Sunday, February 1, 2009
Breastfeeding
Well, we've been struggling a lot. Nursing started out fine, but after the first full day and night of Aliyah wanting to stay latched on 24/7 I asked my midwife for advice. She said to get a pacifier and give that to her when she just wants to suck.The next day (after using the pacifier) she refused to nurse on one side. I have one fab. nipple and one wonky one and she was not interested in the weird one. No dice.So I call a lactation consultant. She comes over and watches me try to nurse Aliyah on the left side and gives me a nipple shield. Okay, great. Now she's nursing on that side, but she refused to get on the right side as well now without the shield. Grr. On top of that, weight was still dropping.So we started pumping. I got on herbal supplements and kept nursing and pumping. Weight kept dropping. We got formula to supplement so we were doing expressed breastmilk and formula with an SNS. Weight still kept dropping.We get her off the shield and I started waking her up every 2 hours to nurse. Weight still kept dropping. At our last weight check Aliyah was 8 lbs 8.5 oz down from her 10 lb 1 oz birth weight. So now we're on special weight gain formula, I'm still pumping and nursing and every second she's awake I'm trying to get her to eat. So fun.Anyways, keep your fingers crossed for us. The LC said she was impressed that I was still keeping with breastfeeding. I'm impressed too. It's crappy that it's so hard. I hate using stupid formula and I hate watching her weight drop. It pisses me off because my biggest regret with Ziva was not nursing her. On the plus side, I now feel a lot less guilty about not nursing Ziva because I now know that the challenges were not because I slacked off, but we're more likely all the stuff I'm dealing with in regarts to milk production, my reduction surgery and the like. I can at least stop beating myself up over it.Bluh. There it is.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Baby News
I'll get around to writing out the full birth story at some point, but here's the Reader's Digest version...Aliyah Kirabo Bond was born 1/12/2009 at 11:45 pm. We had her at home unassisted in the water. Malachi caught her. It was perfect! She weighed 10 pounds and 1 ounce (just like Ziva!) and was 22 1/2 inches long. Breastfeeding is going well! She's a sucking fiend, so I'm expecting my milk to come in soon. We'll post pics within the next week or so.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The True Thinker
"There is none so blind as he who will not see."
The True Thinker is not content proving what he believes to be true. He is not satisfied with cliches nor is he pacified by traditional practices or accepted beliefs. The True Thinker must see it for himself.
This is not a skeptic, nor is he a heretic. This is not a person who has no faith, but a person who understands the difference between faith and ignorance; between faith and foolishness. This is a man who believes in Logic, Reason and Truth and he will not settle for any less.
Logic is that which binds facts together. "If this, then that." The man who says, "Take it on faith!" spits in the face of Logic, and therefore the face of the True Thinker. If a man can logically prove that 1+1=2, he ought also be able to prove that 2-1=1. To say that 2-1 is anything else is to deny Logic. And to esteem illogical thought as pious or faithful is foolish and ignorant. This is not the way of the True Thinker.
Reason is that which bring order to chaos. It is the belief that there are causes and effects; actions and reactions. To believe that man is swirling about in a sea of meaninglessness or to suggest that things are simply because they are deny Reason. A lack of Reason leads to a lack of order. A lack of order leads to anarchy, subjectivity and immorality. The pursuit of Reason leads to Logic and Logic to Reason.
Truth is the Immovable Stone. It is the thread that connects all people together at the core of their being. It is the foundation of Logic and Reason and the prize of the True Thinker. Truth is not something that varies from person to person. To say such denies the very essence of Truth. Truth is not true because it seems to work. It is not acceptable because if fits our agenda. It is not something that changes with the seasons, can be modernized, amended, altered, abolished or ignored. If it can, it is not Truth. It may be tradition, theory, interpretation, standard practice, belief or understanding, but it is not Truth.
The True Thinkers in this world are few and far between. He will not be comfortable in many places that the rest of mankind may be at ease. You may have to leave your churches, your schools, your clubs and your markets to find him, as those are not places that stimulate him. When you meet a True Thinker, you may identify him this way: He will feel free to question everything. He will not show partiality to tradition or accepted thinking. He will not be persuaded by authorities unless they are armed with Logic, Reason and Truth. If you are not a True Thinker, this will make you uncomfortable.
You will try to challenge him. You will show him a passage in a book and he will question it's validity. You will show him the results of a study and he will question the motives of the conductors. You will say to him, "Take it on faith!" and he will be filled with pity, anger and sadness.
The True Thinker desires to bind facts together. He aims to bring order to chaos. He wants to find the Immovable Stone, to climb to the top of it and to pitch a tent. This is the True Thinker. That is why you will not find him within the walls of your cities. This is why he will not be able to rest while the rest of the world rests. He is on a mission that cannot wait until spring. It cannot wait even until morning.
Are you the True Thinker? If not, have you found him?
The True Thinker is not content proving what he believes to be true. He is not satisfied with cliches nor is he pacified by traditional practices or accepted beliefs. The True Thinker must see it for himself.
This is not a skeptic, nor is he a heretic. This is not a person who has no faith, but a person who understands the difference between faith and ignorance; between faith and foolishness. This is a man who believes in Logic, Reason and Truth and he will not settle for any less.
Logic is that which binds facts together. "If this, then that." The man who says, "Take it on faith!" spits in the face of Logic, and therefore the face of the True Thinker. If a man can logically prove that 1+1=2, he ought also be able to prove that 2-1=1. To say that 2-1 is anything else is to deny Logic. And to esteem illogical thought as pious or faithful is foolish and ignorant. This is not the way of the True Thinker.
Reason is that which bring order to chaos. It is the belief that there are causes and effects; actions and reactions. To believe that man is swirling about in a sea of meaninglessness or to suggest that things are simply because they are deny Reason. A lack of Reason leads to a lack of order. A lack of order leads to anarchy, subjectivity and immorality. The pursuit of Reason leads to Logic and Logic to Reason.
Truth is the Immovable Stone. It is the thread that connects all people together at the core of their being. It is the foundation of Logic and Reason and the prize of the True Thinker. Truth is not something that varies from person to person. To say such denies the very essence of Truth. Truth is not true because it seems to work. It is not acceptable because if fits our agenda. It is not something that changes with the seasons, can be modernized, amended, altered, abolished or ignored. If it can, it is not Truth. It may be tradition, theory, interpretation, standard practice, belief or understanding, but it is not Truth.
The True Thinkers in this world are few and far between. He will not be comfortable in many places that the rest of mankind may be at ease. You may have to leave your churches, your schools, your clubs and your markets to find him, as those are not places that stimulate him. When you meet a True Thinker, you may identify him this way: He will feel free to question everything. He will not show partiality to tradition or accepted thinking. He will not be persuaded by authorities unless they are armed with Logic, Reason and Truth. If you are not a True Thinker, this will make you uncomfortable.
You will try to challenge him. You will show him a passage in a book and he will question it's validity. You will show him the results of a study and he will question the motives of the conductors. You will say to him, "Take it on faith!" and he will be filled with pity, anger and sadness.
The True Thinker desires to bind facts together. He aims to bring order to chaos. He wants to find the Immovable Stone, to climb to the top of it and to pitch a tent. This is the True Thinker. That is why you will not find him within the walls of your cities. This is why he will not be able to rest while the rest of the world rests. He is on a mission that cannot wait until spring. It cannot wait even until morning.
Are you the True Thinker? If not, have you found him?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Awesome!
I'm very happy to report that we are expecting a new baby! I'm due 1/7/09. More to come as this story unfolds!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Miscarriage
On January 24th Malachi and I conceived a child. On February 5th the pregnancy ended in miscarriage.
I would appreciate prayers and positive vibes right now.
I would appreciate prayers and positive vibes right now.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Conversion
This is a religious rant... I know most of you don't share my religious beliefs, so don't feel obligated to respond. I'm not trying to debate Christianity or anything else, but just to get this off my chest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm really struggling over the issue of conversion. Well, I'm not really struggling- I've got an opinion already. However, I feel the need to struggle with it and I've decided to let Malachi (who is by for the more religious and more levelheaded of the two of us) decide what our family does. For those unfamiliar with this issue as it relates to Messianic Judaism (or with Messianic Judaism in general) here's a quick overview:
Messianic Judaism is basically made up of three different factions- Messianic Jewry, One Law Messianics and Two House Messianics.
Messianic Jewry is exactly what it sounds like- Jews who believe that Yeshua is the Messiah. They still practive Judaism just like all other religious Jews. Like mainstream Judaism, they believe that Judaism (Torah obserance, holy days, etc.) is for Jews and don't really attempt to encourage gentiles to participate. They follow the rabbinical halacha, just as any other Jew would.
One Law Messianics are those who believe that anyone who follows Yeshua (Jesus) ought to be Torah observant (although most seasoned believers don't try to push that on other people). This is regardless of ethnicity or anything else. Usually this group has respect for traditional Judaism and rabbinical authority, however they may or may not adhere to traditions or oral torah.
Two House Messianics believe that the Christian church is primarily made up of the lost tribes of Israel. Therefore because most Christians are Israelites, they should be Torah observant. By and large this group is also anti-rabbinical/anti-Judaism and leans toward a Karaite perspective. They are largely made up of ex-Pentecostal Christians (which is evident if you talk to them).
Malachi and I are One Law. We also adhere to the rabbinical authority. Our preference for practice is basically identical to Conservative Judaism. We have had no luck finding a congreagtion that is One Law and practices Judaism. We're been to over 20 congregations and there's nothing worthwhile for us anywhere. The place we've been going is full of very nice people but they're forcefully Two House and purposely want to stick it to Judaism by rabbi-trashing, casuallly using The Name and by intentionally breaking halachich rules because they believe they can.
So Malachi and I went congregation hunting. We found a lot of other blah places and finally a gem- a synagogue, staffed by a rabbi, where they use the Artscroll siddur, speak Hebrew and *gasp* uphold halacha! We were thrilled. However, they're not of the belief that everyone ought to keep Torah. Well, at first we just let it go and kept living how we felt was right for us, but then we had Ziva. Now we have a problem, because although we are as observant as any Jew in the synagogue we aren't Jews, which will mean Ziva won't get a bat mitzah and neither will any of our other future kids. That's not okay by me. If my kids are Torah observant and living religious lives, they shouldn't get shafted from bar or bat mitzvahs.
So the rabbi suggests we convert. Convert to what exactly? Well, Messianic Judaism, if you can believe that. Hmm... I thought we were practicing Messianic Judaism already. Well, we are, but we aren't Messianic Jews (of course) we're gentiles.
Their positon is that gentiles just have to be Christians and Jews have to be Messianic and Torah observant. So Ziva can't be a daughter of the commandments because, well, she doesn't have any commandments to fulfill. It really pisses me off.
I get Judaism's purpose in doing this. It's a halachich stanndard designed to protect the faith and the people. However, the NT seems pretty clear that there is no "Jew or gentile" and that the wall of partition is broken down.
Here's my deal- in the Tanakh where conversion pushers get their ammo, there was no option but to convert. The Hebrews had the Torah and monotheism and if you wanted on board you had pack up and move with them. You couldn't just say a prayer and sign up for the newsletter. Either you were Israel (and thereby a covenant member) or you weren't. And being Israel meant being religious and Torah observant. You wouldn't have some immigrant strolling down the street with a cart selling tamales. There wouldn't be some schulb doing animals and whatnot in the middle of everything. You obey, you leave or you die. Welcome to a theocracy.
Today, there is no Israeli theocracy. There are more secular Jews than religious ones and Messianic Jewry is at most 5-10% of the total. Being a Jew no more means being Torah obserant than being a gentile means being a pagan. Sure, there are cases, but you can no longer have that expectation of the masses. So why do I have to become a Jew? What am I proving and to whom? And why is it that a secular Jew could bounce into the shul at age 12 and get religious and get a bar mitzvah the following year, but my daughter who will have been practicing Judaism since birth will get robbed of a bat mitzvah (should she choose to continue in it as an adult)? Ethnicity no longer means anything.
So what am I doing with a conversion? Am I converting so I can do Torah? No. I'm already doing Torah. Am I converting so I can follow Yeshua? No. The NT plainly states that gentiles are welcome to folow him. Am I converting so I will be accepted into Judaism? HAHAHAHA. No. So why am I converting? So my SYNAGOGUE will accept my kids. I am converting so Ziva can proudly get up at age 12 and become a daughter of the commandments. So my kids won't have to sit in the shul watching everyone else get bar and bat mitzahs and get jack shit. Apparently, my synagogue has higher standards than G-d.
You know, it would make sense if I believed that gentiles got to skate past the Torah. It would make sense if I were moving to Israel. But like this? No way. It would be like me applying for French citizenship. Am I moving to France? No. But I want to be able to eat French food, celebrate Bastile Day and shower less. Well here's a blessing- you can do that without being a French citizen, so why would you give up your current citizenship for nothing?
On top of the fact that I don't have to, I believe thant gentiles have a role in the kingdom. Wouldn't I be forfeiting my role by converting?
Anyway, I'm pissed off about this whole thing. If we gentiles aren't good enough we shouldn't be allowed to participate in anything else. If we're good enough to come every week, to celebrate the holy days, to study with, etc. why are we cut out of this thing? It's crap. They should've check our ethnicities at the door and escorted us out from the start.
And meanwhile Madonna celebrated Rosh Hashanah in Israel with Shimon Peres.
And the 10 days of Awe are upon us and I'm so damn mad I don't want to go back to the synagogue.
"For Your Name signifies Your praise: hard to anger and easy to appease, for You do not wish the death of one deserving death, but that he repent from his way and live. Until the day of his death You await him; if he repents You will accept him immediately.
"It is true that You are their Creator and You know their inclination, for they are flesh and blood. A man's origin is from dust and his destiny is back to dust, at risk of his life he earns his bread; he is likened to a broken shard, withering grass, a fading flower, a passing shade, a dissipating cloud, a blowing wind, flying dust, and a fleeting dream.
"But You are the King, the Living and Enduring G-d."There is no set span to Your years and there is no end to the length of Your days. It is impossible to estimate the angelic chariots of Your glory and to elucidate Your Name's inscrutability. Your Name is worthy of You and You are worthy of Your Name, and You have included Your Name in our name.
I'm really struggling over the issue of conversion. Well, I'm not really struggling- I've got an opinion already. However, I feel the need to struggle with it and I've decided to let Malachi (who is by for the more religious and more levelheaded of the two of us) decide what our family does. For those unfamiliar with this issue as it relates to Messianic Judaism (or with Messianic Judaism in general) here's a quick overview:
Messianic Judaism is basically made up of three different factions- Messianic Jewry, One Law Messianics and Two House Messianics.
Messianic Jewry is exactly what it sounds like- Jews who believe that Yeshua is the Messiah. They still practive Judaism just like all other religious Jews. Like mainstream Judaism, they believe that Judaism (Torah obserance, holy days, etc.) is for Jews and don't really attempt to encourage gentiles to participate. They follow the rabbinical halacha, just as any other Jew would.
One Law Messianics are those who believe that anyone who follows Yeshua (Jesus) ought to be Torah observant (although most seasoned believers don't try to push that on other people). This is regardless of ethnicity or anything else. Usually this group has respect for traditional Judaism and rabbinical authority, however they may or may not adhere to traditions or oral torah.
Two House Messianics believe that the Christian church is primarily made up of the lost tribes of Israel. Therefore because most Christians are Israelites, they should be Torah observant. By and large this group is also anti-rabbinical/anti-Judaism and leans toward a Karaite perspective. They are largely made up of ex-Pentecostal Christians (which is evident if you talk to them).
Malachi and I are One Law. We also adhere to the rabbinical authority. Our preference for practice is basically identical to Conservative Judaism. We have had no luck finding a congreagtion that is One Law and practices Judaism. We're been to over 20 congregations and there's nothing worthwhile for us anywhere. The place we've been going is full of very nice people but they're forcefully Two House and purposely want to stick it to Judaism by rabbi-trashing, casuallly using The Name and by intentionally breaking halachich rules because they believe they can.
So Malachi and I went congregation hunting. We found a lot of other blah places and finally a gem- a synagogue, staffed by a rabbi, where they use the Artscroll siddur, speak Hebrew and *gasp* uphold halacha! We were thrilled. However, they're not of the belief that everyone ought to keep Torah. Well, at first we just let it go and kept living how we felt was right for us, but then we had Ziva. Now we have a problem, because although we are as observant as any Jew in the synagogue we aren't Jews, which will mean Ziva won't get a bat mitzah and neither will any of our other future kids. That's not okay by me. If my kids are Torah observant and living religious lives, they shouldn't get shafted from bar or bat mitzvahs.
So the rabbi suggests we convert. Convert to what exactly? Well, Messianic Judaism, if you can believe that. Hmm... I thought we were practicing Messianic Judaism already. Well, we are, but we aren't Messianic Jews (of course) we're gentiles.
Their positon is that gentiles just have to be Christians and Jews have to be Messianic and Torah observant. So Ziva can't be a daughter of the commandments because, well, she doesn't have any commandments to fulfill. It really pisses me off.
I get Judaism's purpose in doing this. It's a halachich stanndard designed to protect the faith and the people. However, the NT seems pretty clear that there is no "Jew or gentile" and that the wall of partition is broken down.
Here's my deal- in the Tanakh where conversion pushers get their ammo, there was no option but to convert. The Hebrews had the Torah and monotheism and if you wanted on board you had pack up and move with them. You couldn't just say a prayer and sign up for the newsletter. Either you were Israel (and thereby a covenant member) or you weren't. And being Israel meant being religious and Torah observant. You wouldn't have some immigrant strolling down the street with a cart selling tamales. There wouldn't be some schulb doing animals and whatnot in the middle of everything. You obey, you leave or you die. Welcome to a theocracy.
Today, there is no Israeli theocracy. There are more secular Jews than religious ones and Messianic Jewry is at most 5-10% of the total. Being a Jew no more means being Torah obserant than being a gentile means being a pagan. Sure, there are cases, but you can no longer have that expectation of the masses. So why do I have to become a Jew? What am I proving and to whom? And why is it that a secular Jew could bounce into the shul at age 12 and get religious and get a bar mitzvah the following year, but my daughter who will have been practicing Judaism since birth will get robbed of a bat mitzvah (should she choose to continue in it as an adult)? Ethnicity no longer means anything.
So what am I doing with a conversion? Am I converting so I can do Torah? No. I'm already doing Torah. Am I converting so I can follow Yeshua? No. The NT plainly states that gentiles are welcome to folow him. Am I converting so I will be accepted into Judaism? HAHAHAHA. No. So why am I converting? So my SYNAGOGUE will accept my kids. I am converting so Ziva can proudly get up at age 12 and become a daughter of the commandments. So my kids won't have to sit in the shul watching everyone else get bar and bat mitzahs and get jack shit. Apparently, my synagogue has higher standards than G-d.
You know, it would make sense if I believed that gentiles got to skate past the Torah. It would make sense if I were moving to Israel. But like this? No way. It would be like me applying for French citizenship. Am I moving to France? No. But I want to be able to eat French food, celebrate Bastile Day and shower less. Well here's a blessing- you can do that without being a French citizen, so why would you give up your current citizenship for nothing?
On top of the fact that I don't have to, I believe thant gentiles have a role in the kingdom. Wouldn't I be forfeiting my role by converting?
Anyway, I'm pissed off about this whole thing. If we gentiles aren't good enough we shouldn't be allowed to participate in anything else. If we're good enough to come every week, to celebrate the holy days, to study with, etc. why are we cut out of this thing? It's crap. They should've check our ethnicities at the door and escorted us out from the start.
And meanwhile Madonna celebrated Rosh Hashanah in Israel with Shimon Peres.
And the 10 days of Awe are upon us and I'm so damn mad I don't want to go back to the synagogue.
"For Your Name signifies Your praise: hard to anger and easy to appease, for You do not wish the death of one deserving death, but that he repent from his way and live. Until the day of his death You await him; if he repents You will accept him immediately.
"It is true that You are their Creator and You know their inclination, for they are flesh and blood. A man's origin is from dust and his destiny is back to dust, at risk of his life he earns his bread; he is likened to a broken shard, withering grass, a fading flower, a passing shade, a dissipating cloud, a blowing wind, flying dust, and a fleeting dream.
"But You are the King, the Living and Enduring G-d."There is no set span to Your years and there is no end to the length of Your days. It is impossible to estimate the angelic chariots of Your glory and to elucidate Your Name's inscrutability. Your Name is worthy of You and You are worthy of Your Name, and You have included Your Name in our name.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Another Blog About Ziva
Ziva's almost 11 weeks old now. In some ways I can't believe she's more than 2 months old, but in other ways it feels like we've had her forever. She's 16 pounds now, and 25 inches long. She's wearing 3-6 and 6-9 month clothes now. She's a beast. She's got the fattest thighs, cheeks and chin(s) ever, but in actuality, she's pretty much solid. She's not like some Maury Show obese baby, but she's pretty muscular and stocky. It looks like she inherited my bulky build. Hopefully, she didn't inherit my lazy metabolism...
Nursing is a wash, but I'm trying to keep my supply up so we can ditch the formula (by and large) and exclusively pump. A very generous mom from MDC is giving me an electric pump, so that will make life easier. I'm bummed about it, but I'm kind of tired of feeling like crap over it, so I'm trying to get used to doing the next best thing. We did have some (extreeeeeemely) mild success t getting her to try the breast shield again, but I'm keeping my expectations dirt low, so I don't get disappointed of ticked off if she doesn't ever want to nurse.
We FINALLY started cloth diapering. I've been feeling guilty about not doing that, especially when she got BAD diaper rash a couple of weeks ago. I don't know how I'm going to keep up with laundry, but I guess we'll figure it out. She looks adorable in cloth diapers.
My sister Hannah (aka Moriah) came to visit for a week. We had a good time. She helped out a lot with Ziva and even slept with her last night... Mal and I had forgotten what it feels like to sleep through the night and without a nightlight! It was amazing. Also, since Mal and Ziva both sleep on their backs with their arms and legs all over the place I usually have to squish into a little strip of bed with one leg, one arm and one butt cheeks hanging off. Last night I slept on my stomach with ALL OF MY BODY on the bed. It felt heavenly.
Ayways, "she's still Hannah," as Malachi put it, but I think she'll do alright. She's 18 and in a lot of ways, still acts like the giddy, scatterbrained, superficial teenager that I've known, but I think she's wanting to do some growing up. She's going to move here in Sept and start school to be a dental assistant. I think living here, paying for her own stuff, working and being thousands of miles from Mom will help her.
So, back to Ziva... She's very happy- always smiling and laughing. And she's very independent. She isn't interested in cuddling anymore () but just wants to be helped to sit up or stand up, or held over the shoulder so she can see everything. Our synagogue has a walker in the nursery and when we put her in it she went nuts. She was so happy and started moving her feet and trying to move. The walker was too heavy for her, so I pushed her whenever she made a walking motion with her feet and she was in heaven.
I credit attachment parenting for some of her independence and happiness, as things seems to be going so well with the techniques we're using. I know everyone does things differently, but this is working out well for us. She a sweet baby and very easy going, and the AP stuff we're doing just seems to make it better. She's loves sleeping with us and being with us. Her face lights up when we interact with her. I can tell she feels loved and safe with us.
She's holding her head up like a pro and getting a lot better at keeping her torso up too. She's grabbing things and putting them in her mouth and making lots of noises. She makes this gurgling "guuuuh" sound all the time- it's her favorite- and lots of little syllables with "ahh" in them.She likes having "conversations" with people where she makes a noise and they repeat it. Loads of fun.
Anyhow, other than being flat broke and exhausted, thigs are going well for us. Hopefully, with Malachi finishing school and externship in 2 months, he'll be making more money and with Moriah moving in, I ought to be ble to work a bit more, so things will get a little less ugly financially.
The end.
K
Nursing is a wash, but I'm trying to keep my supply up so we can ditch the formula (by and large) and exclusively pump. A very generous mom from MDC is giving me an electric pump, so that will make life easier. I'm bummed about it, but I'm kind of tired of feeling like crap over it, so I'm trying to get used to doing the next best thing. We did have some (extreeeeeemely) mild success t getting her to try the breast shield again, but I'm keeping my expectations dirt low, so I don't get disappointed of ticked off if she doesn't ever want to nurse.
We FINALLY started cloth diapering. I've been feeling guilty about not doing that, especially when she got BAD diaper rash a couple of weeks ago. I don't know how I'm going to keep up with laundry, but I guess we'll figure it out. She looks adorable in cloth diapers.
My sister Hannah (aka Moriah) came to visit for a week. We had a good time. She helped out a lot with Ziva and even slept with her last night... Mal and I had forgotten what it feels like to sleep through the night and without a nightlight! It was amazing. Also, since Mal and Ziva both sleep on their backs with their arms and legs all over the place I usually have to squish into a little strip of bed with one leg, one arm and one butt cheeks hanging off. Last night I slept on my stomach with ALL OF MY BODY on the bed. It felt heavenly.
Ayways, "she's still Hannah," as Malachi put it, but I think she'll do alright. She's 18 and in a lot of ways, still acts like the giddy, scatterbrained, superficial teenager that I've known, but I think she's wanting to do some growing up. She's going to move here in Sept and start school to be a dental assistant. I think living here, paying for her own stuff, working and being thousands of miles from Mom will help her.
So, back to Ziva... She's very happy- always smiling and laughing. And she's very independent. She isn't interested in cuddling anymore () but just wants to be helped to sit up or stand up, or held over the shoulder so she can see everything. Our synagogue has a walker in the nursery and when we put her in it she went nuts. She was so happy and started moving her feet and trying to move. The walker was too heavy for her, so I pushed her whenever she made a walking motion with her feet and she was in heaven.
I credit attachment parenting for some of her independence and happiness, as things seems to be going so well with the techniques we're using. I know everyone does things differently, but this is working out well for us. She a sweet baby and very easy going, and the AP stuff we're doing just seems to make it better. She's loves sleeping with us and being with us. Her face lights up when we interact with her. I can tell she feels loved and safe with us.
She's holding her head up like a pro and getting a lot better at keeping her torso up too. She's grabbing things and putting them in her mouth and making lots of noises. She makes this gurgling "guuuuh" sound all the time- it's her favorite- and lots of little syllables with "ahh" in them.She likes having "conversations" with people where she makes a noise and they repeat it. Loads of fun.
Anyhow, other than being flat broke and exhausted, thigs are going well for us. Hopefully, with Malachi finishing school and externship in 2 months, he'll be making more money and with Moriah moving in, I ought to be ble to work a bit more, so things will get a little less ugly financially.
The end.
K
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)