Archive for October, 2009
Kids ‘N Pets
Oct
There are varying opinions on the issue of pets and babies. Some recommend no cats for a while, others say the more the merrier. Each Doctor is different, but in my own search for information I found more research supporting the benefits of pets around babies than reasons to ditch the furry siblings.
I myself, like plenty of people I know are out there, spent the first chunk of my life with only my “fur kids”. In fact it wasn’t until the last few years I even considered a “real” baby. My dogs ARE my babies. Even our cat has wiggled her way onto the pack. So when we found out we were pregnant I was determined to make us all one happy family.
I’d done my research, there are plenty of studies showing evidence that having pets as a child reduces allergies, lowers blood pressure and generally contributes to a happy childhood. So where does all the negative advice come from?
I’d heard it all in the first few weeks. “Oh we had to get rid of our cat, Docs orders!”
“We keep the dog in another room, we don’t want germs on the baby!”
“Oh, you just wait, you think you love them so much but once that baby comes…”
And on and on.
So we are a month into parenthood and so far I haven’t seen any reasons to change our pet lifestyle. Sure, I love my little one more than I thought humanly possible. That enormous feeling didn’t diminish my love for her furry siblings. Sure, they get slightly less attention since feeding and changing the baby comes before Frisbee and gummy rubs. But baby naps come frequently, and gummy rubs and Frisbee make it into our day. I wouldn’t trade the companionship or love my little girl will experience through her life with these great animals for anything. Not a pristine house, or a hair free baby blanket. Life with animals can be messy, yes, but is life in general or especially with a baby any less so?
I don’t think so 
The days that make it all worth it…
Oct
After a difficult week in nursing land, reminiscent of some college freshman hazing ritual except initiating new moms into parenthood instead of adulthood, days like today make it all worth it.
It seems I’ve earned a reprieve from the growth spurt week and my baby girl not only reverted back to her sweet snuggly self, but all that hard fought nurturing has given me a new gift today.
When the soft mewlings of my little one called me from slumberland this morning I was greeted from over the crib rails by the most beatifull thing I’ve ever seen. Instead of just calming down and waiting for food time, Kahlan opened her eyes, looked straight into mine and literally burst into the biggest brightest smile I’ve ever seen! She knew me, and not only that but was HAPPY, happy to see me looking down on her! I wish there was a way to bottle up these kinds of firsts so later in life when the world gets us down, mommy could just open up her little jar and feel all that love wash over her all over again
Tags: newborn
Cousins Cousins Everywhere!
Oct
I met my new cousin today! I very much like my other cousins, but this one is extra special because Devon and I are only 3 weeks apart so Mommy says we will have extra fun growing up together. Mommy and Aunt Danie got to be pregnant with us together this year and have been through a lot of the same things so are pretty tight now. I should get to see Devon lots and lots. The drive to go visit was the longest I have taken so far, I got very hungry on the way but luckily mommy always has my yummy food source with her. How come he’s bigger than me if I’m older? Don’t I get to be the bigger cousin just once? Guess I gotta wait for Uncle Alex’s turn at making me a little cousin…. I might be the tiniest forever at this rate!
Babies SUCK
Oct
No, realy. They SUCK. All day, all night. Suck, suck, suck. The first week breastfeeding was tough. There is definitly a learning curve on both sides. Mommy learning when and how to offer the goods, and baby how to take hold without ripping off an apendage. Once we made it through the rough spot everything seemed easy. Of course, I still only slept an hour or two at a time, but we had a system, and it worked.
Welcome week 3. Oh, did the baby book mention a teeny tiny growth spurt this week? Yes? Hello 24/7 boob duty. All that time I was using to blog, read and do chores from my phone… Gone. Sorry blogaudience but this week I’ve barely gotten enough shut eye to feed myself let alone surf the blogosphere. The updates are now few and far between.
The books fail to explain exactly what they mean by “growth spurt”. Allow me to explain. We were nursing steady every 2-3 hours for about 30 min including burp time. Then mommy could put her down, grab a potty break, snack and a good 1-2 hour nap. Then one day this week, like a switch had gone off, we are feeding every hour on the hour, getting upset tummies and needing to be extra burped, gas gas gas, mommy runs to the bathroom only to barely get back in time to start all over again.
It was a lot easier when daddy was home to make food, it took me 3 hours in between all the feeding to put together a lunch consisting of more than snack cups of applesuace (my breakfast since I can grab it and nurse).
Since she’s eating so much her little tummy gets upset too. So now on top of the constant boob duty, poor little girl is so uncomfy she’s barely sleeping for long in between either. And the sucking is the only thing that settles her. The boob, her hand or my finger, if there isnt something in her suck range she’s fussy. Im loath to break my steadfast no pacifier stand, but too much more of this we may have to compromise. Luckily, the pediatrition recomended Mylicon drops. What a life saver! These little baby gas drops let me get a full hour nap today, without which I was on the verge of collapse.
Pediatritions are excellent! They are on call for all of your questions no matter how ridicoulouse and if they can’t give an answer over the phone will squeeze you in with a days notice. If only all doctors operated like this, less people would probably wait too long for treatment when things are realy serious.
Baby Update
Oct
Our 2 week appointment has come and gone, they grow up so fast already! Kahlan is the picture of health. She’s well past her birth weight coming in at 8lb 9oz & 21″ long. The juandice is about gone now, just the slightest tinge to her button nose. The Dr says this is totally normal and is well on it’s way to disapearing. We are just starting to see some baby acne, but again completely normal for her age.
She is hitting her first of many growth spurts and is keeping mommy very busy with the increased diapers and feedings. She is already in the 75th percentile and the Dr is speculating she will be tall, probably taller than mommy!
Many more firsts this week but our favorite is the loss of her umbilical stump. Firstly, no one really gets across how scary that thing looks as it falls away. YUK! And second, there may not be anything more fun than bathtime, definitly daddy’s girl
Tags: Kahlan
You CAN birth naturally!
Oct
I work for a large company so “had” to go the hospital route or pay out of pocket. Additionally, some minor risk factors made my husband (and I’ll admit myself) a bit leery of going 100% natural in home, which, based on statistics and great books/films such as “Birthing from Within” and “The Business of Being Born” is the ONLY way to avoid an intervention. Even many home births still involve at least an IV. I’m here to tell you, I did it. I fought the system and won an entirely 100% natural birth in a hospital environment, with nothing more than the support of my husband and wonderful Doula Kath Axline! My beautiful daughter was born 09/30/09 and is asleep in my arms as I write this now, in the wee hours, from my phone. I’ve had so many people already ask me how I managed it, that I’ve decided to try writing my story and getting it out to the world. If my story inspires or empowers just one mother to succeed in the same way I have, it will be worth it. I started this blog and am slowly getting pieces up, the complete story to come soon. Know that it can be difficult to achieve in this country, but that it’s worth it, it CAN be done. Believe in your strength and ability as a woman to birth!
Transition - Not more pain, just more often
End of transition, about 10 min from starting to push!
1.5 Hours later...Houston we have a BABY!!!
Protect the first moments and hold your baby skin to skin, you never get them back 
That's it? Piece of CAKE! Wait... is there cake? Someone please feed the mommy...
Our Doula Kath
Learning my Oz-B-C’s
Oct
WOW the world is BIG! I learn so much all the time, Mommy and Daddy spend lots of time teaching me things while I snuggle, but today was new. I got something called a “cousin”, it’s very cool. Cousins are slightly larger littles that sing you songs on demand…. I love mine, can I keep it?
Our firsts so far…
Oct
A lot of firsts for our little peanutt this week!
Lost her stump
First “full” Bath
First Tummy Time
First Hair Brushing
First “realy cute” clothes (post stump)
First Ride in her Swing
Tags: firsts, milestones, Week 1
Baby Wearing – The Sleepy Wrap Review
Oct
This has been an amazing week with our new little one chock-O-block full of the sweetest faces, warmest snuggles and a heart bursting with love for what must be the most easy nature baby ever. I think Daddy’s tree huggin Greatfull Dead lifestyle has contributed to making one chill little baby burrito!
By far though my greatest discovery this week has been the discovery of the art of baby wearing. I found this great soft carrier called a Sleepy Wrap at a consignment shop, Baby to Baby, while prego. We had already bought a traditional front carrier for daddy to haul a bit bigger munchkin on hiking trips, but this thing looked so soft and womb like for a brand new newborn that mommy was intrigued. After the clerk graciously gave us a demonstration of how to origami tie the stretchy contraption on and I could feel the comfort of not having straps, buckles or anything else to cause pressure points, I was sold.
BEST Baby thing we have purchased!!!
As you can see, the munchkin is well snuggled and content. Mommy and Daddy get to go out and about for tons of fun while baby stays snug as a bug at only 1 week old
Oh and one more plus for the nursing mother: if you stick baby in facing the next boob you can easily and discreetly maneuver them inside for a quick feeding if you were out longer than you had thought!
The Sleepy Wrap – Never Leave home without it!!!
Tags: baby wearing, Sleepy Wrap, travel
Co-Napping
Oct
There are conflicting thoughts on the issue of co-sleeping. Co-sleeping ranges from using a side sleeper infant crib that attaches right to the side of the parental sleeping pad to full on in the big bed wedged between parents or in a co-sleeper “tray”.
I’m not sure where I stand. I know the evidence for the safety of SIDS with the Back-to-Sleep program proves it reduces risk…. But I feel very safe dozing off with her on my chest skin2skin, I can feel her heart and every little breath. And definitly Co-Napping is way too cute to avoid!
