Intro to EC

I wrote a bit about this on my baby blog but never here. I first heard of Infant Potty Training or Elimination Communication (EC) when my daughter was born.  However I read this book from the library that made it sound really complicated and gave up, oh, in about an HOUR! LOL

Well, when K was born I did a little more research and found this great site DiaperFreeBaby.org.  It explained it in much simpler terms and was very encouraging.  They recommend starting no later than 4 mos...well K was 4 mos old by that time but I jumped right in.  I had low expectations, as they recommended I wanted it to be as stress free as possible and if we saved a few diapers--bonus!!

The way to start is unbelievably simple.  Every body has to *go* when they first wake up, right? It's no different with babies. When K awoke I immediately held him over the bathroom sink or a little potty we had for him...if it was over the sink, we made funny faces in the mirror and he just loved that. When he actually *went* I made an ssssss sound.  I made that sound each and every time.

I was so surprised how easy and stress free it was.  No pressure, just responding to what baby was doing naturally and we were saving a a few diaper changes.  When we were out of the house--it was even easier.  I was less distracted with home life and we could go a full day using the same clean & dry cloth diaper.  Amazing.

If he was fussy, first thing I did was take him to the restroom--I'd say about %90 of the time, that was the reason.  He was relieved and I had a happy baby. It was way too simple not to tell others about it.

The basic guidelines are simple:

EC upon waking (in the morning or after a nap)

EC before you leave anywhere.

EC upon arrival anywhere.

EC any other time you think about it.

K is almost 20 months old and I take him to the restroom while we are at home whenever anyone else is going.  Also after any diaper change and also right before bed time.  He will usually respond.  It's just like regular potty training at this point: take him to the potty often and whenever I think about it in addition to the simple guidelines above.  There is no performance pressure. He recognizes and can tell me when he needs to go, if I am paying attention.  Naturally, sometimes he'd rather PLAY. ;-)

I know his cues and body language, just like I know when he is tired or hungry. He isn't really running around "diaper free", we use cloth diapers.  Even when we went on our road trip and used disposables, we still EC on the road...it made for a pretty happy and comfortable baby.

I knew this was an eco-friendly diapering alternative because it saves diapers plus babies usually potty train at an earlier age etc.  The big surprise and bonus was how much more bonded we would become and how much more self confident I would feel in my parenting skills.  Being able to recognize your baby's needs and respond accordingly, having fun along the way, is awesome!!!

Now that the vomiting is OVER...

Baby K just wants to EAT! I guess he's in a rush to restore his current weight. haha.  So much that he's waking up in the middle of the night to eat real food. arg. Not fun.  

So after a week of no sleep with a vomiting baby, I am now experiencing no sleep with a very hungry baby. I am tired but such is life.

I am very grateful that the sickness is over.  That was a little scary. It's going to take *me* some time to recover from him being sick.

wearing baby vomit

really puts things in perspective.

Last night was rough. My toddler was up all night vomiting--from both ends. On one mid-night occasion--it was all over me! Sure it was gross, but I was more concerned with the health and welfare of my lil' guy than anything else.

I did not get much sleep, if any.  As soon as he would settle down, he'd then be awake screaming and crying with stomach cramps, followed by a blow out, one way or another, followed by him immediately falling back to sleep exhausted until the next 'episode'.

As any mom knows, being put in such a base position, the focus becomes survival.  God is so good though.  There I was holding my boy, praying for his good health and my husband grabbed me a fresh Tshirt from his drawer. It was all I could do to hold in my JOY at the receiving of the Tshirt.  It smelled SO nice and fresh.

I was finally able to lay baby down and the lovely scent of that shirt kept me company through out the rest of the night.  I didn't even want to take it off. I was so grateful and thankful for that little bit of cotton heaven. 

Sometimes, it's the littlest things that get us through...

16 months!

And K has already traveled the country.  he was so good.  As long as I made sure to give him ample opportunity to stretch his legs, he was great.

He LOVES and I mean LOVES to be outside.  If he doesn't get to go outside, he gets fussy. He will be in the house playing but it's obvious he is bored and will begin to get fussy for no apparent reason.  Then I let him outside and he is so calm.  

Sometimes now he even points to his stroller and makes it obvious he wants us to put him in it.

last week I began to actually take a walk with him around the block. I have to walk really slow and he wants to walk up to every neighbors porch...for some reason.  I am trying to train him to stay on the sidewalk at least.  he aslo wants to walk on the short brick fences...which is interesting because I LOVE walking on curbs.  He seems too young to have notices so I wonder if it is just a natural affinity he has for it or what. LOL

Sometimes he will see something on the ground that interests him will bend down to grab it and then plunk himself right down on the sidewalk to examine it.  I have introduced him to the joy and sensation of crunching leaves while you walk.  He really likes that.

I got him the most darling rocking horse (in mint condition) last month from the thrift store. He loves it except he's such a daredevil.  I have to constantly make sure he doesn't stand up on it.  He tempts fate by rocking on it with his feet up near the handles. 

He is growing up so incredibly fast...well no maybe not, it's the normal rate...one day at a time. ;-)  He has a mouthful of teeth though.  None of the other children had that many teeth at that age. It's such a joy watching him discover new things. That's why I can tolerate taking 33 minutes to walk around our .2 mi block! Seriously. That was after I carried him 3/4 of the way home because he would not hold my hand and stay off neighbors lawns. haha! 8-D

15 months old!

Well, I was *forced* to cut his curls last week. FORCED, I tell ya! Boohoo, wahwahwah!

DH felt it was time....he looks SO different now. Very round faced. haha.

A recent EC development....last week or so he began to *initiate* and tell me when he had to *go*.  I didn't even believe him at first but it was true. I was so amazed and so excited.  Things have slowed down a bit now, on that end.  I think it's simply because he does not want to stop exploring and running and getting into mischief.

I found the cutest white rocking horse at the thrift store the other day.  He really likes it except he keeps trying STAND on it. Yes, he's one of *those* children. sigh.  If he can't stand on it, because I am on him like a hawk!, he sits on it with his feet all the way up on the handles. No really, he really does this.

Last week he was getting into so much mischief, doing things he hadn't done in months because he KNOWS he is not supposed too...like messing w/ the dog's food.

I trained him not to touch the dog's food bowl or to eat the dog's food. (gross, I know!) Well, last week he kept going into the kitchen and turning the entire bowl over, spilling the dogs water all over the floor. sigh. again.  He really keeps me on my toes. I can't turn my back for even a moment. It's tiring but a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

Every time I turn around he's got a marker in his mouth and is writing all over himself.  I don't know whether to be upset w/ my olders for leaving markers out or myself for him getting them so quickly.  I can't rest w/ him at all. It's a good thing is is so stinking CUTE! ;-)

I don't even believe in the terrible twos but if I did...I'd say he's started them, @ 15 mos.

O this lil' fella!

He has been waking up EARLY!!! Like 6:30am-I'm-not-exaggerating-early!  I really think it's another new tooth, but you just never really know.  He's been running a bit of a fever today & whiny.  He's not usually whiny.

Last two nights when I put him to bed, he woke up about an hour later. Frustrating for sure. Last night he did not even want to go to bed...he cried A LOT which is totally unusual behavior for him.

He's been chewing on his fingers and this morning he didn't want to eat a thing! Nothing! He cried when I put him in his seat. Poor guy.  He wont let me look into his mouth but I think I saw the pointer teeth buds on one gum. My poor guy. :(

20lbs!

K had a check up today.  He weighed 20lb 14 oz actually but they kept his diaper on this time, so I say 20lbs. lol  It took forever for some reason.  We waited a very long time, which is unusual.  And then we had to go to the lab to take a mandatory blood test to check for lead.


He only received 3 shots. Yes, I know about vaccinations and the risks.  I did discuss it w/ his pediatrician--whom I really adore.  He was understanding.  I do get my chillers vaccinated but later than recommended and I am comfortable with that.  He was 'behind'---as planned & would have received 8 vaccinations today.  I asked the doc if we could cut that & he immediately agreed.  He recommended he only get the 'new' shots he hadn't received yet & wait on the 'boosters'.  That would bring today's total to only 3 shots.  I was comfortable with that.


I was uncomfortable having him get the chicken pox vaccine....& discussed it w/ him but he made me feel more comfortable about it so I agreed.  Perhaps I should have been stronger about declining....{sigh}  It's hard making these decisions, as a parent.


Poor little guy---it's sad when they get shots & they are crying so hard.  I wish they would just let you hold the babies and nurse them while they get the shots...or at least home them in your lap so they can easily nurse right after.  Later, after waiting forever in the lab....they needed to draw blood and I think he was actually *scared*.  When the tech put that rubber strip on his arm he immediately started crying so hard and he was all red and *shaking*.  I felt so bad because that made me think he was scared.  He calmed down during the process--she needed 2 vials but when she replaced the 2nd vial he began crying again.  It probably didn't help that she stuck the needle in and nothing came out & she had to keep moving it around--I can only imagine how that must've felt. arg.


He doesn't appear to be permanently scarred or anything now though. ;-)


He got his first flu bug last week. He was asleep then suddenly began vomiting in his bed.  I think he would have went right back to sleep, had i not got him up.  We showered him off and then put him in my bed to nurse...after rolling back and forth a few times (like always) he vomited again.  Then he went right back to sleep.  He was fine the next day as if nothing ever happen.  It went through everyone else in the family but he seemed the least affected.


Thank goodness for strong baby immunities. ;-)

CIO isn't SO bad...right?

That means 'Cry (or crying) It Out'. I am normally so *not* a CIO parent.  I'm usually more of an AP (that means Attachment Parenting) style of parent. Baby K is getting harder & harder to get to sleep....he nurses, pulls off, nurses, pulls off, rolls around, flips over, fusses....until eventually he falls asleep, with me by his side.  It's obvious he's tired but he doesn't seem to be able to fall asleep.

SO tonight, I put him in his bed and decided to let him CIO for a little while.  I did feel a little bad but @ the same time I felt he was old enough now, at 1 yo to be ok--or @ least not *permanently* damaged from it, right?  It was only 10 minutes before he was out.

I tried it a little the other night but daddy came in soon to 'rescue' him.  Daddy is not here tonight.  I think I will go lay down and read now.  I wonder what tomorrow night will bring?

ONE!!!

Today is K's FIRST birthday! I can't believe it.  I know all mothers say how quickly the time flies--but it doesn't even *feel* like it's been a YEAR already.  Maybe it will at his party on Saturday.  The theme is frog prince with blue and green colors.  I am excited for the decorations I am making.

We went to Rain Forest Cafe to celebrate.  He was a bit scared of the big gorilla they have and the rain storm sounds and effects in the restaurant. Afterward we went to Build-A-Bear and let him choose a bear.  He was so sweet, cuddling it.  I didn't think he would even care but he seemed too.

He has 4 molars growing in that I can see.  He won't really let me look too much but I saw them.  Still 4 across the top and the saem 3 across the bottom.  Last month (or so) he fell and busted and bruised the inside of his lip a bit and I *think* it made one of his bottom teeth crooked. I'm not exactly sure but it is crooked now and I had not noticed it being crooked before. {sigh}  Good thing it's just a baby tooth.

what a sweetie!

Baby K has a new sweet little habit.

He knows how to make kissing sounds.  He sucks his lips in on the sides, like a fish face and produces that kiss sound.  Well, the other day, daddy was walkin gby & gave me a kiss on the back of my neck as he passed.  I wouldn't have really noticed that it made the 'smacking' sound kisses make when he did it except from teh floor i hear K making the sound.

Then another time when daddy was leaving he kissed me goodbye and again Baby K noticed and imitated, again making his own kissing noises.

How cute is that?

I am so touched that love and affection are what he sees and imitates. Makes me want to fill my home even more with acts of love like kisses!!!

Oh! and he has a new tooth too! He won't really let me check his mouth anymore but I finally saw it.  It's a molar too, up top.  The one right past the eye tooth space.  I guess they get the fangs after the molar?

I can't believe he is really 11 month old!

How he's grown!

K had a check up today. He's almost 10 mos old.

He weighed in @ 18 lbs 14 oz. 29.25 inches long.

Our pediatrician is wonderful. He did most of K's exam with K sitting on daddy's lap. He's so gentle. K wasn't scared or anything. Hesitant, sure but not scared. It probably helped that he was able to stay in the security of daddy's lap for most of the visit.

K only needed to receive 3 shots. I am purposely having him receive them later than recommended. This has eliminated @ least 2 shots so far because he's been too old for them.

He's finally figured out how to get down from a standing position while holding on to furniture. He's also started to cruise, just a wee bit, along the couch. Sleep is still elusive, sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't. It looks like his daytime naps are becoming less and less but for longer time periods. He can wave byebye a little bit and says momma much more clearly now. It's adorable.

I don't mind the loss of slumber too much....it's hard but I continue to remind myself what a short season this will be. I know I will long for these short cuddly days. ;-)

#7!

Finally another tooth has broken through.  So many sleepless nights.  He was working on this one for about  a month now.  Last night was finally a more restful night of sleep, hope tonight is even better.

Daddy wanted to get him a 'walker' to use, so we found one @ the thrift store.  We left for use @ Nana's house.  He absolutely loved it!!!  He figured out how to roll around the house pretty quickly.

We also founda practically brand new pack-n-play too.  It was half the price of the cheapest brand new one with all the features.  The crib simply takes up way too much space for the amount of use it's hardly getting.  I think a pack-n-play will serve our purposes better, besides saving space that the crib takes up.

Delicious Child o' Mine

Tonight Baby K rubbed his chicken into his hair. I do not know why? Now he smells absolutely yummy though. ;-)  I tried introducing him to using a cup, he likes to drink  water from my cup, when I have some.  He refused to hold it himself.  He just wanted me to hold it up for him.  Silly baby.

A small update on the diaper changing challenge....he is a lovely still baby now.  All it took was 1--ok maybe 2--'training changes'.  You know, training! Now He stays still and it's no longer a problem or issue. I don't know why I didn't realize it was a 'training' issue.  You'd think I'd never had a child before. sheesh! lol

Forget Diapers!

Baby K absolutely, totally, completely, will NOT sit still for diaper changes. I am seriously considering going all in w/ the EC & going diaper free. It's too frustrating to wrestle w/ a near 9 month old just to change a diaper.

I procrastinate changing him cause it's so exasperating. Not sure if it's a discipline/obedience/training issue. He just wants to be moving, pretty much, @ ALL times. He only sits to eat or in his stroller--IF the stroller is moving. lol

Forget trying to dress him either. Unfortunately the weather is still cool. He needs to have some clothes on while crawling the hard wood floors. I give him a toy and it distracts him from the task @ hand for about thirty seconds before he's flipping over and attempting to shimmy down the side of the couch. I am not even exaggerating.



{sigh} I LOVE this child.

O Baby!

You climb, you crawl, you don't sit still!!!!  Seriously.


If I put you down on the floor---you will flip over & crawl away, anywhere.
We just celebrated your first Christmas. I can't imagine it with out you.  You are such a joy, a busy joy but a joy still.  You didn't bother the tree or the ornaments.  You did rip my curtains to shreds--biting them & pulling.  A favorite past time of yours. heehee.


You got a lot of clothes (size 12 mos & up) for Christmas and some toys.  I wanted you to have all natural toys...so which one is your favorite? This hard plastic electronic gizmo! {eyeroll} lol


Next year you will be so excited for Christmas. (not that I'm in a rush)  This year was no big deal to you, really.  I took you with me today for some after Christmas shopping.  Just a few things like some yummy yarn and your first Christmas ornament. It's adorable, I must say.


Why has my blog suddenly switched like I'm writing a letter directly to *you*? I have no idea. haha.

Busy Baby

Rolling over at lightening speed, another tooth before I even know you're teething, your first Halloween, a few days shy of 7 mos.

I want to cry. Why? Because I know the time is flying by faster than I can keep the memories in my head. Even though I long for a full night of sleep, I know I will miss the day you are no longer in my bed. In the middle of a hectic day (which is very often lately) I look at your sweet face, those cheeks that are beginning to fill out and I can't help but swell up inside, to over flowing, with love.

Love beyond description.

You help me stop.

Stop feeling overwhelmed. Stop worrying. Stop rushing. Stop and give you kisses. Stop and tell you what a joy you are to my life. What a blessing you are. I stop and smile at you and you smile back with that beautiful toothy grin with drool dripping down your chin. I repeat what a joy you are to my life. What a joy your sister is and your two brothers.

I know that tomorrow will come quickly. Today is a mere blink. So I stop, I open my eyes and I *love* you. I take a deep breathe. I enjoy you.

There is no rush. You will grow up, for sure. You will sleep through the night. You will have your own bed. Your own room.

And you will no longer cry for me...

Thank you my love.
Thank you for reminding me...of every moment.

I missed him

Last night lil fella slept in his own bed for the first time...only for the first half of the night though.

Then I think he was punishing me for it the rest of the night because although I took him back into bed w/ me, he did not sleep well @ all.  I don't even know why I put him in his bed...guess cause it was in our room staring @ me for the past 6 mos? Or maybe it's cause baby rolls all over the bed & ends up sideways & I am afraid he will get smothered by a blanket? Or maybe it's simply cause *I* feel so squished on the end (ahem *edge*) of the bed.

I must admit I really could not get to sleep w/o him near me, wierd I know. Sometimes he has woken up and I see him simply put his hand on me and go back to sleep.

I have not been ECing any more during the night...which may or may not contribute to him waking up more. I am not sure. I have just been too tired so I just nurse him...but somehow I think he sleeps better (less restlessness)  if I *do* take him potty.

O! and hey! I finally got him to eat avacado today...I simply had to cut it into chunks NOT mash it up. He took quite a few bites that way. Yay.

Hell Week!

You know, that week for football players right before the season officially starts? That's pretty much how it was last week. My poor babe! He screamed & cried & kicked *every* time I would put him down, even if just to change his diaper.

When he woke up one day w/ tons of mucous running out of his nose & no longer fussing, I realized, he must've been having a sinus headache all that time!  Sheesh! Finally I had my babe back! I was worried there for a minute.

He's got 4 teeth now too. How fast huh? He's got his upper two & his lower front two. I can't believe it myself. I was looking forward to getting a few shots w/ just his first front two. Before they were all the way in, the top two were coming through.  He's such a cutie though, I won't mind too much.

He doesn't want to eat baby food! Then it dawned on me, maybe he wants real *feeling* chunky soft food, right? I gave him a small spoon tip worth of rice & beans. O! The look on his face! He did not like the texture of the rice & he stuck his tongue out & spit it out immediately.  I've been letting him gnaw & chew on chewy breads like bagels..but I read that grains aren't really too good for them at this age...so I don't know what to feed him besides continued nursing.

All he will really take is bananas!

First illness...

My poor babe!  He's had quite a fever now for the past few days. Today I noticed a rash too so it could be Roseola. Poor little guy is obviously not feeling good.  He's not really crying just making whiny noises and it's just so sad.

I've been giving him tylenol and it seems to help for awhile.  Otherwise, today, all he wants to do is 'pretend' to nurse.  The good thing is that he is sleeping a bit better.  Of course all I want to do is hold and snuggle him and make it all better...but alas, there are so many things to do plus I'm not feeling too great myself. {sigh}

It's unusal but I've been able to just lay him down in the bed and he will sort of roll over half way and go to sleep. I know the rest is good for him. The nursing is also the best thing too so I've cut back all 'real' foods for now.

3? Are you kidding me?

Baby has 3, count them, 3 teeth! I thought it would take longer. whew! For cutting in so many, he certainly hasn't been very fussy.

Last night though he broke out in a fever and slept very fitfully. I do not know why. The digital ear thermomenter we have was of no use either. It wouldn't read his temp as anything over 96 degrees and it kept reading *my* temp as 94!!!

I've been giving him a few fooods here an there. He loves banans but they seem to give him a stomach ache. He refuses to open his mouth for hard boiled egg yolk. I even mixed it with lots of coconut oil and sweet potatoes once. Yesterday he had pomegranite applesauce. High in antioxidants low on baby friendliness. It was a crack up. He'd take it in but then make these sour faces that were so funny.

I steamed and mashed carrots for him. Except for being mush, I thought they tasted deliscious. Apparently he does not agree. I am trying to start him off healthy but he seems to not be having any of it. I know breastmilk is the most nutritious thing for him right now anyway so I guess there really is no rush.

I have  a group I meet with every other Thursday night, so even though I don't want to rush him, I want him to have something available to hold him off when I am not here for those few hours.

And even though I am enjoying the bit of 'freedom' (which really isn't an accurate word), I am saddened by how quickly he is growing. I think I normally do a good job of savoring the moments...but this time has flew by.