The First Time He Hath Peed On Us

Something that I was really hoping my son would never do to me was pee on me. I know it is hilarious when you see it and hear about it, but it is not fun when it actually happens to you the first time. I was able to dodge it and caught it in a receiving blanket, my face showed relief and my son had his signature single dimple smile. My husband was not so lucky. This evening for the first time Baby E decided not to pee on my husband in a spray but he peed through his Huggies diaper on my husband. Baby E-1, Husband-0! At first I think it is the most disgusting thing and want to grimace but my husband and I after being stressed, and dead tired laughed. Compared to what we are going through right now in our lives a little pee is no biggy.

What did you consider a big baby deal prior to becoming parents? Potty Training? Throw up? Embarrassing tantrums?

Now things like that us are just plain old normal.

 

This little man is sometimes a poop monster

End of Maternity Leave

Today I spent the whole day with my son. I was selfish, and carried him around in my arms until he fell asleep. Even then I would not put him down.

As a now working mom, like others my maternity leave is over and I must return to my job. I did not expect to feel this overwhelming need to cry, or feeling like my chest is going to explode. I had thought “it will be no problem, everyone does it.” Now I see how wrong I was.

This was my last day of maternity, and I do not know how I am going to cope at work. It is going to be the hardest thing I am ever going to do tomorrow morning. I do not think it would be as difficult if I did not commute nearly an hour, and could come home on lunch.

I do not know how much endurance I have within me. I may end up bawling my eyes out and rushing home. I will need to leave my son in the trusty hands of my sister who is willing to sit for the next 4 weeks- God bless her!

Anxiety, sadness, weepy, hurt, guilty are only a couple things I am feeling. The most being love, I never thought I would feel as strongly for another person as I do now. And when I met met and fell in love with my husband I thought that was the happiest I could and most I could love someone. Boy how wrong was I ??

Every Hour Counts !

Rush rush rush is now my motto. Even though I’m hobbling from my son, to the crib, to the washing machine, to the kitchen, back to my son, and every other little thing. When I can walk around, Im doing ten different things. Most of the time I’m carrying my son around too. I need another set of hands! What are the best carriers out there? I’m seriously considering a Boba from Target. I dislike carriers with a lot of hardware and because of my small frame.

Hump Day For A FTM

As my newborn son turns 1- month old, he certainly has kept me on my toes now that I am recovering from Shingles. My Hump Day or Wednesdays, have certainly changed. Prior to becoming pregnant Hump Day consisted of cafe, emails, reports, and phone calls and grateful that the work week was half way over. It was the sign that I could start planning my weekends of baby shopping trips, baby prep, husband time, and relaxing. I could not wait until my son was born – I had every day planned.

Now that my son is 1- month old I want to do everything to slow down time. I want to lie with him sleeping on my chest everyday and not have to get up for anything. This Hump Day in particular signifies something that i am dreading, returning to work. As a working Mom I did not expect to have this much anxiety. i wonder if I am the only person feeling guilty leaving their newborn.

Never have I ever wished to stall work, I have  always been career oriented and driven. Crazy how before I could not wait for this day to come, now all I want us for it not to end. this will be one of the many challenges i will face, balancing work and being a mom.

1 Month Old

Dear mommy, Today was my birthday

Dear Mommy,

Today I was my birthday, I am 1 month old. I remember the day I was born. I was crying and you were crying with me. The lights hurt my eyes, and the nurses pulled my fingers and toes. I remember seeing Daddy smile at me. I remember when I was first placed on your chest, your boobs were very soft. I could hear your heart beat, and your skin was soft, and skin smelled good. We stayed in the hospital together cuddling and sleeping together.

We came home together. It smelled like you and daddy. I ate a lot of you milk. You swaddled me in my favorite blanket every day, and touched my cheeks. You smell good when you lie next to me. Tummy time is my favorite time of day Mommy, and falling asleep on your chest.

Mommy, I know you got sick and are getting better. Your milk is not coming out as fast for me, but please don’t give up. I want you to hold me every day until I fall asleep. I am sorry I pooped on your hand today, I will try not to do it again but I cannot help myself.

I love you Mommy and Daddy.

-BabyE

Best For Boys Diapers!!

Thus far, my Husband has been grateful that our Son E has yet to wet through his diaper and clothing, UNTIL YESTERDAY!!! Common sense says that it is time to go up a size. Baby E will be 1 month old tomorrow, time has flown by! His cheeks are bigger, his butt rounder, and taller even though we only measure him lying down. A diaper concern for me, since we will be purchasing them until he is potty trained, which brand is best for boys? I have heard mixed reviews on this, so I am asking your opinion. Huggies or Pampers? I so far do not have a preference but it may be good in the future to start thinking about him wetting his diaper more often. Also how can you choose between Sesame Street, Winnie the Pooh or Mickey Mouse ??

 

My 2-Week Guilt as a First Time Mom

My son E is nearly 1 month old, and as a First Time Mom this is supposed to be the most tiring, stressful, fulfilling and happy time of our lives. The first month is supposed to be filled with sleepless nights, bouts of tears, uncontrollable hormones, endless diaper changes and feedings. I looked forward to every little bit of it, particularly because I am to return to work very soon.

Up until this point I believed that I could be Super First Time Mom. I could not only recover from a C-Section, take care of my newborn, take care of my sick husband, and take care of myself when I became ill. Well, like all plans no matter how much planning- I failed. This may sound like me whining but believe me it is not, this is me getting all of this guilt off of my chest.
For the past two weeks, I have sat in my bed with my newborn son E lying in his bed next to me unable to hold him, breastfeed him, or soothe his crying. After a C-Section, and bout with the flu my immune system gave up on me when I needed it the most, and I became ill with Shingles. People usually have Shingles flare up after the age of 50 but for me its about 25 years to early. After a full hour of cussing out every person that I came into contact with who had germs, a cold, the flu- all while covering my newborn sons ears, the doctor broke the news that I couldn’t handle my newborn son until this had passed because i was highly contagious.

For many people not familiar with Shingles, the virus is a remnant of Chicken Pox, it never leaves your body. It is an after thought of a childhood illness, and those around you that have never had Chicken Pox are highly susceptible, and for my husband and newborn son extreme caution needed to be taken. While the “lesion” as it is called is red, itchy, and showing I am highly contagious, and no part of me should be scratched for fear of more breakouts. The attack of the nerves system is the worst because your body actually hurts like you have been trampled a dozen times.

No matter how much I cried, or asked for my newborn son, my nurse Foofoo (who is my older sister)  and husband would not hand over my son to me, for fear that even though all my intentions were very natural and maternal, if my newborn son contracted Chicken Pox, I would feel guiltily. I thought back on all the times during my pregnancy that I complained about back pain, upset stomach, or kidney issues and today i would take all of those if it meant that I did not have to lie in bed in and hear me him cry next to me, or be able to rock him to sleep. This very morning  I was able to wobble out of bed, pick up my son for the first time, and hold him, breastfeed him, burp him, and rock him to sleep.

I have never felt incandescently happy as I did in any other event in my life as I did this morning when I picked up my newborn son. To some people it is the simplest thing picking up their child, but to me it was the most fulfilling I have felt since finding out I was pregnant and responsible for the care of another being. I do not know if I will ever get past the guilt of the last two weeks, it is not like binge eating.  I do not know if I should try to make up for it in the future with Baby E? Or if I should take from it and disregard it and continue to hobble around my house?

Something I have learned early on is to cherish every moment you have with your children even more- even if it is only your first

 

Shedding Like An Adorable Snake …

When my Husband and I took the baby prep class, you know how they show you all the different pictures on poster board of different skin conditions your baby? My son E has been shedding his old skin like a snake. Every single time I change his diaper, his onesie, rub his head, Theres nothing new parents can do, after 9 months your babes skin sheds the first 3 layers of skin. I shake out his clothes every time I change his diaper because there is just so much!!! It’s all over the place but the only thing it reminds me of is dog hair. When I lived at my parent we had a wonderful dog named Sandy who would shed like crazy yes i know this is probably a horrible comparison. Only my son reminds me of a snake because he is so squirmy, its adorable. 

Germs!

One of my pet peeves, and I hope many other moms too, are germs. I am a stiffler about people washing their hands. My husband and I even wash our hands before we pick up our son for fear of contaminating him with a flesh eating disease. I am even worse when we visit family and friends and vice versa, because naturally everyone wants a chance to hold a new baby. Washing hands for some people is second nature for others who are not used to baby’s its not. What is worse is when you receive the “OMG do you think I have crap on my hands” stare from family members. It is not a hard request, and recently on a family visit I made this point clear, politely but firmly, and was still given the “stare”. My advice for those of us stifflers who request that hands be washed, stick to your guns because germs can knock you and your loved ones out for the count- and I have a very good reason for this. If you do not have a good reason you can steal mine.
Now, I hope this does not happen to most new families, but prior to coming home we accepted a few visitors at the hospital, some of which had unbeknownst to us colds/flus. Less than a week after arriving home my husband (who admits to having a horrible immune system) was sick with fever, cough, phlegm, puking- all the worst symptoms of the flu. And 5 days later, I with a newborn, one-week post C-Section, was sick as well. Luckily I had help but I do not remember a single thing for a week with my newborn because I had worse symptoms than my husband. So please I implore people who are offended when asked- wash your damn hands! If not for you for the poor family who is awake every 3 hours, and hasn’t showered for 4 days. A shortlist of things to help less offend people who visit or whose homes you visit is below to help avoid that “stare”.

1. Hand Sanitizer, in your home this is a way to get the message across to people in a less obvious way.
2. Hand Sanitizer Travel Size- Same as above, but if this one is scented people think it is cuter.
3. A Generic Phrase to ask people/excuse such as- “we just got over really bad flus, would you mind washing your hands?” doesn’t hurt to fib
4. A baby safe cleaning and disinfecting wipes, carry them around and wipe everything that you touched or think you did.

Good Luck!