Survived Week 2 - Woo Hoo

I can't believe our little man is already two weeks old! He is changing so much already! We are really settling in to motherhood and fatherhood and it feels amazing. This week has been vastly different from last week for several reasons...

• We are breast feeding on demand which has been much less stressful (although it is still not a walk in the park - this little man would prefer a bottle which he can finish in a few minutes)
• He is sleeping at one 5 hour stretch at night (AMAZING - HAPPY DANCE) - this is particularly helpful for someone like me, who is a horrible napper (Jeff, of course, can nap anywhere at any time - darn him)
• I am finally feeling a little more mobile, although I still can't lift things or move certain ways
• Jeff and I got out of the house once together and then I got out for the first time by myself. It was helpful, especially since it is flu season and so cold out.. I don't want to expose this little guy to those things quite yet
• I can fit my rings back on my finger (yay - It's the little things)

We had Baby B's two week appointment this week and he weighs 7 lbs 8 1/2 ozs, which is not quite his birth weight. We are still working on improving that. :)

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Fun firsts for this week. . . 

1. Newborn photo shoot
2. First bath at home
3. First real outfits worn
4. First home date for mom and dad (cards and wine)

Quick Advice for New Moms

FOOD

Use www.takethemameal.com (have a friend set it up - Thanks Christi) to set up meals for 3 - 4 weeks it is a freaking lifesaver! It has helped with stress and not eating junk. Thank you to all of the thoughtful people who have been feeding us. We set up meals for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. It is hard enough to pick up around the house and shower, let alone cook real food. I'm already scared for when they stop coming (ha!).

TIME-OUT

• Change your clothes everyday even if you aren't going anywhere - you will feel more productive and like a human being
• Take quiet time each day - for me it is with a Bible verse and some tea. It keeps me centered and gives me patience
• Take a break - I felt guilty about Jeff and I going out and then me going out, but it was good for my mental health 

 FOLLOW ORDERS

Follow your doctor's orders about rest, driving, lifting, etc - they aren't joking, they know what they are talking about. I ended up being in a lot of pain one day because I overdid it. . . whoops

LOVE 

Love your spouse - try to not take things out on them during this time. Jeff is my rock and when I am overwhelmed he is amazing, so I try not to take my overwhelmed feelings out on him - he is learning too 

Check out my "All you really need is ..." post for a few more tips!

All you really need is . . .

Baby registries can be SO overwhelming and the pressure to have everything ready before baby arrives can be quite maddening. In reality, you only need a few things the first three weeks (or longer). Here are a few of my favorite things for the first three weeks.

FOR MOM

If you are breastfeeding . . . 

• Nursing tanks - I have about 6, so I don't have to wash them all the time. Helpful, as babies do dribble and spit up. I also love leggings and yoga pants right now and of course cardigans for over the nursing tanks

• Lanolin - save the nipples!

• Breast pump and set of bottles (check with your insurance, as they will probably pay for it!)

• Breast cooling pads - nice and soothing - http://www.target.com/p/lansinoh-soothies-gel-pads/-/A-12729475#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink

• Heat compresses .. I use these:  http://www.target.com/p/lansinoh-therapearl-3-in-1-breast-therapy/-/A-14386190#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=lansinoh  - They are great to use before pumping, helps your milk let down 
  
• Pads for your tanks and bras . .. I like the washable ones, they are much softer :)

• 2 nursing bras (I am not large chested even now, so I can get away without one when wearing most nursing tanks)

• Water bottle with straw and lid - I get so thirsty while breastfeeding! Here is my favorite one to carry around: http://www.target.com/p/aladdin-double-walled-plastic-mason-jar/-/A-14272159#prodSlot=medium_1_22&term=mason+jar  - They also sell them at Wegman's right now

If you had a vaginal delivery . . . 

• Tucks witch hazel pads 
• Light and heavy pads (when you pump and nurse you may bleed more heavily)
• Dermoplast spray (They give you this at the hospital, but I wanted some upstairs and downstairs - really helps with pain)
• Larger, comfortable, cotton underwear - it isn't sexy time and you will want to be comfortable that first week especially

FOR BABY

 

SleepSack

Bundle Me

Rock N' Play by Fisher Price

• More burp cloths  and bibs then you think you will use (seriously - who wants to do laundry every other day for this purpose?!)

 

• If you have a boy who will be circumcised . . . gauze pads and Vaseline

 

• Aquaphor for dry skin (love this - it is gentle and really helps with their chapped skin - it is a little greasy though)

• Diaper change necessities (wipes, diapers, hand sanitizer) ... A&D is our friend for routine diaper changes  - We also loved our diaper caddy from Babies R' Us (we have one for each level and stock it with bibs, burp cloths, wipes, diapers, A&D, lotion, Aquaphor, pacifier, extra outfit, and it came with the changing pad) http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12326945&cp=&parentPage=search

  

  Sara Bear Diaper Caddy from Babies R' Us

 

• Hat for cold weather and the Bundle Me from J.J. Cole http://www.target.com/p/jj-cole-original-bundle-me-0-12-months-graphite/-/A-13054014#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=bundle+me

 

• Swaddle blankets and/or Halo SleepSacks - our baby breaks out of a swaddle, so the sleep sacks are better for us 

 

• Rock N' Play - this is such a snug sleeper, it helps babies feel they are in the womb. We love that it rocks and that it is washable! It vibrates too, but we don't really need that feature at the moment. http://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-rock-n-play-star/-/A-14583529#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=rock+n+play

• Snugapuppy bouncer - this is wear my little guy takes naps. It is snug and nice and upright for his little bit of reflux and washable (yay) http://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-deluxe-bouncer-my-little-snugapuppy/-/A-14588566#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=SNUGAPUPPY

 

• Bath supplies: shampoo, wash cloths, bath seat/tub, lotion - I love my bath seat, as it is compact and soft! http://www.target.com/p/summer-infant-deluxe-baby-bather-blue/-/A-13933368#prodSlot=medium_1_2

  

  Bath Seat

•  Sleepers with zippers (so much easier in the middle of the night) - The first two weeks we went through two a day and then week three I decided to dress the poor kid in "real clothes."
   
  
  
   

 We have it, but . . . 

• We have a swing, but he still doesn't weight enough for it (he may fly to Mars if we aren't careful) - we could have waited
• I have a Boppy and the first week I loved it. . . Now, it is kind of a pain. I keep it upstairs for the middle of the night, but never even use it during the day 
• Playmat - we are starting to use it more in week 3, but the first couple weeks you don't use it much and could always use a blanket
• Baby monitor . . we didn't need this until week 3 (I do love my video monitor though, now that we are settled enough to use it)
• His entire room - seriously. I am so glad it is set up, but we don't quite need it yet. 

 I might be forgetting a few things and will edit if I have.. but that's about it for now :)

All I wanted to do my first week was eat, snuggle, and shower at some point!

Our First Week

We made it! We all survived our first week! 

Some highlights.....

We came home safely. He loves to sleep in his carrier and In the car, which is good because we had a couple rough nights and ended up driving him around one night until he could calm himself down. :/ 

Bella met her new sibling. Bella loves to lick his head and checks on him when he cries. She has been really good with him! 

Jeff gave me a gorgeous "push gift" 

Jeff and I took our little guy for his first check up. He did drop weight, so we saw a lactation consultant this week and we ended up switching pediatricians, as we didn't have the best experience. Blah! 

We went on our first family walk. Yay for fresh air!

I'm tracking my postpartum body... Getting there. Can't wait to really work out in 5 weeks! 

These two are twins... So serious .. 

We had a long week, but I think we are starting to adjust. Lack of sleep is hard, breast feeding isn't the walk in the park I thought it would be, but we are working on it! We have ranged from moments of "we love him so much we don't want want to put him down" to "what did we get ourselves into." I am told this is normal. :) Praying for patience and some sort of sleep during week two! 

Welcome to the world Baby B

On Friday, January 10th, 2014 at 9:30 am (on the dot), our little joy arrived. Beckett was a long 21 1/2 inches nada sturdy 7 lbs 13 ozs. He was bigger than Jeff and I (and the doctors) expected. 

Looking back.....

Baby B decided that he was ready to make his appearance beginning Thursday evening. My water broke at home at 7:15. I honestly wasn't sure if it was my water at first, but soon realized this little guy was coming. Jeff and I really wanted a natural childbirth if possible, which meant no epidural. To many this sounds crazy and part of me still thinks it was. :) My midwife (and many books) recommended staying home as long as possible, as it is harder to resist the epidural once you are admitted. So, Jeff and I stayed home until 1:30 am. I was in early labor during this entire time. My sister and her husband came to the house to stay with Bella, our dog, and distract me! 

We arrived at the hospital and they immediately had a room ready for us. They hooked me up to wireless monitoring for the baby's heartbeat and my contractions. My midwife arrived at about 3 am and I was 80% effaced, but only 2 centimeters dilated. This was a concern since my water broke several hours prior. They wanted to put me on pitocin to speed up contractions and dilation. I did not want this, as it intensifies your labor and went against the no drugs mentality I had. After lots of tears and no progress, I ended up getting hooked up to an IV of pitocin. Jeff and I prayed I wanted have to receive a high dose. Our prayers were answered. I went into active labor and by 6 am I was 4 centimeters dilated.

We still had a ways to go. I was in active labor from about 6-8 am. Jeff was an amazing coach! He walked with me, massaged my back, prayed with me, and encouraged me. By 8 am I was in transition, my wonderful nurse, Laura, told me to move to the tub. I wasn't sure about it, but they said it was the most natural form of an epidural. So, I got in. Praise God because transition was hard. Jeff and I had prayed and meditated on several Bible verses for weeks to help me calm myself during labor. I am so glad we did because the focus it took to get through the pain was unbelievable. At one point I didn't feel like I could do it anymore, so Jeff went and got the verses we wrote down and read them. He said I immediately began to calm down and focus. My breathing and movements became paced with the contractions. It was important to not fight the contractions, but to do move and focus with them. By 8:45 I was ready to push, remember I was only 4 centimeters at 8 am, so the nurses didn't think I would be ready. I told everyone he was coming and transition was over. 

At 9 am they got me about of the tub and I was 8 centimeters dilated. I was so ready to push this little man out. I was done. They said to wait and they called my amazing doctor. Now, she was on her way in, but they didn't think I would have him until at least 12 or 1 and it is only 9 am. They moved me and I told them I couldn't wait to push. My doctor walked in at 9:10 and I began pushing at 9:15. Pushing was definitely harder than I thought, since I didn't have the epidural. Poor Jeff got a little lightheaded and had to sit down. By the time Baby B was ready to arrive, Jeff was back on his feet. :) 

At 9:30 am our little man arrived (with his left hand next to his head- stinker and ouch). Jeff was able to cut his umbilical cord and we immediately had skin to skin time. It was surreal! 

Verses that we prayed on and helped get me through labor....

Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you.  Do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Psalm 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 37:4

New International Version (NIV)

4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Isaiah 40:31

New International Version (NIV)

31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

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Brunch... the much easier choice for Christmas

I haven't posted in a while.. life has been a little chaotic! I wanted to share a yummy french toast casserole I ended up serving on Christmas. This year, Jeff and I hosted since I didn't want to venture far being so close to my due date. :) We decided a brunch theme would be a nice change of pace, especially since Thanksgiving was a mere 3 weeks prior and the thought of turkey and ham was not exactly appealing to this preggo lady. :)

Everyone brought a quiche, fruit, or breakfast bread. I made yummy breakfast potatoes and the below casserole. It was super easy and I didn't have to do anything the night before. It was delicious. :) There weren't left overs!

The casserole is in the white pan

Ingredients:

4-5 cups of torn challah bread (or any thick sliced bread)
5 eggs
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup maple syrup
*optional - sprinkle some brown sugar over the top before you bake for a nice sweet crusty top!

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Grease 9x13 casserole dish.  Pour about 1/2 cup of syrup in the bottom of the casserole dish.  Layer torn bread on top of the syrup.  In a large bowl beat eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and cinnamon.  Pour egg mixture evenly over bread in casserole dish and press bread down to make sure it's completely soaked.  Drizzle remaining syrup over top of bread and custard.  Bake for 30-40 minutes until casserole is puffed up and golden brown on top.  Remove from oven and drizzle additional maple syrup on top and serve while hot.

Visit this link for the original post: http://everydaysisters.blogspot.com/2011/07/quick-easy-french-toast-casserole.html