Today is my due date!

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Candy

We went on a stroll around the block this afternoon. It was nice to get out into the fresh air and walk. It has rained 15 out of the last 16 days and they are forecasting some type of rain every day for the next week as well. I am just so sick of it! They even did a little story on the news about the depression rates rising in this state because of it. We need to see some substantial sunshine. This gloomy weather makes it really difficult to enjoy the spring.

I’m pretty sleepy but I know Zoey is going to be waking up soon for a feeding. I may actually wake her up in an hour to feed her if she hasn’t woken up on her own. She has been such a good little girl today. I really can’t complain. I have no idea how I am handling the lack of sleep so well, but it really isn’t that bad. I realize now that I’ve gone a month without more than 4 hours at most of sleep at a time, but on average I’m getting 2 to 3. Before I had her, a sleep schedule like that would have just about killed me. But I guess since I don’t have to go to work it really isn’t taking too much of a toll on me. Plus, I am just happy to wake up and see her precious face, no matter what time of day it is or how little sleep I’ve had.

I’m telling you, I am just head over heels in love with these two. They are taking my breath away on a daily basis. Seeing the two of them together is almost more than my heart can take at times. I am so lucky to have both of them in my life.

Today marks my official due date. I really thought I would still be pregnant today. I really thought I would be induced or having a c-section at the end of this week. Tomorrow Zoey turns 4 weeks old and I can hardly believe it. We’re taking her in for her monthly check up tomorrow morning. I am so anxious to find out how much she weighs. She was 5lb 9oz at her last check up two weeks ago. I’m just sure she is at least 6lb 8oz by now but we will see tomorrow!

My First Mother’s Day

Posted on May 10, 2009 by Candy

First of all, I hope all of the Mommies out there had a spectacular day today!

I had a wonderful day. We went to eat at Mimi’s Cafe for Mother’s Day lunch but the wait was 1 hour and 10 minutes! We saw there were hardly any cars in the parking lot at BJs so we went there instead. It was a wonderful lunch. We then went back to my parent’s house to hang around for a couple of hours until we met some out of town family for dessert. Zoey got to spend some much needed quality time with Grandpa and then we headed to Cracker Barrell to meet our family that was passing through town.

By time we got home it was easily 6:30 PM. We got Zoey fed and ended up taking a nap on the couch. By time we got up it was time for her to eat again and boy she was screaming. I think she was trying to poop, and then she did poop, and then her diaper was dirty… it was a succession of events that had her screaming at the very top of her lungs. She was doing that new baby cry where they are screaming so loud and so upset that eventually it is no longer screaming, just hollow from-the-throat cries and a VERY red face. It was awful! I finally got her calmed down enough with a pacifier that I could actually feed her after Gene changed her and she ate peacefully and went down very easily after that. Poor little girl wore herself out!

Today at Cracker Barrell, she made what we thought to be a really stinky diaper. Since I have The Best Husband Ever, Gene took her to the Men’s room and changed her diaper. He really is the best Daddy ever. I just wanted to document that this was the first time Zoey was changed in a public place by her Daddy.

Well, my thoughts are scattered and not very well put. I’m pretty tired. I’m going to get my shower in before Zoey wakes up again to eat. I’m hoping she will eat sometime around 12 or 1 and cross my fingers that she’ll go down easily and sleep for 3-4 hours. Last night she was super fussy and we ended up sleeping together on the papasan chair together because she just would not go down. However, at her 5:30 AM feeding, she went down pretty easily and slept until 9:30 AM. Gene is going in to work early tomorrow morning so it will be just us tomorrow.

Oh one more thing, Zoey got me the CUTEST card ever. Complete with backwards Es and everything ;) She also got me a set of 3 board books to read to her. I may have to read one to her this evening before she goes to bed. I love my husband so much! I am blessed to be a mother today. Feeling very fortunate.

Tomorrow is my due date!

Mommy Emotions

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Candy

So last night was a little rough. Zoey has been really fussy lately and I think it’s gas related. We’ve been in the same ol’ formula battle. Wondering if it’s the formula or if it’s a weak digestive track. It’s hard to tell. This morning she was pretty fussy but not too awful. This afternoon she was much better but at one point she just kept crying out while she was laying/sleeping in her bouncy chair and I finally just broke down bawling my eyes out.

I cried and bounced her and told her I just didn’t know what to do but that whenever she was hurting so was Mommy. I picked her up and held her close to me and kissed her and snuggled her and she eventually went to sleep, peacefully. While I was sitting there I realized my overflow of emotions was partially related to her being so fussy but also I was a little disappointed in myself. I set these high expectations of getting the house clean and making dinner and doing all of these wonderful things since I no longer had to work but I hadn’t been getting them done and felt like a huge failure. I realized at that moment that maybe my expectations were just a little too far out there for right now. That maybe, since I am only 3 weeks postpartum, I should stick with the small things I’ve been doing like laundry and dishes and of course, taking care of Zoey. I realized right now I just need to focus on Zoey and the rest can wait. We can eat sandwiches until I can get my stuff together and have time and patience to cook a real meal. After making this realization, I felt sooo much better and so much more at peace with everything. I then fed her and we took a lovely 2 hour nap in the bed together. She laid in my arms and we snoozed so peacefully. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

And since Mother’s Day is coming up soon and it is my first, I thought I’d comment on something that happened recently that totally made me feel like a real Mom. Yesterday we went to the mall and got our hair cut and I kept saying I needed to take a shower after we got home because I had little tidbits of hair all over me, which was in turn getting all over the baby and everything I touched. However, since I was so busy I never got around to taking one. The thing is, before we even left for the mall I was projectile vomited on by the sweet little angel baby. I mean, everywhere. And guess when I finally took a shower? Around 9 PM tonight, hah. Nice, right? I spent the entire day with projectile vomit residue all over my chest and tiny hair tidbits all over me and stinky armpits. And honestly, as I realized all of this, I just had to have a big ol’ smile because this is what motherhood is. And I am totally ok with that. It actually made me a little happy to know that I can finally relate to all of those mommies out there who talk about those sacred showers that seem to be so few and far between. I guess I’ve officially joined the Mommy’s club.

In non-Zoey related news, I would like to announce that my aunt had her baby yesterday morning! She was due the day before me but had been measuring a little ahead throughout her entire pregnancy. She had a beautiful baby girl weighing in at just over 8lbs and her name is Addisyn Ann. They live in Illinois so I am bummed that I can’t hold her or meet her yet but hopefully that time will come soon enough. I’m so happy for them!

Zoey’s Firsts: 4 Hours of Consecutive Sleep

Posted on May 7, 2009 by Candy

Last night we put Zoey down just after midnight and she didn’t wake me up until 4:10 AM! It was glorrrrious. I heard her fussing and hesitantly looked at the clock because it felt like I had only been asleep for an hour and when I saw it said 4:10 AM I had to refocus my eyes and look at it for another 30 seconds or so. I just could not believe it! What a good little girl. I know she was tired because she had been awake for a couple hours before we put her down. Or maybe it was because Daddy fed her and put her down. Maybe he has the magic touch? I may have to have him do that again tonight lol

Sometime in the next week or so I’d like to get a bed time routine going for us. I’d like to feed her, change her into her jammies and read to her at a specific time every night. At this point with her waking up every 2-3 hours to eat, it is a little difficult to come up with a very specific time to do all of this but I’d like to at least try to get something going so that later on down the line we’ll already have some kind of routine established. Also, I’m looking forward to getting my own routine down in the coming weeks. Gene is going back to work the week after next and I don’t think I’ll get any routines down good until he is officially back at work and I’m on my own.

Today Zoey went on her first trip to the mall. Gene and I went and got our hair cut this morning and then we walked the mall for a few hours. Had Subway for lunch and then headed home. We stopped and got some more Enfamil formula on our way back.. I really think this formula might be working out. Or at least I hope so. She still gets fussy when she can’t seem to poop. Trying to determine if her fussiness regarding this is normal or too much is what is really difficult. This is my first child and I just have no idea how these things work. A lot of this parenting stuff is instinct and I totally understand that, but there are just some things that aren’t instinct and I’m left wondering, is this normal or do I need to call the doctor? She isn’t screaming out but she gets fussy and grunts a lot like she’s trying to move her bowels. She is having enough wet and dirty diapers every day though, so I think everything is ok.

Amazingly, she is getting a little too big for her preemie clothes. The onesies are still fitting her pretty well but anything that has legs like sleepers are just too short for her. We’re having a little trouble getting her head through some of the onesies but as far as the body goes, they are still fitting her okay. I can’t believe she is growing so much! Gene and I are taking bets on her weight. She goes to the doctor on Tuesday for her 4 week check up. I’m saying 6lb 5oz and he is saying 6lb 9oz. She is definitely starting to get a tiny bit of chub on her thighs and arms.. It’s so cute and I want to munch on them all day long.

I don’t know what to say other than I am completely smitten with this little girl. I always have known my entire life that I wanted to have children and I wanted to be a mommy but there just aren’t words that can prepare you for the overwhelming love and adoration you can feel for your child. Getting up in the middle of the night is not a problem at all. Knowing that I get to see her beautiful eyes and hold her close to me again is all it takes to motivate me to get out of bed. Sometimes it’s hard to get up at first but I know I have a job, one single job at that moment and that is to nourish and love my child.

And seeing her with her Daddy? It is sometimes almost too much for my heart to take. Nothing makes me happier. I am so happy. I have been SO happy these last 3 weeks. Happier than I can even begin to explain.

Anyway, I am gonna go sit with hubby. He’s been glued to the tv. Sci Fi is having a trek-a-thon :D I’ve been watching as I’ve been getting things done. Pumping, dishes, laundry, posting pictures, writing this, etc. It feels good to be productive and get things done around here. I’m looking forward to when my “6 week postpartum” check up is and I get the all clear to lift heavy things and vacuum and clean again. I hate feeling like I have limitations. Er.. anyway like I was saying, I’m gonna go sit with Gene until it’s time for the munchkin to get up and eat again. I’m hoping she’ll get up around 11 PM again so she can go down by around midnight. I’m rooting for another good night of sleep but I wont get my hopes up or anything.

Cloth Wipes = Spoiled Child

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Candy

There is a stinky little girl laying next to me on the couch. She was crying and acting hungry so I got her up and started to feed her and she only ate 1 oz and then passed back out, hah. Tired little booger.

We’ve been using cloth wipes on Zoey because of her diaper rash. We’ve also been putting the Boudreaux’s Butt Paste on her and I think it is finally starting to get better. I really love using the cloth wipes and I can tell Zoey really appreciates it too. When we were using disposables she would scream when we would wipe the area that had the diaper rash but now she doesn’t scream at all. Little girl is already spoiled! I can’t wait until she gains another pound or so and then we should be able to start using the cloth diapers. The prefolds fit her fine (though a little bulky) but the extra small cover I have is still way too big. It makes her look overly bulky and uncomfortable.

Well, better go.. Angel baby is stirring.

Formula Woes Continued

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Candy

Gene went into work really early this morning to check on some stuff. He’s taking the next 2 weeks off but will go in if they need anything. Yesterday he was checking his servers and showed a couple of issues so he had to run in this morning to try to see what was going on. Anyway, because he needed to get up at 5:30 AM to go in, I didn’t wake him up last night for any of the feedings. We all got into bed at 11:45 PM and I got up at 1:45 AM to a fussy baby. I fed Zoey but she apparently wanted to stay awake. After attempting to put her down 3 times unsuccessfully, I scooped her up and went into the living room so as to not disturb Gene. I cuddled her close to my chest as I lay on the papasan chair and we both snoozed, this was around 4 AM. Gene got up to go to work and left and I got up with Zoey around 6:30.

We’re currently going through the oh so fun trial and error of finding the right formula for her. We started out on similac in the hospital and continued that when we got home but it just wasn’t settling well with her tummy. We switched to Enfamil yesterday and so we’re going to give it a week to see how it goes. She is having these issues about once or twice a day where she has what seems to be pretty bad gas. She’ll fuss and grunt and sometimes cry out. It’s awful and I feel so bad for her whenever she is struggling like that. We’ve been putting Mylecon in her bottles but we both hate the idea of having to put medicine into every single bottle she takes. It shouldn’t have to be like that!

Anyway, so this is our first morning “alone” together. I finally got her to finish off the rest of her bottle and put her down and she has been sleeping mostly sound for the last 45 minutes or so. Every now and then she’ll fuss but for the most part she is sleeping well. I think I am going to lay down on the papasan chair and catch some rest too. I am really tired after last night!

Formula Woes

Posted on May 2, 2009 by Candy

Yesterday we cleaned up our bedroom and got the furniture moved so that we could move the co-sleeper in there next to my side of the bed. You know what this means right? It means that I got to sleep in my own bed, next to my husband, laying flat, with pillows and warm blankets, for the first time in almost 3 weeks! It was amazing. Purely amazing!

I laid down sometime around 11ish and I think I got up around 1 to feed Zoey. I think I got up again at almost 3 to feed her again and didn’t get back to sleep until almost 4. Gene got up with her around 6 to feed her and I fed her again around 8:30. I laid her back down at 9:30 and she slept until about 1:30. It wasn’t THAT bad but it was stressful because she is having some really bad gas issues. She will SCREAM out and turn bright red and it seems like maybe she is trying to push a bowel movement through but having trouble. The weird thing is that it isn’t happening with every single feed.. It is only happening about once in the middle of the night and maybe once during the day time hours. It makes me feel so awful for her. Last night I sat on the couch rubbing her back and crying at 3 AM.

Gene is going to pick up a different formula at the store today and we’re going to start transitioning her to see if we can figure out if it’s the formula or what. I just don’t think it’s normal for her to be struggling that much, even if it’s not ALL the time. This little girl has both of us wrapped around her finger. We’re both so in love with her and it just pains us so much to see her in pain or to struggle at all.

In non-baby related news, my Grandpa is in the hospital. He is having some heart and kidney troubles. It really makes me sad. It breaks my heart because since Grandma is no longer with us, he is alone. He is in the hospital right now, hoping to be released on Monday. But he is alone in the hospital! I can’t even imagine being sick and being in the hospital, all alone. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. If we didn’t have Zoey already, I would be up there with him. I just can’t bring myself to travel with her when she is so young.

Well, I better get off the computer now. I need to figure out what I want for dinner so I can send Gene out to the store and to pick something up. Neither one of us got out of bed until around noon today, so it feels weird to already be eating dinner.

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Monthly Archives: May 2009