Day 109...Heartburn

I don't really know what to blog about today. I've been dealing with a lot of stress lately (family, holidays, family, work, family, chores, oh and did I mention family?) and it's all starting to catch up to me. I've been having difficulty sleeping at night, and I've been dealing with major heartburn for the past couple weeks. In addition to that, I had a hell of a time going back to work today after having an amazing long weekend with my husband. So all in all...I don't really have a blog idea in mind.

I suppose all this stress makes me wonder how I will handle things during pregnancy. Doctors say that it is so important to keep your stress levels low, otherwise it puts the baby at risk. But in my new fast-paced adult life, how on earth am I suppose to find the time or right method for keeping my stress at bay? I have tried so many methods before, and what may work at one point may not work again later, where some methods hardly even take off the surface layer of my worries! So how am I ever going to keep myself mellow during pregnancy when, I will be dealing with all of my usual stressors plus the complete hormonal, physical, and mental changes of being pregnant?!? Perhaps I will have to do some research and blog about that for tomorrow. What are good ways for a pregnant woman to keep her stress levels low?....

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."--Sydney J Harris. Perhaps this Pickle mama has to relearn how to relax.

Day 108...Jealous

I must admit...I'm jealous of my friend. She and I have been friends since we were babies and, come tomorrow, the doctor will be inducing her labor for her first baby...a little girl! I am so jealous! The timing of her baby is nearly exactly the same timing my husband and I are aiming for for next year, just around Thanksgiving (although, I'm hoping Pickle comes a few days before the holiday). How exciting and nerve racking must it be for her and her husband right now, knowing that they will be having a baby tomorrow?!

I can't wait to be right at that time where we're about to pop with Pickle! All that excitement and anticipation! It'll be even more so for my husband and I since we have agreed to wait until birth to know the baby's gender. I really hope our timing for Pickle will work out perfectly!

Also, yesterday and today we decorated for Christmas while getting all our Christmas gifts together for our family. I can't help but think of how it'll be that first Christmas with our new born Pickle! All the thrill of the holiday and the miracle of our new baby! It will be the best Christmas yet!

"You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a sour Pickle, a fragment of underdone potato. There's more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!"

Day 107...Blackout Saturday - Daddy Day!

It's another Daddy Day blog!

Saturday was a day of recovery and sticking to ourselves! After a family overload yesterday it was easy to find a reason why we should have a day to ourselves. Beyond that, I was reflecting even more so about not wanting to overstimulate Pickle, and my wife for that matter!

This time next year, assuming all plans go accordingly, my wife will be bursting at the vagoo, or having just popped. With those situations I have to think: do I really want to partake in Black Friday if she cannot come/is in no condition where she should come, or possibly burst? The answer is a simple no. If Pickle just popped, we need to nurture that same environment in which he/she has grown accustomed to over the last nine months. And I couldn't even possibly leave my wife with that to go do shopping of all things.

So, next year's Black Friday will most assuredly be an online edition. And while it is another detour from my family's particular Black Friday, I can't complain! I get to stay in, sleep in, and be with my beautiful wife who will be beyond preggo or so exhausted she'd kill me if I even thought of going out. Pickle will know so fondly the glow of the monitor and the hum of electronics.......But only when he knows it is a privilege and not a right :-P.

Day 106...Black Friday

Today was Black Friday, the most insane shopping day of the year! I learned something important today....shopping with babies is hard! My family joined my husband and I with our shopping today, including my little nephew. Not only did he seem completely overstimulated by the hundreds of passing shoppers, but he did not like being strapped to his stroller all day, and the big red balloon he got from Red Robins at lunch time seemed to terrify him to no end. Not only did we leave late for shopping because he had to be fed before we left, but we had to stop several times so he could be changed and fed some more. As excited as I am to have Pickle, I will miss the care-free shopping we can do as a couple. At least I now know that, if we go shopping with Pickle, we'll need to let him/her walk a little (if they're old enough to be walking), and not expect to get anywhere fast. So I guess making strict time commitments when you have a baby is just not a good idea. Besides, after just surviving an overstimulating Thanksgiving of being passed around by strange new relatives, taking a wee one like that to a busy mall the following day is, I think, a bit much. I've talked before about the consequences of overstimulating your baby and how that can lead to anxiety. The best thing we can do for Pickle will be to allow him/her to have time to get back into routine and recover from the holiday before tossing him/her into the next big event. In fact...I think that can be said for us all!

WE HAVE PICKLES ON SALE TODAY FOR LOW LOW PRICES!!! TODAY ONLY!!! Sale only valid between 3-4am.

Day 105...Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Today we are going over to my parent's house to celebrate Thanksgiving. And though these family get-togethers tend to be more of a soap opera than a Hallmark moment, they still make good stories to tell.

Also, today is my last day being on birth control. I read before that, when trying for a baby, it's best to get off of any oral contraceptives at least two months before trying to conceive. This allows the body to regulate the menstrual cycle so that it is easier to track the ovulation period. After being on birth control for so long, it might also take the body a month or two to even ovulate since the oral contraceptive have been restricting the bodies ability to ovulate. That's why, for some women who come right off of birth control, it can take them several months before they can even conceive. Well, since we have a very specific time-frame in mind for when we want to have Pickle, I want to make sure our chances of conception come February/early March are the best they can be. And so....good bye birth control pills! I'm nervous since the pills also helped keep my achene down, plus it helped control my major intense cramps. I'm really hoping this doesn't mean I'll be spending the next few months looking like I'm going through puberty again while cramping uncontrollably come that time of the month. We'll find out....

Otherwise, this year I am thankful for my wonderful supportive husband, my educating job, my cozy little apartment, my crazy family, old and new friends alike, and of course....I'm thankful for each step that brings us closer to Pickle!

"But Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck. You heard what Linus was saying out there. Those early Pickle Pilgrims were thankful for what had happened to them, and we should be thankful, too. We should just be thankful for being together. I think that's what they mean by 'Thanksgiving,' Charlie Brown."

Day 104...Kitchen Catastrophe

It was a short day at work today. We had a CPR and First Aid training, and were out of there by noon. As soon as I could, I set to work on baking some Thanksgiving goodies. This year, I am in charge of making my family's traditional dessert, pretzel jello salad. It may sound gross but it's amazing! I am also in charge of making my famous spinach dip. In addition to that, I also wanted to make a tofu pumpkin pie for my husband and I tonight. You see; we started a new tradition where, the day before Thanksgiving, my husband and I eat chow mein, pumpkin pie straight from the tin and only with spoons, all while watching the Ninja Turtle movies. Crazy right? It was how we spent our first Thanksgiving time together up at the college. Since we didn't have any dishes except for a couple of spoons, we had to eat the pie straight from the tin. And as for the chow mein, the college commons was closed for the holiday so we went to the nearest grocery store and bought chow mein for dinner. To explain the Ninja Turtle movies....well...we're big kids. Thus the crazy tradition started.

Anyway, back to cooking...things didn't go exactly as I had envisioned them. To start, I burnt the crusts for the pretzel jello salad, setting off the smoke alarms all through the house. I followed the recipe exactly so I have no idea what happened there! So I turned down the oven temp and tried again. Luckily I had bought more than enough supplies!

Next...the tofu pumpkin pie. The recipe said to blend the tofu and pumpkin puree in the blender, so I did. But the mixture was a bit thick and not blending so well. So I opened the top and tried to poke it with a big spoon to help get the suction going. Well....it worked alright. It worked so well it sucked the spoon right into the blender! My big wooden spoon....in the blender....I stood there for a brief moment frantically mashing the buttons, watching as the spoon danced in the blender before I found the off button. For the next half hour I sifted my hands through the blended goop, extracting any chunk of wood I could find. Call me crazy but I still cooked it. Let's just hope my pumpkin pie doesn't turn into pumpkin surprise...eat at your own risk.

And lastly, my spinach dip turned out more potent then planned, thanks to a couple of garlic cloves that were a little stronger than expected. My only hope is that the crackers we'll be dipping with will help to kill some of the sting.

So there you go, three kitchen catastrophes that, luckily, gave me more of a laugh than anything else. Thank God for good music that helped keep my spirit high.

Pickle's wooden pumpkin pie...let's not make that a new tradition. :-p

Day 103...Guitar Hero

I brought my guitar to work today for the first time. It was so much fun! I got to start off the morning circle time with several songs, and the kids loved it! It's been awhile since I've played, not to mention my singing voice sounded a little funny since I've been battling a cold, but everything just came flowing back to me! My guitar is so much a part of me, it just felt right to have it there.

Later at afternoon circle, I let the kids each take a turn strumming the guitar. They were mesmerized, it was so cute! And they got to explore the guitar case with it's hard exterior and fuzzy insides. :) We sang a few more songs during the afternoon circle too until it was time for them to go home.

Otherwise, the day had gone alright, but it was still a bit unsettled for the few kids that we actually had today. But luckily the guitar came to save the day! I think that was the first time I had every single kid sitting quietly around the circle, just waiting to hear the guitar. So I decided to leave the guitar in the classroom so that I can bring it out again next week when we all come back from the Thanksgiving break. Even my lead mentioned that she was a little jealous of my guitar playing, and wished that her circle times were as fun as mine. I win!

“Any problem you can't solve with a good guitar, is either, unsolvable or isn't a problem.” Who knows....maybe someday Pickle will be a guitar hero! ;)

Day 102...You did what?!

Today, one of my students came up to me, smiled sweetly, and he said, "Teacher...I have popcorn up my nose." What?!? Sure enough, I tilted his head back, and crammed way up his nostril was a popcorn kernel. Whose great idea was it to make popcorn for snack today?!.....

But it got me to wondering...what do you do as a parent when your child crams something up their nose? Are you supposed to try and pull it out with tweezers or something?

You never know what a kid will try to cram into their nose. But here is a fun list I found of the top 10 things kids stick up their noses with tips on how to handle the situation.

Crayons--Coloring chaos
One minute he's coloring, the next he's crying. Imagine the shock on one teenage babysitter's face when she realized what caused the dried blood on her 2-year-old charge's nose: He had stashed in his schnoz a broken piece of a yellow crayon.

Tip: Blowing gently out one nostril and being carefully prodded with a tweezer proved useless for this little boy, so off to the emergency room he went. Having a "foreign body" (anything unnatural) stuck in an orifice may lead to irritation and infection, warns the National Institutes of Health. Doctors and ear-nose-throat specialists typically treat more severe cases with drainage or suction.

Beads--Crafts gone wrong
Stringing necklaces can be a great afternoon activity, but some kids take crafts too far. Dr. Jana learned this the hard way. At age five, her son approached her with a guilty look: "Um, Mom … I accidentally got a bead stuck up my nose."

Tip: Even though Dr. Jana had warned her son about the painful practice of getting things stuck up one's nose, and at age five he was "old enough to know better," his curiosity bested him. Luckily, she pressed lightly on the non-plugged side of his nose, had him blow gently out the other nostril, and out flew the bead and often the best first attempt when facing this issue. If this method fails, call your doctor, suggests the National Institutes of Health.

French Fries--A fast food disaster
Beside a burger is where fries typically sit, but one four-year-old girl had other plans for her potatoes. Dr. Jana laughs recalling the mother's frantic and embarrassed phone call. "It was by far the most amusing item I've heard of," Dr. Jana says—and that's in more than 10 years of being a practicing pediatrician.

Tip: Greasy fast food can easily slide right up the nasal canal. In this case, a pediatrician was able to carefully extract the fry in the office. However, the inside lining of the nose is fairly sensitive, so doctors sometimes use sedatives or special "tools," Dr. Jana says. Be wise: Next time you buy your kid a Happy Meal, keep both eyes on the fries.

Fingers--Quite a handful
Who hasn't seen a baby (or an adult, sadly) stick a finger up his nose? Especially when children have cold, flu, or allergy symptoms, runny noses are bound for upward exploration, Dr. Jana says.

Tip: While it's not the most socially accepted behavior, Dr. Jana assures that nose picking is a natural reflex. Children learn by exploring and playing, she explains. While incidents are most common between ages one through five, high-energy older kids up through college frat guys often fall prey to nose antics.

Marbles--Not just a kids' game
It's all fun and games until someone loses a marble in her nose. But don't let it cause you to lose your marbles, too. You're not alone: Curious kids often poke these beautifully colorful spheres up their shnozzes, says Dr. Jana.

Tip: Round, hard objects like marbles are often the culprit of chaos, she says. Depending on how far up the sphere is lodged, the solution for removing it may vary in intensity. If it won't come out through gentle nose blowing, consult your physician.

Spaghetti--An Italian feast, foiled
Laughing hard while eating spaghetti may make noodles shoot out your nose, but pushing pasta up there yourself may make it stay there. Slippery, saucy noodles frequently nose their way up kids' nasal canals, Dr. Jana says.

Tip: Although softer, mushier items may seem slightly less uncomfortable to have stuck in one's nose, they actually can be more difficult to remove. Tweezers and other medical tools have trouble gripping onto slippery substances, Dr. Jana notes, so it may take longer to remove.

Tissue--Kleenex confusion
Training your kid to use a tissue for a runny nose may give you surprising results. Wadded and wet pieces of tissue can easily cram up your kid's nasal cavity, clinging to the inside of his nose.

Tip: Since tissues are meant to be near noses, it's an easily missed accident, Dr. Jana says. Three to five days may pass before parents realize anything is wrong. One key sign to notice is an awful smell caused by bacteria growing in the nose. Similar to spaghetti, this soft substance can easily separate when you or a doctor tries to extract it, so it may take longer to remove.

Cheerios--Cereal shenanigans
A common finger food to serve your young'un, Cheerios tend to casually creep up noses. In fact, any small, round food particles can easily move from highchair to nostril.

Tip: Although the rough surface of Cheerios can cause discomfort or irritation, Dr. Jana says, rest assured that this common problem can be easily cured. Once the culprit is removed, your child and Cheerios can continue their happy relationship!

Small Toys--Playtime trauma
Little toys (like Legos) and small toy parts (like screws) are tempting items to travel up the nose. After all, it's easy for playtime to get a bit wild!

Tip: Before buying toys and games for your child, pay attention to the age recommendations, small parts included, and any product recalls you see in the news, Dr. Jana advises. Even if small toys and parts don't end up in the nose, they can create choking hazards.

Beans and Peas--Dinner dilemma
Feeding your little guy can be messy. Since half the food falls on the floor, it's easy to assume the other half makes it into the mouth. Not necessarily. Cooked beans or peas for dinner (or raw ones for crafts) often become prime objects for pushing up one's nose.

Tip: Don't get distracted during dinner time. Losing focus can be easy ("Did I leave the veggies in the microwave again?"), so make sure someone is paying close attention to your tyke during meals.

Avoiding Nose Invaders--Parents know the nose best
1. Talk to your little one before anything happens. Don't worry: Your warning won't "inspire" an incident if you choose your words carefully. Dr. Jana suggests launching with, "Boy can it hurt if…" (We are already thinking "Ouch!"). Remember that babies don't use the same logic as adults, so be forgiving for repeat offenses. 2. Study the objects that surround your baby, from toys with small parts to slippery black beans for dinner. Do you need to avoid Cheerios at all costs? Probably not. Just be extra aware when your child's munching away. 3. Relax if an incident happens. Depending on the object lodged in your little one's nose, the solution and intensity may vary. But once the item is removed, most kids' discomfort decreases, Dr. Jana says.

Nobody nose the trouble I've seen,
Nobody nose but Pickle.

Day 101...Surviving the holidays

Every time I think about how the holidays will be with Pickle, I can't help but imagine all these wonderful magic moments where we're making holiday goodies or crafts, sitting around the table with a big happy family meal. But...the reality is, the holidays can be extremely stressful, especially on a relationship! And as I've said before, 2 comes before 3! If the parents aren't happy, the kids wont be happy, so the health of your relationship with your spouse is just as important as the relationship of your entire family as a whole. Here is a great article with tips on how to survive the holidays as a married couple:

"The song may say "It's the most wonderful time of the year."

But there's one part of life that can seem less than magical during the holiday season – your relationship with your partner. As the holidays loom, exhaustion, lack of communication and an imbalance in family responsibility leave many moms feeling overwhelmed and more than a little ticked off.

"Women are raised to do what I call 'mother sacrifice,'" says Los Angeles relationship expert Stacy Kaiser. "We put ourselves aside for everyone else. It's particularly true at the holidays. We buy the gifts, wrap them, bake, decorate and so on. While we may enjoy all that, we get depleted. And we need someone to fill us back up."

In response, Kaiser says the most common argument guys have is that they wish their wives would be clearer about what kind of help they need.

So how do you bridge the gap? Kaiser says the first step to making the holiday season work is for both parties to take responsibility for their part.

"We women have a very specific vision about things we're invested in; gifts, decorations or the way to set a table. But we rarely want to take the time to be that specific with our partners. We want them to be psychic."

Kaiser says that leaves us with three choices:

• Let it go and allow him to do it his way.
• Give specific detailed instructions and relax. If it's not perfect, deal with it.
• Do it yourself. But if you choose this option, don't complain that it's all on your shoulders.

Choosing one of these options and going with it will do wonders to help your relationship, Kaiser says. "We lose sight of the human being because we get caught up in specific details. Put your relationship first."

After you've cleared the air and set your course, keep things on track by putting romance on your holiday list. Try one, two, or all 5 of these tips to create a holiday spark and release some stress.

Mistletoe. Anyone who says a kiss is just a kiss isn't doing it right. "A kiss is an adrenaline rush," says Kaiser. "It releases endorphins. It's a great stress reliever if you do enough of it. It's the perfect way to connect quickly and sometimes, when you're not in the mood, it will get you there."

Shopping = Mini "Holi-Date." If you're already booking a sitter to go out and shop, why not make it a date? Tip: With stores open late, have the date part first. Because after pushing your way through aisles of toys and cranky crowds, the last thing on your mind will be romance.

12 Days of Christmas. Make a pact. Every day, leave an inexpensive treat or a note for each other in a place where it's guaranteed to be found. When you're busy and apart during the day, knowing someone thought of you feels good and helps create a mood before you're even together.

That's the Ticket. The most romantic gifts are those you can share together. Forget the kitchen gadgets and toolbox this year. Find a concert or event you can experience together and give each other a ticket for the holidays. Plus, it's something you can look forward to after the chaos is over!

Silent Night. Communicate without talking. Try pulling your partner close and spend even just five minutes dancing to your favorite holiday tunes. Dancing is one of the most intimate things you can do in public or private. Don't believe it? Try it. Kaiser says "It's a quick and easy way to connect. People always complain they don't have time. Everyone has time for that.""--http://family.go.com/holidays

When I read this article, I can't help but think of my mom and how, come the holidays, she turns into Super Mom, bending over backwards to make the holiday special for everyone else. Even today, she is prepping and planning for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. She is baking pies, preparing meals for all the visiting relatives, and more. Of course, with her recent trip to the hospital, she should really be taking it easy! But when it comes to the holidays, the pressure still falls heavy on the moms! In the years to come...that weight may very well be passed on to me. But at least I can be prepared with a few of these tips in mind!

I will lay nestled all snug in my bed, while visions of Pickle will dance in my head.

Day 100!...Saturday Nov. 21st

This is my 100th blog! Granted...I've spent all of November trying to catch up on backlogs, but I have still managed to write 100 blogs for Preparing for Pickle!

Since my first blog, I have already learned a lot about pregnancy and caring for a baby, I have lost about 6lbs, I have gotten a job working in childcare (which is helping me prepare for the toddler years), I have given up caffeine and alcohol, and come this Thursday (ironically also Thanksgiving day) I will be having the last of my birth control pills before I go completely clean! This Thanksgiving I will be thankful for yet another milestone bringing me that much closer to Pickle!

I must admit, I am a little nervous about getting off of my birth control. This will be my first time without birth control since...wow...nearly 6 years! I'm not sure how my body will handle the change, but we'll see.

Each day brings us that much closer to Pickle! I hope I'll be ready when the time comes! 100 days and counting!

100 jars of Pickles on the wall,
100 jars of Pickles,
take one down,
pass it around,
99 jars of Pickles on the wall.

Day 99...Friday Nov. 20th

It's funny, here I've been sitting all day trying to catch up on blogs and I haven't once had any trouble sitting. It's a weird thing to say, right? Why would I have any trouble sitting? Well, it's a skill I mastered long ago! In fact, babies master that skill before they even walk! That's right! We've been sitting on our asses since the beginning!

"Sitting, like so many infant milestones, is a skill that develops in stages. Learning to sit also requires plenty of practice on baby's part and lots of assistance from mom, dad, or caregiver.

A good clue that your infant is ready to try sitting? She can push up on her chest while lying on her belly, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. This usually happens around 4-5 months, and shows that your baby's chest and neck muscles are strong enough to begin supporting her in an upright position. But remember, she's got a few months to go before she'll be sitting solo. In the meantime, she'll need your help while she gives it a try.

Have her practice sitting when she's well rested. When you start, use your hands to support her, or try sitting in a relaxed crossed-legged position, and have your baby sit right in the center. Or prop her up with pillows (a nursing pillow is ideal for containing your baby since you can position the curve around her).

At first, even with assistance, she'll lean both arms forward (in what's called a "tripod" position) in an attempt to stabilize herself. Give her a few interesting toys to study while she gets used to seeing the world from this new point of view.

As she gets stronger over the next month or two, she'll be able to keep her back straighter for longer periods. And while she'll no longer lean forward, she'll still need to position her arms at either side to help her balance. If she uses one hand to grab a toy, don't be surprised if she topples to that side. Somewhere between 6-8 months, you'll find her able to sit without any help at all."--http://family.go.com/parentpedia

Well Pickle, home is where your rump rests!

Day 98...Thursday Nov. 19th

One of the books I want for Christmas this year is an American Sign Language book. Not only would it come in handy for work (we use a lot of sign language with the kids), but it would be great to use with Pickle! Sign language is a great way to start communicating with your child before their verbal skills have become fully developed. This way, with the use of sign language, your child can communicate their needs without having to play the ol' guessing game!

"What parent, at one time or another, hasn't held their crying, fussing infant and wondered, if only she could tell me what she needed. If you're a part of the growing movement of parents who teach their infants Baby Sign Language, then you already know you can communicate through simple signing gestures.

Using American Sign Language, a parent or caregiver can begin teaching a baby as young as 6 months simple signs for commonly used terms such as "more," "drink," "sleep," "eat," and "thank you." Use the signs consistently, and in two to three months, your baby will likely begin to signal what he needs or desires.

Some parents worry that the use of signing may diminish or delay language skills. But it appears that the majority of research has found otherwise.

"Teaching sign language to infants can actually help with communication and language, but it's not necessarily going to make your child brilliant," says Marsha Gerdes, Ph.D., co-director of the neonatal follow-up program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "We actually recommend signing in cases where there could be a language delay, such as with premature babies. But even among kids with no risk factors of hearing loss or language delay, signing is a great way to begin communicating with your infant."

Just be sure to always speak the word while using the sign so that your baby doesn't rely on signing alone to communicate."

I love you Pickle!

Day 97...Wednesday Nov, 18th

On Wednesday, I couldn't stand being at work. Every time someone asked me about my mom, I wanted to burst into tears. At the time, the hospital was supposed to be running stress tests on her heart to determine if it was a heart attack or not that she had experienced. But since her heart rate was still too high, they had to postpone the tests. So, instead, they sent her home. Well, I didn't want her to be home alone, so I left work early and went to take care of her.

The day was actually quite nice. It was fun to be back at my old home, and to be able to be with my mom. I spent the day making her tea, and sitting by the fire.

The only downside to it all was that, I had to wait in the clinic while my mom visited her doctor, and consequently I ended up catching yet another cold! That night, I woke up with a killer sore throat which has now turned into plugged sinuses. Will I ever be healthy for one whole month?!?!

"Fasten your seat belts, Pickle, it's going to be a bumpy night."

Day 96...Tuesday Nov. 17th

Tuesday was...a shock. After work, I had a message on my cell that I had missed from my dad saying my mom was in the hospital. She had suffered a cardiac event while at work, and was rushed to the hospital for observation and tests to see if what she had was a possible mild heart attack.

As soon as I heard the news, my husband and I went to the hospital as fast as we could. I was so scared for my mom, and I hated not fully knowing what was going on with her. I couldn't stop crying.

When we got there, it took all the strength inside me not to cry in front of her. Seeing her lying in the hospital bed was unbearable! She was doing fine, and all the tests had so far turned out clean. But still...I hated seeing her there.

Later, my brother and his family came to see her. He brought my little nephew too. When I saw my mom's face light up when she saw her grandson, I couldn't help but hope that someday, my little Pickle could do the same for her...lift her spirits when she's down.

My mom had to stay the night at the hospital by herself. I wanted to stay but it wasn't my company she needed most at that point, it was my dad's. I went home that night and fell asleep with my cell phone by my head. I wasn't going to miss another call.

I've looked at Pickle from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow
It's Pickle's illusions I recall.
I really don't know Pickle at all.

Day 95...Monday Nov. 16th

I've talked before about some of the symptoms of teething, however, I haven't yet touched base on when it starts to happen and how to deal with it. Here is a short article on when and how to deal with your little one teething. (I've heard it is a rough time for the parents, so I can't say I'll be looking forward to the teething days!)

"Somewhere between 4 and 7 months old, you can say good-bye to your baby's toothless grin as her first tooth makes its adorable debut. (Some babies don't get a single tooth until they're a year old, which is completely fine, experts say.) Over the next two years, she'll sprout 19 more choppers, for a total of 20 primary teeth by around age 2 1/2 to 3. Teeth like to arrive in pairs; the first two will show up in the front bottom gums and are called central incisors. A month or two later, four upper teeth will emerge (two central and lateral incisors). To complete the set, two lower lateral incisors show up, followed by four molars, four canines, and then a second set of upper and lower molars.

Thanks to her new teeth, your infant can soon kiss pureed baby food good-bye and set her sights on more interesting edibles, like Cheerios and baby biscuits. However, having a hard enamel tooth push through the sensitive gum tissue is no picnic for your baby (or you, for that matter). In order to allow for the emerging tooth to pass through the gum, the saliva becomes more acidic. As a result, your baby might develop a red rash around her mouth. Try dabbing a little petroleum jelly on the affected area. Her gums will also be itchy and sore.

The best teether in the world is a clean finger. (Curl up your index finger and let her nosh on the meaty part.) A cold spoon or a wet washcloth will also provide relief, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. Refrigerated baby teethers are great, too; just don't freeze them since gnawing on a rock-solid teething ring can injure your baby's gums.

And, while it's true that for some babies teething can bring on a fever and diarrhea (probably due to the acidic saliva), a temperature over 100 degrees, blood or mucus in the stool, or severe diarrhea that persists more than 24 hours is probably due to a virus and warrants a visit to your pediatrician."--http://family.go.com/parentpedia

Pickle McGruff is here to take a bite out of crime! Nom nom nom!

Day 94...Sunday Nov. 15th

My baby is going to be a ninja with wicked reflexes! Actually, a baby is born with natural reflexes that are essential to it's survival.

"Your newborn baby is an amazing creature. The many reflexes he or she is born with help transition them to life and learn what they need to survive. Here are some of these reflexes to help you get to know your baby better:

Moro Reflex: When you fail to support or hold the neck and head, the arms of your baby will thrust outward and then seem to embrace them selves as their fingers curl. This reflex disappears at about 2 months of age. It is also known as the startle reflex.

Palmar Grasp: When you touch the palm of your baby's hand, the fingers will curl around and cling to your finger or an object. This is a good reflex to take advantage of with other children, to allow the baby to "hold" their hand. This reflex also makes it difficult to obtain handprints until it disappears at about 6 months.

Plantar Grasp: This reflex occurs when you stroke the sole of your baby's foot, his toes will spread open and the foot will turn slightly inward. It is also known as the Babinski reflex. This reflex is fun to watch. By the end of the first year this reflex is usually gone.

Sucking: While you may not believe this to be reflexive, it is. This ensures that the baby will nurse on a breast or bottle to be fed and occurs when something is placed in the baby's mouth. It is slowly replaced by voluntary sucking around 2 months of age.

Rooting Reflex: When you stroke your baby's cheek she will turn towards you, usually looking for food. This is very useful when learning to breastfeed your baby. This reflex is gone by about 4 months. You may also notice this occurs when the baby accidentally brushes her own face with her hands. It can sometimes be a source of frustration if your baby flails her arms during feedings. Simply using a blanket to pin her arms closer to her body during feeding may help.

Stepping Reflex: If you take your baby and place his feet on a flat surface he will "walk" by placing one foot in front of the other. This isn't really walking and will disappear by about 4 months of age.

Tonic Neck Reflex: This is also called the fencing reflex, because of the position the baby assumes. When you lay your baby on her back and her head turns to one side she will extend her arm and leg on that side while the opposite arm and leg bend, assuming a "fencing" position. This reflex is present only until about the 4th month.

Swimming: If you were to put a baby under six months of age in water, they would move their arms and legs while holding their breath. This is why some families believe in swim training for very little babies. It is not recommended for you to test this reflex at home for obvious safety reasons.

Your baby will have his or her reflexes tested shortly after birth. Absence or weak reflexes can be caused by birth trauma, medications used, illness, etc. Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby reflexes or ask them to show you during a newborn exam the amazing feats of your new baby."--http://pregnancy.about.com

You're baby's pediatrician will check for these reflexes, so there won't be much need for you to keep an eye on them. However, it's good to recognize your baby's reflexes, just to be in the know.

Pickle vs. Ninja?...Who will win?

Day 93...Saturday Nov. 14th

Let's play! The part I'm looking forward to the most with Pickle is the times my husband and I will get to play with him/her! Playing with your baby is not only fun, but important for their growth too!

"Playing with your infant does so much more than keep your baby happy and entertained (even though these are both exceptionally important things). Any time you engage your baby in a fun experience, whether it's singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or pretending to eat his little toes, you're demonstrating an activity that will be essential to his growth and overall development.

Consider what happens when a 6-month-old picks up a toy rattle.

"By simply holding a toy, a child learns that they can touch it, squeeze it, bang it, throw it. Playing is critical for learning about the world and for developing language," says Claire Lerner, director of parenting resources for Zero to Three, a national nonprofit organization devoted to promoting health development for infants and toddlers.

Playing constantly stimulates your baby's thought processes by enticing him to do things like think ("Hmm, this toy is an interesting color."); reason ("I wonder what will happen if I bang on this toy?"); and remember ("Whenever I bang this toy, it makes a loud noise!").

The type of play that interests your child will change and evolve along with his physical and mental abilities. Young infants can't resist mobiles and music, while slightly older babies play by chewing and mouthing on any toy you hand them. By the time they're 6 months to a year old, they're engaged by stacking blocks, rolling balls, and looking at books."--http://family.go.com/parentpedia

It's going to be hard at times to wait for Pickle to be old enough to play with certain toys or play certain games, but it'll be worth the wait! I'm especially excited about reading books with him/her! I already put several children's books on my Christmas list this year! I told my family that I wanted the books so that I can read them to my class at story time. But really, they have no idea they'd be buying a book for their future grandchild!

Can Pickle come out to play?

Day 92...Friday Nov. 13th

A famous saying in the Montessori teaching is: "if a child can do it themselves, don't do it for them!" Independence and self sufficiency can be instilled even at a young age. Now of course, this doesn't mean neglect your child and demand that they handle everything themselves. Because, in some cases, even though they can do it doesn't mean you can't help at least a little. Just be sure that you are HELPING and not DOING it for them!

One of the most beneficial things a child can learn to do for themselves is self-comfort. This allows the child to learn how to calm themselves and take care of their needs. This also removes some of the weight from the parent for always having to be the comforter. Here is an article that explains it in a little more detail:

"Before a baby is even born, he has the ability to self-comfort -- the images of babies thumb sucking in utero prove it. While self-comforting may be an innate skill, how well your baby is able to do so depends a lot on her temperament, says Marsha Gerdes, Ph.D., co-director of the neonatal follow-up program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

One of the best ways to teach your child about self-comfort is through routine, says Gerdes. A great place to establish a routine is at bedtime. Taking a warm bath, and reading a book together in the same chair every night will make your baby feel reassured. She can then draw on these positive feelings to help her transition to sleep time.

Movement, touch, and voice are also powerful tools that put your baby in the state of mind so that she can soothe herself, says Gerdes.

At naptime and bedtime, start out by holding, rocking, and talking quietly to your baby. Then, place her down in her bassinet or crib, and continue to gently talk to her while you rub her tummy or legs; finally, use your voice only, and talk to her briefly, telling her that you love her and that it's time to go night-night. Then walk away. Your baby won't be asleep, but instead of protesting about being left alone in a crib, she'll be the right state of mind for soothing herself.

Of course, you can't overlook the power of offering a favorite blanket or stuffed animal so that your fussy baby can comfort herself. Since neither are recommended in cribs of infants under 1 year, save blankets and stuffed animals for stroller rides or playtime.

The self-soothing technique that some children may adopt on their own can include thumb-sucking or hair-twirling. Most people consider these socially acceptable behaviors.

"However, other babies might bang their heads or move them back and forth repeatedly as a way to comfort themselves when they're tired or frustrated," explains Gerdes.

While this might seem odd, these behaviors are actually considered normal when done within this context. But if they also take the place of play or social interactions, definitely discuss it with your pediatrician to rule out a behavioral disorder."--http://family.go.com/parentpedia

Charlie Brown: Why don't you don't let me try to find some sort of substitute for your blanket? Maybe I could get you a dishtowel, a Pickle, or something.

Linus: Would you give a starving dog a rubber bone?

Day 91...Thursday Nov. 12th

Since I've been talking about the baby's sight after being born, I figured I should touch base on hearing as well. I have honestly never really thought much about a baby's hearing other than to watch out and make sure they are responding to audible stimuli. But other than that...that's about it. So again, here is an interesting article about baby's hearing. By the way, a lot of my information comes from family.go.com. I love that website. But there are lots of great ones out there! It's always great to cross-reference any info you get on the web too! So research, research...to whoever is out there possibly reading my blogs.

"Right after birth, your baby's hearing may be slightly muffled due to the amniotic fluid that may still fill part of either ear tubes. This fluid should quickly drain out. Because she's been listening to your voice in utero all these months, your voice will be familiar to her. To her delight, she'll now be able to hear you loud and clear. The familiarity of your voice is reassuring to her and will become even more so as she learns that you're the one who feeds, changes, and comforts her.

You'll notice your infant begin to turn her head in the direction of a voice or sound that interests her. She'll also quickly learn to distinguish a familiar voice from a stranger's.

At between 4 and 7 months, she might delight in hearing the dog bark or listening to a sibling sing her a song. She'll also startle (or cry) from a loud sound. At around the same time, she also learns to distinguish moods in your voice, and can tell when you?re angry, calm, or happy.

If, by 7 months, your baby isn't babbling (trying to imitate your voice in some way by using repetitive consonant sounds, like ba-ba-ba, ma-ma-ma) bring it up with your pediatrician. Three out of every 1,000 infants is born with some hearing loss.

While the National Institutes of Health now recommends all newborns be routinely screened for hearing loss before they leave the hospital, things can be missed or develop later on. In some cases, hearing loss is temporary and due to an ear infection or wax buildup. In other instances, it's due to nerve damage, which is permanent. Since hearing impairment of any kind can severely hinder language development and social skills, it's critical that the condition be diagnosed as early as possible."-- http://family.go.com/parentpedia

Testing, one, two, three...can you hear me Pickle?...

Day 90...Wednesday Nov. 11th

I've heard before that babies can only see in black and white. And so, some parents have gone so far as to decorate the entire baby room in nothing but a complete gray-scale! Bleh! What a great way to bring your baby's room closer to a prison! Okay, so they see in black and white, but clearly that doesn't last forever. So when does a baby start to see in color?

I've also read about some great tracking exercises you can do with your baby to work on fine-tuning their ability to visually track things in front of them. But at what distance? Should it be right in their face? When should I start working on their tracking? And at what point is it considered developmentally delayed if they can't focus/track anything in front of them?

Here is a short article I found that touches on this subject:

"Babies can see from birth -- things are just a little fuzzy at first and are in black and white. For newborns, the optimal distance for their vision is between 8 and 15 inches (it's no surprise that this is about the distance between you and your baby's face when you're holding and feeding her!).

For the next few months, this is the ideal distance to also hold toys from your baby's face when playing with her. Moving a toy back and forth within her line of vision also allows your baby to practice visual tracking -- watching an object at it moves -- which allows her to learn about her world.

Your infant's vision will quickly develop from birth. "Between 4- and 6-weeks old, right before your baby starts smiling, she usually starts making eye contact with you," says Howard Reinstein, M.D., a pediatrician in private practice in Encino, California. "However, some babies lock on to mom's face earlier than that, and others are later."

By 3 months, if there's no eye contact you should discuss it with your pediatrician to rule out either a visual or behavior/attachment problem.

"By 3 months, your baby will also see several colors, and by 4 months his color vision is fully mature," says Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D., F.A.A.P., editor-in-chief of "The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones."

Come her first birthday she'll be able to spot you from 20 feet away or more, says Dr. Altmann. That's a lot of visual growth in one year!"--http://family.go.com/parentpedia

Here's looking at you, Pickle!

Day 89...Tuesday Nov. 10th

For awhile now, I've been worrying about my weight. I'm heading into the holidays and I still have pounds to shed before I am at a healthier starting weight for pregnancy. But that got me to thinking...what about the baby's weight? When my nephew was born, he was having troubles with hydration and was losing too much weight to begin with. But what is a healthy baby weight? The only time I've heard about a baby's weight is when it's either extremely underweight, or a complete sumo baby!

Here is an interesting article that unravels the mystery of a newborn's weight:

"In the first few days of life, virtually all babies lose some weight. This is due to excess fluid loss from water accumulated in utero. Breastfed babies will lose additional water since moms may not have an ample supply of milk at first. Your doctor will closely monitor your baby's weight to make sure that she hasn't lost more than 10 percent of her body weight, which is a sign of dehydration.

Thankfully, most babies quickly make up for the loss and by around two weeks are back at birth weight. Once a newborn hits the one-month mark, she'll begin to gain about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds each month. By four months, many babies have doubled their birth weight, and by a year, they've often tripled it.

"Proportionally speaking, babies gain more weight in their first year than at any other time," says Laura A. Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P., author of the American Academy of Pediatric's "Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality." "Weight gain is one of our best indicators of physical growth. If your baby is following an upward curved pattern of growth, it's a good sign." For more information, check out the growth charts provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Once your baby is weighed, your pediatrician will note where she falls on the growth chart in terms of weight and percentile (which is based on the percentage of babies her age who weigh this amount). Then, at each subsequent visit, your doctor will compare the percentiles to make sure that your baby is growing at a normal rate within this range. For instance, if your 6-month-old weighs 18 pounds, according to the CDC growth charts, she falls into the 95 percentile, meaning she's bigger than 95 percent of girls her age, but still within the range of normal. If she were to drop down to the 75 percentile at next month's visit, your doctor would try to figure out why.

Of course, parents don't use infant scales at home. The best way to make sure your baby is eating enough to grow is to check her diaper: Seven to 10 wet diapers a day and a bowel movement every one to three days (although some babies only poop once a week) should assure you that there?s enough going in and enough coming out to keep your infant growing strong. If you have concerns, discuss with your pediatrician."--http://family.go.com/parentpedia

Mmmm....Pickle...the other other white meat!

Day 88...Monday Nov. 9th

When my nephew was born, I was thinking he was going to instantly be a cute, cuddly, giggly little bundle of fun. Boy was I wrong! For the first couple months, he was a crusty, weepy, expressionless little blob. I know, I sound like the world's worst aunt. But honestly! Newborn babies are not the picture perfect little bundles of joy that Hollywood would have you to believe!

For quite awhile I was even beginning to wonder if the little guy could even smile. I would try to make silly faces or coo at him and all I would get in response was a drooling, poop filled zombie. Is he broken? I hope you kept your receipt.

But the truth is, it actually takes almost two months before the little zombie can crack a smile!

"There's nothing sweeter than when your infant smiles at you for the very first time. His whole face lights up, and your heart is warmed to the core. You both sense the real connection, which is why this type of gesture is called a "social smile."

When should you expect a social smile? "By six or eight weeks, in full-term children, we like to see the baby visually connect with a parent's face and be able to demonstrate a social smile," says Martin T. Stein, M.D., professor of pediatrics and director of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego.

Why is a social smile so significant? Your baby's brain can now interpret the image of your face, which then triggers the motor part of the brain to respond intentionally with a grin. Prior to this, you may have noticed your newborn smiling at random times -- while asleep or staring at the pattern on his car seat, for instance. That type of smiling isn't intentional, and is known as a spontaneous smile, which doesn't require the complex thought process of a social smile.

One of the most special things about the social smile is that it opens up a whole new way of communicating with your baby. Up until this point, your infant communicated by crying or non-verbal cues, such as tensing up his muscles when he became tired or startled, but now he can express himself in a truly positive way."--http://family.go.com

Can't read my, can't read my

no, he can't read my poker face...

p-p-p-pickle face, p-p-pickle face

(m-m-m-ma)

Day 87...Sunday Nov. 8th

I have thought a lot about the first year of Pickle's life. It is extremely important to me that I be there with Pickle for that first year. The sad thing is, our society doesn't seem to value the stay-at-home mom anymore. Maternity leave has been shrinking, and the financial need for a family to have two incomes has become a growing necessity for many. The maternity leave for my work is only 6 weeks! Six weeks...that's it! Not even a full two months to recover from having a baby before I would be expected to return back to work full time. Otherwise, I will loose my position and another person would be hired on to take my place.

After many discussions, research, and budgeting, my husband and I decided a long time ago that we would use this next year to save up as much as we could so that I could be home with the baby for at least the first year of his/her life before returning to work. And even then, I might only go back for part time. There are lots of reasons why I am choosing this and I am by no means ashamed to be a stay-at-home mom. In fact, I will be quite proud and honored to do so (of course, I mean no disrespect to those who choose to go back to work right away either. I envy their strength.) But, the following article (as well as many others I read that supported the same evidence as this one) convinced me even further of the importance of being at home with Pickle for that first year.

"'Attachment' is the strong affectional bond that under normal conditions develops between an infant and his primary caretaker—usually his mother. The most critical period for the attachment process is the first few months of life, but attachment is not securely formed until about two years of age. A child’s social, psychological, and emotional development is built upon the foundation of his earliest attachment. If the process of establishing that attachment is disrupted during its crucial stages, the child is at risk of becoming “detached,” or emotionally ungrounded and incapable of building relationships based on trust. Even after age two, prolonged separation from the primary caretaker can have negative long-term effects on a child’s emotional well-being and his ability to establish trust in personal relationships.

The attachment process can be disrupted in a number of ways. For example, if the primary caretaker is unresponsive, neglectful, or abusive, then a strong attachment may never form. Separation can also affect attachment, especially if prolonged, repeated separation from the primary caretaker occurs before attachment is securely formed.

A child who has not experienced strong attachment to a primary caretaker during his first two years of life—with the first year being of primary importance—is not likely to be able to establish and maintain stable intimate relationships, such as close friendships or even marriage. The earlier the disruption of the attachment process occurs, the more serious and long-lasting the damage will be.

Many studies have shown the high quality daycare does not damage a child’s intellectual development (though it is evident that most daycare in the United States is substandard and therefore potentially damaging even in the area of intellectual development). But studies that have been done on children’s emotional development are far from comforting. Children who attend full-time daycare, especially if they began in daycare before the age of two, are more aggressive, less socialized, and less mature emotionally than children who spend their early years with a primary caretaker with whom they have formed a strong attachment. Most experts strongly recommend against placing an infant under the age of one in full-time daycare at all. The recommendations are less sweepingly uniform in the case of infants between the ages of one and two, but even for that age group expert sentiment generally runs against full-time daycare.

The problem, of course, is that perfectly loving and well-meaning parents are driven by economic pressure to place infants as young as two weeks into full-time daycare. More commonly, of course, an infant starts daycare at the age of two or three months, when the mother’s maternity leave from her job is used up.

What this means is that during a critical period in the attachment process, very young infants are being separated from their primary caretakers for the entire day, at least five days a week. During most of the child’s waking hours, he will have no contact at all with the person or persons with whom he must develop a strong and stable emotional bond (usually, of course, his parents). This fact cannot help but interfere with the attachment process.

Disruption or disturbance of attachment can occur at any time during the first ten or eleven years of a child’s life, but it takes more drastic and traumatic separation events to disrupt an otherwise stable attachment for an older child. Because attachment is not firmly established before age two, however, it takes less to disrupt it, and the consequences of such disruption are likely to be more severe and more long-lasting than in an older child.

Research has uncovered another, somewhat unexpected, effect of leaving infants under age two in daycare throughout most of the day—maternal detachment. In response to the emotional distress caused by separation, many new mothers unconsciously withdraw from engagement with their infants, which reinforces the disruption of attachment that occurs as a result of the prolonged daily separation while the mother works and the infant is left in the care of others. If the mother is fully aware of the dangers of non-attachment—and of the possibility that she herself might begin to feel detached from her child—she can aggressively seek to counteract such emotional distancing.

While it is unlikely that women will leave the labor force in large numbers, an awareness of the importance of the early years of life for the attachment process, and for the emotional development that depends on that process, might encourage businesses to offer more generous maternity leaves, as well as part-time schedules for new mothers as they re-enter the workforce. Mothers themselves can also benefit from such information. By actively working to maintain and develop the mother-child bond that full-time daycare for infants is likely to threaten, they can to some degree mitigate the consequences of returning too soon to full-time work, a course of action which is, after all, often not a matter of choice, but of economic necessity."--http://www.essortment.com/all/daycareinform_rwyy.htm

"It's not personal, Pickle. It's strictly business."--The Godfather

Day 86...Saturday Nov. 7th

At work, a huge part of my job is observation and experimentation. With all of the lumps and bumps my class has struggled through these past few months, I have gotten pretty good at narrowing down the root of most problems that occur in our class. Perhaps one of the most difficult to peg, however, is the child who is acting out due to over stimulation. On the surface, it seems as though the child is acting out with no obvious motivation. Not to mention, the reaction varies from child to child. Some overstimulated children may cry, some may scream and lash out, others may stand in the middle of the room staring off into space while refusing any interaction with anyone else. The part that is most tricky from a teacher's standpoint is that, we don't know if the child is overstimulated by something in the classroom (either too many people, too many choices available for activities, or it could even be too many sensorial factors), or if they have been overstimulated by something going on at home.

Over stimulation is often the result of a change in routine. Now pay attention here! Routine can be SO important for a baby, and even a preschooler. (As they get older, they adapt to change. But before then, they have to be eased into big changes.) When a baby's routine is shaken up, it can throw them off for days. Sometimes the effects of over stimulation wont even show up until the next day. These changes in routine can cause anxiety in some babies (and even your preschoolers), that can cause the sudden baby meltdown. And of course, since crying is the language of babies, it can be really hard to pinpoint the cause of the meltdown when they can't verbally tell you what is bothering them. So...you get to play the fun ol' guessing game!

The following is an article that I read that explains some of the cause and effects of infant anxiety and tricks you can use to help calm them back down.

"Just like adults and children, some infants have a temperament that's more sensitive than others. This may mean your baby startles, complains, or cries more easily than most. But even if your infant has a go-with-the-flow disposition, changes in his routine or environment -- meeting new people, encountering new places, missing a nap -- can trigger anxiety.

Babies show their anxiety usually by crying, fussing (not wanting to be held, but not wanting to sit either), or complaining verbally, which they might do with loud screams or shrieking.

'We get a lot of phone calls on Sunday nights from parents telling us that their baby is inconsolable and they can't figure out why. A lot of times it's simply overstimulation and diversion from their routine that sets the infant off. The relatives might have been in town, and your baby spent the weekend being passed around from one family member to the next without protest," says Tanya Remer Altman, M.D., F.A.A.P., editor-in-chief of "The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones" from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). "But then it hits her, and she loses it. It's like she's trying to say, 'Enough already! I'm on brain overload. I want my mommy and I want my routine back now!' '

How to help your anxious baby: First, you need to rule out other possible reasons for her crying and fussiness, such as a wet or dirty diaper, hunger, being too hot or cold, or uncomfortable (maybe her car seat straps are too tight or that pretty pink dress is getting in the way of her crawling).

If any obvious reasons have been dealt with, and she still seems anxious, try calming her with these tips from the website of William Sears, M.D., associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of more than 30 books on childcare.

• Pop her in a baby sling or carrier. Simply being close to you -- hearing your voice, smelling you -- may be all it takes to soothe her. The movement of your body is also calming.
• Let her suck. Offer her your breast, a bottle, or a pacifier. Even if she's not due for a feeding, the sucking motion will help calm her. Even better, says Dr. Sears, is using motion (say, from a baby carrier or stroller) and sucking at the same time, which he calls a "winning combination that settles even the most upset baby."
• Give your baby a warm bath, or head for the bath together.
• Go off to a quiet room, soften the lights, and sing or read to your baby.
• Try distraction. Most babies can't resist looking at their own little cute faces in the mirror, which might be just what she needs to shift her mood. Heading outdoors is another soother -- the rustling of tree leaves or chirping birds might shift her mood altogether."--http://family.go.com

I'm melting, melllllllllllting!....oh what a Pickle! What a Pickle!

Day 85...Friday Nov. 6

How am I suppose to loose those 20lbs before I get pregnant?! As the due date gets closer and my waist line isn't budging, I'm starting to think this is a hopeless task. This last week, I have been cutting back on my intake, but I still don't feel like I am getting the best nutritional balance from what I am eating. But the even harder part is finding time to exercise. After a long day of work, when it's dark, cold, and crappy outside, who wants to work out? Bleh! But I found one website that suggests working out as a couple as a way to encourage each other before and during the pregnancy to stay in shape.

A great way for couples to get closer and at the same time improve their health is by exercising together. It's a perfect way to encourage each other to include fitness, and it can provide the incentive for a pregnant woman to keep fit during the span of her pregnancy and beyond. Although the non-pregnant partner may need to modify their usual fitness program to make sure that their exercise is safe for pregnancy, it is a great way for a couple to bond and provide support to each other.

Take a Walk
Walking is one of the best ways for couples to exercise together. It is an ideal time for couples to talk about how they are adapting to the changes of pregnancy and how they can best support each other during this transitional time in their relationship. In order to keep this activity safe and effective for pregnancy it is important for the partner to keep the following points in mind:


Think about her current fitness level when setting the distance for your walks. If she hasn't been exercising, start with a 15- to 30-minute gentle walk and increase the time slowly depending on how she is feeling during and after each walk.
Avoid exercising during hot and humid weather. Schedule your walks early or late in the day during the summer months to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Bring water and snacks on your walk and drink often. Pregnant women need at least eight to 10 glasses of water each day. She may need more if she's exercising, or if the weather is warm.
Let her set the pace and allow for rest stops if needed. Set up a route with some gentle hills and shady spots to rest.

If she becomes out of breath, you are walking too fast. Slow down the pace and rest more often.
Make sure to apply sunscreen (sunscreen in western Washington?! That makes me laugh! As if!), wear proper athletic footwear and dress for the weather.--www.pregnancytoday.com

My question is: what do you do if both you and your partner want to work out, but your level of exercise is completely different? I'm not even pregnant yet and my pace for exercising is waaaay less then that of my husband's. For one thing, he is a lot taller than I am, so for every one step he takes on a walk, that's two for me! Am I suppose to start huffing and puffing just to keep up? Or is my husband supposed to find twice the time to work out...once just enduring my slow pace, and again later to actually get a workout? I understand what this article is saying, but I have to ask: do they really expect pregnant women to waddle next to their husbands at a slow pace without feeling like they are gumming up the works for a real workout?

It 'aint over until the fat Pickle sings.

Day 84...Thursday Nov. 5

As I mentioned before, in preparation for our pregnancy, my husband and I have cut out caffeine and alcohol completely since the first of this month. It hasn't been entirely easy either. Too many times this week, my co-workers have brought in coffee that just smells like heaven. Other times, a nice cold bubbly can of soda sounds amazing! But all in all it's been okay. Here is a list of tips for understanding and taming the old caffeine addiction when cutting back for pregnancy:

Remember why you're doing this. Of course, you know why already — but it doesn't hurt to remind yourself (and pat yourself on the back) every time you "make it a decaf": It's good for your baby and it's good for you.

Figure out what you love best about your caffeine fix. Is it the taste of coffee you crave? That's easy — switch to a quality decaf brew and enjoy the flavor without the caffeine (even espresso comes decaf). Can't sparkle without carbonated sodas? Turn instead to sparkling water or sparkling juices (or sparkling caffeine-free sodas, but in moderation if they're full or sugar or artificially sweetened). Are you addicted to caffeine's energy kick? Get a healthier energy boost from a snack of complex carbohydrates and proteins (you'll get both from cheese and crackers or dried fruit and nuts), exercising regularly (even a ten-minute walk will give your energy level a jolt), and getting enough sleep (but not too much, which can actually make you more tired).

Know where it's hiding. Obviously, it's in the latte. And the iced Americano. And even the English breakfast (though in smaller amounts — one cup of tea contains 40 milligrams of caffeine, as opposed to the 100 or more milligrams in a cup of brewed coffee). But did you know that caffeine's lurking in soft drinks (from colas to that Mountain Dew), energy drinks (where do you think that energy's coming from?), chocolate and coffee-flavored yogurt and ice cream (though again, in smaller amounts). When counting up the caffeine in your day (and trying to limit it to those two cups — or 200 milligrams), make sure you add in all its sources.

Find energy the old-fashioned way. Eating smaller, more frequent meals and snacks (a good idea when you're pregnant, anyway — but an especially good idea when you're decaffeinating your system) will keep your energy up by keeping your blood sugar from dipping. Prenatal vitamins will also help you maintain your stamina without a caffeine fix. Now take that extra four bucks or so you spent on coffee every day (plus the money you spent on the accompanying doughnut du jour) and put it in an empty coffee cup. At the end of the week, treat yourself (manicure, anyone?)…you earned it!--www.whattoexpect.com

I'll have one grande, sugar free vanilla, extra hot, no whip, soy milk, Pickle latte...oh...and make it a decaf!

Day 83...Wednesday Nov. 4

On Wednesday, I was sent home with a low-grade fever. The problem is, with all the recent outbreaks of H1N1, they are taking no chances at work with any possible case of the flu. So unfortunately that means, even with a "fever" of 99.0, no matter who you are...you're being sent home!

The one thing that is causing the most confusion is actually the teething babies. What a lot of people aren't familiar with is the symptoms of teething and how similar they are to that of classic signs of illness. These cute little babies have been tripping us up all month! Are they sick or are they just teething?!

Here is a list of the classic teething symptoms and why they can be so confusing:

The symptoms of teething vary from child to child. Because of these different experiences, parents and physicians often disagree as to the symptoms of teething and how painful it is. The list below shows symptoms that a teething baby may experience. While most parents usually agree that some or all of the symptoms below happened around the time of teething, it is still recommended that if your baby experiences any of these symptoms you check with your pediatrician to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms.

Irritability: As the sharp little tooth rises closer to the surface your baby’s gums may become increasingly more sore and painful, leading to your baby being very fussy. The pain and discomfort is most often worse during the first teeth coming in and later when the molars come in because of their bigger size. This is most often the case since babies become accustomed to the sensations of teething and learn to live with them. But you may find your baby may be fussy during the whole time that every tooth comes in. Every child reacts differently.

Drooling: From three to four months of age you may see your baby start drooling more often than normal. Teething stimulates drooling, which is often worse with some babies than others.

Coughing: The extra saliva can cause your baby to occasionally cough or gag. This is usually nothing to worry about as long as your baby seems fine and shows no signs of a cold or flu and does not run a high fever.

Chin rash: If your baby is a big drooler, the constant contact with saliva can cause the skin around the chin and mouth to become irritated. To help prevent this, gently wipe your baby’s mouth and chin periodically throughout the day.

Biting & gnawing: A baby that is teething will gnaw and gum down on anything she or he can get their mouth around. The counter pressure from biting on something helps relieve the pressure from under the gums.

Cheek rubbing and ear pulling: Pain in the gums may travel to the ears and cheeks particularly when the back molars begin coming in. This is why you may see your baby rubbing their cheeks or pulling at their ears. However, keep in mind that pulling at an ear can also be a sign of an ear infection.

Diarrhea: While this is a symptom that is disagreed upon by physicians, researchers and parents, most parents usually notice slightly looser bowel movements when a baby is teething. While the recent study done by the Children’s Hospital in Australia found this to be the most common symptom of teething, there are still many people that will agree and disagree with this recent study. It is believed that the most likely cause of this is the extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. Be sure and report any diarrhea to your doctor that lasts more than two bowel movements.

Low-grade fever: A fever is another symptom that doctors are sometimes hesitant to directly link with teething. But there are many parents who will disagree with this and find their baby gets a slight fever while teething. The best thing to do is be extra safe and notify your doctor if a fever last more than two days.

Not sleeping well: With teething pain happening during the day and night, you may find your child wakes more often at night when the pain gets bad enough. Most parents agree that the night waking happens more often during the first set of teeth and with the molars.

Cold like symptoms (runny nose, etc.): Some parents find that their baby will show signs of having a cold. Runny noses, coughing and general cold symptoms are believed to come from the baby having their hands in their mouth more often. Play it safe and always notify your doctor if symptoms such as this occur.

As you can see, those tricky little teething babies make it hard to track illness during a pandemic!

Does Pickle need a doctor or the tooth fairy?

Day 82...Tuesday Nov. 3

Tuesday November 3rd was my husbands birthday! As a fun surprise for him, I scrounged up some decorations and decorated the house for him before he got home from work. The best part was, my lead gave me some confetti to use. So I rigged the confetti on the door with a handkerchief so that, when my husband walked through the door, the confetti dumped all over him! It was so funny! We both had a good laugh.

Just for fun, I looked up some fun birthday party ideas. Here is a fun animal themed birthday party idea I found with the parent's budget in mind. (Double score, right?) This party is also great because it can work for both a girl or a boy!

For toddlers, what could be more fun than a farm animal themed birthday? This simple and festive idea can be done inexpensively and in an unlimited number of ways. See below for some ideas on how you can do it for $100 or less.First, some starter tips to keep costs down:

Invite 8 kids or less
Have kids bring their favorite stuffed animal
Make the cake yourself
Have the party at your home

Invitations
Savings Tip: Find free printable invitations
Many websites offer invitation templates that you can use for free: Just print them out on card stock, and then mail as a postcard or in envelopes. Try some of these on for size:
Doggie Invite
"Bee" There Party Invite
Dinosaur Invite

Decorations
Savings Tip: Use your coloring books
Before you start trying to hunt down specialty decorations, go through your child's old coloring books and find animal pictures. Have your birthday boy or girl color them, and then cut them out and tape them up. Instantly, you have an animal theme started at no cost!

The Table
Savings Tip: Buy plain tableware and have the kids decorate them
Stickers are cheap, and can be used as both an activity and décor for your table. Buy your plates, cups, and napkins in bright, solid colors. Get a couple of rolls of different animal stickers and have the kids use them to jazz up their plates and cups any way they want. A roll of 100 should cost no more than a few dollars. Plus, if you have extras, you can add them to your goody bags.

Activities
Savings Tip: Don't invest in too much "equipment"
There are many easy animal-themed games you can play with minimal to no equipment. Try gathering the parents and kids in a circle, and play recordings of animal sounds (or have each parent act one out). Have the kids guess which animals they are. You could even turn this into a game of animal sound bingo by making your own play sheets (use an animal sticker in each square).

Face-painting is also a guaranteed hit. Enlist the help of a friend or other parents to decorate the kids' faces like their favorite animal. While professional stage makeup can be expensive (we'd recommend Aquacolor by Kryolan if you're interested), you can still find some cheaper-priced palettes as well. Try the makeup kits at The Magic Corner for example, some of which are below $10 each. Then once everyone's ready, have them get together (with their stuffed animals if they brought them), put on some music, and follow the leader for their very own animal parade!

Food
Savings Tip: You're the cook!
Nothing beats making your own cake in a fun animal shape. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Doggie Cake
Horse Cake
Cow Cake
Tiger Cake

Also, animal crackers, as well as sandwiches cut with animal-shaped cookie cutters, can make great party treats. And as for lunch itself, why not try something different like this fish-shaped pizza?
Party Favors

Savings Tip: Give just one or two items
At this age, there's no need to go overboard on party favors, but you could do a few simple things. Definitely add your animal crackers and stickers if you have them; or, animal-themed pencils (just $4 for 24 at Oriental Trading Company), as well as little plastic animals, are inexpensive at party stores and make great party gifts.

More great budget birthday party ideas can be found at: http://family.go.com/shopping/pkg-birthday-parties-under-100/.

Happy Birthday to Pickle's future daddy!

Day 81...Monday Nov. 2

Anemia seems to run in my family. So as a result, when it comes to that time of the month, I really have to watch out for my iron levels, otherwise my energy peters out. I've had it so bad before to the point where I felt extremely cold, tired, weak, and dizzy so I began taking an iron supplement. The thing is, iron supplements can easily cause constipation, so when buying them, I have to be extra sure I'm getting digestion friendly supplement.

So what does this have to do with Pickle? Well, I was talking with a co-worker who also struggles with anemia and she shared with me the trouble she had when pregnant. When a woman gets pregnant, since the body is pumping more blood flow for baby making, it is vital to keep an eye on iron levels. In some cases, women who weren't originally anemic can actually develop a kind of pregnancy anemia. My co-worker, who came in to pregnancy already anemic, began to take iron supplements (recommended by her doctor) and became horribly constipated. So she became a good friend with dark leafy green vegetables so as to get her iron without backing things up, if you know what I mean.

Out of curiosity, I did a little research about pregnancy and iron deficiency. Here's what I found:

Why does pregnancy make me more likely to become anemic?
Your iron requirements go up significantly when you're pregnant. Iron is essential for making hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body expands until you have almost 50 percent more than usual. And you need more iron to make more hemoglobin for all that additional blood. You also need extra iron for your growing baby and placenta.

Unfortunately, most women start pregnancy without sufficient stores of iron to meet their body's increased demands particularly in the second and third trimesters. If you get to the point that you no longer have enough iron to make the hemoglobin you need, you become anemic.

Your risk is even higher if you have morning sickness severe enough to cause frequent vomiting, if you've had two or more pregnancies close together, if you're pregnant with more than one baby, if you have an iron-poor diet, or if your pre-pregnancy menstrual flow was heavy.

This is why the amount of iron you need shoots up during pregnancy from 18 to 27 milligrams (mg) a day. And because it's hard to get enough iron through diet alone, the Centers for Disease Control recommend that pregnant women take a daily supplement of 30 mg of elemental iron as a preventive dose. Many prenatal supplements contain that amount.

Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia, but it's not the only cause. You could also develop anemia by not getting enough folic acid or vitamin B12, by losing a lot of blood, or from certain diseases or inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell disease. The treatment for anemia depends on the cause. Iron supplements are not always the answer. --www.babycenter.com

So there you have it. A little information on how to help Pickle pump that iron!