Day 68...stroller!

Mar 28

I got a stroller! Yay!

I found it on Craigslist for $100, and it's just right. I didn't care about name brand so much as a certain kind of stroller I wanted. It's a jogging stroller, with a swivel front wheel, that can be locked if you want. It's sturdy, and rides really smooth, and even came with a rain cover.

I took if for a test ride tonight with Martyn, and Sheba...also, the dog was much less freaked out by the stroller than I anticipated she would be, and was wonderful walking along with it. I even took her to the park and let her off the leash (after a nice long walk) and she came back to me (and the stroller) when I called her. So that's a good omen, ha!

Martyn liked it too-he fell asleep right away. I had him all bundled up with two little blankets, and a jacket and hat, and strapped into the stroller, and I had the rain cover on, which has little breather holes I noticed, but also helps protect him from the wind or breeze. He's still really congested so I was concerned about him getting chilled, but it was ok.

I even met another mom going for a walk, with a little baby wrapped onto her facing out, with a moby. I thought, and said, "you have a really little one too huh?" Her baby looked about as big as Martyn. She said he was 3 months, so he was only a few weeks older than Martyn. My boy wasn't happy that I stopped to talk to her for a minute, and started fussing so I had to keep going. It must feel similar to the car, which he likes.

I have kind of been making excuses about getting out and going for a walk, mainly because Martyn is big enough now that it's hard to carry him for a long walk.....and it's even harder with the dog. But I don't have an excuse now....I really enjoyed walking with the stroller too. I found myself being all smiles as I walked along, with my boy and my dog. The dog sure was happy to go for a walk too.

When we got back from the walk, my brother in law Bryan called me wanting my father in law's number. He needed a home inspection because they are going to buy a house! I was very excited for them. I talked to my sister for a bit, but we both had to get off the phone and start dinner so it was cut short. Hmm, I think I need to make a trip down to see them in the near future...they're only an hour away, sheesh!

All day, Martyn has been super clingy. I would be holding him, or nursing him and he would fall asleep, so I would go to lay him down in the bassinet and he would only stay asleep for about 10 or 15 minutes. Then wake up and cry until I came and picked him up again. So he didn't really get a good solid nap in the middle of the day like he normally does. Except for the car ride to Sherwood to get the stroller. It actually isn't as long of a drive as I thought it was, so on the way home I took a little extra scenic route, so he could have more of a nap. So in the evening when Eli got home, Martyn just wanted to be held by Mama. He was all fussy and tired. I finally got him calmed down enough to pass him to daddy, and he was fine with that.

I gotta figure out how to keep him sleeping, with out it being in my lap. I know he needs the sleep in the day anyway, but he's kind of sick right now, and especially needs it.

When it was bed time, he was all boogery and congested, so I decided to take a shower and steam the bathroom all up so he could be humidified some, and also, I've noticed that he's usually calm and relaxed after a shower or bath, so that would be a good time to go for bed time.

Bed time is still hard, especially since Eli is sleeping downstairs with us. I think it's because I'm all uptight about the baby keeping him up on work nights, and Martyn is picking up on that up tightness and gets all worked up. I just need to relax. Eli said he's been sleeping ok the last few nights. Getting into a schedule is hard for mama too apparently.

I'm still feeling totally apprehensive about going back to work. I feel like the time is just slipping away and I don't have anyone yet, even in mind, to take care of Martyn on the days that we need. Wouldn't it be awesome if my work would let me have those days off to take care of the boy and come back to work part time? Hmm, I wonder if we could work something like that out? I seriously doubt it...though, when I went in to visit in February, they were super slow...and summer time is coming, which is the slowest time of the year. I wonder if I could talk them into cutting down my time, but not my pay rate....now there's an idea!

The only problem with that is that I then wouldn't be a full time employee and would loose my benefits....would that really be so bad? I don't like my insurance company, and thus far have elected to not use it at all...even for my pregnancy. It's too expensive to add Eli to it, and it would be for Martyn too, but I wouldn't put him on it anyway, because I don't like them and he's on State insurance right now anyway.

I just realized that more than writing about life with my son, this blog has kind of turned into a journal of sorts...which is humorous to me. I probably should talk to my husband before I write anymore about this whole crazy idea, ha!