Have you ever been so overwhelmed by the idea of something that you can't focus on anything else? Over the weekend my mom, Sophie and I made a six hour car trip to Pennsylvania to visit my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins to introduce my new addition. The very idea of Sophie's first weekend trip had me reeling. What to pack, how much to pack, how to make her bottles on the fly, etc...
It ended up going way smoother than anticipated and I didn't use half the things I packed. Long story short: I'll be catching up on blogs all week make up for it now that we're back on schedule! Thanks for sticking around!
Babies Smell Like Rainbows And Other Lies I Was Told
I know, babies don't come with a manual...but they should. People don't give you the honest truth about motherhood until AFTER the adorable little creature has ripped itself out of your body. Here's my truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the sometimes scary, always crazy, simply wonderful life with the parasites we love so overwhelmingly.
Monday, February 25, 2013
My week off
The pack and play that saved the day.
I have a confession. My daughter has slept in her car seat for most of her life thus far. Being so scared of SIDS, it has been the only way that Sophie and I get any sleep. With the car seat her head is propped up so she can't choke if she spits up, there's no risk of her being suffocated by a blanket or crib bumpers and I can rest assured that she won't end up on her tummy. I know that it seems silly or downright uncomfortable but Sophie has grown accustomed to her cozy, reclined, sleeping position. So much so that I realized that she won't or can't sleep anywhere else.
I tried weaning her off the car seat and into the bassinet. After 4 nights of pure baby crying hell, I gave up. Hey, I've got to sleep occasionally...
My mother HATES the idea (let me reiterate that she hates it, really REALLY hates) that I let my daughter sleep in a car seat and I knew that when Sophie, my mom and I spent the weekend at my grandparents that I was going to have to figure something out. After doing a little research I set out to buy a pack and play that I could take with us with the hopes that Sophie would take to the "cozy bassinet nook". I ended up with a Graco newborn cuddler deluxe. This thing is amazing. It has a full bassinet, a newborn bassinet "basket", a changing table, a diaper caddy, a mobile, an mp3 player and...it vibrates! Not only have I finally broken the bad car seat habit, it turns out that I could've just invested in this and skipped buying the crib, changing table and the bassinet!!!! Note to self for our second kid...
The picture says it all. There she is guys, sound asleep, stretched out and perfect. Today I do a victory dance.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Happy 1st day after Valentine's Day!
They say kids don't have memories earlier than age 4. Good...because it occurs to me that I have forgotten to get my favorite Valentine something special to commemorate her first February 14th celebration. In the hurry to make the perfect dinner and create a romantic ambiance for my husband, I neglected to remember that these are the things she'll see (or won't see) in her cedar chest years from now. So my mistake can serve as a useful tip for new moms: take advantage of the sales!!!! I got flowers and a card 75% off and she'll never know the difference. The only harm done is to my guilty conscience.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Best of: Lies I Was Told About Babies
Monday, February 11, 2013
Speaking of Dirty...
I'm lucky to get a shower most days. I turned around last week and realized I hadn't washed my hair in almost four days. My legs are shedding longer hairs than the dog. I'm positive my husband can smell the sour milk and sweat. When did a five minute shower become a little slice of heaven? That five minutes when, even if she's crying, I can't hear anything but the water splashing into my filthy tub. When my eyes are closed and the warm steam has created a private island just for me. And then the panic sets in. Did she wake up? Is that her crying? Oh God what if she fell out of the swing because I didn't lock the tray down properly? Did I lock the front door? The back door? Where's the dog?
I've heard that things get easier with the second child. The panic lessens, the showers get longer, the crying doesn't grate at the very core of your soul. For now, I'm a dirty, hairy, mama whose house gets manically straightened up ten minutes before my husband gets home from work.
What do I do all day you ask? I make 8 bottles, change 22 diapers, sing Miss Mary Mack (Sophie's favorite smile-inducing song at the moment) 17 times, Let the dog outside 4 times, take out 2 bags of trash, teach Sophie to sit up, teach Sophie to roll over, make Sophie stop crying 49 times, choke down whatever's in the fridge (because I'm STARVING) while I hurriedly hide the dishes in the dishwasher, cross my fingers that Sophie will take nap so I can hop in the shower long enough to get EVERY part of me clean before she wakes up wailing for a bottle or a diaper change or just because she needs some attention...you get the point.
Stay at home moms, I had no idea. I now stand amongst your ranks proudly, albeit exhausted. I'd salute you but I can't remember if I've shaved my armpits this week.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Oh that smell. Can't you smell that smell?
So here I am, a brand new mom to my gorgeous 3 month old daughter Sophie, and we're at the pediatrician's office...again (more on that later). They get me to strip her down so they can inspect every inch of her tiny little body. As I'm waiting for the doctor to finish entering Sophie's information, I am frozen with embarrassment. Hoping to save face, I scramble to remedy the situation before the doctor finds this and I am shamed by a woman I have met only twice. Sophie has gunk in her neck wrinkles...and in her armpits. Now, I clean this girl EVERY night and I clean her thoroughly (as thoroughly as one can wash a squirming, slippery, three month old) but here it is. This toe jam smelling, sour milk odored GUNK! And now it's on my fingers. Luckily I caught it before this woman finds out and accuses me of having a dirty baby. Because that would be more embarrassing than smelling like grossness myself. I leave the office with my head held high, if only to get my nose further away from the vomit inducing smell on my fingers.
I still don't know what this stuff is but it's there, every night, taunting me.