But apparently not quite as well as taking your baby out in public does!
In the last post I mentioned my monkey was having trouble passing things through his tiny digestive system. That problem resolved itself in a couple smallish explosions throughout the day after the post. However, in the last 48 hours, Parker has held it in. There has been a lot of grunting, kicking, screaming and crying on both of our parts in dealing with this issue. I was trying to just let him work it out, but finally this morning I called the doctor. I was PRAYING there was an ORAL...ORAL medicine I could give him to help out.
There is something I can give him.
And it ain't oral.
It's of the butt-insertion variety, aka suppositories.
I called the doctor on my way to the gym- yes I joined a gym near my house and they watch Parker while I attempt to get myself back to something resembling a woman and not a mom-blob. Anyway, the doctor told me about the baby "magic bullets" (if you have ever seen suppositories you are probably laughing now, if you have not, consider yourself lucky). Parker must have heard what we were saying and gotten very frightened. For when I was finishing the last set on the last machine I was doing today, a woman came over to me and said, "Do you have a baby in the daycare? He just pooped."
It is their policy not to change poopy diapers. Nice policy, eh?
By the way, she is being very general when she calls what my son did, poop. It was an explosion worthy of note on CNN or MSNBC. The crawl below would warn the public not to inhale unless absolutely necessary. The graphic over the reporters shoulder would be of woman and children running away with looks of panic and fear on their faces.
Needless to say when your torso is about 12 inches long and your mom keeps feeding you despite the fact that you have not released anything in 48 hours, crap is backed-up. The offending material almost reached his hair, which he does not have much of.
When I finally got it all cleaned up and put Pooper in the car seat to venture home, he yawned real big, smiled and passed out. No shit -ha!
This brings me to my next point. I can cuss something awful. I am good at it. I can throw 4 letter words into my conversation like nobody's f-ing business b-tches. F that S.
However, I am realizing that very soon Parker will be able to understand and mimic everything I say. Getting reigned in from your workout because your son took a major poo is one thing, but getting called out because your 2 year old cussed out the Daycare lady is another story. Especially if he does it correctly, meaning the cusses make sense- calling someone a sh*thead is very different from calling them a sh*tfoot or something, catch my drift?
I don't Parker to be the asshat in daycare. Damn, I shouldn't have said asshat...shi...da..I just can't seem to stop!
So I have started using phrases like:
Mother of Pearl
Jiminey Christmas
God Bless America
and my personal favorite- Sweet Corn
Sweet corn can be used in situations like- "Sweet corn, where did I leave my car keys?!" or "Sweet corn I stubbed my toe." or just yell "Sweet corn!" in place of any other cuss you may want to yell. If nothing else you will laugh, how can you not? It's sweet corn!
Finally, some people ask me how Josh is doing with "this." They say this.
I'm not sure if "this" is Parker, fatherhood in general or the crazy momwife I have become. Either way, Josh is doing great. So far I have come to realize parenthood is best played as a team sport. When one of us is slacking, stressed or has a heel injury, the other steps in with the tape and some ice and takes over.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Poop, drugs and rock n' roll
I am gearing up for another trip to G-ma and G-pa's house. We leave next Wednesday, I am mentally making my packing list now...5 days early.
One thing I know I need more of is diapers. When we went last time I took a new pack of 44 diapers, thinking that would be enough for a 5 day trip. I was off by 8 diapers and wouldn't you know they do not sell them in singles, so I had to buy another pack. This time I will know that and will come armed with the proper amount of poop-catchers. Although, as of this moment Parker has not pooped in about 14 hours and I am scared.
I am not scared because I think something is wrong, for gas is being passed, just no bowel. I am scared because I know there is an impending explosion and I am on the receiving end. It's like when you were a kid and you broke your mom's porcelain...something and attempted to glue it back together and placed it strategically back on the shelf so she will not see it. However, every time she went into the room where said broken-"repaired"- porcelain whatever was, you braced yourself for the inevitable. Your jaw tightened, you broke out in a a sweat and you were desperately looking for someone else to clean up your dirty work.
I'm thinking about cutting feet holes into a Ziploc freezer bag and just putting Parker in that until the explosion occurs.
Thoughts?
One reason for the non-poop issue may be this new infant anti-gas medicine I found called Gripe Water. Although I have come to LOVE Gripe Water and I really think the cause of his back-up is due to the fact that he has had more formula in the last 24 hours than breast milk due to the fact that I am trying to build up my supply in the freezer. I horde breast milk like a squirrel hordes nuts. They are like little frozen trophies or something. I cannot explain it, but if you have ever pumped/nursed a baby you understand.
Back to the Gripe Water. This stuff is like baby crack. If Parker gets the hiccups, which is often, I let him go until he starts to get pissy about them and then I give him half a dose of Gripe Water and presto, hiccups gone, happy baby back! If you know someone who is going to have a baby and you love them, you may want to investigate Gripe Water for them. It can be hard to find, but I talked to my pediatrician and she said if I can get my hands on it and it works, go for it. It is from Thailand or something, but like any desperate mother, if it works--I say GIVEITTOME!
Another item you may want to gift to a new mom is something from the website swaddledesigns.com, look at their swaddle blankets. Now, I know they sell blankets for swaddling everywhere and for a little less money. I am telling you, these swaddle blankets are the best!! They are big and soft and no matter how much Parker kicks his little feet, it does not come unswaddled. I have made it my mission to buy one of these for all the pregnant ladies I know. In return maybe I can get the fine swaddle design people to sponsor this blog or something...
Finally, I hate kid's cartoons and songs. We have attempted to watch The Backyardigans and some other show that involves a hamspter, turtle and so other animal and they sing a lot about teamwork. Instead Parker and I watch a lot of Will and Grace and Frasier because I think they have a good amount of quick-wit and intelligent humor. Two things I hope Parker (and all my children) posses. We also do not listen to any Disney or other silly children CD's in the car. We listen to Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and Dave Matthews to name a few. I want Parker to know where good music comes from. I tell him who is singing whatever song is on the radio and tell him any memories I may have linked to that song. (Don't worry, I make them G-rated). I think it will help him know me and the world of music a bit better than the "Wheels on the Bus" will. However, I have flashed forward to when he is in Kindergarten and while the other kids are singing "This Old Man" my son will be signing "All Along the Watchtower" and immediately be labeled a stoner.
Am I setting him up for failure?
P.S. Parker gives shout-outs to his aunt's Lynsey and Megan who both had birthday's this summer...
One thing I know I need more of is diapers. When we went last time I took a new pack of 44 diapers, thinking that would be enough for a 5 day trip. I was off by 8 diapers and wouldn't you know they do not sell them in singles, so I had to buy another pack. This time I will know that and will come armed with the proper amount of poop-catchers. Although, as of this moment Parker has not pooped in about 14 hours and I am scared.
I am not scared because I think something is wrong, for gas is being passed, just no bowel. I am scared because I know there is an impending explosion and I am on the receiving end. It's like when you were a kid and you broke your mom's porcelain...something and attempted to glue it back together and placed it strategically back on the shelf so she will not see it. However, every time she went into the room where said broken-"repaired"- porcelain whatever was, you braced yourself for the inevitable. Your jaw tightened, you broke out in a a sweat and you were desperately looking for someone else to clean up your dirty work.
I'm thinking about cutting feet holes into a Ziploc freezer bag and just putting Parker in that until the explosion occurs.
Thoughts?
One reason for the non-poop issue may be this new infant anti-gas medicine I found called Gripe Water. Although I have come to LOVE Gripe Water and I really think the cause of his back-up is due to the fact that he has had more formula in the last 24 hours than breast milk due to the fact that I am trying to build up my supply in the freezer. I horde breast milk like a squirrel hordes nuts. They are like little frozen trophies or something. I cannot explain it, but if you have ever pumped/nursed a baby you understand.
Back to the Gripe Water. This stuff is like baby crack. If Parker gets the hiccups, which is often, I let him go until he starts to get pissy about them and then I give him half a dose of Gripe Water and presto, hiccups gone, happy baby back! If you know someone who is going to have a baby and you love them, you may want to investigate Gripe Water for them. It can be hard to find, but I talked to my pediatrician and she said if I can get my hands on it and it works, go for it. It is from Thailand or something, but like any desperate mother, if it works--I say GIVEITTOME!
Another item you may want to gift to a new mom is something from the website swaddledesigns.com, look at their swaddle blankets. Now, I know they sell blankets for swaddling everywhere and for a little less money. I am telling you, these swaddle blankets are the best!! They are big and soft and no matter how much Parker kicks his little feet, it does not come unswaddled. I have made it my mission to buy one of these for all the pregnant ladies I know. In return maybe I can get the fine swaddle design people to sponsor this blog or something...
Finally, I hate kid's cartoons and songs. We have attempted to watch The Backyardigans and some other show that involves a hamspter, turtle and so other animal and they sing a lot about teamwork. Instead Parker and I watch a lot of Will and Grace and Frasier because I think they have a good amount of quick-wit and intelligent humor. Two things I hope Parker (and all my children) posses. We also do not listen to any Disney or other silly children CD's in the car. We listen to Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and Dave Matthews to name a few. I want Parker to know where good music comes from. I tell him who is singing whatever song is on the radio and tell him any memories I may have linked to that song. (Don't worry, I make them G-rated). I think it will help him know me and the world of music a bit better than the "Wheels on the Bus" will. However, I have flashed forward to when he is in Kindergarten and while the other kids are singing "This Old Man" my son will be signing "All Along the Watchtower" and immediately be labeled a stoner.
Am I setting him up for failure?
P.S. Parker gives shout-outs to his aunt's Lynsey and Megan who both had birthday's this summer...
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Did you know..?
We have successfully returned for our trip to Grandma's house and no one was run over by a reindeer!
I found out a few things about my baby while I was there and some of these may prove to either be helpful tips for you or sheer entertainment at the amazement of simple things to a new mom.
First of all I have gotten a lot of questions about the car seat I spoke about so much in this blog, pre-baby. We got it in the car and it is very secure. There is even a strap that goes under the actual seat in the car and hooks into something in the back of my car. It is so secure in fact that the person in the passenger seat cannot recline in anyway seeing how the seat fits perfectly behind it in the rear facing position. It will remain that way until Parker is about a year or so old.
Now when we took him from the NICU I was curious as to how I was going to get to take him.
Was I going to be allowed to carry him?
Was someone going to have to cart him out in a bassinet?
Is there a team of doctors and nurses who form some sort of conveyor belt and pass him from one to the next until he reaches the front door?
When I asked one of his nurses this question she said that I would have to get the car seat and bring it into the NICU so they can a) see that I have a car seat and b) that Parker fits in it properly. Now, I do not have one of those all popular carrier things that hook into the base in the car and also into the stroller. I'm sorry if you have one, I thought that seemed a bit useless. (However, after this, who's laughing now?!) I tried to explain all of this to the nurse and tell her I went to great lengths to get the car seat in the car correctly (clearly she does not read the blog) and it is rather big. I asked if one of the nurse's could just come to car with me and check all that stuff out. They went around and around with me about this. Suggesting I take the car seat out of my car, put it on a wheelchair, wheel it up to the NICU, let them check it, put Parker in it, put the car seat back in the wheelchair-with Parker- and roll out.
Ummm
WhAt!?
Does that make sense to anyone?
Take a perfectly secure car seat out and then go careening down the halls of Hopkins with my 2 week old-recovering from surgery son?
In the end a nurse who throws caution to the wind along with dumb rules, wheeled him to the car in a bassinet, barely looked at the car seat and rolled herself back into the hospital.
Anyway- things I learned while at G-ma and G-pa's house.
1. At one of the baby classes Josh and I went to they told us not to give our baby water. They said, "Babies don't get thirsty. There is plenty of water in breast milk." Well.
What I learned was they were wrong. Water in a bottle not only helps quiet a crying-screaming baby, but it also teaches them how to use a bottle. He does not drink a lot of water, maybe a ounce and hour, but he likes to have a little something to suck on pre-meal. An aqua-tizer if you will.
2. Formula is not the devil. I breastfeed Parker. I am not particularly a fan of breastfeeding as I have mentioned. However, I want him to be as healthy as possible, so I do it. However, he is a slow eater. It takes him about 40 to 60 minutes to nurse and I am suppose to nurse him every 3 hours. That means I live my day in two hour increments of when I am not breastfeeding. I did not want to spend 1/3 of my visit at my mom's in a room by myself with Parker, nursing. So I rented a pump before we left (*I will come back to this pump rental). I can pump out all my milk in 10 minutes, while someone else is feeding my monkey. When we are out and I cannot pump and I do not want to take breast milk for fear it may spoil, I bring formula. He likes it and gets one or two formula bottles a day and I am happier. It is a personal choice, but it really works for me.
Yes I rented a pump and no it is not gross. My milk does not touch anything that anyone else's milk touched, it is basically the size of a car battery and just provides the motor for the pump action.
3. Finally and most important- My mom is the most incredible resource I never knew I had. When I was pregnant with Parker I always said that I wanted to come home from the hospital and have it just be Parker, Josh and me for a week or two before we had any visitor, including grandparents. I know I had a rocky start and that threw off my idea, but I couldn't be happier about my messed up plan. Ladies- mostly new moms and pending new moms- know that your own mother, or if she is not in the picture, your mother-in-law is the best resource. They love you and that baby more than anything and they will do whatever you need them to. They will smile and tell you that you are doing a great job even while you are crying because you feel guilty about introducing formula. Your mom will take the baby to make sure you go have fun with your sister so that you can remember what it is like to be Nikki er yourself for a little bit. She will take the baby on the last night of the visit so that you can get a full night's sleep so you are able to drive the next day.
Don't get me wrong husband's are great, but no one knows what you are thinking and feeling like a mother.
When you feel like everything is floating above you, she will help you pin it down.
I found out a few things about my baby while I was there and some of these may prove to either be helpful tips for you or sheer entertainment at the amazement of simple things to a new mom.
First of all I have gotten a lot of questions about the car seat I spoke about so much in this blog, pre-baby. We got it in the car and it is very secure. There is even a strap that goes under the actual seat in the car and hooks into something in the back of my car. It is so secure in fact that the person in the passenger seat cannot recline in anyway seeing how the seat fits perfectly behind it in the rear facing position. It will remain that way until Parker is about a year or so old.
Now when we took him from the NICU I was curious as to how I was going to get to take him.
Was I going to be allowed to carry him?
Was someone going to have to cart him out in a bassinet?
Is there a team of doctors and nurses who form some sort of conveyor belt and pass him from one to the next until he reaches the front door?
When I asked one of his nurses this question she said that I would have to get the car seat and bring it into the NICU so they can a) see that I have a car seat and b) that Parker fits in it properly. Now, I do not have one of those all popular carrier things that hook into the base in the car and also into the stroller. I'm sorry if you have one, I thought that seemed a bit useless. (However, after this, who's laughing now?!) I tried to explain all of this to the nurse and tell her I went to great lengths to get the car seat in the car correctly (clearly she does not read the blog) and it is rather big. I asked if one of the nurse's could just come to car with me and check all that stuff out. They went around and around with me about this. Suggesting I take the car seat out of my car, put it on a wheelchair, wheel it up to the NICU, let them check it, put Parker in it, put the car seat back in the wheelchair-with Parker- and roll out.
Ummm
WhAt!?
Does that make sense to anyone?
Take a perfectly secure car seat out and then go careening down the halls of Hopkins with my 2 week old-recovering from surgery son?
In the end a nurse who throws caution to the wind along with dumb rules, wheeled him to the car in a bassinet, barely looked at the car seat and rolled herself back into the hospital.
Anyway- things I learned while at G-ma and G-pa's house.
1. At one of the baby classes Josh and I went to they told us not to give our baby water. They said, "Babies don't get thirsty. There is plenty of water in breast milk." Well.
What I learned was they were wrong. Water in a bottle not only helps quiet a crying-screaming baby, but it also teaches them how to use a bottle. He does not drink a lot of water, maybe a ounce and hour, but he likes to have a little something to suck on pre-meal. An aqua-tizer if you will.
2. Formula is not the devil. I breastfeed Parker. I am not particularly a fan of breastfeeding as I have mentioned. However, I want him to be as healthy as possible, so I do it. However, he is a slow eater. It takes him about 40 to 60 minutes to nurse and I am suppose to nurse him every 3 hours. That means I live my day in two hour increments of when I am not breastfeeding. I did not want to spend 1/3 of my visit at my mom's in a room by myself with Parker, nursing. So I rented a pump before we left (*I will come back to this pump rental). I can pump out all my milk in 10 minutes, while someone else is feeding my monkey. When we are out and I cannot pump and I do not want to take breast milk for fear it may spoil, I bring formula. He likes it and gets one or two formula bottles a day and I am happier. It is a personal choice, but it really works for me.
Yes I rented a pump and no it is not gross. My milk does not touch anything that anyone else's milk touched, it is basically the size of a car battery and just provides the motor for the pump action.
3. Finally and most important- My mom is the most incredible resource I never knew I had. When I was pregnant with Parker I always said that I wanted to come home from the hospital and have it just be Parker, Josh and me for a week or two before we had any visitor, including grandparents. I know I had a rocky start and that threw off my idea, but I couldn't be happier about my messed up plan. Ladies- mostly new moms and pending new moms- know that your own mother, or if she is not in the picture, your mother-in-law is the best resource. They love you and that baby more than anything and they will do whatever you need them to. They will smile and tell you that you are doing a great job even while you are crying because you feel guilty about introducing formula. Your mom will take the baby to make sure you go have fun with your sister so that you can remember what it is like to be Nikki er yourself for a little bit. She will take the baby on the last night of the visit so that you can get a full night's sleep so you are able to drive the next day.
Don't get me wrong husband's are great, but no one knows what you are thinking and feeling like a mother.
When you feel like everything is floating above you, she will help you pin it down.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Have Baby Will Travel
Parker, Abby and I went out on an adventure to see Grammy and Grandpa.
We left on Thursday.
I started packing on Monday.
I successfully packed everything we needed and I do not think I forgot anything. Although it is hard to forget something when you pack EVERYTHING. My Santa Fe was beyond packed. Poor Parker had to hold his own suitcase on his lap for the whole trip.
Kidding.
Sort of.
My goal was to leave my house by 10a.m. I have said that since the birth of my little monkey (that is what I call Parker) time is merely a suggestion. I try not to watch the clock too much, but I wanted to get on the road and quick. After I packed the car and monkey had another satisfying meal at McBoob, we were off.
We were three miles into the trip here and Abby pukes in the front seat. I had to pull over in a church parking lot and clean up my dog, who apparently was recovering from some sort of a bender from the night before.
I got her all cleaned up thanks to a bottle of water I had brought for myself to drink, thanks Abby. And we were back on our way to Grandma's house. We got about another 30 miles, Annapolis, and I needed to get some cash. I go the the Bank of America's ATM only to find that my debit card does not work. Long story short, Josh needed a new debit card and I guess BOA thought that meant I needed a new one too. The one I had, was not the new one.
I went on, cashless.
I went on to Chil-Fil-A to get hangover Abby some nuggets to settle her stomach. For every college graduate knows grease helps a hangover.
We continued on our journey to Ocean City with all the other tourons.
Except for an intense need to pee at about the Easton mark (90-ish miles from our desitnation) and not quite sure how to deal with Parker in this situation, the trip was uneventful, after the first few events.
P.S. I did not pee until I got to my parent's house. I basically threw Parker into Lynsey's arms, let Abby roam the yard and I sprinted into the house barely making it to the toilet. At one point in the ride I considered putting on one of Parker's diapers and let things flow.
P.P.S. Abby was not drunk. I think she was a bit carsick. Who knows.
We are 24 hours into the vaca. I will report back with details. Although as a teaser, my mom took Parker to the Crab Cake Factory and she let this random OC trash take his picture and then they thought mom was Parker's mom. This all occurred while I was getting a Delmarvelous haricut. It's been fun.
We left on Thursday.
I started packing on Monday.
I successfully packed everything we needed and I do not think I forgot anything. Although it is hard to forget something when you pack EVERYTHING. My Santa Fe was beyond packed. Poor Parker had to hold his own suitcase on his lap for the whole trip.
Kidding.
Sort of.
My goal was to leave my house by 10a.m. I have said that since the birth of my little monkey (that is what I call Parker) time is merely a suggestion. I try not to watch the clock too much, but I wanted to get on the road and quick. After I packed the car and monkey had another satisfying meal at McBoob, we were off.
We were three miles into the trip here and Abby pukes in the front seat. I had to pull over in a church parking lot and clean up my dog, who apparently was recovering from some sort of a bender from the night before.
I got her
I went on, cashless.
I went on to Chil-Fil-A to get hangover Abby some nuggets to settle her stomach. For every college graduate knows grease helps a hangover.
We continued on our journey to Ocean City with all the other tourons.
Except for an intense need to pee at about the Easton mark (90-ish miles from our desitnation) and not quite sure how to deal with Parker in this situation, the trip was uneventful, after the first few events.
P.S. I did not pee until I got to my parent's house. I basically threw Parker into Lynsey's arms, let Abby roam the yard and I sprinted into the house barely making it to the toilet. At one point in the ride I considered putting on one of Parker's diapers and let things flow.
P.P.S. Abby was not drunk. I think she was a bit carsick. Who knows.
We are 24 hours into the vaca. I will report back with details. Although as a teaser, my mom took Parker to the Crab Cake Factory and she let this random OC trash take his picture
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Post Pregnancy Body and You
I was determined that after I was not pregnant I would not wear maternity clothes. I have managed to stick to this. Now, before you go getting all jealous and then congratulating me through clenched teeth, let me explain.
For the first few days after Parker was born, I wore tank tops and yoga capri's (both non-maternity) everywhere I went...everywhere. These were the same clothes I wore to work out in the early pregnancy months as my belly grew until I just could not wear them anymore. This effectively stretched them out for me making it possible to wear them again immediately after having Parker. However, one can only wear old gym clothes so many times before people start to notice the repetitiveness and well the smell.
Side story: While wearing one of these lovely stretch out tired outfits I had an interesting encounter at a WAWA that made me realize I needed to step it up, fashion speaking. My mom and I were on our way home from the NICU and we were STARVING. We stopped at Wawa to pick up some sandwiches for a fancy dashboard dinner. At this point in the whole NICU mess, I was still pretty sore from the c-section and was usually being carted around in a wheelchair. By the end of the day my feet were swollen because my blood pressure was so off because of the stress and I usually had a headache. My point, I was feeling and likely looking like crap.
So I went into Wawa, not realizing I was being sized up and judged by the people inside and ordered my sandwich. I was so uncomfortable that I told my mom I had to just go sit in the car. I slowly...very slowly waddling to the car and made my way to the passenger door (I was not allowed to drive yet) I hear someone talking behind me. I did not know anyone at the Wawa and was not in the mood to make friends at the moment, so I ignored it. However, the voice got a bit louder and firmer. A lady...a big fat lady in a beat-up minivan was parked next to us. She was talking to me. When I realized what she was saying, I found she asked me if I was pregnant. When I said no while barely looking at her, she probed some more asking if I had just had a baby.
Now, what about me could have prompted that question? I mean really? What?
I mumbled some answer resembling yes and tried to hoist myself in the car without furthering this discussion because anytime I mention NICU I started to cry and I was getting sick of crying in front of strangers.
As I was struggling to get in the car she proceeded to ask me about the delivery and the baby. As I said, I was in no mood to make friends in the Wawa parking lot of a town I do not even live in, so I barked some answer about no wanting to talk about it and she drove away. She was obviously pissed too.
She was pissed off!? She just called me fat and then asked about my personal life.
On the drive home I was reflecting back on the situation and decided that if I had a slightly better ensemble, perhaps strangers would not assume I was pregnant and attempt to have a conversation with me about it.
So one day on the way to the NICU my mom and I stopped at Any Taylor (only because it was on the way) and I got 3 dresses. This meant I was either wearing smelling old stretched out gym clothes or a nice stylish dress. Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum! P.S. Don't judge me for going shopping on the way to the NICU. If helps, I cried in the dressing room.
I also quickly found out that to pump or breastfeed in a dress means you have to practically fully disrobe, which is not always convenient.
This all led to a shopping trip this past week with my mom, Parker and me. Parker's first trip to the mall and possibly first step down the rainbow path leading to Gay-ville. First of all, I had to buy a size bigger than I care to admit. My mom is so great, she was in the cheering section of every dressing room saying, "You are only 4 weeks postpartum! This size is not forever!" God willing!
I do not want to be this size forever. Truth be told I am only 1 or 2 sizes up from what I normally wear, depending on the day, and I have hit the weight loss plateau and those last 5 to 10 will NOT GO AWAY! I did manage to find some normal clothes that will fashionably cover my tail until I fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes. I still have to buy jeans, I have none and I am DREADING that, pray for me.
All of the weight loss stuff is frustrating because I cannot officially work out yet. I take Parker (and sometimes Abby) on 2 mile(ish) walks everyday, but I need to build up the endurance. I go to the doctor this week and if she gives me the all clear I will be joining a gym and Mission: Lose the Rest of the Baby Weight will commence. My neighbor had a little girl a month before I had Parker and sometimes we take the kids for a walk together, which is fun, but then I feel guilty because when I come home, poor Abby is still sitting by the door like "What the hell? I used to go with you on those walks!" If my neighbor cannot go on the walk then Abby is allowed to come. Two strollers and two dogs (neighbor has a dog too) is just too much.
In the walks involving both Parker and Abby craziness ensues. And by craziness, I mean that people I walk past think I am crazy for walking them both. I'm not going to say it is easy and I am not going to deny running over Abby's back paw a time or two, but we manage. Yes, yes I have run over Abby's back paw more than once. She howls, people stare, it's not pretty.
I'm sure they all think that I am some sort of unfit mother, but whatever, read my previous entry about the town that is North Beach, Maryland and the people in it. Bless their hearts.
I am posting some pics here for those of you who have not seen any yet. Enjoy!
In the second picture, no that is not a baby earring...it's a snap, but the face is too precious to pass up!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Very Important Tip...
In my last entry, I completely forgot to add something that I know now and wish I knew last week when Parker came home.
If you plan on breastfeeding I have a few things to say about that. First off all it is a personal choice whether you do or do not breastfeed. Don't let anyone bully you into doing or not doing something you want to do, either way.
Second, after my first three weeks of pumping and breastfeeding, I was ready to throw in the towel. Not because it was hard or hurt, which I hear it is/does for some ladies. Parker took right to it and has not looked back since. But one night/morning...3a.m.-ish...I was feeding him and realized that for as long as I plan on doing this breastfeeding thing, I am the food machine to him. Every time he eats I will need to be there or have pumped to provide the food for him. I became very overwhelmed and was ready to quit right there.
I only plan on doing this for 3 or 4 months. I do love the closeness, but jeezey peezey sometimes it's enough already!
Anyway, that has nothing to do with my tip, it is just a rant.
My tip is, if you do plan on breastfeeding invest in at least 2 very comfortable nursing bras that you can sleep in. Also invest in some great nursing pads (or nipple pads as I have started calling them). I have disposable ones from Medela that are great, but I have big plans to go buy some cloth washable ones. The bra I wear 100% of the time is a racerback sports nursing bra that I got from Motherhood for less than $20...I have 3 of them. Way comfy!
Anyway, no one told me to wear a bra and nipple pads to bed when you are nursing. DO IT!
Here's why:
Mind you I pumped every 3 hours or so when Parker was in the NICU, so I was up at 3a.m. pumping. I did not wear a bra to bed at this point. I'm not sure why, but I did not have a problem at all with leaking. I pumped my nearly 3 oz. and rolled over and went back to sleep. However, when that baby was home and my boobs could hear (I swear they can hear now!) him cry the second he opened his mouth, liquid was coming out me me and Parker! The first night I changed my shirt 4 times and I could have easily done it 8 times, but after several failed attempts at routing around in both my drawers and Josh's in the middle of the night/morning I just gave up. Each time I changed my shirt it was a matter of mere seconds before the shirt was drenched as if I had just stepped off the Whitewater Rapids ride at Hershey Park.
That- my friends- is mommyhood. Sleeping in milk drenched shirts because you were just to tired to realize if you put on a bra and nipple pads, this problem would easily be solved.
Go forth and nurse or go forth and bottle feed, either way, I have found a full baby is a happy baby...as long as the diaper is clean
P.S. I am told by a veteran mom and generally knowledgeable lady that cabbage leaves also help leaking in a pinch, but I am fresh out of cabbage leaves!
If you plan on breastfeeding I have a few things to say about that. First off all it is a personal choice whether you do or do not breastfeed. Don't let anyone bully you into doing or not doing something you want to do, either way.
Second, after my first three weeks of pumping and breastfeeding, I was ready to throw in the towel. Not because it was hard or hurt, which I hear it is/does for some ladies. Parker took right to it and has not looked back since. But one night/morning...3a.m.-ish...I was feeding him and realized that for as long as I plan on doing this breastfeeding thing, I am the food machine to him. Every time he eats I will need to be there or have pumped to provide the food for him. I became very overwhelmed and was ready to quit right there.
I only plan on doing this for 3 or 4 months. I do love the closeness, but jeezey peezey sometimes it's enough already!
Anyway, that has nothing to do with my tip, it is just a rant.
My tip is, if you do plan on breastfeeding invest in at least 2 very comfortable nursing bras that you can sleep in. Also invest in some great nursing pads (or nipple pads as I have started calling them). I have disposable ones from Medela that are great, but I have big plans to go buy some cloth washable ones. The bra I wear 100% of the time is a racerback sports nursing bra that I got from Motherhood for less than $20...I have 3 of them. Way comfy!
Anyway, no one told me to wear a bra and nipple pads to bed when you are nursing. DO IT!
Here's why:
Mind you I pumped every 3 hours or so when Parker was in the NICU, so I was up at 3a.m. pumping. I did not wear a bra to bed at this point. I'm not sure why, but I did not have a problem at all with leaking. I pumped my nearly 3 oz. and rolled over and went back to sleep. However, when that baby was home and my boobs could hear (I swear they can hear now!) him cry the second he opened his mouth, liquid was coming out me me and Parker! The first night I changed my shirt 4 times and I could have easily done it 8 times, but after several failed attempts at routing around in both my drawers and Josh's in the middle of the night/morning I just gave up. Each time I changed my shirt it was a matter of mere seconds before the shirt was drenched as if I had just stepped off the Whitewater Rapids ride at Hershey Park.
That- my friends- is mommyhood. Sleeping in milk drenched shirts because you were just to tired to realize if you put on a bra and nipple pads, this problem would easily be solved.
Go forth and nurse or go forth and bottle feed, either way, I have found a full baby is a happy baby...as long as the diaper is clean
P.S. I am told by a veteran mom and generally knowledgeable lady that cabbage leaves also help leaking in a pinch, but I am fresh out of cabbage leaves!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
I'm back....I think
Parker is officially 3 weeks old today! We gave him a bath and took him for a walk to celebrate.
I guess since I gave you the titillating teaser of the pending grocery shopping trip that did occur this weekend, I will fill you in on how his first trip to Safeway went down.
Josh and I discussed our plan of attack before we left for the store. We had several possible options and routes we could have gone. Below are some of the top options we came up with:
-Every man for him/herself. This would mean we each would race through the store, grabbing what we needed in a mad dash then throwing the items on the belt and racing out of the store all before Parker had a chance to even think about crying or pooping. The problem here aside from the obvious ridiculousness of it, is that all Parker really does is cry and poop (and eat) and he is very good at all of those things. The chances of two rookie parents beating him at that game are slim to none and we realized that very quickly. See how well Parker has us trained?!
-Man on man offensive approach. In this game plan, Josh would take the coupons and get all those items and I would get the produce, lunch meat and other non-coupon items and we would eventually meet at checkout stand 10 and pray we did not duplicate any items, which enviably we would. Aside from the multiples of the same item, we also realized that if Parker did have a crying fit and I need to go change or feed him, I would be slowing the team down because I would not be pulling my weight, clearly not the goal here.
-Finally, we decided on a 2 on 1 defensive approach. I put Parker in the baby holster (which he LOVES!! Proof itself there is a God and he is smiling on me.) We moved quickly, but not panicky through the store together getting the appropriate amount of each item. The trip was free of crying fits and poopy diapers...Parker did well too.
I have come to realize a few things in the week that Parker has been home. Some of you are veterans at the mom game and will probably laugh at how "normal" these realizations are and some of you are son to be moms who think you have heard these things 100 times before and therefore may skip over this portion of the blog (big mistake!) and there is another group of you who are not moms yet, but will be in the future. To the last two groups mentions- read what I am about to say. Take it in. Do not over look it. I would not lie to you. No matter how much you think you know about what it is to be a mom and take care of a baby, you know nothing.
Babies are the most overwhelming challenge you will encounter. It is a strange feeling of loving this baby more than you can even imagine right now, but also, some how being terrified of it. I know babies are resourceful and amazing beings, but they are scary as hell. You are responsible for everything they do, everything they eat, everything they don't do, how they sleep. You. Are. Responsible. For. EVERYTHING. And they do not give you a damn clue on how to handle it.
Breastfeeding is great for weight loss, but it is also stressful and draining (at least for now.) I have lost 25 pounds since Parker was born and if you read the beginning of this entry you know that it's been 3 weeks. I still have about 10 to 15 more before I am at my pre-baby weight and about 30 to 40 more after that before I am Hollywood thin. I love being able to nurse Parker, but there is a small sense of confinement to it. However, I would still recommend it to anyone who is interested. It is very cool to be able to give your baby the food he needs to thrive and growth, its very cycle of life- mother earth kinda stuff.
You will be more excited about another person's poop than you ever thought possible. I love it when Parker poops because it means everything is working and he eating enough. There is just nothing really more to say about that, just get ready to excited about shit.
Time is merely a suggestion on how to organize your day. If you let the clock tell you when to eat, when to change the baby, when to put the baby to bed, when to give the baby a bath, you will drive yourself nuts. Just go with the flow and only look at the clock to see if it is too early in the day to eat the ice cream that is still hanging out in the freezer from when you were pregnant. Even then, to hell with it, eat the ice cream, the baby needs calcium! Bottom line, do what feels right when it feels right.
Baby blues are totally normal and ok and they seem to come and go with the breeze. Yesterday I had a really hard day. Parker has not been sleeping so well. Wait, what I mean is he sleeps fine, but getting him to sleep, only at night is damn near impossible. UNTIL...Grandma came and suggested we get him a mobile and put him in his crib at night. I was totally against this at first. Paker's "room" is on the second floor of our house. Our room is on the third. I was having serious abandonment issues. However, after a lot of tears (totally on my part) we decided to try out the crib on Monday night. He slept better than he has since he came home.
Babies can tell you what they want, you just have to listen to them and not put your own insecurities in the way. Parker wanted the crib. We listened and he did great in there.
In the end, no matter how ready you think you are to be a parent, you aren't. What is really happening when you think you are ready is that your heart finally convinced your head that is was going to be a doable thing. That you will be able to overcome this challenge. But you have no idea.
I do not say this to discourage anyone, but think about it, especially you first timers. We have no idea what we are doing. Other than younger siblings and summer babysitting gigs, we have had no training in this field. How could we possibly be ready? I am 3 weeks into mommyhood and I'm told it gets easier. The thing is which each new stage comes new challenges, but I think I am ready to take them on.
(P.S. sorry if there are a ton of typos, I have a Parker to tend to!)
I guess since I gave you the titillating teaser of the pending grocery shopping trip that did occur this weekend, I will fill you in on how his first trip to Safeway went down.
Josh and I discussed our plan of attack before we left for the store. We had several possible options and routes we could have gone. Below are some of the top options we came up with:
-Every man for him/herself. This would mean we each would race through the store, grabbing what we needed in a mad dash then throwing the items on the belt and racing out of the store all before Parker had a chance to even think about crying or pooping. The problem here aside from the obvious ridiculousness of it, is that all Parker really does is cry and poop (and eat) and he is very good at all of those things. The chances of two rookie parents beating him at that game are slim to none and we realized that very quickly. See how well Parker has us trained?!
-Man on man offensive approach. In this game plan, Josh would take the coupons and get all those items and I would get the produce, lunch meat and other non-coupon items and we would eventually meet at checkout stand 10 and pray we did not duplicate any items, which enviably we would. Aside from the multiples of the same item, we also realized that if Parker did have a crying fit and I need to go change or feed him, I would be slowing the team down because I would not be pulling my weight, clearly not the goal here.
-Finally, we decided on a 2 on 1 defensive approach. I put Parker in the baby holster (which he LOVES!! Proof itself there is a God and he is smiling on me.) We moved quickly, but not panicky through the store together getting the appropriate amount of each item. The trip was free of crying fits and poopy diapers...Parker did well too.
I have come to realize a few things in the week that Parker has been home. Some of you are veterans at the mom game and will probably laugh at how "normal" these realizations are and some of you are son to be moms who think you have heard these things 100 times before and therefore may skip over this portion of the blog (big mistake!) and there is another group of you who are not moms yet, but will be in the future. To the last two groups mentions- read what I am about to say. Take it in. Do not over look it. I would not lie to you. No matter how much you think you know about what it is to be a mom and take care of a baby, you know nothing.
Babies are the most overwhelming challenge you will encounter. It is a strange feeling of loving this baby more than you can even imagine right now, but also, some how being terrified of it. I know babies are resourceful and amazing beings, but they are scary as hell. You are responsible for everything they do, everything they eat, everything they don't do, how they sleep. You. Are. Responsible. For. EVERYTHING. And they do not give you a damn clue on how to handle it.
Breastfeeding is great for weight loss, but it is also stressful and draining (at least for now.) I have lost 25 pounds since Parker was born and if you read the beginning of this entry you know that it's been 3 weeks. I still have about 10 to 15 more before I am at my pre-baby weight and about 30 to 40 more after that before I am Hollywood thin. I love being able to nurse Parker, but there is a small sense of confinement to it. However, I would still recommend it to anyone who is interested. It is very cool to be able to give your baby the food he needs to thrive and growth, its very cycle of life- mother earth kinda stuff.
You will be more excited about another person's poop than you ever thought possible. I love it when Parker poops because it means everything is working and he eating enough. There is just nothing really more to say about that, just get ready to excited about shit.
Time is merely a suggestion on how to organize your day. If you let the clock tell you when to eat, when to change the baby, when to put the baby to bed, when to give the baby a bath, you will drive yourself nuts. Just go with the flow and only look at the clock to see if it is too early in the day to eat the ice cream that is still hanging out in the freezer from when you were pregnant. Even then, to hell with it, eat the ice cream, the baby needs calcium! Bottom line, do what feels right when it feels right.
Baby blues are totally normal and ok and they seem to come and go with the breeze. Yesterday I had a really hard day. Parker has not been sleeping so well. Wait, what I mean is he sleeps fine, but getting him to sleep, only at night is damn near impossible. UNTIL...Grandma came and suggested we get him a mobile and put him in his crib at night. I was totally against this at first. Paker's "room" is on the second floor of our house. Our room is on the third. I was having serious abandonment issues. However, after a lot of tears (totally on my part) we decided to try out the crib on Monday night. He slept better than he has since he came home.
Babies can tell you what they want, you just have to listen to them and not put your own insecurities in the way. Parker wanted the crib. We listened and he did great in there.
In the end, no matter how ready you think you are to be a parent, you aren't. What is really happening when you think you are ready is that your heart finally convinced your head that is was going to be a doable thing. That you will be able to overcome this challenge. But you have no idea.
I do not say this to discourage anyone, but think about it, especially you first timers. We have no idea what we are doing. Other than younger siblings and summer babysitting gigs, we have had no training in this field. How could we possibly be ready? I am 3 weeks into mommyhood and I'm told it gets easier. The thing is which each new stage comes new challenges, but I think I am ready to take them on.
(P.S. sorry if there are a ton of typos, I have a Parker to tend to!)
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