High Maintenance Baby Alert

Every baby is fussy to an extent. Every parent knows this or learns very quickly. My son has begun the fussy stage when I am not around, to the despair of our baby sitters. He dislikes when I am not around I am told but honestly I think my son is just high maintenance.

He screams bloody murder when he is hungry, and when he drops his binky- Mr Binky to family, on the floor. It’s like God just denied him Boobs for life. The moment his diaper line on his Huggies turns from yellow to blue he must have it off. We discover today that when a Kirby steamer salesman was demonstrating for us nifty things that the sound puts him to sleep. I believe this is called “white noise”. My son does not like to have his hood or hat cover his eyes, but when a blanket is tossed over his carrier he is perfectly fine. And the worst, when he is out into his car seat it’s as though we tried to murder him. The solution for this last one is easy but hard on my arms- I need to literally swing him back and forth. How high maintenance can he be?!?!

I know babys only have one form of communication really before they start cooing, smiling and laughing- which he has started to do. It’s the crying that get me. I’m still hormonal and this just tears at my heart that I think there’s something wrong. Unfortunately the closest thing I can compare learning a baby’s cries to is the bark of a dog. I had dogs growing up and we learned when they needed to go to the bathroom, were bothered, wanted something or in some cases needed more water. I do believe my son is high maintenance for the most part. I just hope that does not carry on into his childhood. Does anyone else feel there child is/was high maintenance or is it just me being a mean parent ?

10 Easy Gifts for Newborn Bebe

My husband and I come from very large families, and naturally everyone was very excited about a new baby. We were sent gifts for our little guy from the moment we announced our pregnancy. Not that I am not grateful but some gifts were more appropriate than others. People just see something in the store and grab it because it’s adorbs. So after a little while people did ask me what we needed.
My husband and I bought all of the essentials, leaving most of the family to fill in the gaps if they offered. But here are the top ten gifts I would ever consider giving a family member or friend who is expecting their first. Side note, most of the items were recycled from friends too, and if they offered us them or at a reduced rate it was very savvy shopping.

1. Diapers- all sizes
2. Wipes
3. Receiving/burp cloths
4. Baby blankets
5. Clothes
6. Bibs
7. Undershirts
8. Baby socks
9. Hats
10. Baby sleep sack or Swaddler

This list is based on what my husband and I forgot in the rush of shopping. Luckily our friends and family were kind enough to help us out with the little that we forgot.

Chicago, Baby E!

I love visiting the city of Chicago. Normally I just call it the “city”. But lately I have been very hesitant -and cautious, about visiting with a newborn.
I take public transportation whenever I travel to Chicago. This even included traveling into the city by Metra, and either walking taking the cta or EL.
When I see people on the Metra with strollers and kids, it always seems like it’s a hassle, people are rude for no reason, the seats/space is never family friendly.
I have not traveled anywhere further than the grocery store and bank with my newborn, so planning an excursion to the city is really intimidating.
I keep going over in my head how to make a trip easier without having to carry a billion baby items. Diaper bag and Baby E being a must.

But, What About My Boobs??

After getting over the fact that my body would be going through some changes, I had to come to terms with the fact that my size D cup was going to get even bigger. I was not happy. Having a small 5’3″ frame my back already went through enough holding these girls up
You know when you go to a store and see a shirt you decide to try on. And while in the dressing room youse that your boobs are either:

1. Smushed into a uniboob
2. Stretching the fabric across your chest so much it hurts to breathe or
3. In cases of button downs, in serious peril of popping open

This is what I have dreaded. The point if where my boobs are too big to fit into anything that I go up 4 sizes in the TShirt department, and still look like a Playboy Bunny.

My nipples got bigger they, darkened, and hurt regularly. Also, there are scary blue blood veins- for a pale girl, it’s scary!

There are things you can do to avoid feeling like God isn’t trying to punch you in the boob. When your milk comes in and you start leaking through your shirts, wear bra pads. I personally like Lasinoh. Sleep with a very soft towel underneath your chest, can’t say how many times I woke up in the morning with the bed wet under me. Massaging your boob totally helps to relieve some of the pressure, especially on the underside. Warm compresses, or a bag of rice in a sock work well too.

Good luck ! And God or boob goddesses are not trying to punish us- remember that when you are smushed into a 38DD bra 🙂

My First Day At Work

Today I left my son at home to return to work. I left the house this morning at 7 am. My son fell asleep in my arms after breast feeding, burping and diaper changing. He was totally emulating what I was hoping I would, calm and collected. I have never felt this incredibly over whelmed with emotion. One of my more valued traits is that during a crisis I keep a very calm demeanor, though for the past month I have been a wreck.

Like many families, my husband and I both need to work to support ourselves and our new son. I would love to stay home and care for my son 24/7 but right now financially it is not an option. To every other mother out there, everyone told me the first day was the easiest but in reality it is actually the next day and the next. You think that “today was easy” but actually dreading the moment you leave your baby again tomorrow is worse.

Good luck to every other working Mom and Dad out there, I never understood what my friends were talking about until this morning, when my husband and I both said good bye to our son.

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.

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