first milestone!

I have to admit, this past week has been the best since coming home from the hospital: Jack slept wonderfully, there was (hardly) any snow, we had visits from friends, and we went on lots of outings. Things are definitely becoming less scary for Paul and I and we are getting more in the groove of being parents. It also helps that we have an easy-going baby. On top of that, I am feeling much stronger and more confident about bringing him places on my own. It's pretty wild when just a coffee run and trip to the post office feels like a big trip! And the best part of the week, Jack's first social smile! Of course he smiled plenty before this week but it was only when he had gas. So there I sat, in the recliner with my iphone ready to catch the smiles. 

There's a smile...

Can I get one more?

Is that a half smile?

 

There it is!

God I love this kid...

Internet: bad for parenting advice?

Mom, I see you! Get off the computer!

So I am truly part of that generation that looks to the internet every time I have a question. This has never been more true at any time in my life than now. Why? It's easy. You get your answer quickly. The baby has dry skin on his face, I'm googling "what is the best type of baby lotion for baby's face?", the baby's first bottles caused his entire mouth/chin, bib, and neck to be soaked with formula, I'm googling "what is the slowest type of nipple?" (We switched to Dr. Brown, they are the best) You get the picture. This can be a good thing and a VERY bad thing. I think it is very typical of a FTM (first time mom, there is this whole world of acronym lingo in the parenting world: SAHM = stay at home mom, EBF = exclusively breast feeding, LO = Little One, FF = Formula Fed, it is kind of out of control! Just another thing I had to google when I started reading message boards) When I was pregnant I had to stop myself because any little symptom had me running to the computer, when I should have just been listening to the doctors and midwives. Not that my pregnancy was that difficult, but I had a few little bumps along the way and googling my symptoms caused me way more anxiety than if I had not had such infinite access to the internet (iphone didn't help in this situation). I don't want to do the same thing when it comes to Jack because I don't want to get myself overly nervous for no reason. Yes it is easy, and for some questions I will definitely turn to google, but you have to take everything you read on-line with a grain of salt. I have learned to take the time and look it up in one of my many baby books first, and then if it is major concern, call the pediatrician. Being a mother is challenging enough without unnecessary stress! 

Polyhydramnios

we needed these two gorgeous days

What a relief! I think everyone in New England enjoyed the gift mother nature gave us in way of 60 degree  weather. It felt amazing. As I write this, the meteorologist just came on to report that thunder storms are headed our way. In February?! Who cares, at least no snow. We are supposed to get some on Monday. Only a few inches. That's nothing. 

We took Jack for his first walk around the neighborhood yesterday. It was wonderful! He was fast asleep, which also carried over into our trip to whole foods (where I bought fillet of sole for $6 a lb. amazing!) If he is anything like me, any motion, car, train, rocking chair etc. will put him fast asleep. I still pass out on long car rides and wake up feeling so refreshed. If he keeps this up we will be very blessed. I know cars often put babies to sleep, but one of my fears during my pregnancy was that my child would hate the car/car seat and we wouldn't be able to take him places with us. Glad this isn't the case (so far....)

Muah!! xoxo

Aside from this I am just truly trying to enjoy every second that I am still on leave and spending time with my husband and beautiful baby. I love them both so so much. I don't want to waste time complaining about anything because I know the days are so fleeting. 

Home with a newborn in the dead of winter.

My polar bears are very appropriate!!

Okay so perhaps I shouldn't call this the "dead" of winter. Spring training has begun for the Sox so I suppose things are looking up. However, today has not gotten warmer than 30 degrees so it sure feels like spring is far away. Being home with a newborn, especially in those first two weeks where the baby really shouldn't be exposed to the elements, can feel restricting. Having two+ feet of snow on the ground with a major storm during the first week home from the hospital, cabin fever anyone? On top of that I could not drive because of my healing incision. The one time during the first week that Paul and I left the house was to bring the baby to the pediatrician. I could not wait to get home. The roads were icy and treacherous. With a brand new baby in the car, I was an absolute wreck. Lets just say week number three has already been much better. I have ventured out on my own with baby in tow, only to CVS, but its good practice for the both of us! We have had lots of wonderful visitors which made me feel more connected to the outside world. It is amazing that you can have every fun gadget/entertainment device, but nothing makes you feel better than just getting out.  This weather will make us truly appreciate the spring and summer. I cannot wait to bring Jack to all of our favorite outdoor spots. The next three days are looking much better, maybe we can even attempt a walk around the neighborhood.

First Post Since Livejournal!

I have definitely wanted to get into blogging for a while now. I personally enjoy blogs that are centered around one topic/theme, and seeing that I just became a parent, seems the perfect time to document my new life as a momma. And I know there will be plenty to write about. 

So where to begin?! Well, the last three weeks (lets be honest, the last 9 months) have been some of the most exciting, emotional, nerve-wracking, unexpected and wonderful times of my entire life. So lets start with the pregnant months. Back in May when I found out I was expecting I was literally walking on air. My entire pregnancy was truly fantastic. I know people say that all the time, but I am not joking. When you read about the horror stories from other mommas, I kept counting my blessings time and time again: thank you pregnancy gods for not giving me 24/7 nausea, swollen ankles, acne, ridiculous weight gain, insatiable appetite etc. etc. The uncomfortable extent for me was heartburn, which I definitely complained about, but was completely tolerable. There were a few little blips towards the end. I sprained my ankle which was more annoying than actually painful. Pregnancy makes you completely unbalanced to begin with, try using crutches!

39 Weeks Prego

I needed to be induced, which my body completely rejected and I ended up having a c-section. This was something I was very opposed to (part of my "birth plan" which, I have learned, is a really pointless thing to have), but after two days of induction drugs I had just about given up the idea of a regular delivery and actually asked my midwife if I could have a c-section. It was a decision I absolutely do not regret. For one, Jack was 9 pounds and 21 inches long, pretty good size baby! And two, the recovery has not been nearly as painful as I expected it would be. The way I look at it now, I would have been in pain anyway, just in a different place! Going into the operating room may have been one of the scariest moments of my life, but the reward was worth it a million times over. 

Minutes after Jack was born, notice him grabbing on to the stethoscope!

So here we are, tomorrow Jack will be three weeks old. I can't believe it has been three weeks. Parenting is definitely not easy, but I have to say that we have been blessed with a baby that loves to sleep, eat and poop, a lot. In other words, a very healthy newborn.