diapering method led me to cloth diapering. Let me be honest that this did not appeal to me at all at first. I decided to really do my due diligence, and pressed on. I read article after article, and blog post after blog post.

I needed to know HOW to cloth diaper. I had never even seen a cloth diaper before! I quickly realized there were several types of cloth diapers, so I had to read to overcome that learning curve as well. Then, I needed to know WHICH cloth diapers were best. What type? What brand?

When I started my research, I was fully expecting to learn how to use a large safety pin (just like I had seen in stork bringing the baby cartoons), to pin in a towel that I was attaching to my baby. I expected to learn the trick of pinning this towel without sticking him, and then I imaged my child crinkling about as he sported the plastic pants I’d inevitably be buying for him.

Three things surprised me, as I began my cloth diapering education:

  1. I was surprised that all these women whose articles I was reading, truly loved cloth diapering.
  2. I was surprised at all the different cloth diaper options out there. It’s not like it was 30 years ago when we were babies.
  3. I was surprised at how easy clothing diapering truly is.

Here are 5 Reasons Why I LOVE Cloth Diapering!

  1. Cost Savings. I could go into great detail about how many of which type of cloth diaper is better. Naturally since there are different types of diapers, the prices vary. For the super thrifty, cloth diapers can even be purchased used from second hand stores, other crunchy mamas, and online marketplaces. The cheapest option I found is using prefolds with covers. The concept here is that the cover can be used multiple times (2-4x) and the prefold diaper replaced at each changing. To get started, I bought 36 prefolds (12 in a smaller size and 24 in a larger size), and 6 covers. From my experience this was probably more than I needed. The covers were about $15 to $25 each new. (I bought two different brands and the characters and prints may vary.) The prefolds were about $25/dozen. I also got a few special inserts to help with extra absorbency to get us through the night. For convenience only, I have since purchased (used from a second-hand store) “all-in-2” diapers, in which an absorbent insert is put in a shell, and this entire package is used once before washing. These were about $7 each. (If you decide to buy 2nd hand, I do recommend stripping the diapers first. Click here for great information on stripping diapers. Click here for great information on proper wash routines for cloth diapers.) This is much more than what is needed for one day. With all these diapers, I can go 3 or 4 days between washes, so I only do two extra loads of laundry a week. So, with the diapers, and diaper paraphilia (diaper pail, diaper pail liner, and wet bags, and diaper sprayer (not needed until my baby started solids), and the modern day “safety pin”, snappies!), my cost to get started was about $400.
  2. Versatility. One of my cousins asked me what my theme was regarding purchasing baby items. When I asked her what she meant, she said, “Like for me, I wanted things that were easy!” “Oh,” I replied. “I want things that last me as long as possible – from as early on after birth to toddler hood, if possible.” And THAT is precisely what cloth diapers do! Many cloth diapers come in “one size”. The ones I purchased are for children 8-35 pounds. (8 pounds? But what about babies who are born smaller than 8 pounds? Honestly, I used disposable newborn diapers with my son for the first several weeks. They do have cloth diapers that are made especially for newborns, but since this stage is so short, and there are meconium (sticky, dark, tar-like substance) poops in the beginning that are difficult to clean and can easily stain cloth diapers, I decided to use disposable at first.) However, since that stage we have loved using our Rumparooz diaper covers with snaps and prefolds!
  3. Durability and Absorbency. My husband and I recently took a trip out of state, and to avoid taking an extra suitcase just for cloth diapers, we went ahead and bought a small pack of disposable diapers. Although they served their purpose, they were so much more flimsy than the cloth diapers we have come to depend upon. My husband and I both agreed that anytime my son urinated, the pee smell was much stronger than when he is wearing cloth diapers. The disposables seemed to be plenty absorbent. When my son did do the dreaded “number two”, the smell was much more pungent than with cloth. Throwing it in the trash wasn’t enough to mask the smell even though it has a lid. It needed to be tossed in the dumpster outside! His cloth diapers, though, work wonderfully at preventing blowouts. I remember when my son was only a few weeks old, how the mess would escape his newborn disposables. Yucky! The cloth diapers are also incredibly strong and can last through several baby bums worth of diapering. I will say that not every brand is created equal. I have not been particularly impressed with the Bummis brand cover with velcro. The velcro has not shown itself to have the same quality as the other brands with velcro I purchased. Thirsties Duo Wrap hook and loop have been great diaper covers and the velcro still looks like new after 10 months of use. (We use velcro covers at night to get a more fitted diaper and better control leaks – aka No Leaks!)
  4. Adorability! Anyone who has ever seen a baby in just a diaper has probably said, “Cute!” Cloth diaper takes the diapered bum up to a whole new level of ADORABLE! With so many cloth diapering types and brands, a diaper has now become a cute accessory and a part of an outfit. There are so many color choices, not to mention fun designs and characters.
  5. Better for Sensitive Skin. My son has very sensitive skin, which we expected even before he was born as both my husband and I do also. Cloth diapers, when washed properly, are a terrific option for babies who experience diaper rashes. In our recent experience with disposables, my son had a bout of diaper rash which quickly healed once we were back home and he went back to his cloth diapers. If you are using cloth and do need a cloth diaper friendly diaper rash cream, I recommend using the all natural version of Boudreaux’s Buttpaste (green tube). It’s worked very well for my son.

So if you’re just starting out as a first time parent, or maybe have already started down the road of disposable diapers well into your third kiddo but are curious about cloth diapering, go ahead and take the plunge. Even if you just buy one or two to get you started so you can see how they work and compare to disposable, this is a great start! All I can say is I have not been disappointed in the decision to go cloth!

Here is a really thorough resource on cloth diapers.

NOTE: Feel free to look through the different sizes and colors on the products links I shared throughout the post. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

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Lather. Rinse. Repeat. LOL!

Published: 11 August 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
1 Comment
Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Early Morning Adventure

Two mornings ago, around 4:30, I was putting my son back to sleep after a feeding. He fell asleep quickly, and I laid him in his crib. I then proceeded to get a drink of water and use the bathroom. After washing my hands, I was suddenly very aware of how dry they were.

By the dim light of the small night light we keep in the bathroom, I saw a large bottle of lotion and quickly pumped a generous amount onto my hands. I worked it over my fingers and hands, then deciding what I was doing was a good thing, I continued up my arms and past my elbows.

As I stood there in those few seconds, moisturizing, I felt like I was doing a good thing for myself, and then the moment came when I recognized the scent of what I was lathering onto my arms and hands.

That’s Not Lotion

Oh no! I thought. Tired, my moment of pride passing quickly, I rolled my eyes and held up the bottle to the night light to confirm what my nose had told me. I shook my head as I read the word, SHAMPOO.

Sticky. Thick. Goopy. SHAMPOO! I took a step toward the sink and turned on the faucet, where I proceeded to rinse off my mishap.

A few minutes later, I crawled back into bed (smelling really good I might add), and with my hands just as dry as they had been when this wee morning hour adventure began.

So, if you’re ever in need of a little excitement in your life, just follow the advice of the ol’ marketing ploy. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Or in my case, Lather. Panic. Rinse. And go back to sleep!

Proverbs 17:22a “A joyful heart is good medicine…”

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Lip Ties, Tongue Ties, and Breastfeeding

Published: 21 July 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

My Experience with Lip and Tongue Ties

My son had trouble from the beginning latching on to breastfeed. When my milk came in three days after he was born, he was really struggling because my breasts were so full. (That can be difficult for any newborn even without ties).

I had a lactation consultant out and she watched us through the feeding and gave us some tips and gave us an A+. I guess because I had studied so much, I must have been compensating for any issues that were happening, because the outward perception was we were doing great.

By day five, I knew we were having a problem because he was hungry and frustrated but he wouldn’t eat. The LC had mentioned a possible lip tie, but I didn’t know what that was so it didn’t click for me that he had a birth defect. I just thought I wasn’t doing something right. On top of that, my nipples hurt. They were cracked and bleeding. (To read about those first days breastfeeding my son, click here.)

We went in for his check ups and he wasn’t gaining weight at all, so we started supplementing and went back to the LC. Now that he was a little older she said the tie wasn’t stretching and recommended we have it released. His tongue also looked fine, but as we found out at the pediatric dentist, he had a posterior tongue tie in addition to the lip tie.

When my son was just three weeks old we had both his lip tie and tongue tie revised with a surgery called a frenectomy.

What are Tongue Ties and How Do They Affect Breastfeeding?

I didn’t know anything about ties, so hopefully this will enlighten any of our readers. Basically, all over our bodies we have various frenulum, which is a small fold of tissue that prevents an organ in the body from moving too far. This tissue in my son’s upper lip and under his tongue were too restrictive, and both can cause problems with feeding, especially breastfeeding, (although it can cause issues with bottle feeding as well).

A tongue tie hinders the up-and-down motion of the tongue, which affects breastfeeding in that it is directly linked to low milk supply because there is not enough milk extracted from the breast.

With a posterior tongue-tie, the tongue does not extend over the gum, which causes the tongue to chew, or as I like to call it, “chomp” on the nipple.

How Do Lip Ties Affect Breastfeeding?

With a lip tie, the baby is unable to latch effectively. This is because the lip is hindered from flanging outward during a feeding. The mouth is unable to open wide and a smaller mouth opening means a shallower latch. So all the pain I was feeling was a combination of the tongue chewing on my nipple and my son sliding his latch down to just nurse on the nipple.

When breastfeeding correctly, you want a deep latch that includes the areola as well as the nipple. The lips form a much more effective seal when it is formed with the mucous membrane inside the lip, rather than the dry part of the outward lip. (This latch is correct, and thus pain-free!)

These ties were causing pain for me and beginning to cause me to have low milk supply because my son wasn’t able to latch properly or extract enough milk. In turn, this caused him to not gain weight and get labeled FTT.

Surgery to Release the Ties

The out-patient surgery, (or surgeries I should say), were very quick. Of course, before the surgery I was extremely emotional (being just three weeks postpartum, plus all we had been through with his sluggish weight gain and the crazy feeding routine we were following to get him to gain). It was the first time our son had ever been out of sight of either my husband or me.

Our pediatric dentist was  recommended to us by my lactation consultant and he was such a kind and reassuring doctor. He was great with our tiny son and with us. When I inevitably started the waterworks, he said gently, “It’ll be OK mom.”

So they took my son into the other room and he had the laser surgery to remove both ties. It took less than 15 minutes. Due to the fact it was a laser surgery, there was no bleeding and very little inflammation. We were told we could give him Tylenol and use a numbing agent if needed. The only post-op care he needed, besides the mild pain relief, was very simple. We had to run our finger over the wounds both under his lip and under his tongue to keep the frenulum from reattaching.

We were also advised not to use coconut oil to aid in achieving a deeper latch, because it was such an effective healing agent.

Did Releasing the Ties Aid Breastfeeding?

The short answer is, yes. Some people see results right away and for others it takes time. We fell into the latter category. I believe that in those three weeks my son hadn’t been building the muscles he needed to breastfeed, so he had a lot of weaknesses in his mouth and jaw. We saw a speech pathologist to help strengthen these weaknesses. The release of both the lip and tongue tie, coupled with the help of the speech pathologist did lead to my son’s exclusively breastfeeding before he turned 3 months old.

Why Go Through All the Trouble to Breastfeed?

It was very important to both my husband and to me that I breastfeed my son. There are so many incredible benefits to breastfeeding a baby.

Also, lip and tongue ties can lead to other issues besides early feeding struggles, to include:

  • trouble with feeding an older baby or toddler solids,
  • speech challenges, and
  • dental problems.

So although breastfeeding was our main catalyst for having the ties released, we wanted to help our son avoid additional challenges later on as well.

For more information about the benefits of breastfeeding, read 15 Amazing Benefits of Breastfeeding.

Tell Us About Your Experience and Leave a Comment Below!

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 6-7

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7 Basic Breastfeeding Tips

Published: 15 July 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
No comments
Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

You’re Not Alone

I’ve mentioned previously, that my breastfeeding journey with my son was atypical to say the least. For some mother and baby pairs, it truly is the easiest thing in the world. Whereas for others, it’s one monster short of a nightmare. You are not alone. Over 90% of mothers report having breastfeeding struggles in those early months.

So here are the breastfeeding basics, as well as some things I learned on my more difficult road. Again, I will emphasize, the struggle was totally worth the ultimate goal of exclusively breastfeeding, so I hope this will encourage new Mamas to stick with it!

Forming a Good Latch

When your baby is born, his mouth is tiny. Depending on your breast size and shape, you may have to do some creative manipulating in order for your baby to have a proper and deep latch. When latched properly, your baby will not cause you pain. Also, the deeper the latch, the more effectively your baby will be able to transfer milk.

Creating a C

When breastfeeding books and LC’s say to create a C with your hand, it may help you to know you’re going to be smushing your boob. So take your hand and gently smush the front of your breast to form a shape your baby’s mouth can get a handle on. If you are like me, you may end up needing to hold cross-cradle with one arm and use the other hand to hold the breast for your baby while he eats.

More than You Think

When I talk to other mothers who recount their breastfeeding experience from the beginning, many (including me) are surprised that the baby’s mouth doesn’t just need to surround the nipple, but much of the areola as well. The nipple is the conduit for the milk to flow, but it’s actually the areola that, when stimulated, activates the letdown reflex. More noticeably, a shallow latch containing just the nipple is guaranteed to be a painful one.

Lip Flange

You want your baby’s lips to flange outward. (Think fish lips.) The mucous membrane on the inside of the mouth should be around the breast, rather than the dry, outer part of the lip. This will help your baby get a deeper latch. If the lip is flipped inward, it WILL HURT, so go ahead and take a finger and gently slide it under that top lip to encourage baby not to curl his lip under. Some women use coconut oil or even a little of their own spit to aid in getting the lips to flange. You may also want to ask a healthcare professional to check for a lip tie, as these can hinder breastfeeding efforts.

Placement of the Tongue

When properly latched, your baby’s tongue should come up over the bottom gum line to create a seal around your breast. The up and down motion of the tongue is what aids in proper milk extraction. This is good news when your baby gets older and gets his bottom teeth first as there shouldn’t be any unintentional biting or teeth grazing going on.

Is My Baby Getting Milk?

Now that your baby is latched, how will you know if he is getting milk? Here are a few things to watch for:

Sucks and Swallows

Take a look at your baby’s jaw as he suckles. Are you able to count the times he sucks and then see him swallow? The ratio should be low – 1:1 or 1:2. If he seems to be suckling a lot before actually swallowing, this may indicate there is a problem with milk transfer, and you may want to consider seeing a lactation consultant and asking them about breastfeeding friendly speech pathologists. In the case of my son, he had a lip tie which hindered proper milk transfer, and he needed the speech pathologist’s exercises to strengthen his mouth and jaw. You will also want to monitor the number of wet and soiled diapers as well as proper weight gain to help ascertain your baby is getting enough milk.

Posture

Posture is a great way to tell that your baby is getting milk and is feeding enough. As you begin to nurse your baby, take a look at your baby’s posture. Chances are at the beginning of the nursing session, his body may be tense, elbows bent, with his hands up by the face, and his hands making a fist. This is a hungry baby. (Read about more early hunger signs here.) As your baby continues to nurse, he will slowly relax. His arm will come down or be easily pulled to his side and his hands will relax as he unclenches his fists. This is a sated baby.

Trust Your Gut and Ask Questions.

I remember in those weeks before the birth of my baby, I researched everything from the type of high chair I would use to what to expect during labor. I failed miserably to do enough research about caring for my baby after he was born. I was the oldest child of six, after all. What could I possibly need to know? *eye roll*

After my son was born, and we took him home, I was actually embarrassed by everything I didn’t know, and I didn’t want to ask a lot of questions because I didn’t want anyone to question my ability as a parent. In hindsight, every first time parent is in the same boat, and I had nothing to be embarrassed about. So, feel free to ask questions from those around you or call your care provider when in doubt. If you think something is off or you don’t understand, trust yourself and your spouse.

Those first hours after your baby is born, you both are tired and excited, and oh yes, your hormones are crazy too. It’s hard to remember all the instructions that are given to you. So call back that LC and ask the questions again. Repetition is a good thing for learning, and this is after all a new learning experience.

Oh and if you are not a first time parent, that doesn’t mean you should remember everything just because you did this once or a few times before. Ask those questions. If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it 100 times, “Every baby is different.” Don’t forget, online research is your friend too.

Enjoy this journey with your baby. It is so fulfilling and special.

 

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
James 1:17

 

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15 Amazing Benefits of Breastfeeding

Published: 23 May 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
No comments
Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Note: In this article, many of the hyperlinks will take you to articles that support my research about breastfeeding. Happy reading!

Making Breastfeeding a Reality

Before the birth of my son, it was always my desire to exclusively breastfeed my baby. It never really occurred to me to do it any other way. As it turns out, the more I read and researched, the more pleased I became about this decision.  If you have read about my breastfeeding journey with my son, you know that in the beginning I wasn’t able to make exclusive breastfeeding a reality. However, before my son was three months old, he was exclusively breastfeeding. Praise the Lord!

And despite the fact that for our family in those first three months, breastfeeding was NOT a cheaper than if we had chosen a formula path, my husband, (who is very frugally minded), was still on board with the decision because of all the amazing benefits breastfeeding had to offer both our child and me as well. So…

Some may ask “Why go through all this trouble just to breastfeed when there are other options for feeding a baby in today’s society?”

Here are 15 Amazing Reasons Why I Breastfeed My Baby:

Benefits for the Baby:

1. Colostrum. The first “milk” a new mother produces is a thick, yellowish, almost clear fluid, called Colostrum. Colostrum is also referred to as “liquid gold”. Why? Colostrum is nutrient-packed and contains everything your baby needs in those first few days of life. Colostrum acts similarly to a vaccine in that it works to ward off infections and viruses that your baby may be exposed to. It also helps to prepare your baby’s tummy for the milk that will come in 3-5 days later.

2. Antibodies and Immune Defense. When a baby breastfeeds, that baby not only receives the antibodies his mother has been exposed to over her lifetime, but, due to the adaptive capability of the milk, also receives antibodies for illnesses that he is exposed to. As soon as a baby has been exposed to something, the act of nursing signals an immune response in the mother that produces the right antibodies the baby needs to ward off the illness. How incredible is that!

3. Superior Nutrition. As a baby grows and changes, so does the mother’s milk based on what the baby needs. The combination of vitamins, protein, and fat makes it a superior nutrition. A baby’s growth spurts, where the baby feeds more often, aid in increasing the mother’s milk supply. Breast milk is also said to contain live organisms, which formula cannot duplicate.

4. Pleasant Poop. Yes, you read that correctly. Exclusively breastfed poop is completely water soluble (which is great for cloth diapering or blowouts) and truly doesn’t have an unpleasant odor. Take it from this Mama who used formula as well, formula poop smells awful! Then there’s the fact that breastfed babies may actually poop less often. Due to the nutrient rich content of breast milk, there’s less “waste” as the baby’s body is better able to absorb it as opposed to formula.

5. Better for Reflux. Continuing on the subject of digestion, breastmilk is easier on a baby’s tummy than formula. Babies stomachs are incredibly immature, and those who breastfeed are less likely to have issues with reflux.

6. Developmental Benefits. There are incredible developmental benefits for a breastfeeding baby as well.

  • Physical development: the act of suckling actually helps to properly form a baby’s mouth and jaw development, which will aid them later in life when they begin eating and speaking. Bottle fed babies are not required to utilize these muscles the same way.
  • Mental development: According to WebMD, “Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies.” I’ll take that as a bonus!
  • Emotional development: breastfed babies are less likely to deal with anxiety and depression when compared to babies who didn’t breastfeed.

7. Easy On-the-Go! There is considerably less preparation when it comes to feeding a breastfed baby, as opposed to feeding with a bottle. You already have your baby’s food wherever you go, and it’s already in the perfect amount and the perfect temperature. I remember back in the formula days, trying to keep all the bottles washes and ready and measuring out formula and water. I wouldn’t say it’s difficult to do, but definitely takes more prep time when you’re needing to leave the house.

8. Special Bond. I believe all babies bond with their mothers, no matter how they are fed. However, there is something to be said for those special moments of closeness, eye contact, and skin to skin comfort and security the baby feels. Not to mention the hilarious things your baby does while nursing as he gets older.

9. Lower Risks Later in Life. Babies who breastfeed are less likely later in life to develop diabetes or struggle with obesity. “It also lowers their risk of having asthma or allergies.”

Benefits for the Mother:

10. Faster Post Partum Healing. Once a baby is born, the act of breastfeeding helps the uterus contract back to a normal size, which promotes faster post partum healing.

11. Decreased Risk for a Lifetime. Studies show that breastfeeding significantly decreases the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

12. Two words: No Period! Who didn’t love being pregnant if only for that one reason? Breastfeeding delays ovulation, and thus menstruation as well. Some couples even use it as a natural birth control method, (though few care providers will recommend it as a sole method).

13. Help Losing Weight. Breastfeeding can help in post partum weight loss efforts as it can burn 400-500 calories a day!

14. Decreased Risk of PP Depression. Breastfeeding releases “feel-good” hormones, which can aid in bonding with your baby. Breastfeeding mothers are also 50% less likely to deal with post partum depression than those who do not.

15. Cheap. Although this wasn’t the case for us at first, generally speaking, there is a cost efficiency for the majority families who are able and choose to go the breastfeeding route.

“So how long should I breastfeed my baby?”

We’ll address this question more fully in another post, but there are definite benefits to breastfeeding your child past the first year of his life. The World Health Organization (WHO) actually recommends that a child be fed breast milk for at least the first 2 years. WHO also encourages mothers who may be struggling with breastfeeding to seek out expert support so that they can learn to successfully breastfeed.

So there you have it! 15 AMAZING reasons to breastfeed your baby!

The truth is that God designed mothers to be able to nourish their children, and despite man’s best effort, no supplement can come close to God’s design.

“From the God of your father who helps you,
And by the Almighty who blesses you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.” Genesis 49:25

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How I slept 7 hours: Sleep Saga Continued

Published: 6 May 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
2 Comments
Categories: Marriage, Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Co-Sleeping 

There’s a lot to be said about co-sleeping. However, this post isn’t to hash out the safety precautions or to rave about the family bed. I simply want to write to share that co-sleeping is how I was able to sleep 7 hours last night. 

Seasoned co-sleepers will be nodding their approval I’m sure while others may cringe upon reading the words “family bed”, but my hope is that some where out there another tired Mama might be able to use one more suggestion to help her get a little more rest.

Milestones and Growth

My son is going through many milestone changes all at once.  It’s taking what seems like forever to cut his first tooth. Due to the drool and chomping, we’ve been expecting it for over a month now.  He’s recently hit 6 months and this past week, his constant eating and excessive night waking surely indicates the 6 month growth spurt. 

And now, my 6 month old is mobile! What?! Oh yes! He’s not full on crawling (yet!), but he is army crawling everywhere! It’s incredible. So we quickly did the baby-proofing shuffle. (I attribute this early progress to all the floor and tummy time with Daddy.)

If you’ve searched the web for anything like “why isn’t my baby sleeping? ” and insert the age of the baby, many times you’ll be reminded that during milestones, they just don’t sleep all that well.  Needless to say, my baby is feeling a little more clingy than usual.

So while I want to curse the lack of sleep, my “joy comes in the morning” as I realize all the amazing things my son is learning and has achieved. (Praise God for the fleas.)

Our 7 Hour Night

Usually I put my son to bed in his crib around 6:30pm. Then my husband and I are able to spend some time together and relax for the evening. My son wakes up to eat between 10:30 to midnight, then wakes up again a couple times in the early morning light sleep but can usually quickly be put back to bed.

Well, last night was a horse of a different color! He woke up at 9 pm and ate like he was starving! Then we went through the routine of burping and laying him back in his crib. No way, he wasn’t having it. Upon his head (or foot or hand) hitting the sheets, he immediately woke up and fussed. I don’t know how many times over the next hour I tried to lay him in his crib. It was a lot. He was perfectly content and asleep there on my shoulder.

So finally, I gave in to my own need for rest and went into his room to lay down on the mattress (on the floor) we use for his nap times. He stayed asleep. Until 5 am. What?! Oh yes! I didn’t know he could do that either!

Well, I may not have seen my own bed last night and I did miss my husband but getting to sleep without interruption for the first time in 6 months was incredible!

Decisions

I’m not really sure what’s around the bend. My husband and I discussed it this morning and we think we’re all finally ready to move our son’s crib into HIS room instead of in ours. We considered it at 4 months when he was growing out of the bassinet, but I told my husband I wasn’t ready, so we moved his crib into our room.

We also laughed as we realized, this probably means we’ll all be camped out in his room while he makes this transition. My son, me, my husband, who doesn’t want to sleep alone either, and our two dogs are moving into the nursery tonight! 

Go ahead and smile and laugh as you picture it. You know it’s funny. 

Right or Wrong

As I continue to post about our sleep/no-sleep adventure with our firstborn, (I say “our” because my husband is definitely in this “together” with me.) it dawned on me all the opinions that MUST be floating around out there.

Every parent does things differently (and from what I hear, differently from child to child as well), but it seems many people want to “put their oar” in without actually listening to the desires of the parent they’re trying to mentor.

There’s so much differing information about child rearing and it can be difficult to sift through it all, and very easy to feel like a failure once you chosen a path and then hear something different or read an article with a differing perspective. It can be downright stressful!

The fact is, God didn’t make us all from the same mold. Throughout creation you can see God’s appreciation for the unique. The individual characteristics and strengths He created in all of us is evident in our very children as we watch them grow. We appreciate these attributes in others, except perhaps it may seem, when it comes to parenting? 

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to tell my story. And I love to give advice to others. In fact, I’m known to apologize in advance and give permission for the other person to tell me “thanks, but, no thanks” when I want to give advice! 

What I want to encourage here is that the advice we are giving is given out of love. And may I also suggest that the advice given is for the benefit of the other person and not for our own parenting knowledge gold star or feather in our cap. 

This isn’t a plug for everyone’s “truth” is right for them. God’s truth is the only truth and He has made that very clear when it comes to right and wrong. God didn’t make us all the same, though he did gave us commandments about certain things. 

I think we can all agree that those commandments don’t cover what color I should wear today anymore than whether I should breastfeed one year or two (or, dare I say it, more. Gasp!). I mean look at how different we all are from one another! Naturally we’re going to have different parenting styles as well. 

Wisdom in a Multitude of Counselors

Don’t go it alone. There is something to be said for asking for godly advice in all aspects of our life. Proverbs says, there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. So choose a few people you trust and ask for their perspective. They may come up with some good ideas you haven’t thought of yet! 

And for those unsolicited advisors, don’t tune them out completely. You may be able to glean some gold nuggets from their experiences. Be encouraged, that their intentions are most likely good, they just aren’t very graceful about how to tell their story or offer advice that doesn’t sound judgmental. Chances are they don’t know how it makes you feel.

So wherever you are in your journey, whatever your challenge, take heart that although we are all different people, you can surround yourself with loving and encouraging people to help you through it. Even if no one else knows what to suggest in your situation, you can always ask them to pray for you. 

“Bear one another’s burdens…”
Galatians 6:2a

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
Proverbs 11:14

“…Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5b

Let us hear from you!

What advice might you have for my situation?
What, if any, sleep challenges have you had with your children?

 

 

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Mommy: The Ultimate Sleep Association

Published: 21 April 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
2 Comments
Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

More Than the Old Adage

You’ve heard the saying, “all babies do is eat, sleep, and poop”. And while these three things certainly are the majority of my baby’s day (with perhaps the exception of poop, which isn’t currently an every day occurrence), there is so much more going on than that.

He is learning and growing at an amazing rate! And I don’t know about your babies, but mine has been playing with toys, fingers, faces, and toes for quite a while now.

Sleep on a Deeper Level

I’ve been thinking a lot about my son’s sleep, as it is currently the biggest challenge I am facing. Why, you may ask? Because I’m very tired and his sleep habits so drastically affect my sleep habits.

Choosing Our Sleep Method

I have mentioned before my dedication to the no-cry method. Each parent has their different style and this is simply mine. I make no judgments about others who have chosen different methods that work for them.

While I subscribe to the no-cry idea wholeheartedly, there have been times when I’ve played with the idea of just setting my son in his crib and walking away. In fact, I’ve gone as far as to set my son in his crib without his normal sleep associations, but before I get to the walking away part, instant whimpering and tears melt my heart and I’m quickly set back on the path I chose in the first place. (Yes, I’m a sucker!)

My husband and I have been following the No-Cry Sleep Solution ideas for about two months now. Have we seen improvement? Yes, we have. When we started, my son was waking up every hour from 8 pm to 6 am. Now, and nearly six months old, he wakes up about three to four times a night. Has it been a quick-fix? Nope, but that was expected.

In the book, author Elizabeth Pantley even says, “it will either take time or tears”, and just as she said, we too have chosen time.

To recap our specific challenge, I have been working on changing my son’s sleep association from nursing to sleep each time he wakes up.

In the beginning, we struggled to make breastfeeding a reality, and he was a sleepy, lazy eater as it was. The natural progression was that nursing became his main sleep association. It wasn’t truly an issue until we were blind-sided by the four month sleep regression and I realized I’d allowed a “bad habit” to form.

The amount of patience and shear will power it has taken to stick with this method has been a challenge simply because it is not a quick-fix method. I must be honest, the method may work faster for others as I have not been as consistent as I should be – some nights I just choose the fastest path to sleep, instead of the methods spelled out in the book I have mentioned.

The lack of sleep has impacted me in so many ways and I’m learning many things about myself and what I need to improve upon.

Kindness, Humility, & Apologies

This week, my husband was sick and so I tried to be a good wife and let him sleep. Usually, after I have gotten up for the majority of the night wakings, my husband will get up with my son at 5 am. This is when my son becomes alert for the day, and I take a nap to recover from the night’s events.

After morning two of going it alone, it’s mild to say I was cranky. In fact, I was outright mean. Not to my son, whom my husband and I truly try not to have any negative emotions around, but toward my poor husband. Why was I mean? I was jealous of his sleep, of course!

The week previous, I had been sick too, and although my husband took care of my son as much as possible, my son only falls asleep with me, his ultimate sleep association. So no matter how much I needed to sleep, my son needed me more.

So after my sleep-deprived, not-fully-recovered-from-sickness self lashed out at my husband, he calmly got up, sick as he was, to spend time with my son and me. Of course, I immediately felt guilty and humbled by his kindness toward me. Realizing the horrible person I was for waking him up so cruelly, I started to cry. “I’m so sorry honey. I didn’t mean it. I’m just…so…tired.”

He gave me a hug and a kiss and told me to go lay down for five minutes. What an amazing man my husband is.

I went into the next night fully aware that I would be exhausted the next morning, but I was GOING to let my husband sleep and I was GOING to be happy to be awake with my baby, and I was GOING to be the mother and wife God wanted me to be.

Being a Source of Comfort

With much prayer throughout the night as I woke up with my son, each time becoming more and more difficult as my body craved sleep, God gave me peace about the situation and revealed a few things to me.

Here I was, a mother, incredibly blessed to even have a child, and this child only wanted me. He fussed for me and I got out of bed and began our “go back to sleep routine”. I picked him up, held him, spoke gently to him, nursed him and patted his back, then propped him up on my shoulder and stood and swayed with him.

As he fell back to sleep, I gently stroked his face, then kissed him, and whispered, “I love you, son.” Upon lifting him up to put him back in his crib, I hesitated and hugged him close, just soaking him in and enjoying his warmth and soft breathing.

Then I began again to lay my son in his crib. As I lowered him, he put his arm out on the bed, creating resistance to being put down (smarty pants) and whimpered. He wasn’t ready just yet, so I picked him back up and just held him close.

As I held him and swayed, I realized, this baby feels so much comfort, safety, and peace in my arms. Not even my husband can get him to sleep at this stage (and my son loves his Daddy). For now, these precious and fleeting moments are mine and mine alone. What a privilege to hold such a place in my son’s life.

Our Interactions with God

Whenever my husband and I are trying to decide how to deal with a new challenge as parents, we try to understand how God would want us to handle the situation. How can we best emanate God’s character in our lives towards our child and towards each other as well?

When it comes to this sleeping thing, God is teaching us patience. Especially me!

A few weeks back, I was chatting with a friend (who has four children, I might add) about asking God for patience through the night. She said, “I have to pray for patience with one of my kids every day. And I’m usually confronted with a situation that TRIES my patience.” I said, “Yes, I know God uses circumstances to build our character. But I didn’t really want my character built at the moment, so my prayer last night went something like ‘please give me patience RIGHT NOW!'” She laughed. (Now how’s that for irony? A little impatient praying for patience.)

Through mothering my son, God truly is teaching me how to be a more patient and loving person.

When all I want is sleep, my son needs my attention and comfort. And although he is not “cooperating” with what I would like him to do regarding sleep, I will wait. I will give him the time he needs to adjust. I will train him, day by day, to learn to sleep without me. No matter how long it takes, I want to choose to lead him gently.

This path is probably not the easiest one. It’s certainly not the quickest way to restful nights. It is a sacrifice, and is requiring a graciousness that God is providing beyond my own abilities.

When I think about how God interacts with us, I am so humbled. How often are we “uncooperative” with His plans for us, yet He is patient, kind, and consistent in His guidance. His methods are perfect. He alone is wise. He is gracious and merciful beyond our comprehension or ability to imitate.

Learning Lessons

Despite already giving us so many gifts, God continues to provide peace and comfort in these times in the wee hours of the night, when the only words I can short-sightedly pray are, “please let this child sleep tonight”.

And yes, I have wondered, “Why would God not immediately grant this request for sleep? He gives good gifts. Sleep is a good thing, right?” Yes, but perhaps I am needing to learn these lessons now. Perhaps there is a more difficult challenge than sleep-deprivation in my future. (Teenage years come to mind…)

I am also reminded that my sleep sacrifice for my son pales in comparison to the sacrifice God provided us through His own son.

I’m so very grateful for the comfort and peace He provides me, though I admit, I rarely embrace it. Just like my baby putting his hand out to keep from being set down, I want to acknowledge His comforting presence in my life and embrace the peaceful place God has provided in Himself as my Father.

How Sweet it is to be Loved by You

Despite the “problem” nursing to sleep has caused (particularly in public), during my son’s nap today I was again reminded in such a sweet way, what a privilege it is to be his “ultimate sleep association.”

My son sleeps longer if I nap with him, and let’s face it, I can use the sleep anyway, so win win for us!

He awoke from his light sleep, and I had moved back a bit, away from him (one of the suggestions given for co-sleeping). With his eyes still closed, he reached his little hand out searching for me. I watched, as he patted his lovey, and the bed next to him, then I moved in close to him and said, “I’m here, baby.” Upon feeling me next to him and hearing my words, he went right back to sleep.

Then tonight as we were going through our bedtime routine, my son lifted his head off my shoulder, not to fuss or burp (as is typical), but to lift his hands to my face. He proceeded to pat at my mouth and my nose, (and my eyeball…) before laying his head back down on my shoulder.

With my heart as warm as can be, all I can say is, “This is love” and how very sweet it is.

“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:4

What about you?

What lessons has God taught you through your interactions with your children? Your spouse?

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