Green thumb Ari

Ari absolutely loves playing in the garden - today I decided to just let him have at it - mud and all

He love, love, loves watering the plants and he is so smart - he just watched us do it and then one day started picking up the hose and going from plant to plant - today I let him do it while the water was actually running


Today he worked up a thirst so he decided what was good for Mother Earth was good enough for him

After all that great work in the garden, Ari was rewarded with a fudge- sicle .... which I would have never let him eat had it not been for the fact that he was already covered in mud and all sorts of grossness

so what do you do when your covered in snot, mud and icecream ...... bath time!!!!!!

Spring has SPRUNG

Ok to be honest its been "spring" here for a while - say what you want about Southern California, but the weather can not be beat. We love Spring

Happy Easter

So Ari is making it a tradition to be sick for Easter- I can't say I am excited about the "tradition" and I am going to try my darndest to stop it next year
Here he is - poor little guy

Aquarium of The Pacific

We took a trip down to Long Beach back in March and went to the Aquarium of the Pacific. I normally don't really care for aquariums because they always seem to give me a headache but I had such a good time. I think it was because there was lots of open space and stuff to do outside.






Ari had so much fun while he was there. It was so fun to seem him get excited about the fish, birds and other wild life.

A little bit of catch up

Okay so it looks like I have a window of opportunity to do a little bit of catch up work on our blog.... so here goes another blogging marathon

*** longest Sigh of RELIEF ever***

I can finally take a breath and relax...
sorry the posts have been few and far between. Last I left off Ari was totally under weight and we were having quite a battle trying to get this kid to eat anything. That was three weeks ago but it seems like FOREVER and just yesterday all at the same time.
Ari had his first Dr. appointment on a Monday and we were told his weight was a HUGE concern and I left the office feeling shaky. Then just when Ari was starting to do a little better eating he got a stomach bug- and it lasted 10 DAYS - he kept nothing down and I was basically a full functioning zombie. (although I wonder how functioning I was and owe a HUGE thank you to my in laws and husband for getting me through it all)
Everyone in our house, (accept me) ended up sick to some degree but Ari had it the worst. Everyone was better and he was still throwing up everything. When we took him to the Dr he had already lost another pound. Not great news when your in desperate need of packing on a few pounds.

But finally he got better, and he got over his ear infection.... and he started to eat. He went back to sleeping on his own in his crib like it was no big deal (I had been sleeping in the spare bed in his room while he was sick) and then pretty much without even realising it- He was weaned. I am not really sure how that happened- mostly it was a smooth transition since I was barely nursing him while he was sick and then I got laryngitis and could not talk **** everyone laugh, I know its funny
anyway,
the medicine I was taking gave Ari the runs so he had a sore bottom so I just stopped nursing him and since I was barely nursing him before that- while he was sick it just sort of happened- Ari is weaned....
and today we went to the Dr for his follow up to determine if further testing was necessary and
ARI GAINED ALMOST A POUND..... he is 19 lbs 6 oz and the Dr said that was REALLY impressive considering the battle we have had for the last three weeks to just keep him healthy.....
finally a much needed sigh of relief
So here we are - 16 months and Ari is sleeping through the night in his crib and weaned- I can honestly say I have no idea how any of this happened- Ari is the one who deserves the praise- he really made it easy on us- I just had to work on his schedule instead of my schedule (sounds like someone else we know)


Oh, and as for the pictures - we were able to find an outfit of Ryan's that he was photographed in at a year ... lucky we found it when he did, a few days later and it never would have fit- so when we went and got Ari's Easter pictures taken we also had some totally adorable pictures taken just like Daddy's...... (these two could have been twins)
Man we love him!!!!!!!!













p.s. thanks to everyone for for all there help, advice and prayers - they really are appreciated

I never expected .......

I never expected to get the same rush of excitement from a great deal on shoes, from an Ari nap that lasts longer then an hour....

this is bliss
Ari went down at 10:30am and here it is 12:11pm - I could squeal, but I won't - that would ruin a good thing

Ari's 15 month check up

Ari is now officially 15 months - I will try to take his latest pictures tomorrow - its on my to do list.
Anyway he had his 15 month check up and well ......
he weighs 18.3oz
he is 31 1/4 inches tall

the problem is - he has not gained any weight since his 12 month check up - and so they are a little concerned.

I explained that we try to feed him everything and anything - and that well he just has zero interest in food- and he is ACTIVE very very ACTIVE
but they are concerned which translates to me being worried (as if I wasn't already stressed about my sons eating habits, or lack there of)

Ari has another Dr appointment in a month and if Ari has not gained weight by then he will have to have "tests" done - I dont't know what kind - they just said tests....

the Dr's suggestions were basically to feed Ari anything and everything he would eat and to try to make sure we are giving him food high in fat (so basically all the foods we try to avoid)
whole milk (we have been trying to give this to Ari and it always spoils before the half gallon is drunk)
cheeses
cottage cheese
ice cream
smoothies
fish sticks
chicken nuggets
waffles
french toast
etc etc
she said not to worry about fruits and veggies for right now - just try to put some weight on him
oh and I have to keep a feeding journal for Ari's meals
so that is what we are trying to do - we will keep you posted
here is todays feeding journal

6:30am - Ari woke up and Ryan brought him into our bed, I nursed him back to sleep
7:30am- Ari woke up so we went down stairs to start our day
7:45am- mini waffles and scrambled eggs (made with whole milk) waffles have butter and syrup on them - Ari ate none - gave him milk to drink - again Ari had none
9:00am - mid morning snack - Ari had 1/2 of a yogurt offered him milk and goldfish
10:30am -nursed and went down for nap
11:00am - Ari had two bites of second 1/2 of yogurt
12:30pm- chicken nugget, cheese chunks, chocolate milk - Ari had none
1:30pm - Ari had three bites of pears and cereal (made with whole milk)
2:00pm- nursed and went down for nap
3:00pm - Offered Ari granola bar - declined
5:00pm- chicken and dumplings for dinner, Ari declined again - ate rest of yogurt and some gold fish
7:00pm - cereal with pears - two bites, chocolate chip cookie (only ate half)
7:30pm - nursed and went to bed

It's been a week .....

One Week down - Ari is still sleeping in his crib- through the night- and the crying is getting down to less then three minutes most of the time - even for naps.....
I couldn't help but capture this on film - I was so so so afraid I would wake him up but really I had to - there was a point when I thought Ari was never going to use his crib ......I am so EXCITED

Daddy's little boy

I don't think a day goes by without someone telling me just how much Ari looks like Ryan-
what is surprising to me is that people often ask me if I am upset by there uncanny resemblance......
WHAT ?!?!?

I was attracted to Ryan for a lot of reasons but of course it helped that I find him EXTREMELY handsome- why would I be bothered .....
HAVE YOU SEEN HOW ADORABLE MY SON IS???

I can honestly say I would not be upset if everyone of my babies turned out as cute as Ari -

*Ryan is going to be really upset that I posted this photo I took of him while he was giving Ari a bath- oh well

Laying with a Lion

Ever since Ari turned 1 I have been horrible at taking his monthly Lion pictures - I totally missed January and I did do February's but it has taken me the entire month to post them. I wanted to take a different photo of Ari and his Lion instead of the usual one on the couch - so when Ari was napping on our bed one day I placed his Lion friend near by to keep him safe..... So here he is - 14 Months old- (now I just need to remember to take March's photos.....)
 
 
 
 

Week in review

Okay I realise I have not been doing the daily re caps from our adventures in Sleep transitioning... but I figured everyone was probably getting bored and I was exhausted
Well here we are it has almost been a week
Ari continues to amaze me He is doing so well at this whole change of schedule/ venue thing

He still cries when we put him down but only for a minute max - and he has almost completely stopped crying during our routine-
I am starting to adjust to our new routine as well - I am waking up fewer times during the night and hearing less phantom cries - so yeah for me too
it has been a long week and I am sure it will continue to feel long for awhile but we are progressing .... yeah

96 hours into project sleeping lion

agh
where to begin - last night was horrible for me. I don't think Ari got up at all - if he did he went back to sleep super quick - however I have started to hear phantom cries .... I am actually going crazy- I should be committed - I must have woken up thirty times last night, I physically got out of bed 5 times... which is really silly because even if he was crying we had already committed to NOT getting him.....
I swear I could hear him crying, I would sit up straight in bed and then nothing -
so needless to say when Ari did wake up this morning at 7:50am, I was EXHAUSTED

his morning nap was o.k. but it only lasted 50 minutes and then he would not take a second nap - (well that part is our fault- we got busy doing stuff and did not notice it was almost 4 and then by then it was to late so we decided to skip the whole second nap and move bedtime up to seven but Ari started to crash on Ryan's shoulders so we moved bedtime up to 6:30pm - I left Ari's room at 6:28pm and I think it has been quiet in there since 6:33pm

and now I am ready for bed

Day 3.... I think

I am pretty sure this is our third night of sleep transitioning for Ari - (although I will be honest I have no idea as this seems to be the longest three days of my life)
Ari's first nap of the day was o.k -
by his second nap he was totally on to us- as soon as I picked up a book and started heading to his room he was in tears
I read the entire story to him while he wailed away ....
I think he got about 45 minutes of sleep

and now it is 8:29pm and he is still crying - Ryan and I left his room at 8:20pm so its not like it has been forever - BUT his crying started as we were walking up the stairs - so he basically cried for his entire bath (he was happy for a tiny part in the middle) cried through his baby massage, and getting into pj's- cried through Harold and the Purple crayon and counting with Oswald.... and through Ryan and I singing I am a Child of God .... TWICE

so at this point it seems like he has been crying forever

Is this normal - HE HATES HATES HATES anything and everything that has anything to do with our night time routine- if you pick up a book, he starts to cry, take him into his room - he screams, start the bath.... he opens his own flood gates (I can't really fault him for crying when I sing - I am NO bikini girl*)

seriously is this normal - I don't want him to hate his night time routine, I thought that was the whole point of a night time routine, to get them prepared to go to sleep - Ari's routine just seems to get him all upset....

It's 8:34pm and my baby is still crying

and I have no idea how tomorrow is going to work with Church - two naps is new to us - so church being from 9-12 is sort of right in the middle
Ari will probably get up somewhere between 7 and 8 tomorrow which means he will be ready for his first nap between 9 and 10 ..... agh I am already stressed

it's 8:36 and I don't hear anything - for now ... cross your fingers for me

nope he is still crying

*if you missed the American Idol reference ....where have you BEEN?!?!?

another night

Okay night number 2- here is how it played out
Ari woke up about thirty minutes after he went down, but only cried for about three minutes. Then he woke up again at midnight - and cried for less then a minute.... and from there is was smooth sailing til 8am
Today we I decided both his naps should be in his crib so at 10am I put him in his crib and he cried for five minutes - then he woke up about 30 minutes into the nap - he cried again for less then a minute and I woke him up 11:20 (I know what you are thinking NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING BABY ... I know, I know but I didn't want this nap to go to long and interfere with his afternoon nap

and guess what else.....


HE STILL LOVES ME .....

Sleep Training Day 2

Okay so here we are again-
tonight we got off to a late start (that part is Ryan's fault... agh) so we had to omit the bath from our routine tonight
8:25pm I kissed Ari's head and lay him down for the last time - and shut the door - tonight was harder and I had already prepared myself for that - as soon as we started the bed time routine he started to cry, last night he was excited for a baby massage - tonight he knew something was up
so basically he cried through our whole night time routine
I exected the crying to be a lot worse that last night -

well it is 8:31pm and while I can still hear whimpers coming from his room - it is not a constant cry and I can only believe it is more of Ari trying to fight back sleep then it is him being upset with the arrangement (or that is what I tell myself)

naptime today was sortof successful- I do believe that Ari got about 30 minutes of sleep - but then he got up and was crying - I decided to take a shower and if he was still crying when I got out I would go in and get him - I am only going to make him stay in his room for a nap for an hour (that is how long he usually naps for anyway)
plus he got a morning nap - which we are not used to - so I think it will balance out

On a side note - Ari has the coolest night light ever - well, actually its a lava lamp (I can't find the star night light we bought for him what seems like ages ago) so he is using Ryan's old lava lamp - I think its a little creepy cause it glows red - but whatever I guess it gives him something to look at while he lay in his crib thinking how horrible I am for kicking him out of his bed........


well right now it is silent in Ari's room - I am already expecting a cry in about 30 minutes and then another one around 11 but hopefully we will be as successful as last night

thanks for all your support - I promise to get back to posting something more interesting as soon as possible

The results show.....

okay if you tuned into this post thinking you were going to hear me gush about American Idol- you are going to be sorely dissapointed.
BUT for those of you following the saga of sleep training - well here you go - the results after night number 1
Ari cried for about 45 minutes total and then was out- I was finally able to peak in without waking him up .... oh he looked so cute, I wanted to grab my camera and take a shot or too but I knew that was just tempting fate.
We did hear him wake up once probably around 9:30pm but he only cried for less then a minute and that was it. I didn't even attempt to go back in there -

Ryan and I got to sleep at 11:00- without fighting with Ari (who usually has his second wind by then and is going CRAZY) I got to sleep next to my husband for this first time in AGES ... okay well like a year

We heard another peep from Ari around 11:15pm and again I hesitated, took a deep breath and counted to 10 and when I was done - so was Ari - so I didn't need to go in at all

I have to admit that I did not get a good nights sleep- I did miss my little guy - and I kept worrying that something was wrong, that I was doing the wrong thing - that I needed to go and check on him, etc. etc. but I stayed put

and guess what....
ARI SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yep that is right, the boy who we would jokingly refer to as "on the boob all night" was totally fine not nursing -

We woke up at 7am when Ryan gets up for work and heard some noises (pre- cry) coming from Ari's room so I went in there and picked up my happy baby boy!!!!!

So night one is down - yeah it was better then I expected - but I am preparing for bumps in the road.

This whole thing is a little hard on me however - one of the perks of having Ari sleeping with us, on our schedule was sleeping in- on most days I could get Ari to sleep in til atleast 9:30 or 10:00-
but with this new earlier bed time - 8:00pm, and new rise time 7:00am - I will have to adjust
Did you know the morning show it 4 hours long --- and to think I thought it was just Kathy Lee and Hooda .... WOW

anyway - today Ari and I took his first nap together - (hey I miss cuddling with him) he napped from 9:00am to 10:30am

and at 1:30pm I put him down for his first nap in his crib........YIKES
Ari cried until 1:38pm and I haven't heard a peep yet ......


Oh.... the other thing about this whole "sleep transition" we are doing is the new curfew we have... Ari's bedtime routine starts at 7:30pm so that means whatever we have planned for our nights needs to get us home before 7:30pm - oh well we will adjust

I am already loving the time I get to myself (and not having to worrry that Ari is getting out of our bed or off the couch, (where he usually napped)

It is 8:52pm

It is 8:52pm and I don't hear anything coming out of Ari's room - so of course I assume the worst MY BABY HAS STOPPED BREATHING - I AM A HORRIBLE MOTHER
so I rush to the door and begin to turn the handle - it makes the tiny "creeeeak" and the wimpering begins
GREAT
well atleast I know he is breathing


here we go again

wait......the wimpering has stopped ......I promise I won't check on him for atleast thirty minutes

man this is hard

Sleep Training Night 1

Okay so this is it, Ryan and I have committed to getting Ari to:
a) Sleep in his crib
b) Go to bed at a reasonable time for a 1 year old
and c) stop nursing constantly throughout the night

bye bye family bed - you were fun while you lasted. I will miss you a little but your time has come. I am still a huge support of the family bed (if it works for you) but understand that it is not for everyone. I think that the family bed helped me especially while I was working to connect, or rather re-connect with Ari after a long day at work and it kept my milk supply strong enough to nurse Ari for the year+ as I had desired.

So after reading a slew of books about how to wean your child, how to sleep train them, and so on and so forth - we have decided that with Ari we are going to try the "cry it out" approach -

Today is NIGHT #1
7:00pm-7:30pm -- Ari free play we did block and cars
7:30pm - upstairs for last nursing of the night and bath time
7:45pm - baby massage, books and song
8:12pm - I shut the door to my little ones room, and my heart broke....

I have read that the average for the first night is about an hour of crying.... Ari seems to be one of those "exceptions to the rule" so I am guessing this kid won't give up til day break

It's been 12 minutes and I can still hear him - man this stinks
Ryan is at a scouts meeting so I have to be strong - I don't want a five year old sleeping in my bed and its not going to get any easier tomorrow or a week from Thursday or next Friday ....be strong Joy ... man this stinks

I am glad that Ari has not started to call for me - his crys are just crys of anger at this time - it would really crush me if he were saying "mama, mama...."

We have to do it this time - we can not back down -

I love him -
I am a good mom. right? -

it's 8:30pm and I am feeling weak - how long can a pack meeting be???

A seat with a view

Ari is hilarious- he loves commercials - TV shows, agh who cares, but when the commercials come on he literally STOPS whatever he is doing and runs into the family room to get a glimps that the ad. I have no idea how he knows the difference, especially when we watch shows that change sets, characters and such quickly (like Saturday Night Live for example) but there is no fooling Ari he knows a commercial - and he LOVES them


So here he is in his high chair during dinner, and oh wait - "Ari is there something you are trying to see, has something caught your eye perhaps???"


so whats the view from his high chair anyway?

you should have guessed