What I've Learned in 6 Months

1. Find your own pace

You can see so many moms on social media, etc that craft, go to play dates, make homemade peanut butter oatmeal chia seed blah blah blah squares and feel like you are a lazy bum that can't keep up. That's not true. I've never been a crafty lady, so I probably won't start now. I happily purchased Sam's Halloween outfit and I anticipate that I will for the upcoming years. Sam hates car rides so I am never too eager to jump in the car and take him somewhere. If I have someone with me or the car ride is very short, then I will. So find your own pace, do what makes you comfortable. I've missed out on many things because it just was too much for us to take on. And that's ok.

2. Buy that baby a softer sheet 

Sam's nursery is upstairs and really cold. Every time I put him in bed, his face would touch his cold sheet and wake him up. So I bought this sheet and it is so soft that I wish I could climb into that crib with him and sleep on it. I'm pretty sure Sam wouldn't mind me sleeping in that crib with him.

3. Make yourself a priority

I know you have heard this one before along with others such as: sleep when baby sleeps, let the dirty dishes stay in the sink, & cherish every moment, it goes too fast. But sers, try to find some time, any time, and do something that you want to do. It doesn't have to be much, but even the smallest of things can make you feel refreshed. It seems impossible and sometimes it is, but it is still worth a try. 

4. Do what works 

I used to be a stickler for "how it should be". Hahahaha!!! Babies really screw with that. Give that up, girl. Go with the flow. We are currently sleeping in our guest bedroom upstairs so I can be closer to Sam in his nursery down the hall. I was not into going up and down those stairs several times a night. However, since Sam has started napping/sleeping in his room, I have lost a few more lbs!

5. Phantom baby kicks 

I meant to touch on this one months ago, but for several months after you have a baby you will feel "kicks" and for a millisecond, you will forget that you are no longer pregnant. It's weird. And it makes me miss being pregnant.

6. Rings 

Kyle gifted me with my second wedding band when I had Sam. And at that time, I couldn't fit my swollen fingers into my rings. I was worried that my fingers would never be able to fit back into my rings but after about 6 weeks, I could squeeze them on. But there were times I could barely get them off. But by 6 months (actually before that) the rings slid on and off exactly like they used to.

7. The things you will try

As you know, Sam hates the car seat. I have tried everything. Sound machine strapped to his seat, iPad propped up playing videos, toys hanging from the handle. And then I read that you might tape a picture of yourself up so they can see you. And that is exactly what I did. I didn't care how ridiculous it may appear, a nice 5x7 picture of myself taped up on my leather interior. But I was willing to do anything! Would have been nice if he actually stopped crying though...

8. Family 

Your heart will swell every time you see your family enjoying your baby. And your friends, too. 

                                

15 lbs 13oz (17 %)
27.25 inches (75%)

"A person's a person, no matter how small." - Dr. Seuss 

What I've Learned in 5 Months

Sam turned 5 months old & I'm starting to think that life moves too quickly. 4 months to 5 months felt like the blink of an eye. Here are some things I've learned in 5 months:

1. The spitting up gets better 

Sam has been a raging spitter since month 1. The pediatrician told me it would get better around 6 months (when he could sit up) but it has already gotten better. Now, in comparison to some other babes, he still spits up a lot. But I am now less afraid he will "place his mark" on my outfit right before I walk out the door. And then this happens...

2. 6 lbs 

This is the number of pounds my body is holding onto post baby. I try to get a workout in here & there but I never have time during the week and I'm lucky if I can squeeze on in on a weekend. Plus, Sam isn't sleeping well so right now I can barely drag my feet to the Keurig. I feel like a zombie running the park, it's like my body barely works & I might hit the pavement at any second. 

3. Penis 

Month 5 is when he found it during bath time. It's all downhill from here. 

4. Activity 

Month 4 was Sam's vocal month. This month has been his active month. His legs rarely stop moving. His tiny hands grab anything within reach. Usually my hair. He is practicing on sitting up & is actually quite good at it for 5 months old. 

5. Extra Camera

If your child's nursery is upstairs but he is napping/sleeping downstairs, buy an extra camera for your monitor. I finally did that this past week and it is so nice. Now I can put Sam down for a nap in his nursery (trying to get him used to the room that he never sees) and I don't have to move the camera. Overstock had the best price on an extra camera for our Summer Infant Clear Sight monitor.

6. Take a Chill Pill

I wish that I could say that I am super chill, laid back mother (or person in general) but I am not. I can get wound up pretty easily and often feel like I am going to snap on someone.I feel tugged in many different directions and I feel like I never have enough time.  But sometimes, I need to just relax and take a chill pill. However, this time in my life is the most trying (and most wonderful) and I am trying to teach myself how to just do what I can. Not what I think I should do, or what I used to be able to do. Just want I can do now.

7. Feeling Grateful 

I wrote this post the other night. And that is exactly how I felt. Even when I feel like I am drowning, I remind myself that I am extremely fortunate to be living this life. Sam is healthy and thriving, my marriage is solid and we are loved. So make that margarita out of the tequila you got at work and cheeers yourself. Every little thing is gonna be alright. 

"And she loved a little boy very much, even more than she loved herself."
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 

Grateful

Tonight I am sitting on my couch with a glass of wine and a piece of peanut butter toast. I had never eaten peanut butter toast until I met Kyle. I always ate toast with butter on it. Or jelly. But never butter & jelly. That's weird. My mom eats it that way & I've always thought it was weird. But peanut butter toast is delicious. 

The house is quiet. Kyle is playing in a golf tournament. Sam is in bed. My house was cleaned today. I had a wine tasting so I have a really nice bottle of Cabernet open. 

Last week was rough. Well, this week was even rough. But last Friday I was in tears & this Friday, I am grateful. 

I am grateful for a healthy baby. 

I am grateful for a husband that says he misses me when he hasn't seen me in 12 hrs. 

I am grateful for a job that allows me to have a flexible schedule. 

I am grateful for friends that are still making plans with me even though I'm not as available as I once was. 

I'm grateful for a mother that loves me enough to know I need her to be Sam's only other caregiver right now. 

Tonight, I am just grateful. 

Tears

you guys, i'm so tired. i can't even capitalize. i read this article earlier today and was exactly what i needed to hear. sam hasn't been sleeping well for about a month. it feels like an eternity. i cannot remember the last time i slept more than 3 hrs. shoot, i would buzz my hair off right now to get 3 hrs. i keep trying to stay positive and know that is won't always be this way but there are times that i feel like i am drowning. today i worked from home and i was hoping that sam would take at least one good nap. he slept terribly last night so i really needed it. nope, he woke up super early this morning and then at 1pm, he had only taken 2 less than 45 min naps. woke up crying each time. i won't go into cry it out vs pick him up immediately right now (basically because my brain is too tired) but i am in the in between phase of going to him & letting him fuss for a bit. it feels like nothing is working. 

days like today make me hate working. i don't feel like my head is in the game anyway and then you break me down with no sleep and i snap. i got almost everything completed today that was on my list. and then kyle called and said we had some friends that wanted us to go to dinner and then to their house after. i said i couldn't do it, i'm too tired. and then the tears started. 

i know this won't last forever. and i know that i'm doing my best. and i know that i won't remember how i felt like i could break at any moment. but in this moment, it feels so overwhelming. it makes me want to turn all the lights out and just hibernate in my home. it makes me not want to see anyone. it makes me want to eat whatever i can find in the house and then regret that i ate nothing nutritious and feel lazy because i do not have one single ounce left for exercising. the last paragraph of the article i linked earlier is spot on. 

so right now i am going to enjoy sam's soft baby thighs and kiss his sweet tiny face and know that one day when we both sleep 5 hrs, we will wake up and look at each other laugh about how mommy cried when she was so tired.  

What I've Learned In 4 Months

I'm a little late on this one, but Sam turned 4 months on September 20th. He is an active, vocal, high energy little guy. He makes good use of his time while he is awake and takes a while to settle to sleep and tends to wiggle until he is fully asleep. He is smiling all of the time, giggling, rolling over both ways, standing on our laps, playing with toys and holding them with his tiny hands, and starting to respond when someone calls his name.

Here are some things I have learned in 4 short (long) months:

1. Zulily

I heard of Zulily before I had Sam and I wasn't that impressed when I first glanced at the site. And now I check it daily to see what bargains I can find. Now, the only thing that will make it better is to offer free shipping from time to time.

2. Sleep regression

The 4 month sleep regression is a very real thing. Sam was sleeping 4-5 hr stretches and then something happened. I have read several good articles (here and here) saying that is really isn't a sleep regression at all. Sam is developing and this disrupts sleep.  We are working through this the best we can. And with that said, I have never been more tired in my life.

3. Amber beads

Have you heard of the amber teething necklaces? I hadn't until our nephew, Henry, had one. His mother swore by it and he wore it without any problems for about 2 years. Sam turned on the faucet of drool recently so I decided to try one out. This is the one I purchased and I am pleased with it. He still drools but significantly less than he was. 

4. Toys

I received a few toys for Sam at my baby shower and put them upstairs in his nursery, thinking it would be forever until I would need them. Not true. Before you know it, they are ready to start playing. It was so nice to already have some toys available for him that I could just grab from his nursery and not have to go buy any. And then comes Zulily with their cute toys and good deals.

5. Shorts/pants with pockets

Wear things with pockets. You will need them.

6. Baby Carrier

Try on baby carriers. We registered for the Baby Bjorn Original and I ended up purchasing the Baby Bjorn One when Amazon ran a deal I couldn't pass up. The original hurt my back and the new one is much more comfortable.

7. Get out

Get out of the house without the baby. I know everyone says this but really do it. Get a manicure, go to the store, go grab coffee, workout.  Do something. It is good to clear your head and it is good to let Daddy have some one on one time with the baby.

8. Get help

I hired a cleaning lady to come 2x a month and it was one of the best decision I have made. I was so tired of feeling like I was living in a pit (which we aren't) and I didn't want to spend my free time cleaning. So worth the money to get to spend more time doing what I want to do.

13 lbs 12oz  (15%)
26.25 in (75%)

Happy 4 months, Sam. You are my sunshine.

Airplane Travel with Baby

Over Labor Day weekend, we traveled to Montana for Sammi and Clark's wedding. Sam was just over 3 months old, and I left 2 days before Kyle did. I had 2 friends to help me out but traveling with a baby is exhausting! I read plenty of tips on how to prepare for the travel and after my first 6 day trip including 4 flights, here are my tips:

1. Diapers

Pack what you think you will need, and then some more. Sam pooped 3 times on 1 flight. And they don't sell diapers in airports (at least I have never seen them). I took enough to get us there, and then bought diapers and wipes when we arrived for the rest of the trip.

2. Bag of stuff

I put the following in a Ziploc for easy access: paci, paci clip, diaper cream, 3 diapers, wipes, gripe water, socks, Aquaphor and 1 toy. I then took that out of my carry on and placed it in the seat back pocket. It was so easy to just grab that when I needed something during the flight.

3. Baby carrier

I toted Sam around in our Baby Bjorn. We didn't take a car seat or stroller (we rented a car seat from the rental car company) and there was no need for a stroller. Having my hands free was crucial during this trip and Sam does really well in the Baby Bjorn. I will say, if you are in the market for a carrier, you might want to get more than just the basic one. I would love to have one that has better back support.

4. Aquaphor

This stuff is magic. I love it so much. Long before Sam, I used this on my lips and eyelashes at night. Now I put it on his face if he has redness, scratches, etc and his tiny rear end. It is a lifesaver for dry lips on flights.

5. Bottled water

My lips get really dry during travel and they are exceptionally dry now that I am breastfeeding. Keep a bottle of water handy because I hate using my drink tray and those tiny cups that they serve water in during the flight. Plus, unless you have a nice friend that lets you use her tray, you won't have room to use yours.

6. Flip flops

When wearing your baby, you do not want to have to bend down and remove/put on your shoes. Tulsa airport let me go through without taking my shoes off but Bozeman airport did not.

7. Easy clothing

If you have to change a diaper either on your lap or on the toilet in the airplane bathroom, you don't want to fumble around with a lot of clothing. We flew out very early Wed morning so he wore his jammies on the first leg and then I changed him into a onesie and pants. Think of the least amount of snaps, etc.
I wore a black tank top and a button up over it. Easy access to nursing.

8. Aden and Anais blankets

I cannot tell you how much I love these blankets. I use them for spit up, nursing covers, diapers changes, to cover Sam's face when he falls asleep.

Insanely early flight. I had been awake since 4:30

Before our last flight home. He was tired of being "bent" as my aunt would say.
Needed some room to stretch his tiny body

What I've Learned in 3 Months

1. It's ok if your baby sleeps on you all night long 

Sam has always been a great sleeper considering he has never had his days & nights mixed up. And he was sleeping decently in his co-sleeper. Until someone asked how he was sleeping & I got all proud & braggy. He must have heard me and decided to never sleep in his co- sleeper again. I get him dead asleep, swaddle him up, lay him down and the most I get is 30 min before he pops those baby blues open & wants out. 

Out of sheer exhaustion, I would just grab him & we would fall asleep with him on my chest. He sleeps 4 hr stretches like that so I'm not too upset about it.

2. Going back to work is the pits 

I cried and cried. But I managed. Thanks to a very flexible work schedule, I can go home & check on him/nurse him pretty much anytime. But make no mistake, it is not the same as being at home full time with your baby. I hate that I have obligations outside of the home. I've only been back for 2 weeks so I am still adjusting. 

And don't tell me that there will be a time that I will "be happy to get a break & be out of the house". 

3. Eating healthy 

Seems impossible. Before Sam & during my pregnancy, I ate pretty healthy and had plenty of time to prepare meals that made me feel good about eating. 

Now it's shove a PB&J in your face as fast as you can. Or chips. Or leftover pizza. I'm hoping I can get back into a good workout/ eating healthy routine as he continues to get older. 

4. The 3 month rule 

I read several times that babies grow out of their fussy period around 3 months. This seems to hold true for Sam. While he is still very much in love with me, he is getting so much better about being with other people. There was a time where Kyle could barely hold him and now they can spend lots of time together with smiles. And he is lucky to spend time with his Grammy (my mom) during the day & he is getting happier each day. 

5. You will like your husband again 

Haha! This one makes me laugh. Kyle has been such a huge part of us surviving these last 3 month but good lord there were times I actually thought I might kill him. I blame it on extreme tiredness, hunger, confusion & hormones. 

But once you get past a lot of the early hard times, you realize that A) men just think differently than women* and B) he is here to help and you just need to tell him how to help. This isn't a time to sit back & expect him to figure it out and then be irritated when he doesn't. 

*While I have always known that men are different than women, it has never been more glaringly apparent than it was the moment we came home with our baby. 

Cheers to 3 glorious months! Life just doesn't get much sweeter.