Poop-face :)
Adore.
(Source: foreverfoolsoftime)
This just came in the mail for me today!!! I’m so excited!
After using my black Ju Ju Be “Spicy” diaper bag for a month, I decided it wasn’t really for me.. plus it was so heavy and bulky to carry around. It was time to change over to a more chic, classic design. Enter, this Timi & Leslie “Jessica” diaper bag. Swoon.. I’m in love, it’s just my style :)
A friend of mine recently started blogging. And she is REALLY good at it. Today she posted such a good post I had to share with all of you. Hope she doesn’t mind —
Planning for Parenthood by “Jacob’s Mom”
Parenthood is messy. And, unfortunately nothing can prepare for it – not even the movie Parenthood which I have watched at least 387 times in my life (so far).
I can’t tell you how many people told me before I got pregnant to enjoy the time I have now because EVERYTHING will change after the baby comes. How could I possibly grasp what they were trying to tell me? And, what’s even more disturbing is that I find myself trying to give the same useless advice to my friends without children. I pride myself in being a good communicator. I know how to get the message across to people, to make them understand, but this is not something that can be communicated. It simply needs to be experienced.
For me, it was in one ear and out the other. I would tell a colleague at work about my escapades over the weekend, which usually included calling it a night at 4am and staying in bed until 3 in the afternoon the next day. Of course, she had kids:
Her: You better enjoy that. Once you have a baby you will wonder what you did with all that free time.
Me: I know what I’m doing with my free time. I’m having fun and sleeping.
I would go about my day, leaving the conversation and unsolicited advice behind me. While I was pregnant the unsolicited advice and discouraging words continued. Here are a few responses I got to the following: “I’m so tired. I didn’t sleep at all last night.”
Them: You think you’re tired now? You just wait! Them: Your body is just getting ready for when the baby comes. Them: Get used to it! Them: You don’t know what tired is.
Yeah, yeah, I thought.
Then Jake was born. Woah. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TIRED WAS! I remember one night in particular, Jake was less than a week old. Dennis and I went downstairs to watch a recorded episode of Conan O’Brien (our last big purchase before the baby was born was a 60” LED). We sat down, pressed play and before we got to the first commercial we realized we were not going to be able to stay awake for the next 45 minutes of the show. It was 5pm. OK, I get it. You were right.
I stopped nursing after three weeks which meant we had to start buying formula. Not just regular formula, which is expensive enough, but the soy formula which is $5 more expensive. Oh, $25 per week. Cool. And more bibs. A lot more bibs. This baby spits up all the time. Get some burp cloths too. Oh, honey you know what we need? More bottles. Let’s try Dr. Brown’s this time. Eh, I don’t like these. Get some Avents. Get more Avents. Can you pick up some diapers on your way home? And batteries? The swing has gone through them again. Just pick up triple-A, double-A, C and D. I don’t think he fits into these diapers anymore. Let’s get the next size up. And you can grab more wipes too? Don’t forget the aquaphor. We need more sheets for the crib. Jake really needs a jumper. We should get one this weekend. We should probably get him a high chair too. I don’t think he has enough toys. His brain isn’t going to develop properly unless we get him a Leap Frog drum and musical table. OK, I get it. Kids are expensive. I am told this will never end (as I flash to insisting my dad buy lunch for the family on Sunday).
But, one thing I did continue to hear is “It’s all worth it”. This year was my first official Mother’s Day. I was pregnant with Jake last year so even though I felt like it counted (since I had been carrying him around for what felt like two years), he wasn’t in my life yet. Jake woke up at 6:30am on Mother’s Day. Dennis rescued him from his crib, changed him and brought him back to bed with us. He looked at me and smiled, throwing his little body and big head carelessly onto me. He put his head on my pillow, face to face with me. I leaned in quick towards him and stopped, nose to nose. He giggled, showing off his six baby teeth. I did it over and over again. Each time was met with the same big smile and loud giggles. OK, I get it. It’s totally worth it.
Amen
(Source: spiritualinspiration, via simplysillymettc)
Today is a tough day for so many women. I remember exactly how I felt last May when this day rolled around. We spent the entire day with family and friends, and I was the only one who wasn’t celebrating Mother’s Day as a mother. It broke my heart, especially because just two months prior, I had found out about my PCOS. Instead of a little one to hug and kiss, I was taking Clomid. Instead of a card, I had Ovidrel. And instead of laughter, I had tears.
But this year, it’s different. I’m so thankful for today, to be able to be called a Mom. But I’m also thankful for last year, because I appreciate this year so much more. I’m stronger because of last year, and I’m a different person because of last year. I didn’t know it at the time, but my struggles are what made me stronger, and inevitably, I think it will make me a better mommy for James.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who are expecting, for all of you first time moms, and for the rest of the moms out there.
And for those of you who are still trying, don’t lose hope. I am praying for you today that your hearts be comforted.
(Source: krikeyy, via sheblusheswatermelonpink)
(via justjules)
First time in the Moby Wrap —
Success! James love it :)
Here are some updates on me:
Weight: I’ve lost 22 lbs already!! I’m about 9 lbs away from what I started as, but I’d like to lose about 19 total (or more) by the time I go back to work.
Down there: Things are getting better and better every day. I had a 1st degree tear during labor, so I have a few stitches that still haven’t disolved yet.
Milk supply: It’s good - I’m starting to make more milk than we can get through. I think we have to start freezing the stuff soon.
Swelling: Dude, I can wear my sneakers again! It’s so nice to have my feet back :) I still can’t fit my engagement ring, but I got my wedding band back on - very exciting!
Hormones: Really not too bad. I only had a few meltdowns last week. Lots of things made me cry, but I’ve always been a pretty emotional person, so I’m not sure if this is new, or if I’m just being me.. :)
James is 2 weeks old today!
I can’t believe it’s already been 2 weeks.. it has all gone by way too fast. And I’m already dreading the day I have to go back to work and leave my sweet boy all day (14 weeks left..).
Here’s a few things that have happened these past two weeks:
Breastfeeding: This was the most stressful situation for me. I wanted to breastfeed all through my pregnancy, but was under the notion that if it didn’t work out, I wouldn’t become the stressed out mother who forced herself to continue even if it wasn’t working. I decided before he was born that if it didn’t work, we’d do formula, and it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.
After he was born, I tried to breastfeed for 5 days. And because I have flat nipples (TMI) it was hard for James to latch on properly. The lactation consultants at the hospital gave me a nipple shield and that seemed to help a lot. I was producing a lot of colostrum, and James had a really great latch, but the pain I felt on my nipples every time he fed was excruciating. I got blisters, I was bleeding, and I could tell James wasn’t eating enough. On top of the fact that it took an hour for me to breastfeed (30 minutes on each side). Finally, my husband sat me down and suggested we try something else. I hesitated. As much as I hated the pain, I loved to look down at my son and see that I was able to provide in such a beautiful way for him. I broke down crying, thinking I had not given it enough time, and that I was giving up too soon. Finally I came to my senses, and since then, we’ve decided that I would exclusively pump and feed him breastmilk. Essentially, it’s the same. James is getting what he needs, and I am still able to supply it. I’ve been pumping every 2-3 hours everyday, and I’ve seen my supply go up from 2 oz to 3-4 oz each time. So far, so good.
Weight: He dropped some weight shortly after he was born, which I know is pretty normal, but I’m thinking he’s gained it back and then some. We have his 2 week appointment tomorrow morning, so we’ll see how much more he’s gained. :)
Changes: He changes everyday. It’s amazing. He’s still the same James from day 1, but each day, his features and personality are more and more enhanced. And my love for him grows each day.
Sleep: Oh my gosh. He is SUCH a good baby. I can’t believe how good he is about sleeping. James sleeps about 20 hours a day, and, not bragging, but he sleeps through the night and needs to be woken up for feeding. I hear all of this can change after 2 weeks, but we’ll see :) I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Tongue-tied: James was born with a long frenulum (the connective tissue underneath your tongue). It wasn’t the worst case scenario, but our pediatrician still recommended that we snip it now before it developed into a speech impediment later on in life. We went last week and got it done, there was a drop of blood, he cried for a bit and then everything was back to normal. Like he didn’t even realize anything had happened.
Newborn photos: We got these done last Tuesday - I can not wait to see how they turned out. The photographer we went with was a dream come true. And James was a perfect model - slept the whole time, and didn’t poop or pee on anyone :)
Faces: I love to just stare at him, and I love all the faces he makes in his sleep and when he’s awake. Sometimes he looks like an old man, and other times he looks just like his daddy. When he’s upset and crying, he looks like me. Go figure :)
Hubby and I are so overwhelmed with love for this little man. He is such a blessing in our lives and we just can’t imagine our lives without him.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
luvin30 replied to your post: Right now
What kind did you buy?
I got two of these in black so I could have one while the other was in the wash. It is great so far. Highly recommend!
I am blogging and pumping at the same time.
“How?” you ask?
Breastpump bra, my friend. Best invention ever. I have hands again.