11 months with Ash

Y’all my baby is 11 months! Time is moving way too fast for me and to be honest … I have barely started planning for his first birthday party. I’m pretty sure I’ll be in tears next month when he turns one! It is really such an honor and blessing to watch this little guy grow.

I will admit, sleep has been a little off for this guy recently. I am still getting sleep, but it is definitely getting interrupted in the middle of the night around 4 or so. If I had to take a couple of guesses as to why it would be that either he’s not going to sleep in time or because I don’t nurse him at bedtime. Either way, I’ll be working on fixing this because Mama misses her sleep. And he does not have a set bedtime, which is on me. It’s never too late to try to get him back into a rhythm.

I probably got lazy since my mom has been staying with me, she leaves today … by the way I’m totally having separation anxiety from my mom lol (she only lives 30 minutes away )!!! She’s been here all summer and has been such a big help, so yeah back to reality!

Oh and I definitely need him to start napping again! He only sleeps for 30 minutes, maybe an hour. And usually, someone is holding him or near him. He has got to grow out of that! It’s not entirely his fault, I just love to snuggle with him, because I know he won’t be this small again. People already think he’s a one-year-old!!!

Baby boy is still eating any and everything! He is not a picky eater, but I’m pretty sure he is over bananas. He will eat a couple, but not finish it. I should’ve taken a picture, but last night I cut up broccoli and tomatoes and mixed it in with the chicken I baked. He definitely cleared his plate. I’m hoping that since mom is leaving, I won’t be so lazy, so I can finally put some time aside to give you guys some tips on baby-led weaning. Just bear with me people!!

Breastfeeding for 11 months, WOW. I honestly didn’t think I would make it this long. Strictly giving him breastmilk and not formula was hard and I’m thankful that I was able to stick it out. There were times that I felt he wasn’t getting enough milk and I would just cry.

Now we have definitely gone from nursing six times a day to only once or twice. And I’ve been pretty lazy with pumping lately, so I kind of feel like I’m going to dry out soon. And I’m not ready to stop, so I will be starting to try and increase my milk supply by pumping and nursing more. I do want to share something with you guys.

I joined a new CrossFit box … again lol. This one is way closer to me. Anyways, this past week I went to go workout and saw a little girl running around, I asked her mother how old she was, and she said 18 months. So we get through the workout, everyone is doing their own thing. And as I am heading out, I notice that mom I just spoke with is sitting there breastfeeding baby girl! I was like yes mama!!!! Anyways, seeing that inspired me to keep going with Ash. LOL, we will see how long that will last.

Now you guys know how I always say that bubs like bath time, I don’t know what is going on, but he has started crying now when we put him in his tub! And I’m just like Papa are you okay? Usually, once I start putting water on him he is good to go. Another thing, I think I am probably the only mom who props the tub on top of the counter and takes his bath there still.

I know I said I was going to start taking his bath in the tub, but I remember taking his bath in his tub when he was a baby, and I don’t think I’m ready to let that go. Wow, I never thought I’d be this emotional over that … I’m honestly tearing up, and I’d take a picture, but I’m definitely not camera-ready whatsoever. Again with my mom leaving me (rolls eyes), I am going to try and do things a lot differently.

Papa is still going strong when it comes to walking, he topples over a couple of times, but my baby is walking. It’s funny to see him walk with shoes because he is literally looking down pondering what weird objects are on his feet, its too cute.

Along with his walking, he does this thing where he slides off the couch when we are sitting down and starts to “run.” He will literally turn back, look at you with this sly smile, and continue to run. I obviously fall for it every time, I get up, and as I slowly run after him yelling “I’m gonna get you, I’m gonna get you.” He eventually gives up, falls to the floor and giggles. It is literally the cutest thing that I have ever seen in my life! I hope in another 10 years, God willing, we will still be running after one another, playing, and then falling to the floor laughing. Man, why can’t this last forever?

Our conversations together are really deep y’all. Ashraf starts using his hands and making facial expressions. I’m like, he is going to be a talker like his Mama, but hopefully not shy like me lol.

I was signing with him, he knows milk. Again, I’ve been lazy this summer, so I have tried to start doing the signs for more, eat, and all done.

One thing that we experienced this past month was Papa being sick for the first time. It really wasn’t fun for me, but who has fun when they’re sick? It started probably last week, he was becoming very fussy and would wake up in the middle of the night crying which was not normal. Then he calmed down for a bit and Sunday evening a fever broke out. Like I was thinking nothing of it at all because everyone was saying it was him teething, he does have 7 teeth, and two of them recently came out around that time.

Sunday evening, I took his temperature and it was 103!! Again, 103 people! The panic that I was feeling was something I’ve never felt before. I called my sister she was telling me it was going to be okay that I just needed to alternate between Motrin and Tylenol. And I did go buy it because my older brother has told me to do that as well. I don’t know it just happened too fast I feel like.

I called the nurse on Monday morning and she told me the same thing, but that once the fever is gone that I should not continue giving him the medication, so that if the fever does come back then I should bring him in so that we don’t mask his symptoms.

Fever was gone, so I stopped with the medication. We then noticed he had started warming up again Tuesday night, and I gave him the Motrin and Tylenol throughout the night. Thank the Lord my baby’s temperature finally was normal come Wednesday morning. Wednesday went pretty well and his father kept saying to take him in, but I was just like let’s just see how he does today lol. I swear his dad was panicking more than me it felt like. Ash was good to go on Wednesday though, his temperature was gone and things were going pretty normal.

Now on Thursday, I noticed that he had broken out like everywhere on his body, my mom mentioned measles. I immediately called the doctor and made an appointment. Turns out its not measles, lol, and it was a common virus called roseola. Ashraf’s doctor did not give him anything told me that the breakout was from his body fighting off the virus, which is good, and that the breakout will clear on his own.

Ladies and gentlemen, that was officially my first scare as a mom. God bless those parents who have kids that are sick, my heart truly goes out to them, I can’t imagine. I got a little taste of it. I’ve just never seen Ashraf in pain before and he is a strong little one. He still managed to play and eat. I knew something was off because Ashraf loves food and he usually demolishes his food. Like no joke, but while he was sick he was slowly picking up and his food.

Now I hope the slow eating will continue so that he can enjoy his food longer. I’m just happy that his fever is gone and my baby is back to his playful self!! So yeah, not fun when the little ones are sick.

This was another reality check that I’m definitely a mother now, haha. So that’s what we have been up to this past month. How did you handle your little one being sick for the first time? Please share with me below!!

Sigh.

Papa, we are heading into your first official birthday and I am not ready. I’m not ready for you to grow up on me and before I know it you’ll be doing your own thing without Mama. You give the sweetest open-mouth, slobbery kisses, which are forever reserved only for me. You give me the warmest hugs that make all my worries go away. Your smiles and giggles let me know to keep pushing forward no matter what obstacles come my way. Mama loves you and I am so excited God chose you for me. You will always be my baby boy. Heres to another month Papa.