The Little Monster just had his 9 month birthday. He was actually in for 40+5, so he still hasn't quite been out in the world for as long as he was baking, but still. Need to fill out his baby book for this month (have to add that to the long ass list on my fridge).
Anyway, where he is now.
He's 29.5 inches tall, and despite our bathroom scale being a huge liar and saying he's 25lbs, he's actually only 21. He's dropped to the 60th percentile for weight and Doc says that's great, as he was a little overweight while getting ready for his last growth spurt. Still not really eating solids. He has 8 or 9 (or maybe 10) teeth, and given that and his size, looks older than he is.
He's taken a few (I think a total of 7-8 in his whole life) completely unassisted steps, and I suspect the only thing really holding him back now is that he's not confident with walking yet. He can crawl really fast. He also pulls up on everything, and can climb on top of stuff (he recently pushed his push-toy over to the baby gate so he could stand on it in an attempt to climb over). He's also pointing, waving and playing peek-a-boo.
Mostly, this monster is a super bubbly, excitable little monkey. He babbles constantly, laughs easily and has a ridiculous sense of humour, which is so delightful and I hope he will never lose (being hit in the face with a cushion accompanied by the word "Bleb" is hilarious; having his feet sniffed is hilarious; smacking the shit out of the computer keyboard while being told "no" in a stern voice is the funniest, best thing in the entire world; hitting people in the face with water bottles is also highly entertaining)
That's not everything, but I think it's enough of an update for now, without getting overly specific. Anyway, I think I'm in love.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Ok, so she's a therapist...
... and I had to cancel my last appointment.
Mr. Wolfman has decided to work 2 jobs again this summer, despite the fact that I made it pretty clear I'd rather he didn't. Again. I mean, he can obviously make his own decisions about what he does with his time, but, as I pointed out to him, he's also deciding what I'm going to do with my time, because now I'm 100% responsible for the monster, 100% of the time.
Plus 100% of the housework (although Mr. Wolfman did clean on his singular day off, so I just have to maintain the status quo).
This is a wonderful (not quite) paradox. The more Mr. Wolfman works, the more stressed I get, the more moments of anger and anxiety I feel, the more I need therapy. But, the more he works, the less time I have for therapy. He only has one day off (not my regular appointment day) and everything non-work-related or that needs a car, needs to be done that day. Woo fucking hoo. Still, I'm going to call and see if I can move my appointment to that day.
On top of missing out on therapy, the farmer's market which I've been looking forward to all winter is now a no-go, because even though Wolfman has that day off, it's (as above) his only day off. And even if I wanted to be mean and tell him, too bad, you can spend 5 hours looking after the monster that day, I can't because I have no time to make anything to sell, no time to pump, no time for anything.
We'd also planned on being really outdoorsy this summer, going hiking and such. Yeah, no. Looks like I just get to push the monster around town in the stroller and occasionally go to the park.
Ok, this is getting a little woe-is-me, so I'm going to cut myself off before I launch into the rant about not being able to drive anywhere... ugh.
Mr. Wolfman has decided to work 2 jobs again this summer, despite the fact that I made it pretty clear I'd rather he didn't. Again. I mean, he can obviously make his own decisions about what he does with his time, but, as I pointed out to him, he's also deciding what I'm going to do with my time, because now I'm 100% responsible for the monster, 100% of the time.
Plus 100% of the housework (although Mr. Wolfman did clean on his singular day off, so I just have to maintain the status quo).
This is a wonderful (not quite) paradox. The more Mr. Wolfman works, the more stressed I get, the more moments of anger and anxiety I feel, the more I need therapy. But, the more he works, the less time I have for therapy. He only has one day off (not my regular appointment day) and everything non-work-related or that needs a car, needs to be done that day. Woo fucking hoo. Still, I'm going to call and see if I can move my appointment to that day.
On top of missing out on therapy, the farmer's market which I've been looking forward to all winter is now a no-go, because even though Wolfman has that day off, it's (as above) his only day off. And even if I wanted to be mean and tell him, too bad, you can spend 5 hours looking after the monster that day, I can't because I have no time to make anything to sell, no time to pump, no time for anything.
We'd also planned on being really outdoorsy this summer, going hiking and such. Yeah, no. Looks like I just get to push the monster around town in the stroller and occasionally go to the park.
Ok, this is getting a little woe-is-me, so I'm going to cut myself off before I launch into the rant about not being able to drive anywhere... ugh.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Counselor? Therapist? Who Knows?
So, I'm not sure what the professional qualifications of the woman I saw are. But she works out of the mental health office in the hospital, so I'm going to assume she knows what she's talking about. I see her again this week, and then every two weeks going forward - although I'm already getting anxious about this cutting into family time.
She was exactly what you'd expect, down to the leggings and long, flowing shirt, necklace tied in a knot. Like out of a movie. The first thing she asked me was how do you feel about being here.
But, despite initially seeming like a caricature of a therapist, and the strong feeling that she was going to produce healing crystals at some point, on talking to her, she is actually pretty down to earth. She started out very softly, but I think once she realized I'm not scared or overly fragile, she adjusted her approach and we just talked.
So it was all very good, and I think it will be good to see her again. I've had a couple more angry spells, but (I think) I did a good job of not showing my anger to the monster. I didn't yell or say anything mean. Outwardly, it was more like frustration, even though inside, I was raging - though still not as bad as last time.
I still haven't set anything up with Dr. Illegible. I think I'm going to wait until I get my bloodwork done.
Mr. Wolfman is great, but I don't really think he understands any of this. And even though he does a tonne around the house, he seems to feel like I'm not doing enough. - and he really isn't getting it when I tell him I'm doing everything I can. I was hoping that my going to see someone would make him realize how serious this is, but alas.
I think that's it. the monster is back to waking up all the bloody time, and I am TIRED. But, I'm going to walk into town, buy some household stuff, and if I feel like treating myself (I do) a pinwheel for the garden.
She was exactly what you'd expect, down to the leggings and long, flowing shirt, necklace tied in a knot. Like out of a movie. The first thing she asked me was how do you feel about being here.
But, despite initially seeming like a caricature of a therapist, and the strong feeling that she was going to produce healing crystals at some point, on talking to her, she is actually pretty down to earth. She started out very softly, but I think once she realized I'm not scared or overly fragile, she adjusted her approach and we just talked.
So it was all very good, and I think it will be good to see her again. I've had a couple more angry spells, but (I think) I did a good job of not showing my anger to the monster. I didn't yell or say anything mean. Outwardly, it was more like frustration, even though inside, I was raging - though still not as bad as last time.
I still haven't set anything up with Dr. Illegible. I think I'm going to wait until I get my bloodwork done.
Mr. Wolfman is great, but I don't really think he understands any of this. And even though he does a tonne around the house, he seems to feel like I'm not doing enough. - and he really isn't getting it when I tell him I'm doing everything I can. I was hoping that my going to see someone would make him realize how serious this is, but alas.
I think that's it. the monster is back to waking up all the bloody time, and I am TIRED. But, I'm going to walk into town, buy some household stuff, and if I feel like treating myself (I do) a pinwheel for the garden.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
PPD? & Online Support
My birth board isn't a support group - but boy do they know how to act like one.
I posted on there, because I've finally come to the conclusion that I'm probably suffering from PPD or PPA and I need help.
Yesterday, I got incredibly angry at the little monster for no reason. Like, wanting to hit something, fists clenching into balls angry. I shouted at him. He didn't cry. I would have broken down and sobbed if he had, but in a way it made it worse, him being all small and stoic.
This wasn't the first time I'd gotten so angry, and there have been more crying-for-no-reason spells than I can count. A lot of the time I'm great. Happy and in a good mood and loving being at home with the monster. And a lot of the time, I'm this other person, who gets angry and snaps at her baby for no reason, the bitch I give dirty looks to when I see her in Walmart.
So, I posted on my birth board, and driven by their words of support and encouragement, I promised to call today to set up an appointment to deal with this. And I did. My appointment is on Thursday, and I'm hoping it'll be the start of getting me sorted out.
I need to set something up with Dr. Illegible as well, which I don't want to do, because I have this irrational feeling that he'll be disappointed in me and I don't want him to worry about the monster. He seems to genuinely care about the monster, and is always remarking on how beautiful he is and telling me to enjoy him. Small town and a fair number of Docs, so he may not have any other patients who are babies. Anyway, there's a chance this could be related to my thyroid as well, so seeing Illegible is a must.
I think that's it for now. I'm in a pretty good place at the moment. Going to fill up the splash pool for the monster, if the weather holds.
I posted on there, because I've finally come to the conclusion that I'm probably suffering from PPD or PPA and I need help.
Yesterday, I got incredibly angry at the little monster for no reason. Like, wanting to hit something, fists clenching into balls angry. I shouted at him. He didn't cry. I would have broken down and sobbed if he had, but in a way it made it worse, him being all small and stoic.
This wasn't the first time I'd gotten so angry, and there have been more crying-for-no-reason spells than I can count. A lot of the time I'm great. Happy and in a good mood and loving being at home with the monster. And a lot of the time, I'm this other person, who gets angry and snaps at her baby for no reason, the bitch I give dirty looks to when I see her in Walmart.
So, I posted on my birth board, and driven by their words of support and encouragement, I promised to call today to set up an appointment to deal with this. And I did. My appointment is on Thursday, and I'm hoping it'll be the start of getting me sorted out.
I need to set something up with Dr. Illegible as well, which I don't want to do, because I have this irrational feeling that he'll be disappointed in me and I don't want him to worry about the monster. He seems to genuinely care about the monster, and is always remarking on how beautiful he is and telling me to enjoy him. Small town and a fair number of Docs, so he may not have any other patients who are babies. Anyway, there's a chance this could be related to my thyroid as well, so seeing Illegible is a must.
I think that's it for now. I'm in a pretty good place at the moment. Going to fill up the splash pool for the monster, if the weather holds.
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