Madness

Who else is being driven crazy by the amount of Christmas crap that has been hurled up throughout their house??

I have no motivation and no energy to even attempt to organize. We move to our NEW house in 2 weeks, so I just don't see the real need to break my back picking everything up when I'm just going to be packing it in boxes in a few days anyways. So, in order to overt my attention to the massive mess that has taken over my house I've been playing with my new "toy" my husband got me....a spankin new camera! It's one of those big mamah-jamah ones, it's a sony a330 and I LOVE IT! The quality of the pictures on this camera are amazing, so I figured I'd leave you guys with a few of my recent snapshots!!!

Are humble mantle! If you look closely, you can see the gift opening aftermath scattered on the floor!

Silly Girl!

Look at those big blues!

My furry baby, Oscar!

Mommy and baby!

Tis the Season!

Well, I have to admit, I wasn't expecting my baby's first Christmas to be filled with ear-infection antibiotics and breathing treatments!

Yup, we have ANOTHER double ear-infection, and LO has still been battling with this cough, every time we go to the Dr. they tell us, her lungs are clear, her lungs are clear. Of course, except for THIS time. The Dr. heard "a little something" on her right side. So, we got to come home with a nebulizer and albuterol, and LO has to have 2 breathing treatments a day for about a week ON TOP of the ear-infection meds AND teething!

Luckily though, she seems to be responding well to ALL of her meds, and I can def. tell she is starting to perk up. I can't believe it is Christmas Eve, where did December go?? I've been baking all day, cupcakes, cookies...my house has never smelled so good. LO, can definitely tell that something is going on...I guess it's just that feeling in the air! We are staying at my parents house tonight...yes, you read that right! I swear I am going to grow up....eventually. Santa will be coming there tonight, and I am so excited for my first Santa experience as a parent :) Although, "Santa" has brought up a fundamental difference between me and my husband....

Does Santa Wrap?

NO, NO , NO! Santa does NOT wrap! My husband, however is under the illusion that Santa DOES...considering I am quite literally the MOST stubborn person alive, I'm pretty sure I am going to win out, on this one! muahahahahah

Anyways, Merry Christmas to EVERYONE, I hope everyone is surrounded by family, friends, good food, and warm cheer :)

Christmas Countdown!

Geeze, it's been over a month since my last post! Sorry!

Busy with baby and holidays and blah blah blah, you know the drill! Shopping this year has been so much fun, now that we have LO in the house! Although my first experience at Toys R Us was crazy!

I've seen footage on TV before of people getting in knockdown fights all in the spirit of getting their kid that special toy. I guess I always assumed it was just one of those here-and-there types of incidents. Uhh no. People are crazy! Let me re-phrase....PARENTS are crazy! My daughter is 7 months, so luckily my "side" of the store was pretty tame. However the "side" for the 5 years and up kids was out of control. I've never seen so many people huddled around remote-control trucks and barbie this and thats, people were literally shoving eachother out of the way. I mean god-forbid you just stand in the middle of the isle looking at all the toys on the shelf, because someone is literally going to shove you out of the way to get the item that you are standing right in front of. Don't even get me started on those zsu zsu pets! Thankful, my LO is still so little, and thankful that I got a little peak-show on how shopping will be in a few years, I think I will either have to do all my "kid" shopping online or either have it all done by July!

On a different note, IT'S SNOWING! LO's first snow, I can't wait to get her out there in it! Richmond, Virginia has gotten about 8 inches. AND it's 8 inches of GOOD snow, you know, the nice fluffy substantial stuff! I love snow, it's so pretty....however the fact that it has fallen on the last weekend before Christmas is a little irritating....hello? I still have shopping to get done!!! I have NO idea what to get my husband this year...I've been so preoccupied with baby and covering bases with everyone else in the family that unfortunately he fell towards the end of the list :( I think I will suggest next year that we don't exchange gifts. I mean, it just seems silly now that we have a child. We have everything we need, or maybe we will just do stockings or something. I know with my parents, my dad does my mom's stocking and vice versa, however dad does usually seem to slip some sort of "surprise" for my mom like jewelery or....jewelery. Ha, I think that's every guys fail-safe! Anyways, hopefully I'll get around to posting snow pics THIS month!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

I am SO ready for Christmas!!!

I feel bad for Thanksgiving because I feel like I am totally overlooking it! I am a christmas-freak every year but I guess I am even more so this year because of LO!

Baby's first christmas is always a special and exciting time, and I'm already looking in to when we will be getting her Santa picture's done! I need to hunt for a cute christmas dress this weekend....hey any reason to shop, right???!

I can't wait for everyone to be putting their lights up in the front yard and candles in the windows...it really is the best time of year, and I absolute CAN NOT wait :)

My favorite things, Monday

ROOMBA!!!!

To think...I actually swept my floors before I had this thing!

I don't know if anyone else watches "Flipping Out" on Bravo, but that show is where I got the urge to get one of these bad boys!

Basically, Jeff Lewis, the main guy on Flipping Out is a total OCD neat freak! Long story, short he gets a roomba, and if an ODC clean freak maniac is happy with the job the roomba does, then it certainly is a product that I would like! It's a robot, and it literally cleans up every spec of dirt on my floors, I can also program it to clean at the same time every day...and with a baby in the house it's the best thing since the invention of the exersaucer, LO also thinks it's the most hilarious thing she has ever seen before!

Clean house and entertained baby...can it get any better?

As if the double ear-infection wasn't enough for me to handle...the teething process has OFFICIALLY begun!

LO has been gnawing on her fists and everything she can get her hands on, for awhile now BUT now I can actually feel something AND see a little something coming through! Ahhhh, one thing after another!!

Bring on the orajel!!!

Ears

So, LO has her first ear infection...and it's a double ear infection at that! We took her to the Dr. Monday because she's had this awful cough recently. I was concerned about RSV or bronchitis or something like that, so I almost fell in the floor when the Dr. said it was a double ear infection!!!

I never would have known...she hasn't had a fever, and hasn't been pulling on her ears or anything like that! I'm so glad I took her in when I did because she said the poor baby's ears looked really irritated :(

Now, she is on amoxycillin (the pink stuff), numbing ear drops and infant tylenol. It's amazing how much better she feels just by having medicine in her system! I have to admit the tylenol makes me nervous though, you always hear stories about children having problems with acetaminophine, so I try to tread with caution. I'm not sure if it makes much of a difference but the Dr. said to give her a dropper every 4-6 hours, soooo I give it to her every 6 hours. I don't know, like I said it may not matter but I figure waiting a little longer may be safer?? Does anyone else freak out about medication when it comes to babies??

Happy Halloween

Not sure if I will be able to post tomorrow, so....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN to everyone!!!

Kids are so cute this time of year, especially the children who are too young to have any input into their costume and are at the mercy of their parents!

My little love bug is a flower this year! And I dare say the cutest little flower EVER!

I hope everyone has a great and safe Halloween...I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures on the other "mom" blogs!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Yummy Food! LO, enjoying her first taste of sweet potatoes!

My favorite things, Monday

We made a decision on our highchair....and the winner is.....

The Inglesina!

It's a little pricey, but we got a great deal off ebay! I LOVE this highchair...it's compact, folds up super easy, and it's easy to clean. The cushion on the seat is some sort of special material, of course I don't remember what it is but a wet paper towel cleans it up easy! More importantly, it is super stylish! It has a sleek, modern look and everyone who comes through my house falls in love with it!

So check it out if you're in the market!

New Mom Tip

GET OUT!

One of the things I am SO glad I have done with my baby from the very beginning was to get her out of the house. Ever since she came home from the hospital we have been on the go.

In the beginning it was just a stroller ride here and there or maybe a quick car ride. Now that LO is 5 months old she loves doing new things and going new places. I signed up for a romp n roll class...we go every Monday and LO LOVES it! It's good stimulation for her. When we don't have romp n roll, we'll go to the mall, park, baby gym...anywhere really. Sometimes it doesn't even matter where we go just as long as we go. Now that the weather is getting cold it's especially important to keep my baby active. Babies get bored AND get cabin fever just like adults do! So, I highly recommend getting out and about. The earlier you do it, the more your baby will enjoy it. I have some friends who have kids that hate car rides, and hate going to new places where there are lots of people. All babies are different, but I really believe that exposing our LO to new places and people early on, has helped her to be such a social baby!

I can't believe I have been away this long!

After having issue after issue with our old laptop we are officially mac owners now! So, I am back to regular postings :)

I have lots to talk about too, so stay tuned!!!

4 months!

No wordless Wednesday today...so sorry!

First, I would like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Dad :) He is 57 today, and is the greatest father EVER!!!

Secondly, LO had her 4 month check-up today! She was offically 4 months last Friday, but as of today she is in the 90th percentile for weight and 95th for height!!! The pediatrician was quite impressed that she was rolling over, and said she is doing perfectly! The doctor also said I could start her on cereal (with a spoon) whenever we felt like it, but usually babies start around 5 months. LO has been getting cereal in her bottle already, I'm so excited about feeding her food from a spoon though! She's growing up SO fast...not sure when we will actually start with the food, maybe once we make a decision on a highchair. ha!

Highchair Overload

We haven't bought a highchair yet, but now that LO is 4 months is about time to purchase one! She has been getting cereal twice a day in her bottle, soon she will actually be eating it from a bowl off of a spoon! (She is growing up so fast)!!! I've been researching highchairs, and seriously?? There are SO many!

They range from 70 bucks to 300!!!!! I just can't seem to justify to myself spending 300 dollars on a highchair, However I know I want something that will last so that I can use it again with future children. I DON'T want a cloth cover on the seat because that just means I will have to throw it in the washing machine everyday. I want something that's easy to clean and wipe down, and sturdy, and if it's cute that's a plus! There are so many to choose from though, my head is spinning, I'll let you know once I've made a decision...any suggestions are welcome!

Still Alive!

Sorry I haven't posted anything in awhile, I've been having internet problems at my house...I hope to start blogging again regularly though!

Not too much to report, other than LO is officially rolling over now! The past few mornings when I had been going into her room she was laying on her stomach, but she wasn't rolling over during the day, so me and OH hadn't seen her roll yet. Sure enough, Tuesday she rolled over on her play mat and has become quite the pro at it now! The downside to rolling over, is her night time routine though. She's rolling over so much in her sleep, she's waking herself up...which means I'm up at least 4 times a night getting her back to sleep! It's like having a newborn all over again! Any suggestions???

My bulldog's cherry eye, popped back out! Yea, 5 days after surgery which means he had to have surgery AGAIN this past Monday to completely remove the gland! Why they couldn't have done that in the first place is beyond me! So this past week has been busy with mobile baby and doped up bulldog, but happily things are starting to level out again!!!

Friday and Monday

Sorry I missed my new mom tip Friday and yesterday's "My favorite things."

I have been dealing with a sick puppy! Oscar, our bulldog had to go to the vet to have eye surgery on his "cherry eye" and have his hotspots treated. Bulldogs are A LOT of work, but he's worth all of it :) He came home Saturday, and I have been taking care of the little guy. He has an e-collar (the lampshade) and lots of meds, so It's been a job in itself just keeping him on track!
He's doing great though, and will be back to normal in no time.

So, My New Mom Tip this week has to be....pick your battles.

This was especially true for me this weekend. It is impossible for you to hold your baby ALL the time. There are things you HAVE to get done. I know I try to get my laundry going, and clean, and catch up on dishes while my LO is sleeping, because of course when she is awake I try to give her lots of attention! However, sometimes you just have to put them down, even if they scream their head off, and get what you need to get done, done. This weekend, I had a whole house to clean, LOADS of laundry to catch up on, and a sick dog, who has about a million meds, and was unable to control his bladder because of the anesthesia from his surgery. So, I had a lot to deal with, and I HAD to let my baby cry it out until I was able to get her and play with her to calm her down. It's never easy to hear your baby cry, but I just had to keep telling myself, it's not going to cause any permanent damage and the quicker I can get these things taken care of, the quicker I can get her and comfort her. Sometimes you just have to pick your battles, and surprisingly, babies are pretty clever, and learn to self-sooth and entertain themselves, and instantly forgive you when you show up to scoop them up in your arms!!!!

My favorite things:

Smiling!!!! It's not a product this week. This weekend (as I said) has been incredibly hectic. LO has been waking up a lot in the middle of the night because she has a little cough that is making her really uncomfortable. Even though it's so hard and draining to be woken up by crying in the middle of the night/early, early morning. It stops being hard when I get to her crib and we lock eyes. She immediately stops crying and a huge smile spreads over her face and she gives me a little giggle. Genuinely happy to see me! Nothing can beat that feeling! That's why her sweet smile, is DEFINITELY my favorite thing!

New Mom Tip

WASH THE TOPS

Sorry, I missed the new mom tip yesterday. It was a crazy hectic day..our bulldog Oscar, had to have surgery on his cherry eye :( I was on pins and needles until I heard from the Vet...but everything is okay, and I'm picking him up within the hour! yay!

Now, on to the tip!

Everyone knows how important it is to wash the bottles and nipples etc. I use Dr. Brown's Bottles AND the Playtex drop-ins. The drop-ins are great when I'm out and about because I can just throw away the mess instead of carrying around a dirty bottle. I religiously clean my Dr. Brown's bottles, and if you use these bottles, then you know that you not only have to clean the bottle and the nipple but also the stems. No big deal, I have a pretty good system down, and I have the drop-in as back up if I'm running all my bottles through the washing machine. So that being said, I never use the tops of the bottle (the top that covers the nipple). I guess they are used mostly when you travel with the bottles but as I said I use the drop-ins when I travel. I can not even tell you the last time I put a top on a Dr. Brown bottle but I seriously think it has to have been in the earlier stages of when LO first came home from the hospital. I'm horrified to admit I have NEVER washed the tops to the bottles!!!!

I never think about it because I never use them. They have been sitting on the top of my window ledge above my kitchen sink FOREVER. Well, I was cleaning up the other day and noticed the tops...I picked them up and was just going to toss them in the trash and that is when I saw IT. MOLD! Ewwwwwwwwww.......EFFING GROSS!

I immediately washed them out and THEN threw them away! Ha, don't ask me why I needed to clean them before I threw them in the trash, but I did! So, I figured this was an excellent tip for all of those moms who actually USE the tops to their bottles ....remember, they need to be cleaned regularly as well!!!! Uggh...I shutter to think how disgusting and awful it would have been if I randomly decided to use one of those tops without looking inside of it....yuck! So, hopefully my yucky mistake will benefit everyone else! WASH THOSE TOPS!!!!

My favorite things, Monday

BIO OIL

So, this Monday's segment is not going to be about favorite things for my LO, but a favorite thing of MINE!

If you are anything like me, your stretch marks came around the last month of your pregnancy and have been around ever since! Mine, are still the purple squiggly line looking ones. I picked up some bio oil because one of my friends recommended it, and I LOVE IT!!! I've been using it for about 2 1/2 weeks and can already see a difference. You can use it on scars, and uneven skin tone too. I use it twice a day and don't know how I've been this long without...I wish I had known about it DURING my pregnancy, but oh well, better late than never! Check it out if you haven't already!

New Mom Tip

FORMULA

I figured I do two new mom tips today since I missed one last week. Both of these tips are going to be about formula!

Tip #1 Hoarding isn't a bad thing!

Formula is expensive. When I had my baby I tried to nurse and pump but the reality was, eventhough I was nursing and pumping I still had to supplement with formula from time to time. I found the ready to feed was the easiest in the early days. You just pop it in the fridge and pour it in the bottle when you need it. I especially liked the ready to feed more than the powder because in the first few weeks LO was only eating 1-2 oz. every 2-3 hours, so for me, it was easier to just dump the already made mixture in the bottle and be ready to go. I use the powder now, but no matter which type you choose they are all pricey. Eventhough I was hell bent on breastfeeding my child, I wish I had stocked up on formula BEFORE I had her. The powder especially lasts a long time. As long as you don't open the package, the powder is good for 3 years! If you know you are going to go the formula route, you really should stock up on formula throughout your pregnancy. Once the baby comes there are about a million other things you will be buying, so it's nice if you already have a stockpile of formula. If you know you are going to try and breastfeed, stocking up on formula isn't jinxing yourself. It's good to always be prepared, and if you are one of those people who are able to breastfeed your child exclusively for the first year, more power to you, but there's no harm in having an emergency stash around! So, stock up now...it will be easier on you in the long run!

Tip #2 Convenience is EVERYTHING!

This tip is inpired by my recent 14 hour road trip (I still shutter when I think about it). Traveling is an ordeal anyways but add an infant into the mix and it can be down right extremely overwhelming! I touched a little bit on the ready to feed formula in my Tip#1, but for traveling the ready-to-feeds are a MUST! I used the ready-to-feed bottles, where all you have to do is shake, attach a nipple (to the actual container the formula comes in) and you're ready to feed your baby. They come in 8 oz. packages, so although I only used 5-6 oz. out of one of the bottles, the convenience was worth the wasted 2 oz.! I just had to shake the container, attach a nipple, and throw what I didn't use, away. No worrying about mixing, and washing while on the road....one less thing to think about! So, if road trips or any kind of traveling are in your future, I highly reccommend you check these ready-to-feed bottles out!

Wordless Wednesday

Oscar loves LO!!!

My favorite things, Monday

BUMBO SEAT!!!!

I just got one of these last week and LOVE IT! More importantly though, LO loves it too. Once your baby is able to support their neck and head you can put them in the bumbo. It allows babies who have head control but aren't able to sit yet on their own, sit! It works really great, and offers an alternative to me holding her, her swing, or her play mat :)

They also sell trays that snap on the front, for toys, and even for snacking. I didn't buy the tray because I wanted to make sure LO would actually use the bumbo, but she loves it, so I'm def. going to go get the accessory tray. It's made out of this soft but stiff foamy kind of material and is really easy to wipe down and clean, which is a MAJOR plus for me! Check the Bumbo out, if you haven't already!

Wordless Wednesday....on a Thursday

Turned out Dark..but still love it:) Cape Cod!

We're Back!

Came home 2 days early from our cape trip. We were homesick, and honestly a vacations isn't much of a vacation with an infant. We were able to get her out on the beach one evening and got some great pics, she loved the ocean breeze and the sound of the waves! We accomplished all we wanted to with the trip, the main goal was to introduce LO to OH family and they all got to meet her! Happy to be home in my OWN house though :)

Wordless Wednesday

Juliette at her Baptism!!!

Curve Ball

We are leaving for Cape Cod EARLY Thursday morning. So, I have been catching up on laundry, cleaning the house ( no one likes to come home from vacation to a dirty house) double and triple checking all of the baby stuff we need to pack and what happens?

Sick baby...that's what happens.

LO woke up around 2 a.m. this morning, which is unusual because she has been sleeping through the night for about 3 weeks now. She was inconsolable. Usually the pacifier helps her fall right to sleep, but it didn't work, so I rocked her, that didn't work either. So, I figured maybe she's going through a growth spurt, I'll feed her. LO takes 5 oz, and I usually burp her half way through the bottle and once she is finished. So half way through, I am patting her back and a HUGE burp comes out...along with the last 3 oz. of formula she just ate! Eww. I had to put new pj's on her, she would not take the rest of the bottle, so I just held her close and rocked her until she fell asleep. She woke up around 7 a.m., I of course prepare her bottle for her and begin feeding her...about 3 oz. in she spits the nipple out of her mouth and spews it all out!

What is going on! She then proceeds to have, hands down, the nastiest bowel movement EVER! Poop always stinks, but this stinky diaper was intense! I just took her temperature and it's 99.9.

I don't think it necessarily warrants a freak-out meltdown but I called the Dr. anyway....I'm waiting to hear back. I don't think an infant is considered to have a fever until their temp is over 100.4 BUT she's not keeping anything down, and it is EXTREMELY unusual for her not to want to eat.

Hopefully it's just a little stomach ache that will work its way out by the end of today. No sick babies are allowed on 11 hour car drives to the Cape. Obviously if LO is sick, we will postpone our trip OR not go at all ( which I wouldn't really mind....I'm dreading the 11 hour car ride).

So, I'm just hanging out and taking a break from the packing until I hear from the Doctor.
There is never a dull moment when there's a baby in the house!

My favorite things, Monday

So, in order to better organize my blogging...I've decided to add some structure throughout the week.

My favorite things, Monday- will be all about, you guessed it...my favorite things.

My current favorite thing is my infantino baby carrier.

This thing totally rocks! I got the chicco brand baby carrier as a baby shower gift, and once my baby got here did NOT like it at all. The chicco brand was hard to use, it did not have a buckle system, so it was difficult to get the baby in and out of the carrier without help. It had those pain in the ass straps that you have to fish through the plastic enclosure to loosen and tighten. Not so easy to do when you have a floppy baby and it is just you, trying to get her in. I wasn't going to spend money on another carrier because I didn't think I really would use that much...I was way wrong!

I saw the infantino front to back carrier at Babies R Us, it was on sale, so I figured I'd go ahead and get it. I liked it because it had a buckle system, and I could carry my baby on the front of my body ( facing me, and facing out) and could also carry her on my back once she got bigger. I got home and started playing with it and absolutely fell in love with it!

It is so easy to use, and really comfortable. It has back straps but also has a strap that goes around your entire waist, it really makes the carrier feel more secure. It was so easy to get my baby into, because of the buckle system! I used it all weekend :) Now, when I have to run quick errands, I don't have to worry about getting the stroller out of the back, taking the whole seat out of the car and snapping it in the stroller. I just hop in the back seat, unbuckle my baby and plop her in the carrier and I'm ready to go! It's comfortable and easy! The straps are memory foam so they don't dig into my skin when I'm wearing a tank top, and the material is mesh, so it breaths really well, and is super comfy for my baby!

I can't say enough about this carrier, it's totally awesome, and the price (even when it's not on sale) is a bargain! I will definitely buy other products from infantino after buying this carrier...I can't wait to use it in Cape Cod this weekend :)

New Mom Tip

BREAK OUT THOSE BOOKS

I love to read, and am a strong believer in reading. We have been reading to my daughter since Day 1.

When I got home from the hospital and was still in my "out of it" phase, my mom would read to my daughter. Her favorite book is "The Saggy Baggy Elephant". Which happens to be the first book my mom read to her. My daughter will be 12 weeks on Monday. How does a 12 week old have a favorite book??? I know, it sounds weird, but she really does. I read to her all the time, and whenever I show her the cover of "The Saggy Baggy Elephant" she starts kicking her legs, smiling, and cooing...yup, she loves it!

I know, babies love the "reading voice" the soft soothing sounds we inevitable make when we are reading a story to a baby. Although, I know she does not understand WHAT I am saying, she IS trying to figure it out. She literally coos more than any 3 month old I have ever been around, and everyone who is around her tells me that! I really think, it's from all the books. She talks along with me when I read, and she loves looking at the vibrant colors on the pages, and it's so much fun for me to see how much she enjoys it!

So, I think one of the best tips EVER is, read to your baby! Not only is it helping them developmentally, but it is also an amazing bonding experience to have with your child, no matter what age they are!

Super Mom

Juliette's christening is THIS Saturday!

We are having a reception afterwards at my Parent's house, sooooo I will be a mad woman this week getting things done! On top of it, a few family members are coming into town this week for the event, so of course on top of getting all the arrangements done, I'll have to be visiting and fitting people in to my schedule in the middle of it all.

I've decided to just small finger foods, and I'm making it all myself.

the Menu:

Fruit Tray
Veggie Tray
Cheese and Cracker Tray
Pinwheel sandwiches
Meatballs
Cupcakes, Sugar Cookies
Wine, Beer, Sodas

I haven't figured out quite what I am doing for my centerpieces or IF I am even going to bother making favors. Any suggestions?

Date Night

Tonight me and my OH are having a date night!

My mom is coming over and watching LO. I'm so excited :) As great as it is having a baby and being a mom, I miss being able to just go out and catch a drink with a friend on a random week night, or happy hour on Friday after a long week at work, and I miss being able to go to a restaurant and not have to worry about whether or not my baby may or may not have a meltdown!

It's going to be great to put on a cute summer dress, and not have to worry about packing bottles, formula, diapers and wipes in the diaper bag or frantically triple checking that we haven't forgotten the pacifier! Although, life has somewhat lost its spontaneity, I wouldn't change anything. Eventhough I'm totally pumped about going out tonight, I know that while I'm out, I will just be counting down the minutes until we are home and I can kiss and hug on my sweet baby!

The Cape

Plane, train, or car???

Well for our upcoming Cape Cod trip, the car has won out! OH originally wanted to take a plane, which I, of course, was against. I just didn't want to take the chance of hurting her ears, or having her scream the whole trip, which would inevitably mean EVERYONE on the flight would be giving me the evil eye...I don't need that kind of bad karma!

Anyways, I'm not sure if everyone remembers, but 2 airbus planes have crashed over the past month, soooo after that, the plane was DEFINITELY out of the picture. Then I had my heart set on a train. I mean, trains are so romantic aren't they?? They remind me of a Humphrey Bogart movie, minus the baby of course! At least on a train though, if LO is fussy we can get up and walk around with her. So what happened to the train idea? A train actually derailed in D.C.! I'm not a superstitous person, but c'mon...I'm considering taking a plane and 2 planes crash, I'm considering taking a train and a train derails...I'm definitely thinking someone is trying to tell me that the car is the better option. So, car it is! It's about a 10 hour drive, so our game plan is to leave Richmond around 3 a.m. LO will probably be up around then to eat anyway, so the plan is to feed her and then pack her up and get on the road, so hopefully we can get a good 4-5 hours on the road while she is hardcore sleeping! I think it sounds like a pretty good plan of attack, but we will find out for sure in a couple of weeks!

Poor Baby

2 month check up today! I can't believe my LO is already 2 months old!!! She is 12 lbs 8 oz and a huge 23 1/2 inches long...that puts her in the 90th percentile!

She also had to get 4 shots in her legs today :( It was not fun, thank goodness my mom came to the dr. with me and held her while she got her shots, I would have been a wreck if I had to be there by myself. The doctor said a low-grade fever was a normal side effect of the vaccines, and sure enough, she has 100 degree temp right now! classic. Luckily though her fever doesn't seem to be affecting her mood, she is still happy and smiley!

Poor Baby

this post is about poop. Yes, you know you are reading a blog about a child when poop is being talked about.

My little one is backed up, BAD. I went to change her diaper before putting her down to sleep last night and noticed some poop trying to come out, she was trying so hard to push it out but she just couldn't. It was pitiful. I put her to sleep, hoping it would just come out on its own. This morning, she was in so much pain. She was pushing so hard that her face was turning red, her stomach was so hard and tight, and of course the crying was AWFUL. The poor baby just couldn't get the poop out at all, she's always has loose stools, so this hard poop was just too much for her.

So I called the Pediatrician to see what I should do. They told me to take a rectal thermometer and stick it in her butt to stimulate her to push. Umm, excuse me??????

Does that NOT sound right to anyone else? I was like, " I can't do that!"

So, of course I'm standing at the changing table with the rectal thermometer in my hand, and my daughter is looking at me like she knows exactly what is about to happen. Then, my doorbell rings....thank god. It was my cousin, who happens to be an RN (hallelujah)! She was stopping by to bring an outfit she had bought for the baby, so I told her about my dilemma.

She laughed in my face. Not cool.

She said, that was normal and it was nothing to freak out about. She also suggested taking one of those dental syringes and putting some water in it and squirting it in her butt to soften her stool. I'm sorry, what is wrong with the medical community?? The best part, she said that if my daughter didn't go to the bathroom, that the Pediatrician may want me to manually "un-impact" her.

"How do you do that?" I asked.
"With your finger", she replied as she laughed out loud at my horrified expression.

I know, being a mom can be a messy business, but I never expected to EVER have a conversation remotely like this with my cousin! So, we sat there while I fed my baby, and I was praying that she would just poop so that I wouldn't have to prod it out of her. After she ate me and my cousin took her into the nursery and plopped her on the changing table, I opened her diaper and....EUREKA, poop! Thank goodness! She was still straining to get it all out, but the important thing was it WAS coming out!

I'm pretty sure she heard and understood every word of our conversation :)

New Mom Tip

YOUR TOLERANCE ISN'T QUITE THE SAME

Last night was our first "grown-up" night out without the little one. My mom watched her, while we went to a friend's engagement party. This wasn't my first experience drinking since having my daughter, I've enjoyed the occasional glass of wine at home, and drank beers by the pool while we were at the beach, but last night was my first time socially drinking with all my friends. And everyone knows, you drink more when your friends are around.

I had a baby 5 weeks ago, my tolerance isn't quite what it use to be. Don't worry, I didn't embarrass myself or anything like that (thank god) but after about 8 beers (no, I'm not kidding) my head started pounding. I basically passed out the second I got home, but naturally still had to get up for those middle of the night feedings, which was SO HARD. I'm one of those people that sleep really well when I'm drunk, when I'm out, I'm out. But, the second I heard my daughter crying for her bottle I snapped right up...it's like something in you just snaps into gear. The night wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but 6 a.m. definitley rolled up much faster than I thought it would. My daughter's morning nap though, literally saved my life because I was able to go back to sleep as well!

So, basically my tip to all new moms out there, is DEFINITELY take it easy, or at least save the heavy drinking for a night when your baby is with the grandparents and THEY have baby duty for the night!

The Incredible Shrinking Woman?

So, I gained a lot of weight when I was pregnant. I know, everyone says that, but I really did. I may or may not have gained about 53 lbs! ( please contain your shock)

Anyways, now that my baby is almost 5 weeks old, I am definitely ready to start getting this weight OFF. However, I haven't been able to work out at all because I had a c-section (so frustrating). I had my follow-up doctor's appointment and I'm happy to announce that I've already lost 20 lbs and that's without doing ANYTHING (besides labor) and my doctor gave me the go-ahead to start working out, but no heavy lifting of weights and crap like that. Who cares about weights, I'm more than happy to put my fat-ass on the treadmill or elliptical, anything to start getting the rest of the 33lbs OFF!!!

So, although it's only been 2 days, I'm 2 for 2 and totally proud of myself. I went to the gym yesterday and today, and have strictly been ONLY drinking water..no more sodas for me. I'm excited and really hope I can stick to a work out schedule (because let's face it, working out IS work, and I've never enjoyed it before)! I really hope I can get back to my pre-baby weight, I've never really been a big exerciser and never had to really watch what I ate, so I know this is going to be quite a challenge for me, but I'm up for it, and so help me god I will definitely be back in my bikini....at least by NEXT summer :)

No Privacy

Having a child is a humbling experience. Labor and Delivery is unlike anything you can possibly imagine, it's painful, messy, hectic, and basically "out there" for everyone to see.

There has been one issue though that has bothered me throughout my whole pregnancy as well as now that my baby has arrived. Breastfeeding.

I'm sorry, but I don't think my breasts or what I do with them for that matter are anyone else's business but mine. It's amazing how many people ask "Are you breastfeeding" or when I was pregnant, " Are you going to breastfeed?" It's one thing to have that sort of conversation with my mother, but when people I barely know ask me that question, it makes my skin crawl.

Why is it that pregnancy and new babies seem to make people forget manners and etiquette?? The breastfeeding question is the most annoying, but there are other instances where my privacy has been thrown out the door. After delivery for example, people feel like they can come visit you in the hospital and just stay there for as long as they want. Hello? When you have a baby, things are still messy, getting up and going to the bathroom takes a lot of work, and having to do it while someone is sitting there watching you is so annoying. Not to mention your hormones are crazy, and if you are trying to nurse, you have to feed your baby every 2 hours, and some people don't even have the sense to offer to step outside when it's time for your baby to eat, they wait for YOU to tell them to leave.

My ultimate peeve though, is people who just show up without calling. When your still in the hospital that's one thing, you have to accept that people are going to be dropping in, and thats fine, but when you get home and you are trying to adjust to life with a new baby and someone has the nerve to show up at your house and lay on the doorbell without even calling to see if it would be okay to stop by (which they probably didn't call because they KNEW it wasn't okay to stop by but wanted to anyway) that is TOTALLY uncool!

AND when it comes to breastfeeding, don't make someone feel guilty about not doing it. In my case, I tried to nurse, and then I pumped. Whether I nursed or pumped I still had to supplement with formula every now and then because my body just couldn't keep up with the ounces my little one was taking in...so now, she is strictly on formula, and yes I felt guilty when I made the switch. Oddly enough, I can't even say why I felt so guilty, I think as a woman it is drilled into us that breastfeeding is so good for your baby, and I know the lactation consultants at the hospital where crazy about coming in and lecturing me about nursing, and staying patient (because believe it or not, nursing is hard work). The fact that everyone and their brother felt the need to ask me the breastfeeding question, and then give me "the look" when I answered with "No, not anymore" didn't help either.

Oh well, my baby is thriving and that is all that matters. But honestly, the ridiculousness of some people can just drive you crazy!

Beach Baby

We just got back from the beach! First major trip since having the little one....the trip was surprisingly not bad at all, Nags Head is about a 3 hour trip from Richmond, Virginia and Juliette slept the whole time!!!!

We went to the beach for a family reunion, and the house was packed with uncles, aunts, and cousins and of course my parents as well. Everyone loved Juliette (naturally) :) It was nice to have so many people (mostly my aunts) fuss all over her, and although it was still a lot of work taking care of a 4 week old, I was able to lay out for a few hours everyday by myself while my dad or my mom or aunts watched her in the house. However, a mom never really gets a break, and being a new mother only makes me appreciate my own mom that much more! It's hard work, nevermind we literally packed the whole house up for the trip- play mat, swing, pack and play, blankets, swaddles, clothes, bath lotion, bouncy chair ( you get the idea) and eventhough it was a "vacation" that word no longer includes the option of "sleeping in" anymore.

I really shouldn't complain too much, she's only getting up once a night, usually around 3 or 4 a.m. and then she usually gets up around 7, not bad at all especially since she usually goes back down around 9 a.m. for a pretty good nap which gives me the chance to pass back out :)

The ride back was great as well- she slept! Our next big trip we have planned is going up to Cape Cod- the dilemma= how do we get there? It's about a 13 hour drive (yuck) so my wonderful other half wants to fly. I am totally against this idea...have you ever been on a plane with a screaming baby? NOT PLEASANT! So, I have suggested taking a train, it will still be a long trip but at least we can get up and walk around if the baby is fussy...other half is against the train idea, of course. Normally I wouldn't even bother making a trip like this with an infant, but other half's family lives in Cape Cod, so it's important for us to get up there...we will see whether car, train, or plane wins out!

New Mom Tip

DON'T MOVE THE DIAPER

Changing a baby's diaper can be hard enough, and it's almost impossible to keep control of their "frog legs". The best advice ever though, don't move the diaper! I've made the mistake, it already seems like a million times, I take off the dirty diaper and throw it in the diaper genie and before I unfold the clean diaper and put it under my baby she has gone to the bathroom all over the changing pad and all over herself! My solution, I have the clean diaper unfolded and ready to go before I even undo the dirty diaper. I leave the dirty diaper under my baby while I wipe her down, once she's clean, I move the dirty diaper to the side and immediately put the clean diaper on her, THEN I close up the dirty diaper and toss it! That way if she goes, she goes in the clean diaper. I never would have thought, I would have to put so much thought into how to change a diaper!

My First Post!

I decided to create a blog, to write about my experiences as a new mom! My daughter, Juliette is 3 weeks old, and things are just starting to level out at home. I love the idea of documenting my experiences with her as she grows, and having an online diary that maybe one day, she will have the opportunity to look back on. Being a mom is definitely a "learning process" and each day brings new challenges. However in the short time that my daughter has been here, she has not disappointed...she amazes me everyday and is my absolute favorite person in the world!

I look forward to sharing stories!!!