Over the past five weeks, I have learned many things about having a newborn. Here are a few tidbits that I'd like to pass on to future mothers...
1. If you think you will have time to do anything while your on maternity leave, THINK AGAIN!
I couldn't wait to go on leave, have a brand new baby, and be able to catch up on scrapbooking, cleaning, reading, blogging, and many other things. Well, Baby came, and all I have been able to do is take care of her. There are some brief moments where she will sleep for about 2-3 hours and I am able to do a few things that need to be done. Mind you, in those moments, you will be taking a shower, washing bottles or other dishes if you don't have a dishwasher, putting a load of laundry into the washer/dryer, and tidying up a bit just to keep up with the housework, oh and EATING. And just as you sit down to relax, the baby wakes up and needs to be either changed or fed. Now, keep in mind, the first 2-3 weeks, you won't be able to do a thing because of the feeding schedule (every 2-3 hours), and you will just be so damn tired from only getting like 3-4 hours a sleep a day. But, for those lucky few, you may have help from friends and family. I am so grateful that my mom and mother-in-law took time out of their lives and came and stayed with me for hours at a time so I could sleep and get a few things done. I don't know what I would have done without them.
So, just keep in mind, the 6-8 weeks off from work is NOT to get stuff done. It's to bond with your baby and catch up on much needed sleep.
2. Sleepers with ZIPPERS are soooo much easier than any other outfit.
I have a bunch of sleepers, some zip up, other have snaps. I have come to realize that when you have a crying baby that's squirming and kicking, it's way easier to have a sleeper that zips because the whole changing process is cut down by a couple of minutes, which makes a BIG different when your lil' one is whaling in your ear. So stock up on the zippered ones, you will be glad you did.
3. Bouncing is a life saver.
I don't know what works for anyone else, but when my lil' girl starts crying, I immediately pick her up and start bouncing on the couch (or exercise ball if you have one) and 9 times out of 10, I can get her to stop crying and usually fall asleep in my arms. Something about the motion of bouncing reminds them of being in the womb. I usually have music playing too, and her magic song that gets her to stop crying every time is "Listen to the Music" by the Doobie Brothers. So when in doubt, bounce your heart out, and hey, you loose weight while doing it!
I know there's lots more, but at the moment, Miss Brooke has just woken up from her nap. (see, can't get much done because baby wakes up haha). So more to come later....
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
9 Hours and Counting
Lil Miss slept 3 hours in between 3 feedings last night, which means I got 9 hours total of sleep!! Now this may not seem like much of a personal victory, but yesterday I was running on 3 hours of sleep and by about 10pm, with no nap all day, I was about ready to tear my hair out.
Brooke is 2.5 weeks right now, and man that first week was brutal. Who knew you could function on 2 hours of sleep every 24 hours that first week? I mean, I knew new parents were tired and I knew i wouldn't be getting much sleep, but 2 hours a day for almost 7 days straight? Let me just say, I am glad I am past the first week.
Now she takes hour cat naps during the day and sleeps a little better at night. I seriously cannot wait for the night that she sleeps through the whole night! And why is it, that even though I am just as tired, the daddy gets to sleep way longer than the mommy. My husband has it pretty easy i think....He comes home from work and then takes the first night feeding shift, which usually is between 2-3am. Now he is usually up that late anyways, so its not that big of a deal. But if the baby starts screaming, mommy to the rescue and I forfeit my half of the night I am supposed to sleep. So once again, I get no sleep, and he gets to sleep till at least noon the next day! It's a vicious cycle and its definitely not fair. But, that's why mommies are the best and why our children love us so much!
So here's hoping for another night of good sleeping for both mommy and baby!
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| A sleeping baby makes for a happy mommy, now if only she would let me put her down so I could do some chores |
Brooke is 2.5 weeks right now, and man that first week was brutal. Who knew you could function on 2 hours of sleep every 24 hours that first week? I mean, I knew new parents were tired and I knew i wouldn't be getting much sleep, but 2 hours a day for almost 7 days straight? Let me just say, I am glad I am past the first week.
Now she takes hour cat naps during the day and sleeps a little better at night. I seriously cannot wait for the night that she sleeps through the whole night! And why is it, that even though I am just as tired, the daddy gets to sleep way longer than the mommy. My husband has it pretty easy i think....He comes home from work and then takes the first night feeding shift, which usually is between 2-3am. Now he is usually up that late anyways, so its not that big of a deal. But if the baby starts screaming, mommy to the rescue and I forfeit my half of the night I am supposed to sleep. So once again, I get no sleep, and he gets to sleep till at least noon the next day! It's a vicious cycle and its definitely not fair. But, that's why mommies are the best and why our children love us so much!
So here's hoping for another night of good sleeping for both mommy and baby!
Friday, February 8, 2013
My lil Miss
January 23, 2013 was the happiest day of my life. I met my lil Miss for the very first time.
A little background story:
My husband, Ryan, and I had been trying to get pregnant for close to two years. We had a few issues during the journey, which made it very stressful. Finally, we decided to just stop trying and work on rekindling our relationship. Well, it is true what they say, stop trying and it will happen. That is EXACTLY what happened for us. I found out I was pregnant May 10, 2012 at my best friend, Bethany's, house. I was in shock! I couldn't believe it was happening! Hell, I was going to Vegas in July and I just couldn't be pregnant!?! Well, I was and when I told Ryan, he was super excited.
The next nine months were a roller coaster ride, I swear I had every pregnancy symptom in the book. From morning sickness, to food adversions, to restless legs, I had them all. And then in November, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a severe sweet tooth. Staying on the special diabetic diet was especially challenging for me, and it doesn't help that I am not a big veggie eater, but I love fruit. Of course had to cut back on that too! Needless to say, I had a few cheat days, but I got through it....barely. On top of GD, in my 35th week, over Christmas, I landed myself in the hospital for kidney stones! Man was that painful.
At my 38th week apt, I was told they were going to induce me on my due date. I was super excited because I just couldn't stand being pregnant anymore and it gave me something to focus on. I went in to the hospital January 21 at 8pm. The whole process took 48 hours. On January 23, 2013 at 11:48pm, I was blessed with a 7lb 1oz, 21" long baby girl. We named her Brooke Lynn, our little BLT. I am so happy and feel so blessed that she is here. She is perfect and I couldn't ask for anything more!
A little background story:
My husband, Ryan, and I had been trying to get pregnant for close to two years. We had a few issues during the journey, which made it very stressful. Finally, we decided to just stop trying and work on rekindling our relationship. Well, it is true what they say, stop trying and it will happen. That is EXACTLY what happened for us. I found out I was pregnant May 10, 2012 at my best friend, Bethany's, house. I was in shock! I couldn't believe it was happening! Hell, I was going to Vegas in July and I just couldn't be pregnant!?! Well, I was and when I told Ryan, he was super excited.
The next nine months were a roller coaster ride, I swear I had every pregnancy symptom in the book. From morning sickness, to food adversions, to restless legs, I had them all. And then in November, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a severe sweet tooth. Staying on the special diabetic diet was especially challenging for me, and it doesn't help that I am not a big veggie eater, but I love fruit. Of course had to cut back on that too! Needless to say, I had a few cheat days, but I got through it....barely. On top of GD, in my 35th week, over Christmas, I landed myself in the hospital for kidney stones! Man was that painful.
At my 38th week apt, I was told they were going to induce me on my due date. I was super excited because I just couldn't stand being pregnant anymore and it gave me something to focus on. I went in to the hospital January 21 at 8pm. The whole process took 48 hours. On January 23, 2013 at 11:48pm, I was blessed with a 7lb 1oz, 21" long baby girl. We named her Brooke Lynn, our little BLT. I am so happy and feel so blessed that she is here. She is perfect and I couldn't ask for anything more!
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