Things every new mom should know...

...and other crap I have learned over the last 3 months.

• How to swaddle a baby.
• The best method for breastfeeding in a very public convention center while surrounded by windows overlooking the street.
• Strategic diaper changing to ensure that you don't get pee all over you or a baby foot in poo.
• How to change a diaper on your lap, on the car seat, or anywhere that does not have a counter or baby changing table.
• The location of at least one decent bathroom with above mentioned changing table (i.e. Ike@ which also offers free diapers).
• Restaurants, stores, etc. that DO NOT have the proper set up for changing or feeding your baby so you can politely choose to no longer frequent them.
• How to make a bottle, hold a baby, tie your shoe and do your taxes all at the same time.
• Or how to maneuver a cumbersome car seat without dropping your newborn while shouldering an overstuffed diaper bag and shoving your stroller into the back of your car.
• The essentials of a diaper bag which interestingly enough includes more than just diapers.
• What outfits can be shit on and tossed in a public place and which ones can't.
• How to burp a baby and catch any spit up before a drop hits your clothes or the ground.
• The best time to sleep, eat, shower, or read a book...which incidentially IS when your baby is sleeping.
• That there IS some truth to the theories in those books about raising a baby...but you can't write a book on a mom's intuition about her own baby. Trust yourself.
• Sometimes you have to relinquish care of your baby to someone other than yourself...for your sanity and for your baby.
• Babies cry...that's what they do. Doesn't make you a bad parent if it happens in the grocery, or the restaurant, or some other very inconvenient time.
• A selfish society and unfortunately maybe even feminism have created a world where people no longer help out pregnant women or new moms. Be prepared to open your own doors, lug your baby around without any offer of assistance, stand holding your baby and the diaper bag and whatever else you have while others sit and watch you. People don't care anymore and they should...so do your part to change that.
• People will talk to you, even if you don't want them to, and will comment on your baby. Get used to it even if you are like me and don't want to talk to the random cashier at the baby superstore...see above about people caring.
• Exercise promotes the release of endorphins...and helps lose baby weight.
• Post partum depression is real...be proactive about it and not embarassed.
• You CANNOT spoil a newborn by holding them. Whoever said you could is ridiculously cruel.
• Having said that, you DO NOT have to hold your baby all the time even though you likely want to.
• Flannel burp cloths or cloth diapers are GREAT for babies that spit up a lot.
• The right diaper bag can change everything.
• Get a baby sling/carrier with the right support so you will wear it with comfort and not a backache.
• Breastfeeding is hard work and valuable, if you can do it. If for some reason you can't, cut yourself some slack.
• Some women have happy labor and delivery stories...it is possible. I did even though I puked and peed on myself during some heavy contractions.
• Rollerblading and pushing a regular stroller is not recommended.
• Your husband or partner is NOT the enemy even if he puts the diaper on sideways and your baby pees all over everything...or worse, poops.
• And last but not least...YOU CAN DO IT!

First Mothers Day

I could not have asked for a better Mothers Day. We actually celebrated on Wednesday before SP's surgery because we were not sure how things would be on the actual day.

My wonderful husband got me a card that made me cry and a C@reBear because that's our nickname for Miss C. These two things were enough, truly they were...then SP said that I needed to "clean out the bear's ears" which totally confused me. When I checked, the bear was wearing a pair of diamond earrings. I was shocked to say the least but happy that he made it so special for me.

It's weird to think I am some little ones mom but as I have said before I cannot imagine my life without her in it. These last couple of months have been challenging but so worth it every time she smiles at me. I wasn't sure what kind of mom I would be especially after having loathed pregnancy with such an unimaginable intensity. But, thus far I think I am far better at the mom thing then I was as the incubator.

This mothers day is difficult because I am excited to be a mom but sad because my parents both lost theirs recently. I know how I felt at the possibility of losing my mom when she fought breast cancer and I am sure it pales in comparison to actually losing ones mom. I feel blessed to have had both of them in my life for so long and know that they both are smiling down on Dawn and I today with our new little girls.

To all the moms out there...HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Surgery

SP had surgery today on his shoulder and all went well. Thanks to Aunt Dawn for coming to watch Miss C. She loved her one-on-one time with you!

I am tired. Will write more later.

Happy Baby

Miss C is a happy baby and really doesn't hate the little seat as much as her previous picture would lead you to believe. However, these last couple of days the girl has been one fussy butt.

I am not sure if she's doing this so my going back to work will be easier, harder or if it has absolutely nothing to do with my return to work (which I know is the case) at all. She's really congested and I think suffering from some allergies. Dr. says to use saline nose spray but that's not really work. So I keep sucking boogers out of her nose and for the most part she endures this disgusting task without a fight.

Picture pages

Miss C LOVES this little blanket. She pulls the silky side up to her face and would sleep with it over her face if we'd let her.


Miss C HATES this seat at the moment this picture was taken. Other times, she is ok with sitting in it. I think I caught her when she was hungry or tired because that's honestly the only time she cries unless she's in pain like the thing in the eye incident.


Miss C LOVES K*ngs Island. She was perfect all day even when in poured down rain for 1.5 hours. We were there for 9 hours total and the only rides she took part in were via her stroller or the sling. Either way, she was content.

CRAZY

At this exact moment I have one 13 year old boy, one 12 year old boy, two 10 year old girls, a 2 month old baby and a gimp husband at my house. I might possibly be nuts for this undertaking, especially when you take into account that tomorrow we are all going to K*ngs Island. Might as well jump in with both feet, right?

Today while the girls were climbing trees and I had Miss C out on the deck. It was warm out, but a little windy. I went in to get something and SP starting yelling for me from out on the deck. Miss C had something in her eye which looked to be some tree partical that was blowing around. She was freaking out. I had to rush her into the house and promptly flush her eye with water.

Good lord! If I make it through tomorrow it will be a miracle.

Milestones II

Miss C is going to roll over soon I just know it. It's likely not going to be because she reached some major developmental milestone. Instead it will be because she HATES being on her stomach and the sheer degree of that will propel her onto her back.

Right now she gets all wound up and starts kicking her legs with a fury quite amazing in someone so tiny. She gets her left leg going strong and starts rocking as she screams in protest of her prone position. This week she has successfully managed to get her leg propped up and it really is just a matter of time before one of those screams flips her over.

She's also started doing this really cute (and sometimes scarey) thing where she grabs ahold of her blanket, or bib, or whatever she can get her hands on and pulls it up over her face. I like to sleep with my blankets up close to my face and I think this is her variation of that. It sorta freaks me out a bit because she quite literally covers her entire face and I am afraid she will obstruct her breathing. So, when we are not around I don't put anything near her that she could pull up to her face.