On a whim, Mike applied for a Senior Analyst position with the Children's Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. He had just received a promotion at his current job with Cardinal Health in Dublin, Ohio, but we have been wanting to move closer to our families for quite some time now, especially now that we have this little one in tow. He had a phone interview the week before Easter, and was flown down last weekend for an on-site interview, including several panels and one-on-ones. He knew that there were three people interviewing for two positions, so while trying to not get too excited, we have been hopeful, and praying that if God wanted us back in Virginia, He would give us a way.
We found out today; he got the job!
Now we have to move.
Three weeks. One lady. One working man. One non-napping baby.
Ha.
I really hate moving. It's such a pain. There is so much packing, and lifting, and painting, and cleaning, and losing things, and living out of boxes, and finally unpacking, etc. Of course, it's hard enough to just do it, but to do it with a baby? Gah! I'm just sitting here looking around at all the things I have to find boxes for, and I want to cry. Well, crying isn't going to get those boxes packed. Besides, MJ has been fussing in her crib for the last 30 minutes (not crying; I swear I wouldn't just let her lie there and CRY for 30 minutes . . . ), so I guess that's enough whining for the both of us.
I need to make a list.
P.S. We're looking to rent for a while, so if anyone knows of any great 3-bedroom townhomes, houses, or apartments for rent in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, or VA Beach, let us know pronto!!
Also, anybody want two awesome cats?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Machaela Jane: Performer Extraordinaire
I didn't see it coming.
It was late, and MJ had just enjoyed her favorite part of her evening routine: her bath. There is nothing better than a baby fresh from the bath. They are so warm and cozy, feel so soft, and smell so delicious. MJ loves bath time, and will sit happily in the lukewarm water until her fingers wrinkle like little raisins, listening as her daddy and I lavish words of adoration over her along with splashes of water over her protruding tummy. She loves it so much that she absolutely hates being pulled out of the tub, and will scream bloody murder until we get her toweled dry, dressed, swaddled, and snuggled close with a bottle of ricey milk in her mouth.
Last night, MJ had been bathed, lotioned, and swaddled, and was beginning to enjoy her final meal of the night. I guess I should have been paying better attention, but I was in a deep discussion with Mike, who was folding her clean laundry as he sat on the floor at my feet. I wasn't monitoring how quickly she was eating. MJ is typically the slowest eater on the planet. She will take 45 minutes to an hour to suck down one 5oz bottle. So, imagine my surprise when, after only approximately 10 minutes, I was suddenly coated with milky vomit. Her bottle was almost completely drained. Oops.
It happened so fast.
I didn't have time to close my mouth.
I think I had one of those out-of-body experiences, because I think I actually watched myself bend over and spit another person's vomit out of my own mouth, onto the carpet in front of me. After that disgusting display, I looked at MJ to see how she'd fared. A thick layer covered her entire face, neck, blanket, and on further inspection, had soaked through her sleeper to her onesie underneath. It was dripping down her arms and had run under her head and chunked in clumps in her hair. We were both covered. The best part? MJ started grinning like a maniac. I think she even giggled. I guess I would feel better too after all that, so I started laughing right along with her. Mike just stared at us like we had six heads. I think he thought I was losing my mind.
I passed her off to Mike and went to take a shower. I don't even want to say in what places I found rice chunks that night. Catastrophe.
These are not the kind of performances I enjoy.
Guess what else she has learned to do? She fakes sleep. I don't know what she thinks she is accomplishing by this, but I'm not kidding; the child pretends to be asleep. She will be eating, and suddenly simply stop sucking. Her whole body will relax, and she will ignore my attempts to return a nipple to her mouth, parting her lips wide as her jaw opens and her head falls back. I will continue to try to poke that nipple back into her mouth, and she will continue to "sleep." Cheering my own good fortune, I will attempt to stand up from my chair so that she can be placed into her cradle or crib, and suddenly, her little eyes will pop open and she will look at me as if to say, "excuse me, but we're not quite finished yet." Then she'll proceed to either continue eating or cry until I allow her to snuggle back against my chest. The little actress! What am I going to do with her?
Unrelated: just something I have recently learned about our little Machaela. She loves having her hair brushed. She is such a girl! Every night, right before and right after her bath, I brush her hair to stimulate her hair follicles and exfoliate her remaining post-birth peeling skin. She can be at full scream, and I just take out that brush and she will melt in my arms (although, her reverie at that moment doesn't usually last more than a few minutes). As long as she is fed and has a fresh diaper, she will let me brush her hair forever, eyes closed (or rolled back in her head, which I still think is totally creepy) and a sweet smile over her lips. Ahhh.
It was late, and MJ had just enjoyed her favorite part of her evening routine: her bath. There is nothing better than a baby fresh from the bath. They are so warm and cozy, feel so soft, and smell so delicious. MJ loves bath time, and will sit happily in the lukewarm water until her fingers wrinkle like little raisins, listening as her daddy and I lavish words of adoration over her along with splashes of water over her protruding tummy. She loves it so much that she absolutely hates being pulled out of the tub, and will scream bloody murder until we get her toweled dry, dressed, swaddled, and snuggled close with a bottle of ricey milk in her mouth.
Last night, MJ had been bathed, lotioned, and swaddled, and was beginning to enjoy her final meal of the night. I guess I should have been paying better attention, but I was in a deep discussion with Mike, who was folding her clean laundry as he sat on the floor at my feet. I wasn't monitoring how quickly she was eating. MJ is typically the slowest eater on the planet. She will take 45 minutes to an hour to suck down one 5oz bottle. So, imagine my surprise when, after only approximately 10 minutes, I was suddenly coated with milky vomit. Her bottle was almost completely drained. Oops.
It happened so fast.
I didn't have time to close my mouth.
I think I had one of those out-of-body experiences, because I think I actually watched myself bend over and spit another person's vomit out of my own mouth, onto the carpet in front of me. After that disgusting display, I looked at MJ to see how she'd fared. A thick layer covered her entire face, neck, blanket, and on further inspection, had soaked through her sleeper to her onesie underneath. It was dripping down her arms and had run under her head and chunked in clumps in her hair. We were both covered. The best part? MJ started grinning like a maniac. I think she even giggled. I guess I would feel better too after all that, so I started laughing right along with her. Mike just stared at us like we had six heads. I think he thought I was losing my mind.
I passed her off to Mike and went to take a shower. I don't even want to say in what places I found rice chunks that night. Catastrophe.
These are not the kind of performances I enjoy.
Guess what else she has learned to do? She fakes sleep. I don't know what she thinks she is accomplishing by this, but I'm not kidding; the child pretends to be asleep. She will be eating, and suddenly simply stop sucking. Her whole body will relax, and she will ignore my attempts to return a nipple to her mouth, parting her lips wide as her jaw opens and her head falls back. I will continue to try to poke that nipple back into her mouth, and she will continue to "sleep." Cheering my own good fortune, I will attempt to stand up from my chair so that she can be placed into her cradle or crib, and suddenly, her little eyes will pop open and she will look at me as if to say, "excuse me, but we're not quite finished yet." Then she'll proceed to either continue eating or cry until I allow her to snuggle back against my chest. The little actress! What am I going to do with her?
Unrelated: just something I have recently learned about our little Machaela. She loves having her hair brushed. She is such a girl! Every night, right before and right after her bath, I brush her hair to stimulate her hair follicles and exfoliate her remaining post-birth peeling skin. She can be at full scream, and I just take out that brush and she will melt in my arms (although, her reverie at that moment doesn't usually last more than a few minutes). As long as she is fed and has a fresh diaper, she will let me brush her hair forever, eyes closed (or rolled back in her head, which I still think is totally creepy) and a sweet smile over her lips. Ahhh.
Mourning
On Monday night, Mike & I finally did something I had been dreading: we packed up all of MJ's newborn outfits, carefully folded them, and packed them away. It was the hardest moment of her life thus far, for us. I realize this sounds a bit dramatic, but even my 6'4", 180 lb husband was sitting on the floor with tears in his eyes as he said, "she'll never wear any of these things again. This is probably one of the worst things you've ever made me do." He tenderly fingered tiny lace collars and gazed at ruffled sleepers and sighed. "I don't think we can do it."
"Do what?" I asked.
"Have any more."
"What do you mean by that?" I was wondering why in the world he could be thinking about future children . . . after all; MJ was only seven weeks old.
"You have half my heart, and she has the other. What more do I have to give?"
Then we both cried.
It's a strange thing, to be both overjoyed at her growth and achievement of those precious milestones and incredibly saddened that she'll never have those firsts again. Her once long, skinny legs are now filling out in chunks and rolls, and her little chin, once so pointed, is now multiple chins that catch her daily drools. Her little grunts are becoming coos and babbles, and those birth-gray eyes are now a startling bright blue. How much she has changed in such a short time.
Our time with her really is so short. We talked about how quickly it has been passing, and suddenly were imagining returning home from dropping her off at college to stare at her empty bedroom. More tears. We're not only mourning what has passed, but what we know will pass, and we're already aching missing her.
If I've learned nothing else, it's to savor every moment, even the ones in which I think I'm going to pull my hair out if she cries for another second, or when her baby vomit soaks my shirts, or when she impresses me once again with the incredible volume of seedy poo she produces in (and out) of those diapers.
So we say goodbye to those newborn outfits and pack them away, perhaps for a baby sister, or just maybe her own little girl, to wear, and we pull out the 3-month sized onesies, sleepers, and dresses, all the while looking forward to the new milestones she will achieve as the plumper, noisier, and much different baby those outfits represent.
I will miss that tiny little head sleeping on my shoulder for hours on end, but I'm excited for the girl that can finally soothe herself to sleep, and mourn the time I've already lost, while celebrating the many years of joy we have left.
What a precious gift she is.
"Do what?" I asked.
"Have any more."
"What do you mean by that?" I was wondering why in the world he could be thinking about future children . . . after all; MJ was only seven weeks old.
"You have half my heart, and she has the other. What more do I have to give?"
Then we both cried.
It's a strange thing, to be both overjoyed at her growth and achievement of those precious milestones and incredibly saddened that she'll never have those firsts again. Her once long, skinny legs are now filling out in chunks and rolls, and her little chin, once so pointed, is now multiple chins that catch her daily drools. Her little grunts are becoming coos and babbles, and those birth-gray eyes are now a startling bright blue. How much she has changed in such a short time.
Our time with her really is so short. We talked about how quickly it has been passing, and suddenly were imagining returning home from dropping her off at college to stare at her empty bedroom. More tears. We're not only mourning what has passed, but what we know will pass, and we're already aching missing her.
If I've learned nothing else, it's to savor every moment, even the ones in which I think I'm going to pull my hair out if she cries for another second, or when her baby vomit soaks my shirts, or when she impresses me once again with the incredible volume of seedy poo she produces in (and out) of those diapers.
So we say goodbye to those newborn outfits and pack them away, perhaps for a baby sister, or just maybe her own little girl, to wear, and we pull out the 3-month sized onesies, sleepers, and dresses, all the while looking forward to the new milestones she will achieve as the plumper, noisier, and much different baby those outfits represent.
I will miss that tiny little head sleeping on my shoulder for hours on end, but I'm excited for the girl that can finally soothe herself to sleep, and mourn the time I've already lost, while celebrating the many years of joy we have left.
What a precious gift she is.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Playing catch-up
Due to a busy end-of-the-week, a wonderful weekend guest, and internet outages, I haven't been very good about blogging, so here's a quick update on all things Baby MJ.
On Thursday, I met up with Connie Jones, who was my mentor during my student teaching and is now a great friend. Her son and daughter-in-law gave her grandbaby #1, Charlotte Lee, in late February, and she was anxiously awaiting grandbabies #2 & #3, twins, her daughter's firsts, due beginning of May. We had just arrived at the Westerville Rec Center to stroll our babies around the jogging trail when she got an exciting call. Lyndsey's water broke! They weren't sure how long it would take for the babies to come, so Connie and I went ahead with the walk. While we strolled, we talked about baby milestones. Charlotte is sleeping through the night, at a mere two weeks older than MJ. Connie had suggested this tip to her daughter-in-law to make this miracle happen: stir a tablespoon of rice cereal into the baby's last bottle of the night. Now, I'd read about people doing this, and had also read that the trick doesn't work, and said articles advised against it, suggesting that the baby will sleep as much as she needs and will begin sleeping longer stretches when nature allows her. However, later that night, I talked to my mom and she said she used to do the same thing for me, and I was sleeping through the night by the time I was one month old. My conclusion: screw nature. I'm giving the rice cereal a shot.
My BFF, Kristen, flew in from Georgia on Thursday night. I picked her up about an hour after I talked to my mom, so I didn't get a chance to get any cereal. I had told Kristen about all of my baby sleep issues, so I'm sure she was excited to experience them for herself. ;)
It didn't take long for her to get the full MJ treatment.
Since Kristen's flight didn't get in until 10:30, MJ had her sleep routine (bath, bottle, book, bed) before we left to pick her up from the airport. Instead of putting her into her cradle or crib to sleep, I put her into her car seat, and she slept like an angel from the time we got into the car until we got back home. Then, it was apparently play time.
MJ was up every hour to two hours.
Poor Kristen.
Friday was a better day. I guess MJ was tired after her performance the night before, so she literally slept all day on Friday. I had to wake her up every three hours to eat, but she immediately went right back to sleep each time. Part of her sleepiness was due to the fact that we kept her moving. We were either in the car or pushing her in her stroller pretty much all day. We hoped that all that day-sleep wasn't going to ruin her (and our) night-sleep, so to make sure, we bought some rice cereal during a quick trip to BabiesRUs.
That night, eager to experiment, we gave her a soothing bath (during which MJ totally peed all over Kristen's jeans and sweatshirt - I guess she needed christening), then gave her the spiked bottle of (what we hoped would be) magic sleep elixir. She wouldn't even wake up when I sat her forward for a burp! She slept beautifully from about 9pm to 2am, nursed and had two ounces of supplement, then slept again until 7:30am! Success!
On Saturday, MJ was back to her old non-napping ways, but she still managed to sleep from 10 - 3, then from 3:30 - 7:30 that night. Finally, Sunday was another day of napping. I think she's deciding that she's only going to nap well every other day. Honestly, if she keeps up this nighttime sleeping pattern, I'm okay with the every other day good-napping.
Now, if only we could drop that middle-of-the-night feeding.
On Thursday, I met up with Connie Jones, who was my mentor during my student teaching and is now a great friend. Her son and daughter-in-law gave her grandbaby #1, Charlotte Lee, in late February, and she was anxiously awaiting grandbabies #2 & #3, twins, her daughter's firsts, due beginning of May. We had just arrived at the Westerville Rec Center to stroll our babies around the jogging trail when she got an exciting call. Lyndsey's water broke! They weren't sure how long it would take for the babies to come, so Connie and I went ahead with the walk. While we strolled, we talked about baby milestones. Charlotte is sleeping through the night, at a mere two weeks older than MJ. Connie had suggested this tip to her daughter-in-law to make this miracle happen: stir a tablespoon of rice cereal into the baby's last bottle of the night. Now, I'd read about people doing this, and had also read that the trick doesn't work, and said articles advised against it, suggesting that the baby will sleep as much as she needs and will begin sleeping longer stretches when nature allows her. However, later that night, I talked to my mom and she said she used to do the same thing for me, and I was sleeping through the night by the time I was one month old. My conclusion: screw nature. I'm giving the rice cereal a shot.
My BFF, Kristen, flew in from Georgia on Thursday night. I picked her up about an hour after I talked to my mom, so I didn't get a chance to get any cereal. I had told Kristen about all of my baby sleep issues, so I'm sure she was excited to experience them for herself. ;)
It didn't take long for her to get the full MJ treatment.
Since Kristen's flight didn't get in until 10:30, MJ had her sleep routine (bath, bottle, book, bed) before we left to pick her up from the airport. Instead of putting her into her cradle or crib to sleep, I put her into her car seat, and she slept like an angel from the time we got into the car until we got back home. Then, it was apparently play time.
MJ was up every hour to two hours.
Poor Kristen.
Friday was a better day. I guess MJ was tired after her performance the night before, so she literally slept all day on Friday. I had to wake her up every three hours to eat, but she immediately went right back to sleep each time. Part of her sleepiness was due to the fact that we kept her moving. We were either in the car or pushing her in her stroller pretty much all day. We hoped that all that day-sleep wasn't going to ruin her (and our) night-sleep, so to make sure, we bought some rice cereal during a quick trip to BabiesRUs.
That night, eager to experiment, we gave her a soothing bath (during which MJ totally peed all over Kristen's jeans and sweatshirt - I guess she needed christening), then gave her the spiked bottle of (what we hoped would be) magic sleep elixir. She wouldn't even wake up when I sat her forward for a burp! She slept beautifully from about 9pm to 2am, nursed and had two ounces of supplement, then slept again until 7:30am! Success!
On Saturday, MJ was back to her old non-napping ways, but she still managed to sleep from 10 - 3, then from 3:30 - 7:30 that night. Finally, Sunday was another day of napping. I think she's deciding that she's only going to nap well every other day. Honestly, if she keeps up this nighttime sleeping pattern, I'm okay with the every other day good-napping.
Now, if only we could drop that middle-of-the-night feeding.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Becoming Babywise: Day 3
Guess who slept for SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS last night?
I think this Babywise thing might be working after all. We're still having issues with the daytime naps, since the book says she's supposed to sleep every few hours, but did I mention she slept for SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS last night?!?
Wow.
She actually also had an hour and a half nap this morning, from about 8:30-10:00am. I was downstairs eating breakfast (first time eating breakfast since my mom went back to VA! - not counting weekends when Mike is here to save me from morning starvation), and the monitor kept kicking on for no reason. I listened carefully, but just heard the swing (yes, I know) clicking as it rocked. Finally, I went upstairs, and lo and behold, MJ was sitting there, staring at one of the hanging teddy bears, cooing, and dare I say, giggling, her head off. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I really wanted a shower, and since she seemed content, I took my chances. It was only after I had thrown on some clothes that she started to fuss a little, and she calmed immediately when she started nursing. What a perfect angel!
She stayed up until about 2, then she slept for half an hour, giving me just enough time to eat some lunch, ate, and then fell asleep again at 3:30. So, here we are at 5pm, and she is still napping. Dare I try to steal one for myself?
Mike has a haircut appointment today at 6. I'd better take that nap.
Sweet dreams!
I think this Babywise thing might be working after all. We're still having issues with the daytime naps, since the book says she's supposed to sleep every few hours, but did I mention she slept for SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS last night?!?
Wow.
She actually also had an hour and a half nap this morning, from about 8:30-10:00am. I was downstairs eating breakfast (first time eating breakfast since my mom went back to VA! - not counting weekends when Mike is here to save me from morning starvation), and the monitor kept kicking on for no reason. I listened carefully, but just heard the swing (yes, I know) clicking as it rocked. Finally, I went upstairs, and lo and behold, MJ was sitting there, staring at one of the hanging teddy bears, cooing, and dare I say, giggling, her head off. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I really wanted a shower, and since she seemed content, I took my chances. It was only after I had thrown on some clothes that she started to fuss a little, and she calmed immediately when she started nursing. What a perfect angel!
She stayed up until about 2, then she slept for half an hour, giving me just enough time to eat some lunch, ate, and then fell asleep again at 3:30. So, here we are at 5pm, and she is still napping. Dare I try to steal one for myself?
Mike has a haircut appointment today at 6. I'd better take that nap.
Sweet dreams!
Becoming Babywise: Day 2
Amazingly, MJ slept until 5:30am. I'll certainly take 5 1/2 straight hours of sleep. That sleep was absolutely glorious. We both woke up on Monday morning convinced that our Machaela had been replaced by another, better sleeping, child, yet there she was, moaning to be fed. No problem. The best part? She immediately fell asleep right after eating, and didn't wake up again until 7:30. That means not only did I get 5 1/2 hours of straight sleep, I also got an hour and a half nap afterwards. By 7:30, I was feeling pretty good, and like we had turned a corner in the eating/sleeping battle.
This feeling did not last long.
By 8:30, MJ had finished eating and was ready to play. I sang to her, read her books, and batted the stuffed jungle animals hanging from her baby gym while she stared on, enchanted. By 9:30, MJ should have been sleepy, but was instead showing her hunger signs. Since Babywise advises feeding if baby seems hungry (rocket science, I know), we headed for our favorite rocking chair and munched away. At 10:30, she really should have been sleepy, but was instead ready to play again. So, we sang, looked at black & white pictures, and mimicked one anothers' faces. MJ soon tired of playtime, and instead, decided it was time to cry. After all, she hadn't cried much that day. Apparently, this is not a cry-free zone (despite my attempts to tell her that there is "no crying for happy babies"). Anyway, I attempted to soothe her with all of my Happiest Baby on the Block tricks, the 5 'S'es: shushing, side-lying, swinging, sucking, and the swaddle. I actually pulled out the combo - all five at once - but still, MJ did not sleep.
After a long hour and a half, when I was just about to feed her so that she would just stop crying, she fell asleep! Magic! I knew better than to put her down in her cradle, because that is where she thinks it is time to wake up. Instead, I put her in her swing (I know, I'm just feeding the motion addiction, but I really needed a break). It was noon, and since I had eaten nothing that day, I tiptoed down the stairs to make myself a peanut-butter sandwich and some goldfish crackers. Yes, apparently I have the diet of a three-year-old. I wolfed it down, sure I would hear her wail come through the monitor. Yet, nothing. I flipped on the TV, thinking I probably only had a few minutes, so I might as well not get into anything that would take a long time. After an entire episode of CSI, I realized she was still asleep. Finally, I ventured back upstairs at 2:00, sure I would find her flipped out of her swing, unconscious and unable to cry, but she was fine. Collapsing into bed, I slept hard until she awoke from her amazing nap at 3:45pm. Wow. We both got a nap? Unheard of!
A quick feeding and then I buckled her into her car seat for a quick trip to the post office. I didn't know if she would behave, but I needed to go pick up a package. We had a very official looking notice with a threatening message that if it wasn't picked up that day, it would be returned to sender. No one wants that. Guess who slept the entire time? I was so excited, I extended the drive by going through the Wendy's drive-thru for a sweet tea. Glory!
She was up again once we got back into the house (see? movement addict!), but she was content to sit in her car seat on the table as I opened her packages and told her all about the gifts she'd been sent. Eventually, she started the lip-smacking, so I moved the party to the couch to feed her. We chatted for a bit afterwards (well, I chatted. She stared at me with one eyebrow raised and cooed every so often), and then she fell asleep in my arms. I wasn't about to interrupt her blissful slumber, so I watched an episode of Discovery Channel's "Life" until Mike got home.
So, two naps? Not bad! Bath time! This time, she actually enjoyed her bath. She gazed at us as we explained all the things we were doing to her, splashed her belly, and dripped water over her toes. She even smiled as I scrubbed the spit-up crust from under her chin. It was a very sweet moment.
At 11:30, she ate again, and immediately drifted off to sleep. We were both afraid to move, as though we would wake her if we even breathed, but she slept on. Finally, we were able to sleep too. Phew.
This feeling did not last long.
By 8:30, MJ had finished eating and was ready to play. I sang to her, read her books, and batted the stuffed jungle animals hanging from her baby gym while she stared on, enchanted. By 9:30, MJ should have been sleepy, but was instead showing her hunger signs. Since Babywise advises feeding if baby seems hungry (rocket science, I know), we headed for our favorite rocking chair and munched away. At 10:30, she really should have been sleepy, but was instead ready to play again. So, we sang, looked at black & white pictures, and mimicked one anothers' faces. MJ soon tired of playtime, and instead, decided it was time to cry. After all, she hadn't cried much that day. Apparently, this is not a cry-free zone (despite my attempts to tell her that there is "no crying for happy babies"). Anyway, I attempted to soothe her with all of my Happiest Baby on the Block tricks, the 5 'S'es: shushing, side-lying, swinging, sucking, and the swaddle. I actually pulled out the combo - all five at once - but still, MJ did not sleep.
After a long hour and a half, when I was just about to feed her so that she would just stop crying, she fell asleep! Magic! I knew better than to put her down in her cradle, because that is where she thinks it is time to wake up. Instead, I put her in her swing (I know, I'm just feeding the motion addiction, but I really needed a break). It was noon, and since I had eaten nothing that day, I tiptoed down the stairs to make myself a peanut-butter sandwich and some goldfish crackers. Yes, apparently I have the diet of a three-year-old. I wolfed it down, sure I would hear her wail come through the monitor. Yet, nothing. I flipped on the TV, thinking I probably only had a few minutes, so I might as well not get into anything that would take a long time. After an entire episode of CSI, I realized she was still asleep. Finally, I ventured back upstairs at 2:00, sure I would find her flipped out of her swing, unconscious and unable to cry, but she was fine. Collapsing into bed, I slept hard until she awoke from her amazing nap at 3:45pm. Wow. We both got a nap? Unheard of!
A quick feeding and then I buckled her into her car seat for a quick trip to the post office. I didn't know if she would behave, but I needed to go pick up a package. We had a very official looking notice with a threatening message that if it wasn't picked up that day, it would be returned to sender. No one wants that. Guess who slept the entire time? I was so excited, I extended the drive by going through the Wendy's drive-thru for a sweet tea. Glory!
She was up again once we got back into the house (see? movement addict!), but she was content to sit in her car seat on the table as I opened her packages and told her all about the gifts she'd been sent. Eventually, she started the lip-smacking, so I moved the party to the couch to feed her. We chatted for a bit afterwards (well, I chatted. She stared at me with one eyebrow raised and cooed every so often), and then she fell asleep in my arms. I wasn't about to interrupt her blissful slumber, so I watched an episode of Discovery Channel's "Life" until Mike got home.
So, two naps? Not bad! Bath time! This time, she actually enjoyed her bath. She gazed at us as we explained all the things we were doing to her, splashed her belly, and dripped water over her toes. She even smiled as I scrubbed the spit-up crust from under her chin. It was a very sweet moment.
At 11:30, she ate again, and immediately drifted off to sleep. We were both afraid to move, as though we would wake her if we even breathed, but she slept on. Finally, we were able to sleep too. Phew.
Becoming Babywise: Day 1
I had been considering starting On Becoming Babywise to help get MJ on a somewhat predictable sleeping/eating schedule, but I felt like I needed to wait for some reason. I'd read some of the chapters, but felt like a brand-newborn needed some time to acclimate to life first. After over six weeks of absolutely no sleep and completely irregular eating times, I was constantly completely drained. It was time for something new. I'd heard good things from those who've used Babywise for their children, but was sold when Ashlee told me that after reading it, all three of her sons had been sleeping through the night at 5-weeks old. I mean, why not?
Day One: Epic Fail
Saturday night was rough. MJ slept in one to two hour stretches, waking up no fewer than six times between 11pm and 11am. Uuuuggh. I had many plans for Sunday, including eating breakfast, going to church, and possibly using the restroom, but they were all flushed down the proverbial toilet. MJ had other plans for the day. Once she saw 11am, she decided that she was done with the whole sleeping idea, and would be fully awake and screaming her lungs out for the remainder of the day. Great plan; why didn't I think of that? That's way more fun than the stroll through Highbanks Metro Park I wanted to take.
She cried. Literally. All. Day.
Ugggh.
According to Drs. Ezzo and Bucknam (authors), babies are supposed to have a full feeding, then a period of "waketime," and finally be put down for a nap. This cycle should repeat every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. So, in the attempt to implement this baby wisdom I supposedly gained from reading Babywise, I tried to follow the plan. MJ would rather eat every hour, or sometimes every 45 minutes. This was not working.
"When settling for a nap, crying for 15 to 20 minutes is not going to hurt your baby physically or emotionally. [ . . . ] On the other hand, if you want a fussy baby, never let him cry, and hold, rock, and feed him as soon as he starts to fuss. We guarantee that you will achieve your goal" (131).
2:00pm: Mommy really needs a break. I put baby MJ into her crib, flipped on the monitor, and headed for the shower. (That's right, friends. Showering at two. Congratulations to me, I've arrived.) As soon as she started fussing, Mike went in and rescued her. Wimp, I thought. All it takes is 15 minutes, right? Still no napping, so I fed her as soon as I exited said shower.
4:00pm: Naptime. MJ is fed and has been playing with Mommy for 45 minutes. She's been yawning for the past ten. Even though she's not asleep, down she goes, into her cradle. Cue fussing. Her arms are straining against her velcroed-shut swaddle (these things are the best), her face is red and appears to be swelling, her little legs are kicking as frantically as they can, her mouth is as wide as her eyes are squeezed shut, her back is arched painfully, and her short shouts of protest are quickly escalating into full-out wails of indignity. In every yell I can hear her screaming, "how could you do this to me? Where are you, Mommy? Why have I been abandoned?" I climbed into bed, buried my head into six pillows, and sobbed. 15 minutes. Just 15 minutes, and she'll be asleep.
I made it to minute 8.
It took 6 to calm her.
No nap.
By 6pm, we were all exhausted, and resorted to going for a ride in the car. Less than 2 minutes into the drive, MJ was sound asleep. I lay my head against her car seat and dozed through the 2-hour ride. Finally, rest.
As soon as we returned her to the stillness of the house, she woke up again. I'm rearing a child addicted to motion. I really should just strap her to my body - she'd sleep all day long! We fed her, bounced her, jiggled her, swung her, sang to her, read to her, rocked her, showed her mirrors and black & white pictures for the next three hours. At 11pm, we decided it was bathtime, which only made her even more upset with us.
Finally, for no apparent reason other than pure and utter exhaustion, MJ fell asleep at midnight. It was almost too good to be true. My sheets have never felt so soft, yet I was unable to fall asleep, sure that she'd be awake again at any moment and if I allowed myself to drift off even a little I'd just be all the more tired when she inevitably arose in less than 30 minutes.
I was out in less than 10.
Day One: Epic Fail
Saturday night was rough. MJ slept in one to two hour stretches, waking up no fewer than six times between 11pm and 11am. Uuuuggh. I had many plans for Sunday, including eating breakfast, going to church, and possibly using the restroom, but they were all flushed down the proverbial toilet. MJ had other plans for the day. Once she saw 11am, she decided that she was done with the whole sleeping idea, and would be fully awake and screaming her lungs out for the remainder of the day. Great plan; why didn't I think of that? That's way more fun than the stroll through Highbanks Metro Park I wanted to take.
She cried. Literally. All. Day.
Ugggh.
According to Drs. Ezzo and Bucknam (authors), babies are supposed to have a full feeding, then a period of "waketime," and finally be put down for a nap. This cycle should repeat every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. So, in the attempt to implement this baby wisdom I supposedly gained from reading Babywise, I tried to follow the plan. MJ would rather eat every hour, or sometimes every 45 minutes. This was not working.
"When settling for a nap, crying for 15 to 20 minutes is not going to hurt your baby physically or emotionally. [ . . . ] On the other hand, if you want a fussy baby, never let him cry, and hold, rock, and feed him as soon as he starts to fuss. We guarantee that you will achieve your goal" (131).
2:00pm: Mommy really needs a break. I put baby MJ into her crib, flipped on the monitor, and headed for the shower. (That's right, friends. Showering at two. Congratulations to me, I've arrived.) As soon as she started fussing, Mike went in and rescued her. Wimp, I thought. All it takes is 15 minutes, right? Still no napping, so I fed her as soon as I exited said shower.
4:00pm: Naptime. MJ is fed and has been playing with Mommy for 45 minutes. She's been yawning for the past ten. Even though she's not asleep, down she goes, into her cradle. Cue fussing. Her arms are straining against her velcroed-shut swaddle (these things are the best), her face is red and appears to be swelling, her little legs are kicking as frantically as they can, her mouth is as wide as her eyes are squeezed shut, her back is arched painfully, and her short shouts of protest are quickly escalating into full-out wails of indignity. In every yell I can hear her screaming, "how could you do this to me? Where are you, Mommy? Why have I been abandoned?" I climbed into bed, buried my head into six pillows, and sobbed. 15 minutes. Just 15 minutes, and she'll be asleep.
I made it to minute 8.
It took 6 to calm her.
No nap.
By 6pm, we were all exhausted, and resorted to going for a ride in the car. Less than 2 minutes into the drive, MJ was sound asleep. I lay my head against her car seat and dozed through the 2-hour ride. Finally, rest.
As soon as we returned her to the stillness of the house, she woke up again. I'm rearing a child addicted to motion. I really should just strap her to my body - she'd sleep all day long! We fed her, bounced her, jiggled her, swung her, sang to her, read to her, rocked her, showed her mirrors and black & white pictures for the next three hours. At 11pm, we decided it was bathtime, which only made her even more upset with us.
Finally, for no apparent reason other than pure and utter exhaustion, MJ fell asleep at midnight. It was almost too good to be true. My sheets have never felt so soft, yet I was unable to fall asleep, sure that she'd be awake again at any moment and if I allowed myself to drift off even a little I'd just be all the more tired when she inevitably arose in less than 30 minutes.
I was out in less than 10.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Loving the Clys!
Thursday night, Mike & I had our very first solo date night since our daughter's birth. I cannot tell you how much we needed it. Caring for a newborn is extremely taxing and very stressful. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but I doubt anyone would say it's not hard. Anyway, because Mike is at work all day long, and then we are both busy with the baby and getting dinner in the evening, we don't have a lot of time just to ourselves. Even before MJ was conceived, we discussed our desire to keep our relationship first in our family. We can't be good parents unless we are good partners first, and part of that is spending quality time together building and growing as a couple. So, when our friends Kristin & Andy Cly offered to babysit on Thursday night, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to reconnect.
We got the baby all ready to go. She had been fed, bathed, dressed in Memaw's "Sleeping Beauty" outfit, and actually fell asleep in the car on the way to the Clys' house. When we arrived, they were extremely surprised to see all the accoutrement MJ requires. Really, we only brought the basics: diaper bag, of course, as well as her car seat base (in case she needed a car ride), her stroller (by request; they wanted to take her and their dog for a neighborhood stroll), and her trusty swing. We dropped her off with a few short instructions, and off we went. Freedom! Okay, not complete freedom. We were both actually very sad for the first ten minutes, and spent them wondering whether or not she knew we'd left her or missed us. Would she behave, or show our friends her "special" side, resulting in her never again being invited over? Did she feel abandoned? Did she wonder if we would ever return? (We might be giving her cognitive abilities a little too much credit, but that's not the point.) Eventually, we were able to relax and enjoy the date.
We didn't really have anything in particular planned. We knew we were going to hit up the local Applebee's for the 2-for-$20 deal. Spinach and artichoke dip? Yes, please. We really just wanted to have a conversation that didn't center around the different shades and consistancies of poop or what volume of vomit is too much. It was nice to fall back into husband & wife roles and take off our daddy & mommy hats for a while. We relaxed, laughed, ate, and talked about things I can't even remember, but what I do remember is that I had such an incredible time. It only lasted about two hours, but I can't wait for our next one. I hope we get to do it often. After dinner, we swung by the local Starbucks for my favorite: a vanilla chai latte (a la Emily K., of course!), and then returned to reclaim our tiny angel.
Fortunately, MJ actually napped for most of her visit. She was a little fussy when we got to the Clys' house, but she'd reportedly only been crying for a little while. What a good girl! As soon as we got her into the car, she immediately fell asleep, and continued to sleep for a solid three hours. Not bad!
Apparently we were a little too relaxed. The next morning, I woke up at 9am (after what was admittedly a long night with my not-so-good sleeper) to find my husband still asleep next to me. I shook his shoulder and whispered, "are you not going to work today?" He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and stared at me. "What day is this?" Umm. "It's Friday?" Suddenly he bolted out of bed. "Crap! I completely thought it was Saturday!" Yikes. The next thing I knew, I blinked, and he was gone. He is an extremely fast dresser, and later said he'd gotten to work at 9:15, so clearly a fast driver too. Saturday? Goodness.
All in all, a successful date night. Thank you Kristin & Andy!!
We got the baby all ready to go. She had been fed, bathed, dressed in Memaw's "Sleeping Beauty" outfit, and actually fell asleep in the car on the way to the Clys' house. When we arrived, they were extremely surprised to see all the accoutrement MJ requires. Really, we only brought the basics: diaper bag, of course, as well as her car seat base (in case she needed a car ride), her stroller (by request; they wanted to take her and their dog for a neighborhood stroll), and her trusty swing. We dropped her off with a few short instructions, and off we went. Freedom! Okay, not complete freedom. We were both actually very sad for the first ten minutes, and spent them wondering whether or not she knew we'd left her or missed us. Would she behave, or show our friends her "special" side, resulting in her never again being invited over? Did she feel abandoned? Did she wonder if we would ever return? (We might be giving her cognitive abilities a little too much credit, but that's not the point.) Eventually, we were able to relax and enjoy the date.
We didn't really have anything in particular planned. We knew we were going to hit up the local Applebee's for the 2-for-$20 deal. Spinach and artichoke dip? Yes, please. We really just wanted to have a conversation that didn't center around the different shades and consistancies of poop or what volume of vomit is too much. It was nice to fall back into husband & wife roles and take off our daddy & mommy hats for a while. We relaxed, laughed, ate, and talked about things I can't even remember, but what I do remember is that I had such an incredible time. It only lasted about two hours, but I can't wait for our next one. I hope we get to do it often. After dinner, we swung by the local Starbucks for my favorite: a vanilla chai latte (a la Emily K., of course!), and then returned to reclaim our tiny angel.
Fortunately, MJ actually napped for most of her visit. She was a little fussy when we got to the Clys' house, but she'd reportedly only been crying for a little while. What a good girl! As soon as we got her into the car, she immediately fell asleep, and continued to sleep for a solid three hours. Not bad!
Apparently we were a little too relaxed. The next morning, I woke up at 9am (after what was admittedly a long night with my not-so-good sleeper) to find my husband still asleep next to me. I shook his shoulder and whispered, "are you not going to work today?" He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and stared at me. "What day is this?" Umm. "It's Friday?" Suddenly he bolted out of bed. "Crap! I completely thought it was Saturday!" Yikes. The next thing I knew, I blinked, and he was gone. He is an extremely fast dresser, and later said he'd gotten to work at 9:15, so clearly a fast driver too. Saturday? Goodness.
All in all, a successful date night. Thank you Kristin & Andy!!
On Becoming Babywise
I definitely need some baby wisdom. We have been struggling with nursing issues and have been trying to help MJ get the sleep she needs since the very beginning of her life. She started out sleeping for an hour, then eating for an hour, etc. Slowly, her sleep lengthened, and she began sleeping for three-four hours at a time, then periods of five hours. We were ecstatic!! Then, just as suddenly as she started giving us this gift, she stopped. Now she's back to sleeping for only two-three hours at a time. It's like she dangled the most glorious carrot in front of us, and then snatched it away. Sometimes she will nurse for twenty minutes and be satisfied during the night, and then sleep. Other times, she will nurse for up to two hours, and still take a four-ounce formula supplement afterward. Gah!
My plan of attack is twofold, because clearly whatever we're doing now isn't effective for either of us. This week, we will make a third visit to Judy, our lactation consultant, to see what advice she has for us. Judy is wonderful. The first time I met with her, she talked me off the ledge after three nights of the most awful screaming I have ever encountered. How was I supposed to know that I had been starving my baby due to latch issues? It was a very dark time, but Judy, and my mother, got us through it. The second time, she gave me a nipple shield. Now, we can nurse without the shield, but I don't know how much she's really getting. Maybe I'm having supply issues? MJ's eating is just so inconsistent!!
My second step is to try the Babywise system. I've heard and read conflicting things about Babywise, but the anecdotal evidence I've heard from those who have implemented it is overwhelmingly positive. The bottom line is that we all need to be getting better sleep, and MJ needs to organize her eating a little better. If it works for us, then that's great, and we'll be on our way to a much happier baby (and mommy!). If not, we'll try something else.
Pray for us. I remain optimistic.
My plan of attack is twofold, because clearly whatever we're doing now isn't effective for either of us. This week, we will make a third visit to Judy, our lactation consultant, to see what advice she has for us. Judy is wonderful. The first time I met with her, she talked me off the ledge after three nights of the most awful screaming I have ever encountered. How was I supposed to know that I had been starving my baby due to latch issues? It was a very dark time, but Judy, and my mother, got us through it. The second time, she gave me a nipple shield. Now, we can nurse without the shield, but I don't know how much she's really getting. Maybe I'm having supply issues? MJ's eating is just so inconsistent!!
My second step is to try the Babywise system. I've heard and read conflicting things about Babywise, but the anecdotal evidence I've heard from those who have implemented it is overwhelmingly positive. The bottom line is that we all need to be getting better sleep, and MJ needs to organize her eating a little better. If it works for us, then that's great, and we'll be on our way to a much happier baby (and mommy!). If not, we'll try something else.
Pray for us. I remain optimistic.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Nipples should not have nerve endings
If they didn't, I would probably just let MJ nurse all day and all night long. It would be very National Geographic, just me and the baby, no shirts, just a wrap pressing her to my chest for a 24/7 meal. "Breast is best," they say, and I'm not going to argue that. I know it is, because the few times I've mixed up a bottle of formula for her in public, I've gotten judgmental stares from complete strangers that clearly illustrate their contempt for the poison I'm dripping into her tiny mouth. For example, at my post-partum visit at my OB's office, the baby started crying and rooting from her car seat while we were in the waiting area. First I got looks of annoyance, as if I shouldn't dare to bring a crying baby into an OBGYN waiting room. I'm sorry, but isn't that what they do here? Make babies? Anyway, once I brought out the bottle, I literally saw the shaking of heads. Honestly? It's really a mixed message though, because they will also stare with contempt at public nursing. I know this, because I've been on the receiving end of these angry looks while sitting in the food court at the mall (isn't that where people are supposed to eat?) with a blanket over my shoulder and tiny feet sticking out on my lap. Really people, you can't see anything. I am now an expert on holding my foot on the stroller bottom (to protect it from thieves, naturally, although i don't know what I think i'm going to do to stop anyone who wants to steal my stroller when I have a baby attached to my chest) while juggling a baby, a blanket, and a nursing bra, with one hand.
Back to the nerve endings. Some people might argue that point, but I'm sure those are the same people who have never had cracked, bleeding, throbbing nipples leaving them in excruciating pain. Nursing feels like it shouldn't be this hard, but what no one tells you is that it is unbelievably hard. It's even harder when your baby can't nurse due to a tight frenulum (there's a word you probably don't hear much in typical conversation - it's the piece of tissue that connects the front of your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. Check it out in the mirror.), so you have to pump to "send the signal" to keep making milk even though your baby isn't releasing it. Then, once the surgery is performed to correct it, the baby still can't latch because now she has this new tongue she has to figure out how to use; meanwhile, the milk factory is behind on its supply because of the earlier latching issues, so the baby is never satisfied after a meal, leading to the necessary supplementing of aforementioned poisonous formula. It's a vicious cycle, and I'm not sure how anyone, other than those blessed mothers who get it perfectly the first time, keeps it up this long. MJ is six weeks old today, and we are still fighting the nursing battle.
This is why it's worth it: we all know the nutritional benefits of breast milk, but that's not why I am still in the trenches. Formula is not poison, and many babies are successfully formula fed for many different reasons and still end up healthy and fully-developed. It's because on those rare occasions that she is able to latch, despite the agony I endure, after she's been eating for a few minutes, she'll close her eyes, sigh, and then grin her biggest dimple grin, like I've finally given her this amazing treat that she's been waiting to enjoy for so long. Well, you're welcome, tiny love. Any time.
Back to the nerve endings. Some people might argue that point, but I'm sure those are the same people who have never had cracked, bleeding, throbbing nipples leaving them in excruciating pain. Nursing feels like it shouldn't be this hard, but what no one tells you is that it is unbelievably hard. It's even harder when your baby can't nurse due to a tight frenulum (there's a word you probably don't hear much in typical conversation - it's the piece of tissue that connects the front of your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. Check it out in the mirror.), so you have to pump to "send the signal" to keep making milk even though your baby isn't releasing it. Then, once the surgery is performed to correct it, the baby still can't latch because now she has this new tongue she has to figure out how to use; meanwhile, the milk factory is behind on its supply because of the earlier latching issues, so the baby is never satisfied after a meal, leading to the necessary supplementing of aforementioned poisonous formula. It's a vicious cycle, and I'm not sure how anyone, other than those blessed mothers who get it perfectly the first time, keeps it up this long. MJ is six weeks old today, and we are still fighting the nursing battle.
This is why it's worth it: we all know the nutritional benefits of breast milk, but that's not why I am still in the trenches. Formula is not poison, and many babies are successfully formula fed for many different reasons and still end up healthy and fully-developed. It's because on those rare occasions that she is able to latch, despite the agony I endure, after she's been eating for a few minutes, she'll close her eyes, sigh, and then grin her biggest dimple grin, like I've finally given her this amazing treat that she's been waiting to enjoy for so long. Well, you're welcome, tiny love. Any time.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Another first
Tonight, MJ is sleeping in her crib, which is in her bedroom, which is not the room in which I sleep, for the first time ever. Well, that's not true. She's napped in there before, when I've needed to put things away or clean her bathroom. She's also napped in there when I'm wide awake and only one room away. I'm awake now, but I am planning to sleep at some point. Nervous. I don't like it. When she sleeps in her cradle, in our room, I can hear every little sound she makes. I can hear every whimper, snort, grunt, and sigh. I can sense it when she stretches. Who knows what's going on in the nursery right now? Yes, we have an excellent baby monitor (thank you, Jill), but I'm nervous that something will happen to her and the monitor won't catch it.
Why not just move her back into her cradle? I would love to; however, MJ projectile-vomited one of her tricks all over our sheets, so they are currently in the laundry and our down comforter is hanging out in her cradle. We would put it on the bed, but since her amazing trick leaked through the sheets and onto the mattress pad, it is also in the laundry, which means we have to wait until everything is done washing and drying to really make the bed properly. Currently, we have the clean sheets haphazardly thrown on the bed just well enough to sleep for a few hours. Sigh.
MJ is also in rare form. She's been awake from 7pm - 1am, having just finally fallen asleep. I don't know what's going on with her lately. I think she might be doing this cluster feeding thing, which, according to several baby websites on which I spend most of my life, is when babies eat for a few minutes, then fuss, then want to play, then eat for another few minutes, then fuss, etc. It can (and apparently does) last hours. She had such an otherwise wonderful day, getting in solid feedings and great naps lasting several hours at a time. I actually got some errands run while she napped peacefully in her carseat, and then we went for a nice stroll around the neighborhood (story about that to come also). Finally, around the time Mike got home, she awoke from a nap and wanted to eat. Of course, I fed her, but she was unsatisfied. She fussed, and ate some more, and fussed, until finally I had to cut her off with the eating. We tried everything; we played on her tummy mat, stared for several minutes at a time at a series of black & white infant development images (more on those later), rocked, sang, swayed, jiggled, enjoyed a short time in the baby swing, went for a drive, etc. Actually, going for a drive resulted in a one hour nap, but she woke up shortly after getting back home. Ugh. Supposedly all of this hours-long snacking gears babies up for a long sleep during the night. I think that must be true, because after falling asleep last night at 12:45am, she didn't wake until around 6am. Maybe that's in store for us again tonight? One can only hope.
Why not just move her back into her cradle? I would love to; however, MJ projectile-vomited one of her tricks all over our sheets, so they are currently in the laundry and our down comforter is hanging out in her cradle. We would put it on the bed, but since her amazing trick leaked through the sheets and onto the mattress pad, it is also in the laundry, which means we have to wait until everything is done washing and drying to really make the bed properly. Currently, we have the clean sheets haphazardly thrown on the bed just well enough to sleep for a few hours. Sigh.
MJ is also in rare form. She's been awake from 7pm - 1am, having just finally fallen asleep. I don't know what's going on with her lately. I think she might be doing this cluster feeding thing, which, according to several baby websites on which I spend most of my life, is when babies eat for a few minutes, then fuss, then want to play, then eat for another few minutes, then fuss, etc. It can (and apparently does) last hours. She had such an otherwise wonderful day, getting in solid feedings and great naps lasting several hours at a time. I actually got some errands run while she napped peacefully in her carseat, and then we went for a nice stroll around the neighborhood (story about that to come also). Finally, around the time Mike got home, she awoke from a nap and wanted to eat. Of course, I fed her, but she was unsatisfied. She fussed, and ate some more, and fussed, until finally I had to cut her off with the eating. We tried everything; we played on her tummy mat, stared for several minutes at a time at a series of black & white infant development images (more on those later), rocked, sang, swayed, jiggled, enjoyed a short time in the baby swing, went for a drive, etc. Actually, going for a drive resulted in a one hour nap, but she woke up shortly after getting back home. Ugh. Supposedly all of this hours-long snacking gears babies up for a long sleep during the night. I think that must be true, because after falling asleep last night at 12:45am, she didn't wake until around 6am. Maybe that's in store for us again tonight? One can only hope.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Proof
Some have responded with disbelief that MJ can, in fact, roll over. Thou shalt never again doubt her talents. Tricks. Thank you very much. P.S. Shay Cochrane and her adorable daughter Chloe were my inspiration for this blog post, except her pictures are far better. I need a little Shay in my life.
Step two: Throw head over for momentum.
Step one: Chew hand.
Step two: Throw head over for momentum.
Step three: Flop over and rest.
Step four: Lift left leg.
Step five: Throw left leg over to begin descent.
Step six: Phew. Hard work accomplished. Kisses from Daddy.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Another initiation
One miraculous thing happened Saturday night, for only the second time in MJ's short life. She slept for FIVE straight hours. I don't know how she decides which nights she will bless us with this gift, because the first time was one week ago, at Memaw's house, and since she hadn't done it since then, we thought it was a fluke. Yet there we were, still sleeping at 5am, when she'd gone to bed at midnight. I'll admit, the first time this happened, I totally freaked out. I kept running across the room to make sure she was still breathing, and when it was his turn, I kicked Mike in the back to get out of bed and check too. Needless to say, we totally wasted this first gift from our baby in order to run across the room every twenty minutes. Not last night. We accepted it for the blessing it was and let ourselves sleep, and what do you know? She was still as heartily-lunged right after 5am as she was the day before. Now, I have reason to be so skittish. A sweet friend tragically lost her second son when he was only 5 weeks old. He was completely healthy, and went to be with Jesus, without explanation, while sleeping in his crib. You can read her family's story here. I can only hope this gift from MJ will keep on coming.
Mike & I were otherwise officially initiated into parenthood by another "gift" from the baby. When I woke up after her second stretch of sleep at 8:00, MJ was stirring next to me in our bed. Mike sometimes puts her between us after he gets her back to sleep. I went to pick her up, and felt something damp beneath her. That's right, our precious angel wet the bed. Groaning, I unwrapped her swaddle and began to change her diaper. Just then, Mike began to wake, and when I showed him her handiwork, he offered that it was probably "just sweat." Really? I don't think sweat is yellow-tinged, pours out ounces at a time, or smells uriney. After spraying stain treater on the spot, I took the baby into her room to feed and dress her, calling over my shoulder for Mike to strip the bed so we could change the sheets. But guess what? He didn't, and I promptly forgot about it.
In my family, we call the great things babies can do "tricks." As in, "let me see your tricks, little baby! What tricks can you do?" Babies tricks get cuter and more impressive as they get older. Anything a baby can do can be considered a trick, like learning to crawl. As a toddler, my cousin Katelyn could flip a pacifier from upside-down to right-side-up with her tongue; we used to put it in her mouth upside-down just to see her perform. She could also whistle when she was barely two-years-old, and as soon as she could speak she was singing "Crazy 'bout a Mercury" by Alan Jackson. These were all considered her "tricks." MJ has tricks too, according to my mother. Unfortunately, they are not as endearing as Katelyn's, and consist mostly of pooping and projectile-vomiting, although as posted earlier, she can also smile and roll over. Yesterday, MJ showed us that even though her tricks are pretty basic, she is still a performer. Mike & I took her to the park for a stroll. We stopped about halfway through the walk to sit at a picnic table and have a snack. MJ got a little fussy, so Mike took her out and gave her a bottle. As she was eating (a trick, of course), Mike suddenly exclaimed, "oooh, and we're peeing!" I guessed that her bottom had gotten a little warmer, a telltale sign. Mike shifted her weight, and we both spotted the circle of wet on his jeans, slowly spreading. Oops. A trick! My mother would be so proud! I thought I was going to die laughing. I hurried to get out her changing pad and a set of clean clothes, since obviously hers were soaked, and Mike started stripping her. Then we noticed another trick. Not only had she peed through everything, she had the most ginormous explosive poop either of us had ever seen. The diaper was a fresh one, and even it couldn't contain this particular brand of trick. It was everywhere, up her back and running down her legs, and we were sitting out in the open, at a picnic table, and at the bottom of the wipes container. Lord, help us. I can't imagine either of us would have done if it had just been one of us with the baby. Once we got her as cleaned up as we could, we strapped her into her stroller and hurried home.
As soon as we got there, we knew it had to be bath time. MJ normally hates baths, but I guess even she couldn't take but so much poop in her armpits. It was a lovely family moment, and we all enjoyed scrubbing the baby until she was squeaky and shiny. We bundled her up again in a comfy sleeper and let her eat a little more. But how much is too much for an almost-six-week-old? Let me tell you. It's four ounces of formula at the park, plus another ounce in the car, plus twenty minutes of nursing. This equation equals another trick, and that is somewhere close to seven ounces of milk ejecting at full force towards the face of the person holding the baby: me. Insert the daddy rushing as quickly as possible to wipe our faces and attempt to soak up as much "trick" as he could with no fewer than three hand towels.
Once little Machaela had been bathed again, swaddled, and snuggled to sleep, Mike & I both decided it was time to call it a day for us too. We tucked her into her cradle, turned to our wonderful king-sized bed, and wanted to cry. We'd forgotten to wash the pee sheets from that morning. I firmly believe that at that moment, it crossed Mike's mind to convince me to lay a towel over the spot and sleep around it. If I hadn't been so disgusted by all of her other tricks that day, I might have let myself be convinced. Thankfully, he didn't try any convincing, and without a word we both just started stripping those darn sheets.
Please, MJ. No more tricks.
Mike & I were otherwise officially initiated into parenthood by another "gift" from the baby. When I woke up after her second stretch of sleep at 8:00, MJ was stirring next to me in our bed. Mike sometimes puts her between us after he gets her back to sleep. I went to pick her up, and felt something damp beneath her. That's right, our precious angel wet the bed. Groaning, I unwrapped her swaddle and began to change her diaper. Just then, Mike began to wake, and when I showed him her handiwork, he offered that it was probably "just sweat." Really? I don't think sweat is yellow-tinged, pours out ounces at a time, or smells uriney. After spraying stain treater on the spot, I took the baby into her room to feed and dress her, calling over my shoulder for Mike to strip the bed so we could change the sheets. But guess what? He didn't, and I promptly forgot about it.
In my family, we call the great things babies can do "tricks." As in, "let me see your tricks, little baby! What tricks can you do?" Babies tricks get cuter and more impressive as they get older. Anything a baby can do can be considered a trick, like learning to crawl. As a toddler, my cousin Katelyn could flip a pacifier from upside-down to right-side-up with her tongue; we used to put it in her mouth upside-down just to see her perform. She could also whistle when she was barely two-years-old, and as soon as she could speak she was singing "Crazy 'bout a Mercury" by Alan Jackson. These were all considered her "tricks." MJ has tricks too, according to my mother. Unfortunately, they are not as endearing as Katelyn's, and consist mostly of pooping and projectile-vomiting, although as posted earlier, she can also smile and roll over. Yesterday, MJ showed us that even though her tricks are pretty basic, she is still a performer. Mike & I took her to the park for a stroll. We stopped about halfway through the walk to sit at a picnic table and have a snack. MJ got a little fussy, so Mike took her out and gave her a bottle. As she was eating (a trick, of course), Mike suddenly exclaimed, "oooh, and we're peeing!" I guessed that her bottom had gotten a little warmer, a telltale sign. Mike shifted her weight, and we both spotted the circle of wet on his jeans, slowly spreading. Oops. A trick! My mother would be so proud! I thought I was going to die laughing. I hurried to get out her changing pad and a set of clean clothes, since obviously hers were soaked, and Mike started stripping her. Then we noticed another trick. Not only had she peed through everything, she had the most ginormous explosive poop either of us had ever seen. The diaper was a fresh one, and even it couldn't contain this particular brand of trick. It was everywhere, up her back and running down her legs, and we were sitting out in the open, at a picnic table, and at the bottom of the wipes container. Lord, help us. I can't imagine either of us would have done if it had just been one of us with the baby. Once we got her as cleaned up as we could, we strapped her into her stroller and hurried home.
As soon as we got there, we knew it had to be bath time. MJ normally hates baths, but I guess even she couldn't take but so much poop in her armpits. It was a lovely family moment, and we all enjoyed scrubbing the baby until she was squeaky and shiny. We bundled her up again in a comfy sleeper and let her eat a little more. But how much is too much for an almost-six-week-old? Let me tell you. It's four ounces of formula at the park, plus another ounce in the car, plus twenty minutes of nursing. This equation equals another trick, and that is somewhere close to seven ounces of milk ejecting at full force towards the face of the person holding the baby: me. Insert the daddy rushing as quickly as possible to wipe our faces and attempt to soak up as much "trick" as he could with no fewer than three hand towels.
Once little Machaela had been bathed again, swaddled, and snuggled to sleep, Mike & I both decided it was time to call it a day for us too. We tucked her into her cradle, turned to our wonderful king-sized bed, and wanted to cry. We'd forgotten to wash the pee sheets from that morning. I firmly believe that at that moment, it crossed Mike's mind to convince me to lay a towel over the spot and sleep around it. If I hadn't been so disgusted by all of her other tricks that day, I might have let myself be convinced. Thankfully, he didn't try any convincing, and without a word we both just started stripping those darn sheets.
Please, MJ. No more tricks.
This is all Johanna's idea . . .
My dear friend Johanna thought it would be a good idea for me to start a blog about my experiences in the craziness (or "adventures," as she calls it) that is new mommyhood. Actually, I had been thinking about some kind of platform from which to record all of the amazing milestones this new baby reaches, as well as the things that nobody really tells you, the things you never expect, the things that are simultaneously as wonderful as they are mysteriously mind-boggling. Why not use one of the several baby books I have received, or one of the first-year calendars that are currently collecting dust on the bottom shelf of MJ's bookshelf? I promise, I will fill them in eventually, including the relevant photographs and momentos that make up the record of her initial existence, but I needed to start somewhere. An online blog seems somehow more accessible. I already have to check email and feed my Facebook addiction. The baby books demand more creativity than I can manage at the moment. The very idea of imagining page layouts and color schemes makes me feel tired, and I'm already filled with enough tired as it is.
So I'm already behind.
Let me start with a list:
1. Machaela Jane Rhodes was born on March 4, 2010, at 10:06am. Her 7 lbs, 13 oz, and 20 1/2 inches were the result of 38 weeks gestation and a beautiful epidural, given at 6cm dialation (around 4:30am). Hats off to those mommies who deliver "naturally," although I cannot imagine what in the world is natural about wanting to feel yourself turn inside out and back again, because that is exactly what happens. You turn inside out, and what was part of you goes around bouncing in the arms of other people, crying sometimes incessantly, and melting your heart with early smiles. But that is another number on the list. Anyway, I will remember my anesthesiologist forever. His name was Will, the placement was absolutely painless, and I had full and complete relief immediately. I pushed (again, painlessly) for about an hour once I was fully dialated, and out she came, gooey, beautiful, and with a nice set of lungs.
2. People are curious about her name. Mike picked it. I have had a full list of names prepared since elementary school, but apparently Mike had a list too; although, I don't know how you can call it a list, since it only had one name on it. He didn't even have any boy names picked! He and his brother, Daniel, have loved the name Machaela since one of their neighbors' children was named Machaela. They argued over who would eventually get to use it (you snooze, you lose, I guess), and in the end, we were the first to have a baby. I had other names I wanted to use, but we compromised. As long as I could choose the spelling, he could have his name. We considered the usual spellings: McKayla, Makayla, Michaela, etc., and she'll probably hate that we didn't pick one of them. My name is spelled in a way that no one ever gets right, and although I've always despised my parents' penchant for unique-ness, I now appreciate that I'm not just Kelly. Kelley has six letters, and it looks nice that way. Even numbers are good, right Emily K.? (hates odd numbers - can't even watch TV if the volume is set at an odd level) and the six letters look balanced and even. So, even though her name is spelled a little differently, and countless teachers will probably pronounce it "Ma-chay-luh," I think she'll appreciate it later in life. I just hope they pronounce it correctly at her college graduation.
3. MJ rolled over for the first time on Tuesday, March 23. She was two days shy of three weeks old. I know what you're thinking: impossible! Babies don't start rolling for the first few months! Guess what? My baby is brilliant. Get ready for a laundry list of the amazing things she is able to do before her time. I'm sure she'll be attending college at age 10. Now, I wouldn't count this rolling thing if I didn't believe it was totally for real. It was on our bed, and at first, she was assisted by the valley created by the weight of her daddy sitting next to her. So, naturally, he got up and we reset her on her belly. She did it again. At this point, cheering madly, we grabbed the video camera. I was sure she wouldn't do it a THIRD time, but I was shamed for underestimating her talents. She rolled over, from her belly to her back, for a third time and we captured the proof on film, for all eternity. I should probably contact whomever determines whether or not your child is a prodigy.
4. MJ smiled for the first time on Thursday, April 8. This is another one of those things that might fall into the category marked "gray areas." What really counts as a smile? I mean, she was curling her lips into that sweet smirk only hours after birth, but she wasn't really smiling AT anything. She was mostly doing it during sleep, for crying out loud. She was probably experiencing some kind of evolutionary reflex meant to charm adults into falling in love with infants so that they remain fed, clothed, and cuddled into adulthood. I'm not talking about those smiles. Some people say, "oh, it's just gas." Let me tell you something about the gas smile. You KNOW when it's a gas smile. MJ doesn't have any kind of prissy, tummy bubble gas. MJ has gas that clears rooms. She has gas that competes with passing trains. And yes, she often smiles when she lets these "fluffs" pass from her body, but who wouldn't feel better once those things are let loose? Better out than in, as they say. No, this smile was the real deal. She was in mid-cry, and as I was leaning over her cradle to lift her up, I sang the first verse of her "good morning" song (because when you have a baby, everything is a song). When she heard my voice, she opened her tightly clenched eyes, focused on my face, and instantly gave me the most amazing, heart-melting, open-mouthed gummy grin, complete with dimples. If that's not real, I don't know what is.
That's enough for now. It's 12:48am, and as much as I complain about being utterly exhausted, the baby and Mike are both sleeping, and I am not taking advantage of this magical time. More as it occurs to me, I suppose. Also, if this blog is lame, blame Johanna. ;)
So I'm already behind.
Let me start with a list:
1. Machaela Jane Rhodes was born on March 4, 2010, at 10:06am. Her 7 lbs, 13 oz, and 20 1/2 inches were the result of 38 weeks gestation and a beautiful epidural, given at 6cm dialation (around 4:30am). Hats off to those mommies who deliver "naturally," although I cannot imagine what in the world is natural about wanting to feel yourself turn inside out and back again, because that is exactly what happens. You turn inside out, and what was part of you goes around bouncing in the arms of other people, crying sometimes incessantly, and melting your heart with early smiles. But that is another number on the list. Anyway, I will remember my anesthesiologist forever. His name was Will, the placement was absolutely painless, and I had full and complete relief immediately. I pushed (again, painlessly) for about an hour once I was fully dialated, and out she came, gooey, beautiful, and with a nice set of lungs.
2. People are curious about her name. Mike picked it. I have had a full list of names prepared since elementary school, but apparently Mike had a list too; although, I don't know how you can call it a list, since it only had one name on it. He didn't even have any boy names picked! He and his brother, Daniel, have loved the name Machaela since one of their neighbors' children was named Machaela. They argued over who would eventually get to use it (you snooze, you lose, I guess), and in the end, we were the first to have a baby. I had other names I wanted to use, but we compromised. As long as I could choose the spelling, he could have his name. We considered the usual spellings: McKayla, Makayla, Michaela, etc., and she'll probably hate that we didn't pick one of them. My name is spelled in a way that no one ever gets right, and although I've always despised my parents' penchant for unique-ness, I now appreciate that I'm not just Kelly. Kelley has six letters, and it looks nice that way. Even numbers are good, right Emily K.? (hates odd numbers - can't even watch TV if the volume is set at an odd level) and the six letters look balanced and even. So, even though her name is spelled a little differently, and countless teachers will probably pronounce it "Ma-chay-luh," I think she'll appreciate it later in life. I just hope they pronounce it correctly at her college graduation.
3. MJ rolled over for the first time on Tuesday, March 23. She was two days shy of three weeks old. I know what you're thinking: impossible! Babies don't start rolling for the first few months! Guess what? My baby is brilliant. Get ready for a laundry list of the amazing things she is able to do before her time. I'm sure she'll be attending college at age 10. Now, I wouldn't count this rolling thing if I didn't believe it was totally for real. It was on our bed, and at first, she was assisted by the valley created by the weight of her daddy sitting next to her. So, naturally, he got up and we reset her on her belly. She did it again. At this point, cheering madly, we grabbed the video camera. I was sure she wouldn't do it a THIRD time, but I was shamed for underestimating her talents. She rolled over, from her belly to her back, for a third time and we captured the proof on film, for all eternity. I should probably contact whomever determines whether or not your child is a prodigy.
4. MJ smiled for the first time on Thursday, April 8. This is another one of those things that might fall into the category marked "gray areas." What really counts as a smile? I mean, she was curling her lips into that sweet smirk only hours after birth, but she wasn't really smiling AT anything. She was mostly doing it during sleep, for crying out loud. She was probably experiencing some kind of evolutionary reflex meant to charm adults into falling in love with infants so that they remain fed, clothed, and cuddled into adulthood. I'm not talking about those smiles. Some people say, "oh, it's just gas." Let me tell you something about the gas smile. You KNOW when it's a gas smile. MJ doesn't have any kind of prissy, tummy bubble gas. MJ has gas that clears rooms. She has gas that competes with passing trains. And yes, she often smiles when she lets these "fluffs" pass from her body, but who wouldn't feel better once those things are let loose? Better out than in, as they say. No, this smile was the real deal. She was in mid-cry, and as I was leaning over her cradle to lift her up, I sang the first verse of her "good morning" song (because when you have a baby, everything is a song). When she heard my voice, she opened her tightly clenched eyes, focused on my face, and instantly gave me the most amazing, heart-melting, open-mouthed gummy grin, complete with dimples. If that's not real, I don't know what is.
That's enough for now. It's 12:48am, and as much as I complain about being utterly exhausted, the baby and Mike are both sleeping, and I am not taking advantage of this magical time. More as it occurs to me, I suppose. Also, if this blog is lame, blame Johanna. ;)
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