Pee Pee in the Potty!

I feel ashamed for not posting this glorious moment earlier but On February 5th Jacob and I went to Babies R Us and he picked out his potty. That night, we tried it out. It took some time and patience but he went. Someone gave us the tip to put dots of lotion on his knees so it keeps him occupied and concentrating on something other than peeing. It worked like a charm. I made a HUGE deal out of it and gave him a few M&M's. He has repeated the pee pee in the potty a few times. He lets me know when he wants lotion on his legs and I know that means he wants to go potty. We haven't had a poop yet but I am content with the pee. He's becoming such a big boy and I am so proud of the strides he has made. He talks up a storm and repeats everything you say. We just couldn't be prouder of the little grown boy he has turned in to.

Weaning is complete!

I started weaning Jacob from breastfeeding on Friday night. He has not had any breast milk since Saturday morning. I have been ready to wean, or so I thought. As the days pass, the tears keep falling. It could be pregnancy hormones, or it's the simple fact that I miss "MY" time with Jacob. When he nursed, it was just him and I and it was our time to bond and snuggle. Every time I think about my little guy turning 2 in 6 months it makes me so sad. He's not my baby anymore. It has been harder on me than him to wean. He still tries to tug at my shirt and wants the comfort of the boob when he's sleepy or upset but I have to remind him that Jacob is a big boy now, not a baby and Mommy has a baby in her belly that needs the milk so he's going to have to drink his big boy juice (cow's milk or Crystal Light). He gets it and understands but is also acting out a bit. I just have to make sure that I am giving Jacob my all and make sure that I make up for the comfort and security of nursing with regular everyday play.

It's so hard to imagine having another child. I am so excited and feel so blessed to have been able to have one child let alone two, but I am hoping that Jacob will adapt and adjust in a good way. There are big things going on in the Estrela household.....Jacob is weaned, working on getting him to go to sleep on his own, buying a house, and having another baby. I don't think we know how to ease in to things, we just jump in body first.

It's time

With baby #2 on the way it's time to make some big transitions for Jacob. So far I am still breastfeeding and still rocking him to sleep..........basically. I can't imagine breastfeeding and being pregnant or rocking one child to sleep, then the next. I would like for Daddy to be able to put him to bed and that would be a lot easier if I'm not breastfeeding. Jacob is only breastfeeding for nap time and bed time and so far I have been able to cut his breastfeeding down drastically. He has only nursed twice in two days. We are also on day 3 of putting him in his crib and letting him semi cry himself to sleep. I just need to keep telling myself that he's not in pain and that he is learning a life lesson of self soothing. He's a big boy now so I've been telling him that "Mama has a baby in her belly and that Jacob is a big boy now and doesn't need milk". I think he's getting it but I think I really miss the comfort and bonding time we spend when we nurse. I am trying to keep him busy and snuggle and comfort him without the breast. I have some nervousness that Jacob is going to have a hard time with the new baby. I want him to feel like he's still our big boy and we don't love him any less just because there's a new baby in the house. I know people do it everyday but I am still a little concerned for my big boy.

We have a night of success..........

As I have previously posted I had a HUGE HUGE problem with the CIO Method. I felt it was torture and I would never ever put my son through that again. I have been sooooo tired lately that when Jacob cries in the middle of the night, I will get up the first time, nurse, and put him back to bed but from then on I let him cry. I have the baby monitor on and as any Mommy knows what cries mean business, I sleep with one ear open and listen to see which way it will go. So for about a week now we have done the first feeding and then let him cry the rest of the times he wakes up. Don't get me wrong, not the bad cry but the whiny kind. So tonight I was nursing Jacob for nigh nigh time and he just was not in to going to bed. I laid him in his crib as usual to let him put himself to sleep and all he wanted to do was play with his monkey that goes nigh nigh with him. I was building with frustration because I am SUPER sleepy so I thought it might be a good night to try and leave the room before he falls asleep. He cried for a few minutes then stopped; a few minutes passed and he cried again for a few minutes, then stopped. This went on for about 10 minutes and then all was silent. Jay and I went in to check on him and there he was peacefully sleeping on his back with his monkeys butt on his face. Super cute and sleeping peacefully. So lets see if we can keep this up. Next step is the weaning process. He is at the stage now where he will tug on my shirt and bra when he's hungry and wants to nurse and there is no telling him no. He's very persistent. Let's hope that will be a smooth transition. I know it won't be easy for either of us. We enjoy our Mommy and Jacob time but I am looking forward to when Daddy can put him to bed.

Trying so hard

Jacob has been trying sooo hard lately so form real words. His mouth makes the shape of the word he is trying to say but the sound that comes is just noise. You can semi make out the word he is trying to say but so far it is jumbled noise. It's so cute to watch him try. He really gives it his best effort. I have a feeling it will be any day now before he's forming real words/sentences. He can say.....Mama, Dada, Kila, Grandpa, Grandma, GG, Nene, ball, dunk it (muttled), cup, up, Moose, and milk. I think there are a few more but I can't quite remember off of the top of my head. He's just turning in to such a young little man.

Calling POISON CONTROL

Yes that's right you read the title correctly. This morning while Daddy was taking a shower and Mommy was making spinach and phyllo dough pockets Jacob decided to explore his environment and found something new.........it was a Bath and Body Works air freshener. He has been dieing to get to the one at the office and we had to put the ones up higher at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I should have taken my own advice and moved the ones at our house higher as well. Little Jacob comes strolling in to the kitchen holding the plug-in in one hand and the air freshener bottle in the other. His mouth was green (the color of the air freshener) and it was running down his mouth. I IMMEDIATELY grabbed the spare air freshener I have locked up and read the back for a warning. It stated if swallowed do not induce vomiting, contact Poison Control immediately. This is why Kaiser asks if you have the telephone number for Poison Control by the phone. I don't so I had Jay Google it. I called them and the pharmacist stated that if he wasn't choking on the fumes, then he was going to be ok. Apparently it's only dangerous if he ingested a large amount or if he managed to inhale it in to his lungs. She said to give him some juice to wash it out of his mouth and he would be fine. It gave me a heart attack. So needless to say all air fresheners are up and out of Jacob's reach.............for now.

I'm in love!

Jacob is such an amazing young man. He brightens my heart daily. He challenges me at times and yes it drives me up the freaking wall and makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs but then there are times when he runs up and gives me the biggest hug, pats me on the back, and looks at me with those big blue eyes and says "Momma". It's amazing to think that the decisions we make as parents can shape our children, for example.....I have spoken to various people about night night time. Some parents swear by the CIO (cry it out) approach to help their children go to sleep on their own. I tried that last weekend and I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN. The approach I take is to nurse him and while he's still awake, I lay him down in his crib and let him fall asleep on his own while I am still in the room. This is working and he feels safe and knows that Mommy is there but is still able to fall asleep on his own. Also when he wakes up in the middle of the night, I let him cry for a bit to see if he falls back asleep, if he doesn't I will go in , pat his butt and he falls back to sleep. I don't see anything wrong with the approach I am taking. I don't believe he is going to have issues down the road because I stay in the room while he falls asleep but I do believe that he will have issues if I leave him in the room and let him cry. I can't imagine what he was thinking when I didn't come back in to get him. How can they say to put your child in timeout a minute for how old they are but leave them in their room for 10 minutes to cry before going in. Makes no sense. I am going to follow what my body and heart tells me to do and that is make sure my son feels safe and secure.