I have been neglecting the blog and I apologize. I hope to get Lydia's 10 week update up very soon and I will try to post some extra pics this upcoming Sunday since I missed last Sunday's snapshots.
I have been very busy... with school, teaching, housework and of course feeding my baby a bunch more. I really committed myself to trying to help Lydia gain weight this past week and it took up a ton of time! Nursing is definitely a full time job, and I was also trying to pump 4 times a day as well as increase her amount of daily feedings. Another thing that I had to put more energy into was eating. I really tried to eat more everyday, which meant fixing full meals for myself and trying to incorporate more good fats. On top of everything we went to NKY this past weekend which was, of course, wonderful yet SO busy.
But, as of yesterday I found out that it was all worth it. Our little girl is not so little anymore... she broke the 10 pound mark! She now weights 10 lbs., and 1 ounce which means in the past week she gained 11 ounces. That is right - 11 ounces in 7 days. Go baby girl! Our pediatrician is now happy with her weight (this gain bumped her from the 10th to the 20th percentile for weight, while she is in the 80th percentile for height). So that means we can continue only breastfeeding and we don't have to return to the doctor until she is 4 months old. Yay!
Also, we got her thyroid result back at the end of last week and that finally came back normal. So no more heel pricks or worrying about if her thyroid is okay.
And while I am bragging about my perfect little one, I should tell you that yesterday she started grabbing at things! She has a play mat on the floor that she lays under when she is happy and yesterday she was definitely putting her hands out and hitting the toys around, and a few times she would open up her hands and try to grab at them. It made me really happy and so proud.
Yesterday was just a great day of confirmation that Lydia is perfectly healthy. I wanted to let you all know since I know so many of you have been praying and been giving me some great advice.
Hope you have a good Wednesday!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Heartache of a Mommy
I truly love being a mother. It is such an honor to be given the opportunity to love and shape a perfect creation of God and in so many ways I feel that it is exactly what I was put on earth to do. I really haven't written enough about the joy that motherhood brings - it is a deep joy that hurts my heart sometimes. My Lydia is so precious to me and I just feel unbelievably blessed everyday.
However, being a mommy is also hard. Today was one of the hard days... It was the dreaded day of her first round of vaccines. I knew that it would be difficult to hear her cry when she got the shots but there were so many other emotions with which I was bombarded that I never expected.
Like second guessing myself for choosing to vaccinate in the first place.
Like feeling guilty and nervous for putting such harsh things into her tiny, perfect body.
Like feeling anxious and worried about facing the appointment all day long.
I can't describe how hard it is to feel your baby cry when you are a mom. It is an emotion and pain that I had never experienced before and it is really hard to stay strong. Especially when you know that the baby is hurting. I heard Lydia cry in a whole new way today and it was so hard to not break down myself. On top of the vaccines she also had to get her heel pricked yet again to test her Thyroid again. We are praying hard that it comes back normal this time.
Not only did I have to face her first vaccines today, but I had to face some more hard news at her appointment. Lydia Grace isn't gaining the amount of weight "they would like" her to gain. Instead of gaining 20-30 grams each day from her last appointment until now she has only gained 13 on average. It may be that my milk supply has decreased, it may in fact be an abnormal Thyroid issue. It may be nothing at all... I think she is just a small baby! But either way, this week I have to pump 4 times each day after her feedings and then give her a bottle of anything that I pump and then we will bring her back in next Tuesday to check her weight again. If her weight gain hasn't increased by then, I know that the formula supplement conversation will begin with the doctor.
There isn't any reason to worry... and I know that. Lydia is very healthy and we have so, so much to be thankful for. If we have to supplement with formula we will and everything will be fine. But it was hard news to accept for me. It made me feel a little bit inadequate, because I see feeding her as "my thing" kind of, something that I truly love to do and am proud of myself for doing. I know it is silly, but it affected me a lot more than I thought it would, and it has been hard to come to terms with this evening.
Anyway, in general it was a hard day. Today made me realize all of the new emotions that a mommy experiences - all of the heartaches that are truly unique to being a mother. It is a difficult thing, but a beautiful one at the same time.
However, being a mommy is also hard. Today was one of the hard days... It was the dreaded day of her first round of vaccines. I knew that it would be difficult to hear her cry when she got the shots but there were so many other emotions with which I was bombarded that I never expected.
Like second guessing myself for choosing to vaccinate in the first place.
Like feeling guilty and nervous for putting such harsh things into her tiny, perfect body.
Like feeling anxious and worried about facing the appointment all day long.
I can't describe how hard it is to feel your baby cry when you are a mom. It is an emotion and pain that I had never experienced before and it is really hard to stay strong. Especially when you know that the baby is hurting. I heard Lydia cry in a whole new way today and it was so hard to not break down myself. On top of the vaccines she also had to get her heel pricked yet again to test her Thyroid again. We are praying hard that it comes back normal this time.
Not only did I have to face her first vaccines today, but I had to face some more hard news at her appointment. Lydia Grace isn't gaining the amount of weight "they would like" her to gain. Instead of gaining 20-30 grams each day from her last appointment until now she has only gained 13 on average. It may be that my milk supply has decreased, it may in fact be an abnormal Thyroid issue. It may be nothing at all... I think she is just a small baby! But either way, this week I have to pump 4 times each day after her feedings and then give her a bottle of anything that I pump and then we will bring her back in next Tuesday to check her weight again. If her weight gain hasn't increased by then, I know that the formula supplement conversation will begin with the doctor.
There isn't any reason to worry... and I know that. Lydia is very healthy and we have so, so much to be thankful for. If we have to supplement with formula we will and everything will be fine. But it was hard news to accept for me. It made me feel a little bit inadequate, because I see feeding her as "my thing" kind of, something that I truly love to do and am proud of myself for doing. I know it is silly, but it affected me a lot more than I thought it would, and it has been hard to come to terms with this evening.
Anyway, in general it was a hard day. Today made me realize all of the new emotions that a mommy experiences - all of the heartaches that are truly unique to being a mother. It is a difficult thing, but a beautiful one at the same time.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
My love of gDiapers
I never thought I would say this... but I really love using cloth diapers. After my brave friend Melissa tried them out with her little one last July I thought that maybe, just maybe I could try them when we had kids. After finding out that we would be having our first baby while we were both in grad school, I dismissed the option as being too much work and something that I could handle until I was a "stay at home mom" full time. However, we received a whole pack of gDiapers at one of our showers as well as a wet bag and diaper sprayer, so when Lydia was 5 weeks old and we began to run out of gifted newborn diapers I gathered up the courage to try them and just see if it would be okay.
As it turns out, cloth diapering is a breeze! So I am here to tell you all of the nitty gritty details of how to get started (because when I wanted to try and start I found it a little bit difficult to find detailed instructions of what was going on). This may be information overload, especially if you aren't interested in cloth diapering at all. But I will try to keep it short. Also, we have only tried gDiapers so far (they are considered a hybrid cloth diaper, I will explain why later), but I am sure there are other great diapers out there too! We will be trying bumkins and bum genius here soon as Lydia gets bigger.
So, here is what you need to know first about gDiapers:
There are 3 parts to a gDiaper: an outer shell, a waterproof liner, and a reusable cloth.
gDiapers are hybrid because if you wanted to skip the laundry part of it you can buy biodegradable refills instead of the reusable cloth and use them as the absorbent part of your diaper. The refills are cheaper than normal diapers, you just throw them in the trash, and they are better for the environment!
To assemble the diaper you just place the cloth inside of the liner, fleece side up. It will fold into a U-shape.
Then you snap the liner into the outer shell.
Then fold and store.
The one "con" of cloth diapers vs. disposables it that they have to be changed more often. There are leaks if we ever leave one on for more than 3 or 3 1/2 hours. So I try to change her every 2 1/2-3 hours and then everything is great. This is why we use a disposable at night (sometimes she sleeps for 5 hours straight!), but soon we may try to transition to cloth at night and just put a reusable cloth and a biodegradable refill in the liner to make it super absorbent.
That is all about why I love cloth diapers! If you have any questions, let me know. And if this post was boring for you... sorry. I will send you off with a funny video link. The video is called "'Stuff' Crunchy Mamas Say". A crunchy mama is kind of a hippy mom, I guess, and I cracked up when I saw this video because even though some of it I couldn't relate to, other parts I totally could. Have fun!
As it turns out, cloth diapering is a breeze! So I am here to tell you all of the nitty gritty details of how to get started (because when I wanted to try and start I found it a little bit difficult to find detailed instructions of what was going on). This may be information overload, especially if you aren't interested in cloth diapering at all. But I will try to keep it short. Also, we have only tried gDiapers so far (they are considered a hybrid cloth diaper, I will explain why later), but I am sure there are other great diapers out there too! We will be trying bumkins and bum genius here soon as Lydia gets bigger.
So, here is what you need to know first about gDiapers:
THE BASICS
gDiapers are hybrid because if you wanted to skip the laundry part of it you can buy biodegradable refills instead of the reusable cloth and use them as the absorbent part of your diaper. The refills are cheaper than normal diapers, you just throw them in the trash, and they are better for the environment!
BEFORE FIRST USE
Before you begin using gDiapers wash the outer shells with baby's clothes. Make sure you fold the velcro back. I use cold water and I hang the shells to dry.
Wash the liners and cloth together with a small amount of soap and in hot water. After one wash remove the liners and hang them to dry. Keep the cloth in the washer and rinse them with hot water 5 more times (no soap!). This process is called stripping the diapers. If you ever notice soap build-up on the cloth, if they start to smell, or if you notice them being less absorbent just strip them and they should be good! Hang the cloth to dry as well.
DAILY USE
We have 5 shells and 16 liners and shells. We still use a disposable at night and with this amount of diapers I have to wash them every 3-4 days. Theoretically the shell shouldn't get dirty or wet since it is protected by the liner, but sometimes if we leave the diaper on too long there are small leaks around her legs. No matter what the shells will get a little musty smelling after a few days, so I usually just throw a few in when I do a load of her clothes. The snap-in liner and cloth will both get dirty with dirty diapers, but for wet diapers the liner could probably be re-used. Since we have the same amount of liners as cloths, I just un-snap the liner with the cloth inside each time and place it in the wetbag that hangs in our laundry room. You don't even have to rinse them off, and the wet bag prevents any kind of smell.
LAUNDRY DAY
When it is time to clean the diapers the process is so easy with a wet bag. Just add a little bit of detergent (I use Tide free and clear... you can buy special soaps but I think that most free and clear detergents would work too) to hot water and turn the wet bag inside out to empty out all of the diapers, and throw the wet bag int the washer as well. Wash it all, remove the liner and wet bag, and then rinse the cloth one time with hot water. This will prevent the soap build up and keep the cloths nice and absorbent.
Like I said before, I wash the shells with her normal clothes. And I hang everything to dry.
WHAT ABOUT THE POO?
Currently we don't have to do anything different for a dirty diaper vs. a wet diaper since Lydia is breastfeeding and her poo is water soluble. But when Lydia begins to eat solid food we will either rinse off the cloth in the toilet using the toilet sprayer, or we will buy these things called cloth inserts that you set right on top of the reusable cloth and it catches anything solid. These cloth liners are super cheap (8 bucks for about 100) and they can be flushed.
SUMMARY OF WHY I LOVE THEM
- They are easy
- They are CHEAP! Seriously... they can be an investment at first, but I would say they pay for themselves after 2 or 3 months since disposables are so expensive.
- They are good for the environment (I can pretend like this was a big reason for us, but really it wasn't... however, it is a nice plus).
- They are so much better for baby's bottom. No diaper rashes at all for Lydia.
- They hold poo better. We haven't had any blow outs in gDiapers, whereas with the disposables we were getting poo-up-the-back every 2-3 days.
- They really aren't gross. Just a note to you future mommies; you won't be grossed out by your baby's bodily functions. But even David and babysitters agree that these diapers are very user friendly for everyone.
- And, of course, they look adorable on your wonderful bundle's bum!! From what I have read, this is one characteristic that is kind of exclusive to gDiapers. A lot of cloth diapers can be bulky, especially when baby is so little, but gDiapers fit very snugly and look good under clothes.
That is all about why I love cloth diapers! If you have any questions, let me know. And if this post was boring for you... sorry. I will send you off with a funny video link. The video is called "'Stuff' Crunchy Mamas Say". A crunchy mama is kind of a hippy mom, I guess, and I cracked up when I saw this video because even though some of it I couldn't relate to, other parts I totally could. Have fun!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Oh yea... I forgot to tell you.
Remember all of that crazy math research that I did this summer? Most of you were probably thinking, "How do you research math?", or "I thought we already had math down... you know, 1+1=2."
So if you are at all curious, you should follow the link below to see the paper that we wrote about the research. It is posted on this thing called the arxiv; it's an online data base run by Cornell for papers that have been published in journals or are awaiting publication. Our paper would be in the latter category, but being posted on the arxiv is one step closer!
http://arxiv.org/abs/1202.2013
After you click on the link you can download the PDF on the right side of the page if you want to glance at the paper itself. It will look crazy... I only understand about 3/4 of it since I haven't thought about this stuff for a few months!
Enjoy :)
So if you are at all curious, you should follow the link below to see the paper that we wrote about the research. It is posted on this thing called the arxiv; it's an online data base run by Cornell for papers that have been published in journals or are awaiting publication. Our paper would be in the latter category, but being posted on the arxiv is one step closer!
http://arxiv.org/abs/1202.2013
After you click on the link you can download the PDF on the right side of the page if you want to glance at the paper itself. It will look crazy... I only understand about 3/4 of it since I haven't thought about this stuff for a few months!
Enjoy :)
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day!
I had a really good Valentine's Day, and I hope that you did too!
It started out normal; we got up early, I taught two classes and then I came back here to hang out with Lydia. Today we went over to my friend Melissa's house and played with her and her little boy Caedmon. It was so much fun!
I got home around 5:45 and fed my baby, and around 6 my hubby came home with peanut M&M's and hydrangeas! I was surprised since last week he randomly gave me a Steelers Tervis Tumbler and said it was my valentine's day present. David is always about surprises and as much as I may tell myself that I don't care if I don't get anything for Valentine's Day or our anniversary I have to admit that he always makes me feel special with his gifts :)
At 6:30 David's friend from law school came over with his girlfriend to babysit Lydia. They had offered to watch baby girl while we went to dinner and even though I was a little bit hesitant because her fussy period is always at night I decided that I shouldn't get in the habit of turning down babysitting. So we went to a small, casual restaurant 5 minutes away called Bourbon and Toulouse and had a great time! Even though we were only gone for an hour it was amazing to sit across from one another and eat a good meal and have uninterrupted conversation. Of course we talked about our baby girl most of the time :)
It was a different Valentine's Day for sure, but still great. And after our date I got to give our adorable girl a bath and hold her close. Ahh...love.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Seven Snapshots "Sunday"
One day late!! But I think they are still worth posting, don't you?
Sleeping soundly, for a few minutes, in her new swing!
Laughing at her toys on the playmat. She is so smart already!
Dressed up for a party on Saturday.
Sometimes I think you only get to see the good side of Lydia, but she has a grumpy side too.
Valentines Day outfit! My parents came down to take us out for lunch and everyone commented on Lydia in her adorable tutu :)
Kisses from Rooney!
Precious baby girl.
And this is probably cheating, but here is a goodbye photo of both of us!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
8 weeks old!
I don't know how our little girl got to be 8 weeks old already! It is crazy how quickly time is going by and I really try to cherish each and every day with Lydia while she is so little. When she first grew out of her newborn clothes I found myself being very sad that she was getting older and bigger, but now I am really excited to watch her grow and to learn more about her. As her personality starts to show a little bit I can't wait to see more of who she is and to build a relationship with my little girl.
With all of that being said... this was a rough two weeks. When school started I remember thinking, "If we can just make it to her being 6 weeks old, it will be fine." But getting to 6 weeks was a piece of cake; weeks 7 and 8 though were a whole different story.
Her stats: We will be taking her to the pediatrician for her 8 week update on Tuesday, so for right now we are not sure what her weight and length is. However, she has been eating so much lately and she is definitely growing quickly! In the last few days I have noticed that she is heavier to pick up and her belly is getting rounder. At her 6 week appointment they checked her Thyroid again, and unfortunately the test came back abnormal yet again. The levels aren't so high that the doctor is worried, however at her appointment Tuesday they will have to prick her little heel again and run yet another test. Please pray that the test will come back normal so that they don't have to try again! I am convinced that our girl is healthy because she doesn't have any symptoms of an overactive Thyroid, but obviously we need to see a normal test just to be sure. Also at her 8 week appointment she will have to get her first round of vaccines. Needless to say, I am dreading Tuesday... maybe daddy will just bring her.
Eating: Like I said above, Lydia has been eating so much more lately! At 6 weeks she was eating 4 times a day and once at night and now she eats 5 times a day, and once during the night. She "should be" dropping a feeding, but instead she has picked one up! She is getting more efficient though, and now she eats for 30-45 minutes rather than a full hour. Nursing continues to get easier and more enjoyable for me and now the things that I used to stress about or think were difficult are just second nature.
During these two weeks that she has been so fussy she has wanted her mommy and has wanted to nurse so much more often. She is taking her pacifier less and less, which I am happy about in some ways. However, it seems that I am kind of becoming her pacifier and while it is very sweet and flattering it can sometimes be overwhelming. But, I think as she continues to grow and change things will get better.
Sleeping: Lydia is definitely not fighting sleep as hard as she did in her 6th week. However, she MUST be held while she sleeps and this has been our biggest struggle. She will fall asleep peacefully in my arms or the Moby wrap, but then as soon as we lay her down she wakes up crying. It is so frustrating and obviously it is difficult to get anything done during the day when your arms are full with a sleeping baby! The infant carriers definitely help out a bit and yesterday and today she fell asleep twice in her swing (for about 15 or 20 minutes), but it would just be really nice if she would sleep by herself for a small amount of time each day. In the afternoons when I am home with her she cries anytime that I put her down, and as much as I love to hold her there are things that I really have to do, the main one being pumping for her bottle the next day. For the past two weeks every day she has laid on her Boppy pillow on the couch next to me as I pump, and she cries for 15 minutes straight every time! I feel better when she is right next to me crying than in the other room (I have tried both), but it is still terrible to hear her cry. I am getting more used to it and telling myself that I can't feel guilty because pumping really is something that I have to do, and it is impossible to do while holding her. I just really wish I could figure out some way for her to stay asleep for at least 20 minutes so that I can get things finished and she can be happy.
That is the story of her daytime sleep. Her night time sleep is just wonderful. At night, around 9:30 or 10, she wakes up for a feeding. I nurse her on one side, hand her to David to be burped while I get ready for bed, and then I feed her on the other side as she falls asleep. She has been sleeping in our bed, swaddled and sleeping on her back (so it is safe!), and it has been working out really well! She only wakes up once (between 3 and 4 usually) and I quickly feed her on one side and she falls right back to sleep and sleeps until 6:30 or 7. I barely have to wake up to feed her so I feel more rested and as long as she doesn't dirty her diaper David gets to sleep through the night! We both really love having her in the bed with us. I know it is a habit we will want to break eventually, but right now cosleeping is for us! It is funny how before you have a baby you think you will want different things than you actually do once baby is here. Hopefully by 3 or 4 months Lydia will be sleeping in her pack and play, but for now this is working perfectly.
What she loves: To eat, to be held, to be with her mommy. She is also starting to enjoy looking at toys. We have a little play mat with a koala bear and butterfly that hangs down from it and when she is happy she will just lay there and talk to them. So cute! She enjoys her swing that we got her while she is happy. She really watches the mobile as it moves and seems to enjoy the music.
What she hates: Sleeping alone, her car seat, waking up from naps. Diaper changes are getting better as long as she isn't sleepy!
Cute things: Her smiles and coos are so, so cute! She is talking so much more lately, especially to me, and I love to hear her voice. I also love when you can tell that she really sees things. It is amazing to just watch her learn right before my eyes. Truly amazing.
Postpartum Me: I really feel great! I had some kind of stomach virus this past Thursday which was definitely no fun, but in general things are going well. I had my postpartum check up and the doctor said everything is good! I hadn't lost as much weight as I had expected to, but I am actually really happy with how I currently look. In a lot of ways I like the more womanly shape of my body now. However, I need some clothes that really fit me because having pants that are a little too tight is not fun. I have been able to fit into a lot of my pre-pregnancy pants for a while now, but they just aren't comfortable to wear for a full day. Most of my shirts are just fine, and my sweatpants and leggings are great, but I would like to find maybe one pair of jeans and one pair of more professional pants that were comfortable to wear all day long.
I was so excited that the doctor cleared me for any and all workouts but now the question is WHEN in the world will I fit that into my schedule! Even though I was pumped to get back into pilates and weight lifting, this past week none of it has happened. I am hoping that as Lydia becomes a little less attached (literally) to me, I will be able to find 15 minutes here and there to do a pilates video or do some bicep curls :)
A lot of people have asked about how post partum hormones have affected my emotions, and I really feel pretty normal in this way too. I know I am very blessed to have such a supportive husband and family and I think that without the immense amount of help that I have been getting it would be hard to feel normal emotionally. Everything is very overwhelming at times, but for me I think that going back to school has brought some normalcy to the immense change that I have gone through. Every day I still get up, get showered and go to UK, a place I have been for 7 years, and I go to class, something I have been doing since age 5, and I get to have adult conversations. I am thankful that I don't have to be away from my girl for more than 3 hours at a time, and once I do get home the difficult task of homework hangs over my head, but in general I think that jumping right back into the swing of everything helped me to feel like "myself" again very quickly.
I am definitely weepy somtimes; I usually cry when she cries hard, especially at night. Lately I have also been feeling unsure of myself when it comes to making decisions (like the decision to hold her for every nap, let her sleep in our bed, or laying her down to cry while I do must-needed tasks). I am not used to being unsure of myself... if you know me you know I am a pretty confident person. But I think that I just need a lot of encouragement as I make tough decisions about how to get through every busy day. I think that this is normal, and again I am thankful to have David and my mom, and others, telling me that I am doing a good job and reassuring me that I can't spoil her this young :)
Heaven-sent baby items:
1) Every week so far I have had a different type of baby carrier on her, but I have yet another. A Moby wrap!! They are a little bit expensive, but I am telling you, if you think you would like to "wear" your young baby, just get one. They really are awesome. Lydia falls asleep right away when I strap her close to my chest with the Moby and it is so comfortable for me whether I want to do housework, or lay down for a little bit on the couch. The material is soft and stretchy and there are multiple ways that they baby can lay in the wrap depending on their age. I really love mine (currently Lydia is sleeping soundly in it right up against me) and I don't know what David and I would have done without it these past two weeks.
2) A large baby swing. David and I had a very small hand-me-down swing and Lydia just hated it. We broke down and invested in a larger one last weekend and it is crazy the difference that it has made. Lydia doesn't love it to fall asleep, or stay asleep in, like I have heard a lot of babies do. However, when she has her happy and awake times, it is a great place where I can lay her down to be entertained and to learn while I get some things done. She loves the motion, music and mobile and I am very happy that we got one. We got a Graco, and it was about $130 (we got 25% off though!), and it is just fine even though it is one of the cheapest options as far as larger baby swings go.
3) Cloth diapers. We have been using cloth diapers for 3 weeks now and I truly love them. I am hoping to be able to write a good how-to cloth diaper post soon since I know that I read lots of blogs when beginning to cloth diaper, but for now I will just tell you that I love it. We did it because we knew it would be cheaper, and better for the environment, but I thought it would be significantly less convenient. But it is so, so easy! And now I prefer them big time to disposable diapers. We use gDiapers because that was the brand we got from David's sister-in-law for free as a shower, but there are so many brands and options out there. If you have ever considered cloth diapers I encourage you to look into it, even if you have busy, crazy lives like us!
Words from Daddy: Sometimes Daddy is just not Mommy. I want to be there for her and make her feel better but sometimes I just have to accept that she wants her mommy.
It has been amazing to see her interact with us! She can tell when people are around her and she really looks around to see their faces.
Look at how much she has changed!!
Sorry that this post was so long again! I feel like I don't write for so long and then I have to write a book to catch you up on everything. I hope to get better about writing also as we keep figuring out our schedules. Now I am going to hand the girl off to Daddy (hopefully it will go well!) while he watches the Cats play. I hope to paint my fingernails and toenails before giving Lydia a bath and going to bed. Ahhh... the Saturday nights of a new mommy. I often feel lame, but honestly, I love the slower life that we live these days.
With all of that being said... this was a rough two weeks. When school started I remember thinking, "If we can just make it to her being 6 weeks old, it will be fine." But getting to 6 weeks was a piece of cake; weeks 7 and 8 though were a whole different story.
Her stats: We will be taking her to the pediatrician for her 8 week update on Tuesday, so for right now we are not sure what her weight and length is. However, she has been eating so much lately and she is definitely growing quickly! In the last few days I have noticed that she is heavier to pick up and her belly is getting rounder. At her 6 week appointment they checked her Thyroid again, and unfortunately the test came back abnormal yet again. The levels aren't so high that the doctor is worried, however at her appointment Tuesday they will have to prick her little heel again and run yet another test. Please pray that the test will come back normal so that they don't have to try again! I am convinced that our girl is healthy because she doesn't have any symptoms of an overactive Thyroid, but obviously we need to see a normal test just to be sure. Also at her 8 week appointment she will have to get her first round of vaccines. Needless to say, I am dreading Tuesday... maybe daddy will just bring her.
Eating: Like I said above, Lydia has been eating so much more lately! At 6 weeks she was eating 4 times a day and once at night and now she eats 5 times a day, and once during the night. She "should be" dropping a feeding, but instead she has picked one up! She is getting more efficient though, and now she eats for 30-45 minutes rather than a full hour. Nursing continues to get easier and more enjoyable for me and now the things that I used to stress about or think were difficult are just second nature.
During these two weeks that she has been so fussy she has wanted her mommy and has wanted to nurse so much more often. She is taking her pacifier less and less, which I am happy about in some ways. However, it seems that I am kind of becoming her pacifier and while it is very sweet and flattering it can sometimes be overwhelming. But, I think as she continues to grow and change things will get better.
Sleeping: Lydia is definitely not fighting sleep as hard as she did in her 6th week. However, she MUST be held while she sleeps and this has been our biggest struggle. She will fall asleep peacefully in my arms or the Moby wrap, but then as soon as we lay her down she wakes up crying. It is so frustrating and obviously it is difficult to get anything done during the day when your arms are full with a sleeping baby! The infant carriers definitely help out a bit and yesterday and today she fell asleep twice in her swing (for about 15 or 20 minutes), but it would just be really nice if she would sleep by herself for a small amount of time each day. In the afternoons when I am home with her she cries anytime that I put her down, and as much as I love to hold her there are things that I really have to do, the main one being pumping for her bottle the next day. For the past two weeks every day she has laid on her Boppy pillow on the couch next to me as I pump, and she cries for 15 minutes straight every time! I feel better when she is right next to me crying than in the other room (I have tried both), but it is still terrible to hear her cry. I am getting more used to it and telling myself that I can't feel guilty because pumping really is something that I have to do, and it is impossible to do while holding her. I just really wish I could figure out some way for her to stay asleep for at least 20 minutes so that I can get things finished and she can be happy.
That is the story of her daytime sleep. Her night time sleep is just wonderful. At night, around 9:30 or 10, she wakes up for a feeding. I nurse her on one side, hand her to David to be burped while I get ready for bed, and then I feed her on the other side as she falls asleep. She has been sleeping in our bed, swaddled and sleeping on her back (so it is safe!), and it has been working out really well! She only wakes up once (between 3 and 4 usually) and I quickly feed her on one side and she falls right back to sleep and sleeps until 6:30 or 7. I barely have to wake up to feed her so I feel more rested and as long as she doesn't dirty her diaper David gets to sleep through the night! We both really love having her in the bed with us. I know it is a habit we will want to break eventually, but right now cosleeping is for us! It is funny how before you have a baby you think you will want different things than you actually do once baby is here. Hopefully by 3 or 4 months Lydia will be sleeping in her pack and play, but for now this is working perfectly.
What she loves: To eat, to be held, to be with her mommy. She is also starting to enjoy looking at toys. We have a little play mat with a koala bear and butterfly that hangs down from it and when she is happy she will just lay there and talk to them. So cute! She enjoys her swing that we got her while she is happy. She really watches the mobile as it moves and seems to enjoy the music.
What she hates: Sleeping alone, her car seat, waking up from naps. Diaper changes are getting better as long as she isn't sleepy!
Cute things: Her smiles and coos are so, so cute! She is talking so much more lately, especially to me, and I love to hear her voice. I also love when you can tell that she really sees things. It is amazing to just watch her learn right before my eyes. Truly amazing.
Postpartum Me: I really feel great! I had some kind of stomach virus this past Thursday which was definitely no fun, but in general things are going well. I had my postpartum check up and the doctor said everything is good! I hadn't lost as much weight as I had expected to, but I am actually really happy with how I currently look. In a lot of ways I like the more womanly shape of my body now. However, I need some clothes that really fit me because having pants that are a little too tight is not fun. I have been able to fit into a lot of my pre-pregnancy pants for a while now, but they just aren't comfortable to wear for a full day. Most of my shirts are just fine, and my sweatpants and leggings are great, but I would like to find maybe one pair of jeans and one pair of more professional pants that were comfortable to wear all day long.
I was so excited that the doctor cleared me for any and all workouts but now the question is WHEN in the world will I fit that into my schedule! Even though I was pumped to get back into pilates and weight lifting, this past week none of it has happened. I am hoping that as Lydia becomes a little less attached (literally) to me, I will be able to find 15 minutes here and there to do a pilates video or do some bicep curls :)
A lot of people have asked about how post partum hormones have affected my emotions, and I really feel pretty normal in this way too. I know I am very blessed to have such a supportive husband and family and I think that without the immense amount of help that I have been getting it would be hard to feel normal emotionally. Everything is very overwhelming at times, but for me I think that going back to school has brought some normalcy to the immense change that I have gone through. Every day I still get up, get showered and go to UK, a place I have been for 7 years, and I go to class, something I have been doing since age 5, and I get to have adult conversations. I am thankful that I don't have to be away from my girl for more than 3 hours at a time, and once I do get home the difficult task of homework hangs over my head, but in general I think that jumping right back into the swing of everything helped me to feel like "myself" again very quickly.
I am definitely weepy somtimes; I usually cry when she cries hard, especially at night. Lately I have also been feeling unsure of myself when it comes to making decisions (like the decision to hold her for every nap, let her sleep in our bed, or laying her down to cry while I do must-needed tasks). I am not used to being unsure of myself... if you know me you know I am a pretty confident person. But I think that I just need a lot of encouragement as I make tough decisions about how to get through every busy day. I think that this is normal, and again I am thankful to have David and my mom, and others, telling me that I am doing a good job and reassuring me that I can't spoil her this young :)
Heaven-sent baby items:
1) Every week so far I have had a different type of baby carrier on her, but I have yet another. A Moby wrap!! They are a little bit expensive, but I am telling you, if you think you would like to "wear" your young baby, just get one. They really are awesome. Lydia falls asleep right away when I strap her close to my chest with the Moby and it is so comfortable for me whether I want to do housework, or lay down for a little bit on the couch. The material is soft and stretchy and there are multiple ways that they baby can lay in the wrap depending on their age. I really love mine (currently Lydia is sleeping soundly in it right up against me) and I don't know what David and I would have done without it these past two weeks.
2) A large baby swing. David and I had a very small hand-me-down swing and Lydia just hated it. We broke down and invested in a larger one last weekend and it is crazy the difference that it has made. Lydia doesn't love it to fall asleep, or stay asleep in, like I have heard a lot of babies do. However, when she has her happy and awake times, it is a great place where I can lay her down to be entertained and to learn while I get some things done. She loves the motion, music and mobile and I am very happy that we got one. We got a Graco, and it was about $130 (we got 25% off though!), and it is just fine even though it is one of the cheapest options as far as larger baby swings go.
3) Cloth diapers. We have been using cloth diapers for 3 weeks now and I truly love them. I am hoping to be able to write a good how-to cloth diaper post soon since I know that I read lots of blogs when beginning to cloth diaper, but for now I will just tell you that I love it. We did it because we knew it would be cheaper, and better for the environment, but I thought it would be significantly less convenient. But it is so, so easy! And now I prefer them big time to disposable diapers. We use gDiapers because that was the brand we got from David's sister-in-law for free as a shower, but there are so many brands and options out there. If you have ever considered cloth diapers I encourage you to look into it, even if you have busy, crazy lives like us!
Words from Daddy: Sometimes Daddy is just not Mommy. I want to be there for her and make her feel better but sometimes I just have to accept that she wants her mommy.
It has been amazing to see her interact with us! She can tell when people are around her and she really looks around to see their faces.
Look at how much she has changed!!
Sorry that this post was so long again! I feel like I don't write for so long and then I have to write a book to catch you up on everything. I hope to get better about writing also as we keep figuring out our schedules. Now I am going to hand the girl off to Daddy (hopefully it will go well!) while he watches the Cats play. I hope to paint my fingernails and toenails before giving Lydia a bath and going to bed. Ahhh... the Saturday nights of a new mommy. I often feel lame, but honestly, I love the slower life that we live these days.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Seven Snapshots Sunday
Hello Sunday! My favorite day of the week by far. Here are some photos that I hope make your Sunday better :)
She looks so grown up in this one!
Sweet, sweet girl.
Love this outfit!
One of my favorite pictures to date!
She looks all around now, even at things above her.
Scared face.
My sister and cousins got me a Moby wrap for my post-baby shower and I LOVE it! So does little Lydia Grace.
Have a great day! And go Giants.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
A rough week...
This past week was a little bit difficult in the Harrison household. Lydia decided to start being a little bit grumpy - well a lot a bit grumpy - in the evenings. 3 nights this week she cried for 2 1/2 -3 hours straight!
I know I have been spoiled with her because in general she really is an easy baby who sleeps well. But man, was it difficult to hear her cry like that. Most evenings I cried right along with her for a brief amount of time. I knew that she had a full belly, a clean diaper and nothing wrong with her, but for whatever reason she just couldn't really be consoled. If I held her she would fall asleep, but then as soon as I could try to lay her down she would wake right back up and start all over. I would love to just hold her all day long and have no other responsibilities, but during this season in our life that is in no way a possibility. And who am I kidding - it probably never will be.
So, this afternoon David and I went out in the cold rain and invested in a baby swing. A few people had recommended that we try a swing to help her through this fussy time. I was a bit skeptical and really didn't want to pay so much for something that I didn't know would work... However, as I type she is sleeping silently in the swing!! I know it is the first night; heck, it is the first ten minutes. But I hope it continues to work so that I can continue to have a little, tiny bit of time to myself to do some homework, a little bit of time with my husband, and maybe even a little bit of time to watch a movie or something crazy like that!!
I am loving being a mommy, but sometimes it is a bit overwhelming, this past week being one of those. I just feel so blessed to have so many people helping and encouraging me, and I am thankful to have the resources to try out baby items, like swings and gripe water which may help.
Have a good night... I hope we will too!
I know I have been spoiled with her because in general she really is an easy baby who sleeps well. But man, was it difficult to hear her cry like that. Most evenings I cried right along with her for a brief amount of time. I knew that she had a full belly, a clean diaper and nothing wrong with her, but for whatever reason she just couldn't really be consoled. If I held her she would fall asleep, but then as soon as I could try to lay her down she would wake right back up and start all over. I would love to just hold her all day long and have no other responsibilities, but during this season in our life that is in no way a possibility. And who am I kidding - it probably never will be.
So, this afternoon David and I went out in the cold rain and invested in a baby swing. A few people had recommended that we try a swing to help her through this fussy time. I was a bit skeptical and really didn't want to pay so much for something that I didn't know would work... However, as I type she is sleeping silently in the swing!! I know it is the first night; heck, it is the first ten minutes. But I hope it continues to work so that I can continue to have a little, tiny bit of time to myself to do some homework, a little bit of time with my husband, and maybe even a little bit of time to watch a movie or something crazy like that!!
I am loving being a mommy, but sometimes it is a bit overwhelming, this past week being one of those. I just feel so blessed to have so many people helping and encouraging me, and I am thankful to have the resources to try out baby items, like swings and gripe water which may help.
Have a good night... I hope we will too!
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