I need something.
I'm not sure what it is.
Currently I'm stressed out big time. I feel like I shouldn't be. I'm planning out what Christmas gifts to get for everyone, cleaning the house in preparation for company, painting the laundry room door and all of the cabinet doors, making a stocking for my son, trying to go through piles of giveaway items, and to top it off, Little Man is now in a phase where if I leave the room (or even move three feet away from him) he starts to cry the saddest little cry. You would think that you've just told him he can't have any more hugs for the rest of his life or something. He looks down and cries every so cutely into his lap and can only be consoled by being picked up, at which point he sniffles and sighs and rests his head on your shoulder in a way that makes you want to say "ok, I won't ever put you down again, I promise". This can be problematic.
For one, it's difficult, not to mention extremely unsafe, to prepare food other than yogurt (and by prepare I mean take it out of the fridge and grab a spoon) while holding a baby. Don't worry, I put him down for these moments. And there is much crying.
Whenever the dog needs to be fed, it's very difficult to open up a bag of dog food, measure a scoop out, bring it over to the dog bowl, and put the scoop back into the bag in the pantry while holding a baby. Much faster and easier just to hear crying for 30 seconds (if that).
When I have to use the restroom, I put him down in a safe place. Not on the bed - because I know the ONE time I do this will be the ONE time he rolls over and over and then OFF the bed and get hurt - but on the floor with toys or in his little bouncer seat nearby. I've heard of moms who, at one point or another, hold their screaming baby while taking care of business, but I haven't gone there yet and I hope to never have to.
Whenever I need to get housework done: sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the bathrooms or kitchen counter, doing the dishes (Really really not possible with one hand. Even loading/unloading the dishwasher doesn't work because the baby makes a fun game of lunging at and trying to grab whatever you're holding.), cleaning up pet messes, and doing laundry all involve putting down the baby.
Dusting, however, is possible to do while carrying baby on the hip, as long as you're not using any sprays or chemicals. I will say it's a nice workout holding a squirming 17 lb kid on one hip while reaching up and around everything with a duster.
So maybe that's contributing to my stress. Trying to get so many things done in short periods interrupted by fussing, crying, and screaming.
It may be hard to tell from this post so far, but I'm actually having a lot of fun with Little Man. He's been very interactive lately, and loves reading books with me. Well he's 7 months old, so "reading" to him means sitting in Mommy's lap and looking at/fiddling with/trying to eat the book while saying "aaahhhh ahhhh oh oooooo aaaahhh". It works, though.
He's starting to roll everywhere. I've been waiting for this step for a few months now, but in the last couple of days he's been rolling over-and-over-and-over until he hits an obstacle (entertainment center, coffee table, ottoman, my foot) and then cries. It's kind of funny, and I almost feel bad laughing about it, but it's so darn cute too. He'll be lying there on his back, perfectly content with crinkling/shaking/chewing on/fiddling with a toy of his, and then all of a sudden he isn't satisfied. He gets bored. So "talking" very loudly and pointedly, he'll roll onto his belly. This upsets him. So he keeps going in the same direction and rolls back onto his back. Now he's confused. He isn't where he was. He may begin to cry. He keeps rolling. By the time he's moved a few feet, he's distracted himself again with the new scenery and is happy to play. I'm not sure that he understands yet about HOW he got from A to B, but he'll figure it out soon enough.
Crawling is further away. He's up on all fours and will rock forward and back, like he's about to launch or something, but then rolls to one side and onto his back. Sometimes I use my phone as an incentive for him. It's the thing that no matter what, he will stop what he's doing, almost audibly go "oooo" and reach for it... and try to put it into his mouth.
I'm actually really looking forward to crawling. I'm sure I'll get a lot less done, but I think it will bring us parents into a whole new category of parenting, and I'm looking forward to it.
I'm not really sure how to cohesively end this post, but it was good to get my thoughts out. If you read this far, thanks. I'll try to post more frequently. :)
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