Holy Crap! You've been growing like a weed and making huge strides toward some HUGE milestones. You roll all the time. From one end of the living room to another and when you want to change directions, you arch your back, pivot on your head, and when the direction seems right, you'll lay flat, look around, and get back to rolling. You love being on your belly more and more. Its so cute, even when you roll over during diaper changing time. You'll grab the diaper cream, diaper, wipes box, towel, whatever is near by and start to play with it while I'm trying to wipe you off (poop and all if its a dirty diaper!) and you refuse to be on your back for very long. You've also grown to love "no diaper" time. I'll loosely pin a cloth diaper on you just so you don't spray all over should you let fly and let you roll around and play for a bit. Then you fight the diaper! You still freak out over a dirty diaper. Just today, you made a nasty dirty diaper and when I went to pick you up (not knowing yet that it was really dirty and all), I got it all over myself! I had to clean you up, clean up the poopy mess, and change my clothes before putting you back in a diaper. What a mess! That's ok, though. Anything for my handsome prince!
You are eating like a champ again. Over vacation, you had so many distractions that you were starting to eat much less and taking much longer. Now we are back to eating fairly quickly and almost all that's in your bowl. We did Oatmeal with Banana mixed with carrots along with your peaches and rice (all out of rice cereal and you were still hungry!) and you LOVED the oatmeal with bananas! I love watching you eat so well. You also eat so much better in a high chair compared to the bumbo, but your high chair got recalled (and the repair kit won't fix the cracked plastic, besides the legs and all the other things wrong with it), so we will have to go back to the bumbo for a little while until your new high chair comes in the mail.
You traveled like a champ for vacation! You did so well for having your poor little butt in that car seat for 16 hours. You slept a lot of the time, but you also watched your movies and played relatively quietly while everyone else worked on us getting to Colorado so you could meet your Grandma Sheryl and that side of the family. You took to everyone there so well! You cried a little when we saw Great Grammy and Great Poppy, but you quickly warmed up to them, Grammy first, then Poppy after a few minutes. You seem to really love your Aunty Antonette. She sure loves you to pieces too! Grandpa Mark sang to you a few times too. You couldn't be bothered to eat, sleep, play, or do ANYTHING while he was singing, you were hypnotized! And when Sheila Dog walked by? Lordy be, you wanted to play with that hair and pull those ears. You actually did pull her ears and she snapped at you, but that HARDLY stopped you from wanting to do it again. You also warmed up to Dirk, Cindy, Mary, and PJ. You didn't get to meet Steven, as he's currently teaching in Denver (so proud!) but you seemed to like everyone. During photos with them, you stole the remote and started messing with the channels, language, and volume. You also almost set a parental password on them, but they managed to distract you enough to get the remote away. Too funny, little man!
You didn't want to be very quiet for church. Wasn't too bad when they were singing and during the times when some people would jump up to say AMEN! and all that, but during the prayers, you were jabbering away. And you weren't even noticing another baby (Braylynn, I think her name is) was staring you down. She really liked the toys we were using to keep you entertained. We ended up having to move to the hallway and then into the cry room, but you quieted down after we nursed you a little. You also were AMAZING going to the top of Pikes Peak! You barely fussed at all! Only about the last 20 minutes of the ride (90 mins each way!) to the top and the first 20 mins heading back down. You slept a lot of the time. You also charmed a Belgian couple. They took a few photos of you because of your blue eyes and promised me that they wouldn't end up on Facebook. You charmed everyone on there too! I think a lot of people were expecting you to cry the whole way up and the whole way back down, but were so happy that you didn't. You also got your first taste of my sandwich too. I had just unwrapped the sub and put on the pickle and tomato and was bringing it to my mouth, when you (in your bjorn, on my chest) reached out faster than a snake and grabbed my sub, pulled out the tomato, put it in your mouth, and kept the other hand firmly holding the remainder of my sandwich. All the while, I hear my phone ringing in my purse! All I could think the whole time was "Wow, when it rains, it pours. And I'm friggin HUNGRY!" But Papa got the tomato out of your mouth and we got your hands out of my sub (which wasn't mangled too badly) and we decided playing musical baby would be better for us to all eat.
You gained a BIG love for restaurant menus. Oh man, you have to play with it, chomp on it, wing it around, slap it, slobber it up, you name it. If its taken away or you drop it, you FREAK! You also demolished a Long John Silvers hat after slapping it in my face a few times. You get really possessive of things that you really shouldn't have!
You taking your baths out there was so cute too! We didn't have a baby tub, so Grandma Sheryl came out with a 3 gallon bucket that had flimsy sides and handles. You loved it! You figured out how to get one foot up and noticed how everyone laughed at that. That encouraged you to get the other foot up on the rim also and the water level came up to your lips! You loved it, gave me a heart attack. Grandma gave you a cup, which you filled with the bath water and tried to drink. You got SO mad when I took it away, dumped it out, and gave you an empty cup. you didn't like that one bit! You are too smart for your own good. You also got the chance to drink from a straw. You're a natural at that! Slurped down the water like you had been doing it for ages. You also went swimming in the pool there and loved the waterfall. You couldn't get enough, until you had had enough and wanted to eat and take a nap. You ended up snuggling into Grandma after you ate. She carried you around and loved the dickens out of you the whole time! You two were just so cute together! You two got your snuggling on while your Papa and I got to play around in the pool before we had to get on the road and come back home. We did have a big problem with someone making bottles for you too often and you got more used to that than nursing, but you are back on track again, now.
Grandpa Mark tried pretty hard to teach you to crawl. You wanted to, but didn't really get the whole concept together. You'll be crawling soon though, and we can send the video of you doing that when it happens.
You've been cranky since we came back (all that spoiling!), and now you have a low grade fever on top of it. Papa and I are hoping that it means you'll be getting teeth soon. We also hope that you get your teeth in multiples, not just one at a time. You are sleeping pretty well too. You like to sleep on your side, and most of all your belly. Papa gets nervous about you sleeping like this, but to make him happy I'll stick a nuk in your mouth so he doesn't freak out. Hoping this fever stops soon. We've been keeping you on tylenol, but I'd like to get back to life as usual, happy baby and all. Right now, you just refuse to be put down for long. You liked it a lot when we got home from vacation and we put you in your entertainer. You stayed up extra late playing, laughing, and smiling. We didn't have the heart to take you out until you started rubbing your eyes.
Momma is going to head to bed now, my love. I'll be posting on here at least once a month and trying to keep up with all the new things you do. I love you to the moon and back endlessly.
Love,
Momma
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Six months!
Dear Anthony,
WOW. you are half a year old! I can't believe how fast you have grown and the things you have learned to do. Just last night, you were showing off all the things you know how to do now. You were rolling all over the floor back to belly to back and you were spinning to change directions. You went after me, Papa, toys, the box of wipes, your bumbo, you name it. It was beyond cool to see you do all this. I even laid down behind you and let you push your feet against my hand. You went flying forward a few inches. I could tell that you liked that idea and wanted to do it on your own, but you couldn't get up on your arms and knees enough to get going like that. You've done it before (at Holly and Chad's house), but you couldn't get your arms to cooperate with your legs to move forward. I can tell that with enough tummy time and playing on the floor, you will be crawling toward Grandma Sheryl when we are out there. I'm sure she will LOVE that! She's so excited to meet you. She always asks me to give you a huge hug and a kiss for her. She came out about a week before you were born, but you just weren't ready for this big old world yet. There are many other people out in Colorado who are excited to meet you too. I can't believe that's next week!
In other news, you are eating like such a little piggy! You chow down on about 4 ounces of solid foods twice a day. You don't like green beans (the ones you tried had NO flavor) but you like everything else so far. You've had pears, bananas (fresh and out of the jar), sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, carrots, and apples (applesauce). So far you have liked it all, but the beans. I'll be trying again with the fresh kind at a later date to see if you like fresh instead. I can't wait until more veggies and fruits come into season so we can really go hog wild with all the possibilities!
You've taken to growling at everything lately too! Last night, you were laying on the floor while Papa was making dinner and you were growling at your toys and the tv and anything else around. You are so funny when you growl. You don't make a face, you just let out the sound. Right now you are in your entertainer just growling at the toys you have in your hand. Another thing you like to do while in the entertainer is stuffing as many toys as you possibly can in between your belly and the edge of the seat. Makes it hard for you to lean forward and play with the other toys, but you seem to like it. We have the entertainer set on the highest setting for height and you are just about perfect/maybe on the taller side for it. You really get going and bouncing in that thing too. Its so funny. You'll even stomp (while paired with the kicking and heel slamming when you lay on the floor, I'm sure the people downstairs LOVE it) and it seems to shake the whole floor pretty good. You also seem to be getting close to saying "Mamamamamama". almost a Mama! I can't wait. Your grandma Tammie had it her way, you'd be saying Grandma first. I'm pretty sure its going to be Mama first.
You've also moved out of the baby tub days and we have moved you into the big boy tub (turning your baby tub into a bathseat, of course!) and you LOVE getting to play in all that water! We have to be careful with how much water we put in because the other day, you tried to drink a bunch of it up and ended up putting your whole face in the water, bent over the front of the seat. Luckily your momma was paying close attention and got you sitting up and put a washcloth in your hands. You love sucking all the water out of washcloths. And sploosh balls. and anything else that holds water. We got you a few bath toys and you LOVE the wind up ones. Every time they come by you, you SLAP!! them into oblivion. Its pretty funny. You also like to chew on the squirty toys. And you can't get enough of me using my hand to make a fountain. You love it when the water goes up high and comes down over your head. You can't get enough of it.
Moving along, you are such a nut anymore, its too cute. You laugh ALL.THE.TIME. Blowing on your belly, "chewing" on your sides, eating toes and fingers, laughing at you, looking in the mirror, waking up, someone coming home, realizing you have accomplished another feat, you name it. I can even look over at you and smile, then make you giggle in delight. And in goofier news, you will ALWAYS stop what ever you are doing when the Hometown Happenings come on. You hear that music and your head WHIPS around and stares at the tv. You can be mid tantrum and when they come on, you are INSTANTLY silenced. It took a while for me to make the connection, but its there. Not really sure why, but its the cutest thing ever!
I've got to go pick you up out of your entertainer now, dearest love. Your arms are a-wavin and that usually means one of two things. Either you've pooed your diaper, or you really just want to snuggle. Here's to hoping you just want to snuggle and you save the poo for papa! I love you little man. You've made my life so complete!
Love always!
Momma!
WOW. you are half a year old! I can't believe how fast you have grown and the things you have learned to do. Just last night, you were showing off all the things you know how to do now. You were rolling all over the floor back to belly to back and you were spinning to change directions. You went after me, Papa, toys, the box of wipes, your bumbo, you name it. It was beyond cool to see you do all this. I even laid down behind you and let you push your feet against my hand. You went flying forward a few inches. I could tell that you liked that idea and wanted to do it on your own, but you couldn't get up on your arms and knees enough to get going like that. You've done it before (at Holly and Chad's house), but you couldn't get your arms to cooperate with your legs to move forward. I can tell that with enough tummy time and playing on the floor, you will be crawling toward Grandma Sheryl when we are out there. I'm sure she will LOVE that! She's so excited to meet you. She always asks me to give you a huge hug and a kiss for her. She came out about a week before you were born, but you just weren't ready for this big old world yet. There are many other people out in Colorado who are excited to meet you too. I can't believe that's next week!
In other news, you are eating like such a little piggy! You chow down on about 4 ounces of solid foods twice a day. You don't like green beans (the ones you tried had NO flavor) but you like everything else so far. You've had pears, bananas (fresh and out of the jar), sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, carrots, and apples (applesauce). So far you have liked it all, but the beans. I'll be trying again with the fresh kind at a later date to see if you like fresh instead. I can't wait until more veggies and fruits come into season so we can really go hog wild with all the possibilities!
You've taken to growling at everything lately too! Last night, you were laying on the floor while Papa was making dinner and you were growling at your toys and the tv and anything else around. You are so funny when you growl. You don't make a face, you just let out the sound. Right now you are in your entertainer just growling at the toys you have in your hand. Another thing you like to do while in the entertainer is stuffing as many toys as you possibly can in between your belly and the edge of the seat. Makes it hard for you to lean forward and play with the other toys, but you seem to like it. We have the entertainer set on the highest setting for height and you are just about perfect/maybe on the taller side for it. You really get going and bouncing in that thing too. Its so funny. You'll even stomp (while paired with the kicking and heel slamming when you lay on the floor, I'm sure the people downstairs LOVE it) and it seems to shake the whole floor pretty good. You also seem to be getting close to saying "Mamamamamama". almost a Mama! I can't wait. Your grandma Tammie had it her way, you'd be saying Grandma first. I'm pretty sure its going to be Mama first.
You've also moved out of the baby tub days and we have moved you into the big boy tub (turning your baby tub into a bathseat, of course!) and you LOVE getting to play in all that water! We have to be careful with how much water we put in because the other day, you tried to drink a bunch of it up and ended up putting your whole face in the water, bent over the front of the seat. Luckily your momma was paying close attention and got you sitting up and put a washcloth in your hands. You love sucking all the water out of washcloths. And sploosh balls. and anything else that holds water. We got you a few bath toys and you LOVE the wind up ones. Every time they come by you, you SLAP!! them into oblivion. Its pretty funny. You also like to chew on the squirty toys. And you can't get enough of me using my hand to make a fountain. You love it when the water goes up high and comes down over your head. You can't get enough of it.
Moving along, you are such a nut anymore, its too cute. You laugh ALL.THE.TIME. Blowing on your belly, "chewing" on your sides, eating toes and fingers, laughing at you, looking in the mirror, waking up, someone coming home, realizing you have accomplished another feat, you name it. I can even look over at you and smile, then make you giggle in delight. And in goofier news, you will ALWAYS stop what ever you are doing when the Hometown Happenings come on. You hear that music and your head WHIPS around and stares at the tv. You can be mid tantrum and when they come on, you are INSTANTLY silenced. It took a while for me to make the connection, but its there. Not really sure why, but its the cutest thing ever!
I've got to go pick you up out of your entertainer now, dearest love. Your arms are a-wavin and that usually means one of two things. Either you've pooed your diaper, or you really just want to snuggle. Here's to hoping you just want to snuggle and you save the poo for papa! I love you little man. You've made my life so complete!
Love always!
Momma!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
My Product Review
Ok, I've seen many other ladies post a product review of the things they got and use. I thought I would make my own also because I've had huge success with some things and EPIC failures with others. I'm going to list the things I love (honorable mention are things that are just as good or things that work in a pinch). Hope whoever reads this (starting to wonder if anyone does?) finds it helpful. Any questions? Just ask. I won't lie about how something worked for me.
LOVE:
Pampers Swaddlers diapers- He used to leak through any diaper we put on him no matter what we did, but we marked that up to the vaseline from his circ because once we stopped putting on the vaseline, the leaking also stopped. Love the wetness indicator on the size 1 and love the extra length on the tabs on size 2. Also really like that these diapers allow poo to show through the back so we can see if that noise was a toot or a poop.
Desitin creamy and max strength- max strength works SO fast to clear up his diaper rash and smears on so well. The creamy is just cool and works great for all the other times as it smears on well and still has a decent amount of Zinc to keep the red baboon butt at bay.
Up and Up original (40% Zinc) diaper cream- smears on nicely and doesn't have the strong medicine smell Desitin does. Only draw back is its hard as hell to squeeze the tube. Might just be a fluke tube.
Huggies wipes (the thicker the better!)- usually only need one and Adam loves the thickness and texture. The pop up tub is pretty good at making sure you only get one wipe at a time.
Cloth diapers- AWESOME for burp cloths and to make sure you don't fall victim to the Golden Shower. Trust me, Anthony AIMS for me. The cloth diapers soak it all up so I don't have to change pants so often
Bibs- I love the bibs that have the new age velcro that isn't scratchy and fasten on the side instead of the back. Easier to put on, won't scratch baby's neck, and a cinch to take off. A MUST HAVE for formula feeders as formula stains really bad. Breast milk doesn't.
Ivory bar soap- Takes out ANYTHING I swear it to you. Diaper blow out? cold water and an Ivory bar. Throw up on an outfit? Cold water and the Ivory bar. My mom turned me on to this trick and the Ivory bar is SO cheap! Plus no dyes or perfumes! Also works for just about any other soon to be stains before you wash them. Just remember to use cold water and after the washer and before the dryer, you should inspect the spot where the stain is/was. If its still there after the wash and you put it in the dryer, its pretty much a permanent stain.
Infant to Toddler rocker/vibrating chair- Check it out at Target. Its a chair that has this little kick stand that makes it lay back, perfect for laying baby down long enough for a nap (with parent nearby) or a quick run to the bathroom. It also rocks, has a removable mobile that you can add and take off the toys, and it turns into a rocking chair that they can use as a toddler! They make this chair in a swing model also for about $100. Had I known that when I got this chair as a gift, I woulda traded it in and paid the extra money for the swing model.
Baby Magic Shampoo- Love the baby smell and the pump top. Personal fav!
Johnson's Soothing Naturals Cream- Comes in a mint green tube and has the best smell EVER. I don't like the super baby smell of Johnson's pink so this stuff is awesome, thicker, and makes Anthony soft as can be!
Tide-just about any of the smells (or free and clear) are great at cleaning just about anything out and leaving that fresh clean smell. Works wonders with that Ivory bar.
Boppy-Now, I could just use pillows, but dude I got this pillow for $1 (garage sale, and yes, its a REAL Boppy) and actually bring it when we go anywhere for longer than a few hours. I like it for nursing, helping Anthony sit up for photos, and it even gets used for sleeping (infant and adult). Highly suggest a slip cover though.
Swaddle blankets- that are bigger than the typical 45inches and as close to square as possible. Sure the normal receiving blankets and swaddling blankets work for a while, but around 4-6 weeks they weren't cutting it for Anthony anymore. My swaddling blankets now are home made from a friend of mine. I'd guess they are about a yard square.
Pack-n-Play- Major help for the holidays when we spent the night at the in-laws. Not easy to get the baby out when you sleep on an air mattress and have to climb up and into the pnp, but worked awesome. There's a plastic part that came with mine that sits on the very top that I use as a mini changing table, but wouldn't use it for sleeping at all. I liked putting him on the part that sits about half way down. Worked great as our bassinet and will be used once we outgrow our current bassinet.
MAM pacifiers- This is the brand that was shoved in his mouth at the hospital (without my consent, but that's another story). They are great after all because there is no upside down to worry about. You can also get this great leash piece that clips onto their clothes, your shirt, or their car seat straps to make sure you don't lose that paci (which aren't the cheapest if you have to buy them a lot). The leash also works on other types of pacis so that's a plus! I believe this brand only uses silicone for the nipples which is awesome. Latex wears out too fast.
Baby's First Year Journal- Huge for recording all the little things he does each day. Also has bigger areas to write more than a few words and gives little factiods which are cool to learn. Also have his baby books and a calendar that I get to personalize with the months and everything. Now just to put it all together!
Similac Ready to Feed bottles- These bottles come in 2, 4, and 8 oz bottles that you can throw in the diaper bag and use on the go. A 6 pk of 8oz cost us $10 and works for at least 2 feedings.
Born Free and Playtex Ventaire wide bottles- Both come with silicone nipples that are wide and "mimic mother". Born Free cost a little more, but I got mine for free from BRU for setting up a registry. Both come with extra parts and once you read why they are there, I'm pretty sure you will like them too.
Lansinoh nipple cream, nursing pads, and milk storage bags- the nipple cream has little to no smell, a small dab will do for sure, and spreads easily. Nursing pads are huge and thin. They work great around a lot of screaming kids (any lactating mommy knows what I mean!!!) and would work for days if I used them that long. The storage bags come in an easy to dispense bag, totally safe (100% natural "virgin" plastics only used) and seal up very nice and tight. This brand has yet to disappoint me.
ANY carseat cover/bunting- LOVE the ones made out of "polar" fleece that only go over the top as you aren't supposed to have any extra layers between the carseat and the straps for safety sake. I got mine at a craft fair and its used ALL.THE.TIME. I have a Cozy Cuddler from Walmart that I'll be using with the strollers, but I won't use it for the carseat. He's plenty warm with the one he has.
Full size swing- I'm borrowing one at the moment and LOVE IT. I love being able to put him in it, turn on the music and set the speed and he's happier than a clam on the ocean floor.
Gripe water- Actually does work. I've noticed that he does tend to calm down a lot. Plus its all natural, has a gas reliever in it, and isn't really medicine.
Johnson's Nursing pads- Work just as well as the Lansinoh ones, only smaller and a little thicker. I like them for day to day.
Bjorn- Can't say enough good about it. Adjusts down to my size, up to Adam's size, carries Anthony where he should be (see my review on the Infantino carrier below), gives oodles of support, easy as cake to figure out without the directions, easy to put baby in and take him out...you name it. This thing is WELL worth its weight in the most precious of Gold. Invest the extra money in it instead of any other carrier like it.
Dislike/haven't tried it yet/totally useless product
Miracle swaddling blanket- Haven't gotten it in the mail yet. This will get its own entry when it arrives. Anthony escapes almost any swaddle unless I use the swaddleme and one of my larger swaddling blankets and use a diaper pin to hold the part that wraps around in place. This miracle swaddler could be the answer to my prayers, but I don't know yet. Once I get it and if I find I like it, I'll be making one of my own that is much like it.
Dreft- Haven't tried it yet. I got a coupon for it, so I decided to give it a go and buy it. I'll more be using it as a spot cleaner or to clean a full load of baby clothes. I haven't had a full load of baby clothes that all can go together yet though.
Up and Up Creamy diaper cream- USELESS! It doesn't spread at all, it looks chunky when it comes out, and to me it smelled funky. Save yourself the hassle and either buy the Up and Up 40% Zinc or splurge for the Desitin Creamy.
Travel swings- I have one. Dislike it more than I dislike pain. It only has 2 features worth while. Granted I got it from a garage sale so expecting a lot out of it is just stupid, the music was 3 songs that gave me a headache after hearing them the first 2 times. It vibrated and the swinging part was broke but it at least did its purpose. I just don't like having to bend ALL THE WAY to the floor to get him out when he wakes and fusses. Get the full size unless you spend a lot of time on the floor.
Changing tables- I have one of these that attaches to the top of Anthony's dresser. You know what we use it for? I have onesies in the larger area where the changing pad should go (it needed a special size pad and we refused to buy that) and keep other bath and body products for Anthony for when we run out in the bathroom. It was a free piece that we got with the crib/dresser set so we aren't out anything. All his diapers are changed on a folded up towel in the living room in front of the tv.
Playtex Drop ins-BIGGEST HEADACHE EVER. I used the 4 oz bottle I got once. O.N.C.E. and now its in the bottom of the garbage can. We put some formula that needed to be used in the liner and screwed on the top (ventaire nipple and ring as we don't use or like latex) tipped it upside down to check for leaks, and put it in the diaper bag. When it came time we needed it, we opened up the bag to find the bottle got flipped upside down and the liner? E.M.P.T.Y. 99% was absorbed into a cloth diaper so that wasn't so bad, but it was a total waste of formula. As soon as we got home I had Adam take off the nipple and nipple ring and throw the bottle away. If anyone wants the remaining 3 or 4 liners for the 4 oz and wants 2 8 oz bottles and liners (no nipples though as I wasn't planning on getting rid of them and threw away the nipples), then let me know. I don't want them and don't really wanna throw them away.
Baby positioners-used for helping baby sleep a certain way. Unless you have issues in one way or another with them rolling over before they should or something else that they need it, don't waste the money.
Diaper Genie-I don't use it and don't see any reason for it to exhist. If you exclusively breastfeed, their diapers don't usually smell until they start solids. We have a garbage can in the living room that we use and when the bag is full (about 3-4 days maybe) we take it out and put in a new one.
Wipe warmers- these seem to be the biggest pain in the ass and a huge fire hazard as I've heard they either don't work or they are always burning the bottom wipes. What Adam and I do if the wipes are real cold is bunch the wipe in our fist before we even take off his diaper, giving it body warmth instead of trusting an appliance known to malfunction to do its job.
Infantino Style Rider baby carrier- We bought this because we had forgotten our Bjorn at home and needed some sort of carrier. After reading the directions many times and many readjustments, we figured that either we would return it, or Adam would be the only one to wear it. Adam is a big chested/shouldered/torso guy. After tightening this carrier as far as it would go around him, it STILL didn't hang right. When you have a carrier on correctly, the baby's head should be up under your chin where you can easily kiss their head. This carrier had Anthony down by Adam's belly and nothing holding him in from the tops of his legs to the part that went over his shoulders. Adam still had to carry him the whole time just to make sure Anthony didn't fall out or the carrier fail. I later looked in the box at the directions and diagrams and figured out that whoever had put the carrier together had put it together wrong (clasps and fasteners in all the wrong places) and had put the wrong style carrier in the box. The back support that was supposed to sit in his lower back wasn't in the right spot at all. I can't even describe how this thing didn't fit correctly and what a safety hazard it was. I've actually looked at the reviews on Target.com and see that we aren't the only ones who got the raw end of the deal.
Honorable mention (we'll use it in a pinch)
Huggies diapers- we just don't use them because they don't have as many coupons in the papers. when we were just in size 1, they worked just as good. I switched to pampers because there was a killer deal.
Johnson & Johnson baby wash- we don't use it because we like Baby Magic more. But there is a bottle of this stuff in the bag we use to spend the night somewhere. Right next to that is a bottle of Johnson's pink lotion too!
Pampers Swaddlers wipes- we have them in the tub now because it was another killer deal, but we tend to like how think Huggies are compared to these Pampers. I've seen they have thick swaddlers, but we haven't tried them as we have 2 huge boxes (abou 1500 wipes total) and don't really need any more.
I reserve the right to add more as I go through more products and times may change (sometimes diapers don't work from one stage to another) but if anyone is looking for more reviews, I send them to read Baby Bargains. This book was my bible when we registered and went shopping. It helped with the purchase of our crib/dresser set, car seat, BOTH strollers, Bjorn, and some toys. This book is so worth the $15 it cost me to save me the headache (and the many recalls since!)
LOVE:
Pampers Swaddlers diapers- He used to leak through any diaper we put on him no matter what we did, but we marked that up to the vaseline from his circ because once we stopped putting on the vaseline, the leaking also stopped. Love the wetness indicator on the size 1 and love the extra length on the tabs on size 2. Also really like that these diapers allow poo to show through the back so we can see if that noise was a toot or a poop.
Desitin creamy and max strength- max strength works SO fast to clear up his diaper rash and smears on so well. The creamy is just cool and works great for all the other times as it smears on well and still has a decent amount of Zinc to keep the red baboon butt at bay.
Up and Up original (40% Zinc) diaper cream- smears on nicely and doesn't have the strong medicine smell Desitin does. Only draw back is its hard as hell to squeeze the tube. Might just be a fluke tube.
Huggies wipes (the thicker the better!)- usually only need one and Adam loves the thickness and texture. The pop up tub is pretty good at making sure you only get one wipe at a time.
Cloth diapers- AWESOME for burp cloths and to make sure you don't fall victim to the Golden Shower. Trust me, Anthony AIMS for me. The cloth diapers soak it all up so I don't have to change pants so often
Bibs- I love the bibs that have the new age velcro that isn't scratchy and fasten on the side instead of the back. Easier to put on, won't scratch baby's neck, and a cinch to take off. A MUST HAVE for formula feeders as formula stains really bad. Breast milk doesn't.
Ivory bar soap- Takes out ANYTHING I swear it to you. Diaper blow out? cold water and an Ivory bar. Throw up on an outfit? Cold water and the Ivory bar. My mom turned me on to this trick and the Ivory bar is SO cheap! Plus no dyes or perfumes! Also works for just about any other soon to be stains before you wash them. Just remember to use cold water and after the washer and before the dryer, you should inspect the spot where the stain is/was. If its still there after the wash and you put it in the dryer, its pretty much a permanent stain.
Infant to Toddler rocker/vibrating chair- Check it out at Target. Its a chair that has this little kick stand that makes it lay back, perfect for laying baby down long enough for a nap (with parent nearby) or a quick run to the bathroom. It also rocks, has a removable mobile that you can add and take off the toys, and it turns into a rocking chair that they can use as a toddler! They make this chair in a swing model also for about $100. Had I known that when I got this chair as a gift, I woulda traded it in and paid the extra money for the swing model.
Baby Magic Shampoo- Love the baby smell and the pump top. Personal fav!
Johnson's Soothing Naturals Cream- Comes in a mint green tube and has the best smell EVER. I don't like the super baby smell of Johnson's pink so this stuff is awesome, thicker, and makes Anthony soft as can be!
Tide-just about any of the smells (or free and clear) are great at cleaning just about anything out and leaving that fresh clean smell. Works wonders with that Ivory bar.
Boppy-Now, I could just use pillows, but dude I got this pillow for $1 (garage sale, and yes, its a REAL Boppy) and actually bring it when we go anywhere for longer than a few hours. I like it for nursing, helping Anthony sit up for photos, and it even gets used for sleeping (infant and adult). Highly suggest a slip cover though.
Swaddle blankets- that are bigger than the typical 45inches and as close to square as possible. Sure the normal receiving blankets and swaddling blankets work for a while, but around 4-6 weeks they weren't cutting it for Anthony anymore. My swaddling blankets now are home made from a friend of mine. I'd guess they are about a yard square.
Pack-n-Play- Major help for the holidays when we spent the night at the in-laws. Not easy to get the baby out when you sleep on an air mattress and have to climb up and into the pnp, but worked awesome. There's a plastic part that came with mine that sits on the very top that I use as a mini changing table, but wouldn't use it for sleeping at all. I liked putting him on the part that sits about half way down. Worked great as our bassinet and will be used once we outgrow our current bassinet.
MAM pacifiers- This is the brand that was shoved in his mouth at the hospital (without my consent, but that's another story). They are great after all because there is no upside down to worry about. You can also get this great leash piece that clips onto their clothes, your shirt, or their car seat straps to make sure you don't lose that paci (which aren't the cheapest if you have to buy them a lot). The leash also works on other types of pacis so that's a plus! I believe this brand only uses silicone for the nipples which is awesome. Latex wears out too fast.
Baby's First Year Journal- Huge for recording all the little things he does each day. Also has bigger areas to write more than a few words and gives little factiods which are cool to learn. Also have his baby books and a calendar that I get to personalize with the months and everything. Now just to put it all together!
Similac Ready to Feed bottles- These bottles come in 2, 4, and 8 oz bottles that you can throw in the diaper bag and use on the go. A 6 pk of 8oz cost us $10 and works for at least 2 feedings.
Born Free and Playtex Ventaire wide bottles- Both come with silicone nipples that are wide and "mimic mother". Born Free cost a little more, but I got mine for free from BRU for setting up a registry. Both come with extra parts and once you read why they are there, I'm pretty sure you will like them too.
Lansinoh nipple cream, nursing pads, and milk storage bags- the nipple cream has little to no smell, a small dab will do for sure, and spreads easily. Nursing pads are huge and thin. They work great around a lot of screaming kids (any lactating mommy knows what I mean!!!) and would work for days if I used them that long. The storage bags come in an easy to dispense bag, totally safe (100% natural "virgin" plastics only used) and seal up very nice and tight. This brand has yet to disappoint me.
ANY carseat cover/bunting- LOVE the ones made out of "polar" fleece that only go over the top as you aren't supposed to have any extra layers between the carseat and the straps for safety sake. I got mine at a craft fair and its used ALL.THE.TIME. I have a Cozy Cuddler from Walmart that I'll be using with the strollers, but I won't use it for the carseat. He's plenty warm with the one he has.
Full size swing- I'm borrowing one at the moment and LOVE IT. I love being able to put him in it, turn on the music and set the speed and he's happier than a clam on the ocean floor.
Gripe water- Actually does work. I've noticed that he does tend to calm down a lot. Plus its all natural, has a gas reliever in it, and isn't really medicine.
Johnson's Nursing pads- Work just as well as the Lansinoh ones, only smaller and a little thicker. I like them for day to day.
Bjorn- Can't say enough good about it. Adjusts down to my size, up to Adam's size, carries Anthony where he should be (see my review on the Infantino carrier below), gives oodles of support, easy as cake to figure out without the directions, easy to put baby in and take him out...you name it. This thing is WELL worth its weight in the most precious of Gold. Invest the extra money in it instead of any other carrier like it.
Dislike/haven't tried it yet/totally useless product
Miracle swaddling blanket- Haven't gotten it in the mail yet. This will get its own entry when it arrives. Anthony escapes almost any swaddle unless I use the swaddleme and one of my larger swaddling blankets and use a diaper pin to hold the part that wraps around in place. This miracle swaddler could be the answer to my prayers, but I don't know yet. Once I get it and if I find I like it, I'll be making one of my own that is much like it.
Dreft- Haven't tried it yet. I got a coupon for it, so I decided to give it a go and buy it. I'll more be using it as a spot cleaner or to clean a full load of baby clothes. I haven't had a full load of baby clothes that all can go together yet though.
Up and Up Creamy diaper cream- USELESS! It doesn't spread at all, it looks chunky when it comes out, and to me it smelled funky. Save yourself the hassle and either buy the Up and Up 40% Zinc or splurge for the Desitin Creamy.
Travel swings- I have one. Dislike it more than I dislike pain. It only has 2 features worth while. Granted I got it from a garage sale so expecting a lot out of it is just stupid, the music was 3 songs that gave me a headache after hearing them the first 2 times. It vibrated and the swinging part was broke but it at least did its purpose. I just don't like having to bend ALL THE WAY to the floor to get him out when he wakes and fusses. Get the full size unless you spend a lot of time on the floor.
Changing tables- I have one of these that attaches to the top of Anthony's dresser. You know what we use it for? I have onesies in the larger area where the changing pad should go (it needed a special size pad and we refused to buy that) and keep other bath and body products for Anthony for when we run out in the bathroom. It was a free piece that we got with the crib/dresser set so we aren't out anything. All his diapers are changed on a folded up towel in the living room in front of the tv.
Playtex Drop ins-BIGGEST HEADACHE EVER. I used the 4 oz bottle I got once. O.N.C.E. and now its in the bottom of the garbage can. We put some formula that needed to be used in the liner and screwed on the top (ventaire nipple and ring as we don't use or like latex) tipped it upside down to check for leaks, and put it in the diaper bag. When it came time we needed it, we opened up the bag to find the bottle got flipped upside down and the liner? E.M.P.T.Y. 99% was absorbed into a cloth diaper so that wasn't so bad, but it was a total waste of formula. As soon as we got home I had Adam take off the nipple and nipple ring and throw the bottle away. If anyone wants the remaining 3 or 4 liners for the 4 oz and wants 2 8 oz bottles and liners (no nipples though as I wasn't planning on getting rid of them and threw away the nipples), then let me know. I don't want them and don't really wanna throw them away.
Baby positioners-used for helping baby sleep a certain way. Unless you have issues in one way or another with them rolling over before they should or something else that they need it, don't waste the money.
Diaper Genie-I don't use it and don't see any reason for it to exhist. If you exclusively breastfeed, their diapers don't usually smell until they start solids. We have a garbage can in the living room that we use and when the bag is full (about 3-4 days maybe) we take it out and put in a new one.
Wipe warmers- these seem to be the biggest pain in the ass and a huge fire hazard as I've heard they either don't work or they are always burning the bottom wipes. What Adam and I do if the wipes are real cold is bunch the wipe in our fist before we even take off his diaper, giving it body warmth instead of trusting an appliance known to malfunction to do its job.
Infantino Style Rider baby carrier- We bought this because we had forgotten our Bjorn at home and needed some sort of carrier. After reading the directions many times and many readjustments, we figured that either we would return it, or Adam would be the only one to wear it. Adam is a big chested/shouldered/torso guy. After tightening this carrier as far as it would go around him, it STILL didn't hang right. When you have a carrier on correctly, the baby's head should be up under your chin where you can easily kiss their head. This carrier had Anthony down by Adam's belly and nothing holding him in from the tops of his legs to the part that went over his shoulders. Adam still had to carry him the whole time just to make sure Anthony didn't fall out or the carrier fail. I later looked in the box at the directions and diagrams and figured out that whoever had put the carrier together had put it together wrong (clasps and fasteners in all the wrong places) and had put the wrong style carrier in the box. The back support that was supposed to sit in his lower back wasn't in the right spot at all. I can't even describe how this thing didn't fit correctly and what a safety hazard it was. I've actually looked at the reviews on Target.com and see that we aren't the only ones who got the raw end of the deal.
Honorable mention (we'll use it in a pinch)
Huggies diapers- we just don't use them because they don't have as many coupons in the papers. when we were just in size 1, they worked just as good. I switched to pampers because there was a killer deal.
Johnson & Johnson baby wash- we don't use it because we like Baby Magic more. But there is a bottle of this stuff in the bag we use to spend the night somewhere. Right next to that is a bottle of Johnson's pink lotion too!
Pampers Swaddlers wipes- we have them in the tub now because it was another killer deal, but we tend to like how think Huggies are compared to these Pampers. I've seen they have thick swaddlers, but we haven't tried them as we have 2 huge boxes (abou 1500 wipes total) and don't really need any more.
I reserve the right to add more as I go through more products and times may change (sometimes diapers don't work from one stage to another) but if anyone is looking for more reviews, I send them to read Baby Bargains. This book was my bible when we registered and went shopping. It helped with the purchase of our crib/dresser set, car seat, BOTH strollers, Bjorn, and some toys. This book is so worth the $15 it cost me to save me the headache (and the many recalls since!)
Monday, December 28, 2009
Life Post-partum and Birth Story!
Yea, I know I've been slacking on the posting on here, but you know what? Living my life as a stay at home mom (officially!) and my boss being 5 weeks old today (HOLY SHMOLY!) and demanding means I don't get to do very much for very long. But since the little prince is sleeping, I better get my hind end in gear!
So, as I'm sure anyone who is following knows (who IS following me anyway? Please let me know) I had my precious little bundle November 23, 2009 at 2:30pm. Now, not everyone knows how this little munchkin came into the world. Let me enlighten you...
So, November 20 (Friday)
Adam and I were doing all we could think of to cause contractions (at the very least trying to enjoy life as just a couple while it lasts) and I was reading What to Expect When You're Expecting and looking to see what hints there are in there. I had bought Raspberry Leaf Tea about a week earlier and was drinking that (real tea in a tea ball, no powder or anything fake like that) as often as I could. All that really did was cause some smaller contractions (no different compared to the usual ones you get anyway) so I looked up the other "natural" methods like castor oil, stripping the membranes, Raspberry leaf tea, walking, sex, nipple stimulation, walking, and some other VERY odd methods. I tried almost all of them and nothing was working.
Thinking I was going to end up going all the way to the 30th (talk of inducing at this point on this day), I tried to get to sleep. No go. I was starting to feel contractions and they were fairly timeable, but were about 7-10 mins apart. Kept an eye on them and started thinking about calling into work. Around 9 am, they were starting to get closer and a little stronger, so I messaged Adam and asked when he was coming home (he was only working a half day) and he said he was on his way. We grabbed the bags and headed out the door to the hospital. We had to stop for gas so I called the hospital and told them we were coming (had called them a few other times through the night, but they said stay home for now). Heading down, Adam and I were talking and praying this wasn't a false alarm. The contrax ended up slowing and at one point stopping in the car, but I was thinking that I was just over thinking it and getting too worked up. Get to the hospital and once I get in the door, I get sucker punched with a particularly strong contraction out of nowhere. I had to stop and lean against a partition in the front lobby and one of the nurses came over and I swear hit the panic button right away. She started talking about how I needed to hurry up and get registered and get up to L&D asap and I needed a wheel chair and someone to push me up there NOW and Adam would have to join me later since they wanted to take me now and there was no waiting. Its a damn contraction. Adam tried to tell her that I just needed to stop and let the pain pass, that I couldn't walk through it. She didn't want to listen and grabbed the wheel chair. I sat down (pain had passed at this point and I was thinking that it was protocol...) and the wheel chair pusher starts pushing me toward the elevator. Adam was freaking out on the registering lady since he needed me there to make sure we got all the info right. Finally we get it all straightened out and I get pushed into the registering office and have a nurse standing by just in case I pop out this kid with no warning (I told you, the lady hit the panic button WAY too soon). Good thing I ended up staying with Adam as we had to correct each other with some of the info. Get up to the room and all changed and ready to do this, when the nurse comes in and tells me that she needs to check me and see if anything is going on and if so, how much. She could see on the machine that I was contracting like I should, just not as often as they would like. Checked me. Still almost NO change. DAMN IT! She asked my dr what she wanted done and the dr said "send her home". They hold onto me until noon and then find still no progress...actually things were slowing down again. LOVELY. The nurse said that since everything was looking promising, she was going to have them leave my room as it was since I totally should be back by the end of the day. Got changed, left the hospital pissed, went out to eat, walked a few laps around walmart and then went to the ILs. I was exhausted from not sleeping (timing the contrax) so I took a nap. Woke up and everything had totally stopped. Tried to walk down to the river bottom and back and walked on a tread mill for almost a full mile as fast as I could stand it. Couldn't get anything real going. Went home defeated.
Since I had called into work as going into the hospital, they had taken me off the schedule just in case I did have the baby that day. I called the next day and asked if my shift had been covered or I needed to go in. NOPE. They covered that shift and didn't give me any more. But they would put me on call for the next week. Great.
Saturday, nothing happened out of the norm.
Sunday, my MIL came over and watched the Vikes game with us. During the commercials, we did some cleaning and organizing (NOT my choice!) and I took the vacuums. I ran the first one over the rug and felt a few pains. Went over with the second and felt more pains. The whole time my PITA MIL is telling me "Keep having those pains! I want my grandbaby!" No pressure ya know, since pressure caused my labor to stop only days before! Well, she ended up leaving soon after the game and I got on the computer to putz around. Put up the weekly entry and kept goofing around online. Then the contrax started up again. I started timing them since these felt...off.
The timing was any where from 4 to 20 mins inbetween and lasting from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Right now, you are thinking "Hot damn! That's not labor. That's too long in bewtween, but those 5 min contrax must have sucked!" yes they did. Turns out, those contrax that lasted longer than 2 mins were really multiple contrax that piggy backed each other. All this started around 10:30pm. Tried to walk around the apartment and breathe through the worse ones. Sat in the tub and tried to labor there. There, they only got closer, more consistent, and more painful. Called the hospital and told them what was up and asked about the long contrax. That's when I was told about the multiples. Seems the first can go up, then as it starts to come down, another starts before you feel the first one fall, then the next comes before the second one starts to go down. Got out of the tub and decided to try sleeping. Its like 1 am at this point. I'm tired and yelling at Adam to wake up and take times for each one. about 2 am they are really close (3-5 mins apart) and I can't get comfy at all. I'm literally watching the clock to wish it along! About 3am I can't stand it anymore and we grab the bags again and head to the hospital. This time, the contrax don't stop in the car. Its foggy out and I'm wishing Adam could drive faster. We talk the whole time about how this better not be another false alarm and making a plan in case it is. I could tell something was different though.
Got to the hospital and left the bags in the car again (no use in bringing them up only to bring them back down if we get sent home). Head to the door and there's a friggin DUCK walking back and forth in front of the door, making it open and shut. White as snow DUCK. Get checked in and up to my room (same room, ironically!). dressed and hooked up, they check me. Sure enough there was progress. 3cm and about 80-90% effaced. They kept me there! Its like 4 am and the nurse is telling me to get comfy any way I can. I tried sleeping, that didn't work. I hopped in the whirlpool tub (OMG HEAVEN!) and labored in there for about an hour. I was actually able to sleep through the pain and it helped it not hurt so much. I got out of the tub after my hour and the nurse tells me that she'll call the dr around 6 am and let her know what's going on. 6:15 comes and the nurse lets me know that the dr says if there isn't more significant progress, she'll break my water around 8 and if that doesn't ramp things up, she'll start pitocin soon after. My dr comes in around 8 and says "Not too much progress, still about 3ish, but more thin. I'll be back in about 20 mins to break your water, if that doesn't do anything, around 10 I'll order pitocin." She comes back, breaks my water, and leaves. Contrax don't really ramp up, so I ask for a labor ball and get back in the tub. Not comfy this time, so I was only there for about 15 mins. I get out and bounce on the ball a bit. The nurses are confused as to why I'm not leaking more water but figure its coming. 10 am comes. I'm about a 4 and about 95%. Just enough to be there and in the way. Still can't figure out the water thing, but they aren't concerned. The nurse even goes so far as to say "There's a lady in the next room over who came in after you and is already pushing! Lets get this going, Megan" Thanks lady. Its no competition! They started the pitocin soon after that. Before they got the stuff in me though, I got so worked up and scared of pitocin (oh the horror stories!) and threw up a few times. The stuff sucks. It was cold, made me shiver, and ramped up the contrax. I got back on the ball and rocked. I almost pulled Adam's wrists with how some of them were! The nurse even gave me a back rub and kept encouraging me (these people were SO awesome!). they checked me soon after (I wanna say about noon?) and said I was a 7, 100% and could take pain meds if I wanted. After all the talk of med free, I knew I couldn't stand too much more without really hurting Adam and losing steam. I asked for the intrathecal and waited for it. They told me I had to get off the ball and on the bed for this. The drug people were finishing up a surgery and would be right with me. Seemed like FOREVER and the contrax SUCKED on the bed. I couldn't move into a comfy position, They were more intense than ever with how I was positioned. The guy comes in and tells me I need to sit on the side of the bed and bend over to expose my spine. I do as I'm told but tell him that my contrax are really painful so hurry if possible. Stupid I know, but I wasn't the happiest. Boy he really had to time himself well since he only had a window of about 20 seconds between the end of one contraction to the start of another. Took like 3 tries before he could get the needle in and start injecting before I started whimpering again. Had to lay back down, flat this time, to get the meds to work. OMG those 5 mins were the WORST! But once I felt the relief, it was AMAZING. I felt NO pain. Not even pressure. The machine had to tell me when I was supposed to be feeling it. Before too long though, they started getting intense again and I would actually have to breathe through it. About 1:30 or so, they check me and tell me I'm a full 10 and totally ready, whenever the pressure starts. Adam chooses this time to get out the camera and get it ready for the big moments. DAMN IT if the damn memory card wasn't full. So Adam asks if he has enough time to go out and buy another. I told him to hurry, and the nurse said there was plenty of time. About 25 mins later, Adam still isn't back and I'm starting to feel a lot of pressure. They were coming in to put in the labor bar and get everything ready, but no hubby! I called him and told him to hurry his ass up! he told me (and I'll never forget) "Don't push without me there!" Promising I wouldn't, we hung up and the nurse glared me down. Told me I had just worried him. Adam comes FLYING into the room soon after and gets everything ready. No sooner is he all set, they are having me push with the contractions. OMG that was sweet relief since I could do something about the pain, but painful since I was trying to get the hang of pushing and was laboring him out. Adam even told them that he wanted us both to feel his head. Weirdest feeling ever! At 2:30, our little miracle was born. Much to the disbelief of everyone there, I had only pushed for 30 mins and we kind of figured out why things weren't going the way we wanted them too. Anthony's head was so low that we think his head was causing a cork effect and making it so no water could get around it. She had even scratched his head with the wand used to break my water! I had also pushed so hard and so fast, that not just his head came out with that last push. I hadn't heard them say stop so I kept going! I guess dr didn't get to check if the cord wasn't around his neck and all was well and a little cleaning. He came out in a gush of water! The dr said he was all 9s and 10s for apgar scores and looked to be totally healthy. I had a second degree tear (no walk in the park) and couldn't really stop bleeding, but all said and done, I had done just what they said. Redheads seem to have a shorter labor, but bleed like stuck pigs.
My perfect little angel was born 14:30 on November 23, 2009 at a very healthy 8lb 3oz, 20.5 inches long, 14 inch head and 13 inch chest. He had a full head of hair to match his daddy and looks that blew me away. Adam went crazy with the photos while they were cleaning him up!
We stayed in the hospital until Wednesday morning, which sucked since we weren't supposed to have any visitors. Anyone who came, we had to kind of sneak them up. No one really stopped us though.
Since then, we've had a few appointments for Anthony. His first appointment was Friday, November 27 to check his jaundice (7 out of 30) and make sure he put on his weight. When he left the hospital, he was 7 lb 14 oz. At the appointment, he was 7lb 15oz. On December 8th, he was 8lbs 13oz, 20 3/4 inches long, 15 1/4 inch head. Growing like a weed! His next appointment is his 2 month appointment in January. How time flies! I've also been weighing in around my prepregnancy weight (195) and been wearing some of my prepregnancy jeans! Thats huge! Photos to follow soon. Looking for the camera for more from this weekend.
So, as I'm sure anyone who is following knows (who IS following me anyway? Please let me know) I had my precious little bundle November 23, 2009 at 2:30pm. Now, not everyone knows how this little munchkin came into the world. Let me enlighten you...
So, November 20 (Friday)
Adam and I were doing all we could think of to cause contractions (at the very least trying to enjoy life as just a couple while it lasts) and I was reading What to Expect When You're Expecting and looking to see what hints there are in there. I had bought Raspberry Leaf Tea about a week earlier and was drinking that (real tea in a tea ball, no powder or anything fake like that) as often as I could. All that really did was cause some smaller contractions (no different compared to the usual ones you get anyway) so I looked up the other "natural" methods like castor oil, stripping the membranes, Raspberry leaf tea, walking, sex, nipple stimulation, walking, and some other VERY odd methods. I tried almost all of them and nothing was working.
Thinking I was going to end up going all the way to the 30th (talk of inducing at this point on this day), I tried to get to sleep. No go. I was starting to feel contractions and they were fairly timeable, but were about 7-10 mins apart. Kept an eye on them and started thinking about calling into work. Around 9 am, they were starting to get closer and a little stronger, so I messaged Adam and asked when he was coming home (he was only working a half day) and he said he was on his way. We grabbed the bags and headed out the door to the hospital. We had to stop for gas so I called the hospital and told them we were coming (had called them a few other times through the night, but they said stay home for now). Heading down, Adam and I were talking and praying this wasn't a false alarm. The contrax ended up slowing and at one point stopping in the car, but I was thinking that I was just over thinking it and getting too worked up. Get to the hospital and once I get in the door, I get sucker punched with a particularly strong contraction out of nowhere. I had to stop and lean against a partition in the front lobby and one of the nurses came over and I swear hit the panic button right away. She started talking about how I needed to hurry up and get registered and get up to L&D asap and I needed a wheel chair and someone to push me up there NOW and Adam would have to join me later since they wanted to take me now and there was no waiting. Its a damn contraction. Adam tried to tell her that I just needed to stop and let the pain pass, that I couldn't walk through it. She didn't want to listen and grabbed the wheel chair. I sat down (pain had passed at this point and I was thinking that it was protocol...) and the wheel chair pusher starts pushing me toward the elevator. Adam was freaking out on the registering lady since he needed me there to make sure we got all the info right. Finally we get it all straightened out and I get pushed into the registering office and have a nurse standing by just in case I pop out this kid with no warning (I told you, the lady hit the panic button WAY too soon). Good thing I ended up staying with Adam as we had to correct each other with some of the info. Get up to the room and all changed and ready to do this, when the nurse comes in and tells me that she needs to check me and see if anything is going on and if so, how much. She could see on the machine that I was contracting like I should, just not as often as they would like. Checked me. Still almost NO change. DAMN IT! She asked my dr what she wanted done and the dr said "send her home". They hold onto me until noon and then find still no progress...actually things were slowing down again. LOVELY. The nurse said that since everything was looking promising, she was going to have them leave my room as it was since I totally should be back by the end of the day. Got changed, left the hospital pissed, went out to eat, walked a few laps around walmart and then went to the ILs. I was exhausted from not sleeping (timing the contrax) so I took a nap. Woke up and everything had totally stopped. Tried to walk down to the river bottom and back and walked on a tread mill for almost a full mile as fast as I could stand it. Couldn't get anything real going. Went home defeated.
Since I had called into work as going into the hospital, they had taken me off the schedule just in case I did have the baby that day. I called the next day and asked if my shift had been covered or I needed to go in. NOPE. They covered that shift and didn't give me any more. But they would put me on call for the next week. Great.
Saturday, nothing happened out of the norm.
Sunday, my MIL came over and watched the Vikes game with us. During the commercials, we did some cleaning and organizing (NOT my choice!) and I took the vacuums. I ran the first one over the rug and felt a few pains. Went over with the second and felt more pains. The whole time my PITA MIL is telling me "Keep having those pains! I want my grandbaby!" No pressure ya know, since pressure caused my labor to stop only days before! Well, she ended up leaving soon after the game and I got on the computer to putz around. Put up the weekly entry and kept goofing around online. Then the contrax started up again. I started timing them since these felt...off.
The timing was any where from 4 to 20 mins inbetween and lasting from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Right now, you are thinking "Hot damn! That's not labor. That's too long in bewtween, but those 5 min contrax must have sucked!" yes they did. Turns out, those contrax that lasted longer than 2 mins were really multiple contrax that piggy backed each other. All this started around 10:30pm. Tried to walk around the apartment and breathe through the worse ones. Sat in the tub and tried to labor there. There, they only got closer, more consistent, and more painful. Called the hospital and told them what was up and asked about the long contrax. That's when I was told about the multiples. Seems the first can go up, then as it starts to come down, another starts before you feel the first one fall, then the next comes before the second one starts to go down. Got out of the tub and decided to try sleeping. Its like 1 am at this point. I'm tired and yelling at Adam to wake up and take times for each one. about 2 am they are really close (3-5 mins apart) and I can't get comfy at all. I'm literally watching the clock to wish it along! About 3am I can't stand it anymore and we grab the bags again and head to the hospital. This time, the contrax don't stop in the car. Its foggy out and I'm wishing Adam could drive faster. We talk the whole time about how this better not be another false alarm and making a plan in case it is. I could tell something was different though.
Got to the hospital and left the bags in the car again (no use in bringing them up only to bring them back down if we get sent home). Head to the door and there's a friggin DUCK walking back and forth in front of the door, making it open and shut. White as snow DUCK. Get checked in and up to my room (same room, ironically!). dressed and hooked up, they check me. Sure enough there was progress. 3cm and about 80-90% effaced. They kept me there! Its like 4 am and the nurse is telling me to get comfy any way I can. I tried sleeping, that didn't work. I hopped in the whirlpool tub (OMG HEAVEN!) and labored in there for about an hour. I was actually able to sleep through the pain and it helped it not hurt so much. I got out of the tub after my hour and the nurse tells me that she'll call the dr around 6 am and let her know what's going on. 6:15 comes and the nurse lets me know that the dr says if there isn't more significant progress, she'll break my water around 8 and if that doesn't ramp things up, she'll start pitocin soon after. My dr comes in around 8 and says "Not too much progress, still about 3ish, but more thin. I'll be back in about 20 mins to break your water, if that doesn't do anything, around 10 I'll order pitocin." She comes back, breaks my water, and leaves. Contrax don't really ramp up, so I ask for a labor ball and get back in the tub. Not comfy this time, so I was only there for about 15 mins. I get out and bounce on the ball a bit. The nurses are confused as to why I'm not leaking more water but figure its coming. 10 am comes. I'm about a 4 and about 95%. Just enough to be there and in the way. Still can't figure out the water thing, but they aren't concerned. The nurse even goes so far as to say "There's a lady in the next room over who came in after you and is already pushing! Lets get this going, Megan" Thanks lady. Its no competition! They started the pitocin soon after that. Before they got the stuff in me though, I got so worked up and scared of pitocin (oh the horror stories!) and threw up a few times. The stuff sucks. It was cold, made me shiver, and ramped up the contrax. I got back on the ball and rocked. I almost pulled Adam's wrists with how some of them were! The nurse even gave me a back rub and kept encouraging me (these people were SO awesome!). they checked me soon after (I wanna say about noon?) and said I was a 7, 100% and could take pain meds if I wanted. After all the talk of med free, I knew I couldn't stand too much more without really hurting Adam and losing steam. I asked for the intrathecal and waited for it. They told me I had to get off the ball and on the bed for this. The drug people were finishing up a surgery and would be right with me. Seemed like FOREVER and the contrax SUCKED on the bed. I couldn't move into a comfy position, They were more intense than ever with how I was positioned. The guy comes in and tells me I need to sit on the side of the bed and bend over to expose my spine. I do as I'm told but tell him that my contrax are really painful so hurry if possible. Stupid I know, but I wasn't the happiest. Boy he really had to time himself well since he only had a window of about 20 seconds between the end of one contraction to the start of another. Took like 3 tries before he could get the needle in and start injecting before I started whimpering again. Had to lay back down, flat this time, to get the meds to work. OMG those 5 mins were the WORST! But once I felt the relief, it was AMAZING. I felt NO pain. Not even pressure. The machine had to tell me when I was supposed to be feeling it. Before too long though, they started getting intense again and I would actually have to breathe through it. About 1:30 or so, they check me and tell me I'm a full 10 and totally ready, whenever the pressure starts. Adam chooses this time to get out the camera and get it ready for the big moments. DAMN IT if the damn memory card wasn't full. So Adam asks if he has enough time to go out and buy another. I told him to hurry, and the nurse said there was plenty of time. About 25 mins later, Adam still isn't back and I'm starting to feel a lot of pressure. They were coming in to put in the labor bar and get everything ready, but no hubby! I called him and told him to hurry his ass up! he told me (and I'll never forget) "Don't push without me there!" Promising I wouldn't, we hung up and the nurse glared me down. Told me I had just worried him. Adam comes FLYING into the room soon after and gets everything ready. No sooner is he all set, they are having me push with the contractions. OMG that was sweet relief since I could do something about the pain, but painful since I was trying to get the hang of pushing and was laboring him out. Adam even told them that he wanted us both to feel his head. Weirdest feeling ever! At 2:30, our little miracle was born. Much to the disbelief of everyone there, I had only pushed for 30 mins and we kind of figured out why things weren't going the way we wanted them too. Anthony's head was so low that we think his head was causing a cork effect and making it so no water could get around it. She had even scratched his head with the wand used to break my water! I had also pushed so hard and so fast, that not just his head came out with that last push. I hadn't heard them say stop so I kept going! I guess dr didn't get to check if the cord wasn't around his neck and all was well and a little cleaning. He came out in a gush of water! The dr said he was all 9s and 10s for apgar scores and looked to be totally healthy. I had a second degree tear (no walk in the park) and couldn't really stop bleeding, but all said and done, I had done just what they said. Redheads seem to have a shorter labor, but bleed like stuck pigs.
My perfect little angel was born 14:30 on November 23, 2009 at a very healthy 8lb 3oz, 20.5 inches long, 14 inch head and 13 inch chest. He had a full head of hair to match his daddy and looks that blew me away. Adam went crazy with the photos while they were cleaning him up!
We stayed in the hospital until Wednesday morning, which sucked since we weren't supposed to have any visitors. Anyone who came, we had to kind of sneak them up. No one really stopped us though.
Since then, we've had a few appointments for Anthony. His first appointment was Friday, November 27 to check his jaundice (7 out of 30) and make sure he put on his weight. When he left the hospital, he was 7 lb 14 oz. At the appointment, he was 7lb 15oz. On December 8th, he was 8lbs 13oz, 20 3/4 inches long, 15 1/4 inch head. Growing like a weed! His next appointment is his 2 month appointment in January. How time flies! I've also been weighing in around my prepregnancy weight (195) and been wearing some of my prepregnancy jeans! Thats huge! Photos to follow soon. Looking for the camera for more from this weekend.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
How Big is Baby Anthony?
How far along? 39 weeks!
Waist measurement: 50.5 inches
Total weight gain/loss: up 23.5 lbs. 218.5 lbs. 37.5lbs to date gained.
How much does Baby weigh?: 8 lbs, maybe? he's such a big boy!
Maternity clothes? but of course!
Stretch marks? they're bad. Dark, half way up the belly, and my former piercing looks like hell. Its all purple and red and super tender. Lovely
Sleep: What is sleep? Any day baby boy!
Best moment this week: getting some of the things off our BRU registry and putting them together. SO exciting! His room is looking more and more like a nursery...minus the obvious part that's missing of course
Movement: still very active. Very brutal at times too
Food cravings: cereal, milk, orange soda, and some salty snacks.
Gender: I was right! Its a BOY!
Labor Signs: Contractions. I has them. Even after the false alarm on friday. Still pissed about that.
Belly Button in or out?: mostly flat with the bottom half kinda sticking out. Looks like a chicken butt, so says Adam
What I miss: everything. Biggest thing lately though is moving without so much pain. There's tendon pain on my right by my hip, the sudden movements, and contractions that catch me off guard and all. I'm ready for being a mommy
What I am looking forward to: the birth. I don't know how much more of the harder movements, contractions, and harsher comments I can really deal with. My phone is ringing off the hook DAILY with people calling and asking if I had the baby yet. I just want to be a mommy of an outside baby. That and I want a reason to not be on the schedule for over a week. GRR!
The long and short of the whole thing with the hospital is this. We got in the doors and I was having a particularly strong contraction and the lady in registering hit the panic button and put everyone on edge thinking I was on the verge of dying, the guy who pushes the wheel chairs wouldn't let Adam push me in the chair, they insisted I sit down in the chair, and they kept asking me "are you ok?" during every contraction. They got me all worked up and my labor stopped. Better not do that next time or I'll flip!
He's reached his birth weight (typically between 6 and 9 pounds) and length (18 to 22 inches), and all systems are go! Since only about 5 percent of women give birth on their due date, baby could be making his appearance at any moment. Labor may begin in several ways: mild cramps (the most common scenario), a painless trickle of straw-colored fluid caused by the rupture of the amniotic sac, or a scheduled induction or cesarean section.If your delivery is scheduled, you'll check into the hospital and either be prepped for a c-section or given prostaglandin gel (to soften the cervix) followed by oxytocin through an intravenous drip. If you're waiting to go into labor naturally and your water has broken or your cramps are growing steadily more painful, call your doctor or midwife for instructions. She'll probably tell you to wait until the contractions are five to eight minutes apart before heading in to the hospital or birthing center. This can take many hours, especially for a first birth, so try to get some sleep, take a walk, or watch a movie--even anything that relaxes and energizes you. Think of yourself as a runner on the eve of her first marathon--a little scared, but even more excited!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
How Big is Baby Anthony?
This week's update is late because of all the stuff going on this past week. Hopefully, this will be the last?
How far along? 38 weeks!
Waist measurement: 50.5 inches
Total weight gain/loss: up 24 lbs. 219 lbs. 38lbs to date gained.
How much does Baby weigh?: 8 lbs, maybe? he's such a big boy!
Maternity clothes? but of course!
Stretch marks? they're bad. Dark, half way up the belly, and my former piercing looks like hell. Its all purple and red and super tender. Lovely
Sleep: What is sleep? Any day baby boy!
Best moment this week: seeing my mom. It was so much fun to show her every thing we have up here and seeing her just getting to enjoy a little bit of a vacation.
Movement: still very active. Very brutal at times too
Food cravings: cereal, milk, orange soda, and some salty snacks.
Gender: I was right! Its a BOY!
Labor Signs: LOTS. Not even kidding anymore.
Belly Button in or out?: just about flat. there's the smallest indent, but its hardly worth speaking of.
What I miss: everything. Biggest thing lately though is moving without so much pain. There's tendon pain on my right by my hip, the sudden movements, and contractions that catch me off guard and all. I'm ready for being a mommy
What I am looking forward to: the birth. I don't know how much more of the harder movements, contractions, and harsher comments I can really deal with. My phone is ringing off the hook DAILY with people calling and asking if I had the baby yet. I just want to be a mommy of an outside baby.
From Parents.com
Big baby or little one? The average full-term newborn weighs between 6 and 9 pounds and is 18 to 21 inches long. Your doctor will probably be able to give you an idea of your baby's size at this point, but be aware that sometimes these are only predictions -- no one will know baby's precise size until birth. As you watch for signs that your waters have broken (contrary to what you've seen in the movies, this big event precedes labor only about 10 percent of the time), remember that these "waters" are actually amniotic fluid, the solution protects your baby from infection. At the end of the pregnancy, you're carrying between 1 to 2 pints of this precious, life-sustaining liquid.
About two weeks before birth, the placenta starts to deteriorate just a bit. It becomes less efficient in transferring nutrition, and blood clots and calcified patches start to show. This vital but short-lived organ is reaching the end of its life span.
How far along? 38 weeks!
Waist measurement: 50.5 inches
Total weight gain/loss: up 24 lbs. 219 lbs. 38lbs to date gained.
How much does Baby weigh?: 8 lbs, maybe? he's such a big boy!
Maternity clothes? but of course!
Stretch marks? they're bad. Dark, half way up the belly, and my former piercing looks like hell. Its all purple and red and super tender. Lovely
Sleep: What is sleep? Any day baby boy!
Best moment this week: seeing my mom. It was so much fun to show her every thing we have up here and seeing her just getting to enjoy a little bit of a vacation.
Movement: still very active. Very brutal at times too
Food cravings: cereal, milk, orange soda, and some salty snacks.
Gender: I was right! Its a BOY!
Labor Signs: LOTS. Not even kidding anymore.
Belly Button in or out?: just about flat. there's the smallest indent, but its hardly worth speaking of.
What I miss: everything. Biggest thing lately though is moving without so much pain. There's tendon pain on my right by my hip, the sudden movements, and contractions that catch me off guard and all. I'm ready for being a mommy
What I am looking forward to: the birth. I don't know how much more of the harder movements, contractions, and harsher comments I can really deal with. My phone is ringing off the hook DAILY with people calling and asking if I had the baby yet. I just want to be a mommy of an outside baby.
From Parents.com
Big baby or little one? The average full-term newborn weighs between 6 and 9 pounds and is 18 to 21 inches long. Your doctor will probably be able to give you an idea of your baby's size at this point, but be aware that sometimes these are only predictions -- no one will know baby's precise size until birth. As you watch for signs that your waters have broken (contrary to what you've seen in the movies, this big event precedes labor only about 10 percent of the time), remember that these "waters" are actually amniotic fluid, the solution protects your baby from infection. At the end of the pregnancy, you're carrying between 1 to 2 pints of this precious, life-sustaining liquid.About two weeks before birth, the placenta starts to deteriorate just a bit. It becomes less efficient in transferring nutrition, and blood clots and calcified patches start to show. This vital but short-lived organ is reaching the end of its life span.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
How Big is Baby Anthony?
How far along? 37 weeks! FULL TERM!
Waist measurement: 50.0 inches
Total weight gain/loss: up 23 lbs. 218 lbs. 37lbs to date gained. In my defense, we had a small birthday party for Adam's little cousin (she's 3 already!) and I've been drinking strawberry milk like its going out of style.
How much does Baby weigh?: 8 lbs, maybe? he's such a big boy!
Maternity clothes? but of course!
Stretch marks? they're bad. Dark, half way up the belly, and my former piercing looks like hell. Its all purple and red and super tender. Lovely
Sleep: What is sleep? I lay down, have to work my way back to sitting up because my blankets got messed up or my reflux is going nuts again. Then flipping over I wake up totally and have to pee about 90% of the time. Any day baby boy!
Best moment this week: Not really related to the baby (directly anyway) but my mom is coming up for a visit over the weekend. I haven't seen her in over 2 years and I'm praying I get to put a little baby in her arms before she leaves.
Movement: still very active. Very brutal at times too
Food cravings: cereal, milk, orange soda, and some salty snacks.
Gender: I was right! Its a BOY!
Labor Signs: contractions, back labor, and lightening all have me coming home from work more often than I would like to, but we are trying all we can to get labor going
Belly Button in or out?: just about flat. there's the smallest indent, but its hardly worth speaking of.
What I miss: seeing my feet, going up the stairs without my legs hitting my new, lowered belly, and wearing non-maternity shirts without my belly hanging out the bottom
What I am looking forward to: either little baby boy coming out or the next appointment, which ever comes first. I'm trying all the natural ways to get him out (sex, walking a lot and fast, hot baths, laying on my left, you name it) before going to things like castor oil and raspberry leaf tea. Those are for later use if it comes down to it. For now, the natural ways are working pretty good.
From Parents.com
A diaper bag!
Babies come to term anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks--your 40-week due date simply marks the midpoint of this period. By the end of this week, your little one will be officially "on time" whenever she makes her entry into the world. In preparation for birth, most babies have moved into the head-down, back-facing position that's ideal for labor. However, she may be also be "sunny-side up," (head down, facing front--can often be delivered vaginally), breech (with feet or buttocks closest to the birth canal), or even lying crosswise in the uterus. If this is the case, and your doctor is unable to shift her position, you may be a candidate for a cesarean section.
From Thebump.com
At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.
Waist measurement: 50.0 inches
Total weight gain/loss: up 23 lbs. 218 lbs. 37lbs to date gained. In my defense, we had a small birthday party for Adam's little cousin (she's 3 already!) and I've been drinking strawberry milk like its going out of style.
How much does Baby weigh?: 8 lbs, maybe? he's such a big boy!
Maternity clothes? but of course!
Stretch marks? they're bad. Dark, half way up the belly, and my former piercing looks like hell. Its all purple and red and super tender. Lovely
Sleep: What is sleep? I lay down, have to work my way back to sitting up because my blankets got messed up or my reflux is going nuts again. Then flipping over I wake up totally and have to pee about 90% of the time. Any day baby boy!
Best moment this week: Not really related to the baby (directly anyway) but my mom is coming up for a visit over the weekend. I haven't seen her in over 2 years and I'm praying I get to put a little baby in her arms before she leaves.
Movement: still very active. Very brutal at times too
Food cravings: cereal, milk, orange soda, and some salty snacks.
Gender: I was right! Its a BOY!
Labor Signs: contractions, back labor, and lightening all have me coming home from work more often than I would like to, but we are trying all we can to get labor going
Belly Button in or out?: just about flat. there's the smallest indent, but its hardly worth speaking of.
What I miss: seeing my feet, going up the stairs without my legs hitting my new, lowered belly, and wearing non-maternity shirts without my belly hanging out the bottom
What I am looking forward to: either little baby boy coming out or the next appointment, which ever comes first. I'm trying all the natural ways to get him out (sex, walking a lot and fast, hot baths, laying on my left, you name it) before going to things like castor oil and raspberry leaf tea. Those are for later use if it comes down to it. For now, the natural ways are working pretty good.
From Parents.com
A diaper bag!
Babies come to term anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks--your 40-week due date simply marks the midpoint of this period. By the end of this week, your little one will be officially "on time" whenever she makes her entry into the world. In preparation for birth, most babies have moved into the head-down, back-facing position that's ideal for labor. However, she may be also be "sunny-side up," (head down, facing front--can often be delivered vaginally), breech (with feet or buttocks closest to the birth canal), or even lying crosswise in the uterus. If this is the case, and your doctor is unable to shift her position, you may be a candidate for a cesarean section.
From Thebump.com
At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.
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