Sunday, November 25, 2012

New Mom, New Life Lessons

Hubs took an "artsy" shot of us Friday night.


Everyone tells expecting parents their "lives are about to change forever," "a baby changes everything," "you'll never be the same again," "you'll have to find a new normal."

Everyone is right. I didn't expect anything else.

What Elijah has taught me so far:
How to take showers so much faster
Getting myself ready in at least half the time
How to sleep much deeper in a shorter amount of time than ever before
Patience
Love, a crazy, deep, emotional, almost desparate kind of love that doesn't go away when he's screaming, has crazy steaming diaper-fulls, or his latest - big, projectile spit-ups.

It's a brand new life. Praise God, I wouldn't want to have any other :-)


****Please forgive the slight mishap with the blog pix. In an effort to create more space I deleted a few picaso albums, who knew that would remove pix from the blog as well :-(

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

6 Weeks!

My son is 6 weeks old! Time for a picture and life update:





 Thursday Baby and I got out to see some work friends. What we wore:
Baby - gifted plaid button down, long-sleeve onesie, brown cords, and argyle socks
Mom (i had to re-read the word "mom" and thought 'wait, when was my mom here?' oh...)
/kohls, leggings/ don't remember, brown distressed boots/DSW
 
Thursday was bittersweet. I enjoyed showing my son off to women who had watched me grow for the majority of my pregnancy, and who had meant so much to me; but it was crazy-hard letting them know that I wouldn't be back. I'll miss the afternoon chats when the ladies needed to de-stress, and I may miss working. I've never been jobless before... not that being a mom and managing the home isn't work... it's just different.
 

Friday I happily discovered I can BUTTON my PANTS!!!! Until now I have continued to use a borrowed bella band. This was a nice confidence boost right before I headed out to put my beginner couponing and deal hunting skills to the test.
First run - 37% saved on grocery bill. Enough to encourage me to keep trying!
 

 I just LOVE the way baby looks all fresh and clean, bundled in a hooded towel, fresh out of the bath!!! Saturday night we decided it would be a good day to bring Elijah's baby-sweet skin to a glow from a warm bath before his first Sunday at church!


We were so happy to finally worship our Lord as a family at our local church.
Elijah stole the hearts of many in his sharp suit. I love his baby-man look!
 
 
Baby Stats:
Focusing on our faces more
Discovering the toys dangling above his head in his bouncer and bassinet
hand and arm strength is growing
Ability to support head getting better
Acid reflux improving
Enjoys - Playing with Papa, snuggling with Mama, mouthing his pacifier in between feedings, rolling back and forth while parents try to change his diaper
 
Mama Stats:
Can button pants!
Getting out of the house more
Getting more done around the house
Beginning exercise
 
How Life has Changed:
These days our excitement comes from a new delivery of diapers (seriously, when diapers arrived yesterday, I felt more excited than when I used to get a new dress, bag or shoes); fresh load of diapers out of the washer, or anything fresh out of the wash; a good feeding; 3-4 hours of sleep; and coffee in the morning.
 
Have a happy Tuesday!!!


 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Strange Encounters - Thursdays at the grocery store

I began taking my son with me on small errands when he was 3.5 weeks old.  Our first day out just the two of us, we go to the local grocery store. I know putting your baby in a sling attracts some attention, but this was ridiculous. As I'm getting Elijah out of the carseat, there suddenly appears an old lady at my shoulder peering into my car at my son. I'm not one for close proximity to strangers, and this was REALLY CLOSE. As I tried to maneuver my son into the carrier, the lady stays right with me, asking the typical, "how old?" Saying the usual, "So cute," "Aww". Then she moves around me to the front passanger side and is looking all over my car, then back at me, very strange. I'm feeling uncomfortable but not sure how to handle the situation. Then she says, "Well, is there anything I can do to help you? Do you need anything?" I thought "sweet, but still a little odd." I thanked her and said no, we were fine. She made her way inside and I took my time trailing behind her. We continued to run into each other throughout the store, one time she called me out because there was a bag of doritos in the cart and she said "I'm going to have to report you, new mom should not be eating that." Then she laughed at her own joke. I felt obligated to explain they were for my husband and we had a free coupon. What an encounter.
The next Thursday I'm shopping at the same store, getting Elijah out of the car same as usual, putting him in the baby carrier, when a couple is coming up behind me and the man says authoritatively, "You need to cover that baby's head!" I thought he meant support the baby's head, and I was about to get Elijah settled in appropriately so his head would be supported, so I smiled and nodded. The woman says "How old?" I respond "One month." She nods and smiles and pulls her man along. In the entryway to the store they're still there, the man turns, puts his hands on his hips, bobs his head with much attitude then makes a clicking sound with his mouth and says, "I told you to cover that baby's head! It's cold out here!" (he was wearing shorts and a tee shirt, I wasn't even wearing a jacket.) I explain in an attempt to sound jovial, "You don't understand, I have a really sweaty baby!" (I really do, and he has a ton of hair!) The man shakes his head again, the woman says "Don't pay him any attention, you have a beautiful baby." And she drags him into the store. I hang back and shake my head, determining not to come back to that store on a Thursday ever again.


Instead, today I am beginning my second leg of clipping coupons and hunting deals. I'm going to try and do better by the family budget by being a more careful shopper. It's been a tough week with the baby, I haven't gotten as far as I wanted to be by today, but I'm doing what I can.

Wish me luck ya'll!!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Flashback Friday!! just kidding

I used to see "Flashback Friday" posts all the time, now I can't find anyone with whom to link.

If I would have linked up today, I would have used this picture:

 

And I would have said:
This is a recent flashback to when Elijah was almost two weeks old, in fact, he was 11 days old in this picture. My Aunt happened to have a client in a nearby city and she managed to work us into her schedule! She spent 4 days getting to know my baby, her great nephew (though I think she's too young to be a great aunt... but some people don't seem to age ;-) ), feeding us yummy meals, and spoiling all three of us in general.
We had a blast, and from what I hear through the family grapevine, she did too!
We had a little drama while she was here. I managed to develop mastitis and we decided on going to Urgent Care one night, where the incompetent Doc. refused to even check my breast for the proper diagnosis, sent us to the hospital ER for apendicitis... wrong "itis" doc. The four of us trecked across the way to spend the rest of the night and part of the early morning getting further incorrect diagnosis. We were glad there was a 3rd person to help hold baby, and then the next day spoil us with more good cooking.
Finally, her 2nd to last day we got to go out and have some real fun trecking around a local park.
For the record, my aunt reads this blog, so SHOUT OUT to her, and a BIG THANKS!!!! :-)

But since, this isn't a real flashback Friday, I'm actually doing this survey-thing I got tagged with by Carrie.

Liebster Award:
Thanks Carrie for the award :-) These things usually intimidate me, sometimes I overthink my answers. But for you, I'll just try and enjoy the questions! I have to ask though, what is so magical about the number "11"? These things often have 11 questions...

Here are the rules for the Liebster Award:

Each person must post 11 things about themselves
  1. Answer the 11 questions the person giving the award has set for you
  2. Create 11 questions for the people you will be giving the award to.
  3. Choose 11 people to award and send them a link to post. Go to their page and tell them.
  4. No tag backs.

11 Things about me!
1. I really hated pregnancy and childbirth. So much that I'm seriously considering being mother to my one and only, only.
2. Sometimes I regret not earning a degree in a specialized field.
3. I blame boys for my bad grades second semester, freshman year. But I learned my lesson and got serious about studies and less interested in boys sophomore year, much to their disappointment and inability to understand. The more boys complained the more serious I became!!
4. I've changed more since being married (i think in a positive way) ,more than I expected or would have thought I needed too... I mean seriously, wasn't I perfect before? ;-)
5. Poopy diapers don't gross me out like I thought they would... maybe I haven't seen one bad enough yet? I seriously hated diaper changes when I was a babysitter and nanny. There really is something different about wiping your own child's butt.
6. I went through a crazy ghetto phase... Only because rap music makes me laugh.
7. I don't like shopping. For anything.
8. I love coffee dates.
9. Hanging out at a pretty park is my favorite past time.
10. It's hard to come up with so much stuff about me.
11. I love crocheting, I wish I could read a pattern so I could make more stuff.

These are the 11 questions Carrie sent me:

1. If you could pick anywhere in the world to live, where would it be? Portland, Oregon

2. If you won the lottery what would you buy first? My way out of student debt.

3. What is your favorite season? Fall

4. Movies in a theater or your living room? Originally, it would have been in the living room at a slumber party, then not at all, then back to in the living room during college, now it would have to be in a movie theater because mama has to get out of the house!

5. What is your biggest fear? Something awful happening to my son or husband.

6. Do you go out on Black Friday or camp out at home? Definitely do not go out if I can avoid it, see #11 in things about me.

7. Favorite holiday tradition (any holiday for anyone!) I don't have any traditions right now, but when I was really little we would always go to this place called "tiny town" and there were kid-sized doll houses decorated for Christmas for neighborhood kids to play in. My parents would take us and then go to this other place that would always have super-ornate decorations. Some years the whole family would get together and go to theme park that would have a special Christmas theme.

8. What is your most prized possession? Total honesty, my engagement ring... am I a bad Christian because I didn't say "Bible?" I don't really think of the Bible as a possession, it's God's word, it's important to me, but it's in my heart, the earthly material book doesn't matter as much as the word inside. Although, I do really love the one hubby gave me for my first bday with him, it has my married name engraved on the cover and it's purple :-).

9. What is your ideal date night? How about having a date to start with ;-) Seriously though, browsing quaint shops downtown, stopping at a local coffee shop, and leisurely enjoying a pretty park nearby.

10. Most difficult DIY project? I suppose I haven't had it yet? Probably starting up and Etsy shop... that's why I haven't done it yet ;-)

11. What is something about you that would surprise people? Possibly that I was a professional bra fitter the Summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college... I got so good at my job I could size women (and sometimes men) at a glance and began to do it automatically, even when I wasn't working. Yea, a little weird. It became a game for my friends, sometimes they didn't like the result.

Here are your 11 questions:
1. Do you believe in soul mates, you know, one right person for everyone?
2. What is your ideal place to vacation (you can pick a place you've never gone)?
3. Where would you like to be in your life next year?
4. How did you and your partner get together?
5. What is your favorite childhood memory?
6. What is your dream career, if you wanted a career?
7. What is your top pet peeve?
8. How do you feel about the outcome of the election?
9. Do you enjoy these surveys?
10. What is the nicest, unexpected thing ever done for you?
11. What is the most appalling social situation you've ever witnessed?

Remember this award should go to blogs with under 200 followers and feel free to link back to this blog as well!!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - Baby Monkeys

 Monkey bouncer, monkey pj's, monkey receiving blanket....
Most of baby's toys resemble monkeys in some way...
 
Are we over-doing the monkey-theme?? ;-)


Linking With:

http://lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Life as we know it by Paula
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h387/Papercrushcrafts/Banners%20Buttons%20and%20Avatars/MainBlogButton3142012.png"/>>http://www.5minutesformom.com/67062/wordless-wednesday-halloween-iphonography/


    href="http://www.jennifromtheblog.com/"> border="0"   
src="
http://i44.tinypic.com/2jae260.png"  />




Tuesday, November 6, 2012

1 MONTH today!



Elijah seems to grow and change every time I look at him. All of a sudden we are here, one month after his birth-day.

Accomplishments:
Holding his head up for a few seconds spontaneously
"Stepping out" (term referring to putting his legs out strait and balancing his weight on his feet)
Eyes focusing briefly on objects, and especially our eyes
Sleeping 3-4 hrs. at night in between feedings

Today I had to put away his newborn clothes :..-( He is in 0-3 and 3 month clothes. My baby is BIG!
The good part here, my silver lining, we made sure to have more clothes in these sizes when we were registering and shopping, so he has WAY CUTE outfit options right now.

Me:
Getting more done around the house when Papa is home to watch baby
Feeling more and more like myself, only like "bonus me" because now I have a baby
Switched out my wardrobe because it is getting WAY cold... inspired by rearranging my sons wardrobe ;-)
Sleeping better now with my random spurts of opportunity than I did the whole time I was prego
Still have 20 lbs to go til pre-prego weight reached
Keep hearing I don't look like I had a baby, I'm ok with that ;-)

Lately:
Hubby's 31st birthday was celebrated successfully and enjoyably from last Thursday-Sunday (took him to his favorite doughnut shop Thursday night while a friend kept an eye on baby has he took his after dinner nap! We listened to Frank Sinatra in the car while we ate our doughnuts at the park. Friday he got to have powdered doughnuts for breakfast (he really likes doughnuts). Saturday night I made him homemade pancakes with sausage and eggs for dinner. Sunday was the grand finally, see below)

 He's such a happy Papa!
 I dressed Baby Bear and I up to surprise Papa Bear when he came home from church. "We" videoed him walking in the door while "we" sang "Happy Birthday" to Papa!
 Ordered Papa Bear a steak dinner and bloomin' onion from Outback
 My first homemade layer cake! He liked it :-)

We took it out!

Enjoyed a nice day out at the park as a family Saturday... Well Papa and Mama thought it was nice ;-)



About to tackle a new way of life in the way of couponing and deal shopping... actually went to a money saving class saturday to get myself started :-)
Looking forward to getting more involved in my local MOMS group

Life is good! Loving having my baby at home.
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