A New Year

2012 is already here. I fondly remember the whole Y2K hysteria and have a hard time believing that it was 12 years ago!

In the past year our family has grown from 2 to 3 (oh and the mangy dog too ). Actually, for the entire year of 2011, I was a new parent. First preggo and then Caleb arrived in April. I learned a lot in 2011 and now I’d like to look forward to the new year. I’m not a huge fan of crazy resolutions, but I love the idea of reevaluating life and reflecting on what’s working and what needs to change.

It’s been on my list for a few years now, but my number one goal this year is to read my Bible more. Damien and I started a reading plan together and I know we can motivate each other to stay on track. We’d also love your encouragement and prayers to keep us on the right track.

Another oldie but goodie is health. I don’t want to resolve to lose x number of pounds, but I do want to get healthy. I’ve started training for a 10k and I’m still working out with the awesome Stroller Stride’s mommas and I love how I’m starting to feel. Technically the number on the scale hasn’t moved that much, but I’m ok with that. I am really interested in helping my body work the way God made it to. I am a HUGE fan of food, so my biggest health goal this year is to have some self control and make smart choices. Now that I’m a mom I am determined to help my son (and future kiddos) have a healthy relationship with food.

We’re also looking to expand our family in 2012 so pray for that too!

Thank you to all our friends and family who have been such a support to me. I had no idea how much encouragement I would need and I am so blessed by all of your kind words and prayers. Here’s to a new year and a new adventure.

Milestones

Over the past week, Little Man has perfected crawling on his knees, become an expert at pulling up on the coffee table, couch, and anything else nearby, and now he is able to sit himself down from those great heights instead of just falling straight backwards. I have to admit that as a mom it makes me proud to see him do so much, but there’s a part of me that wishes it wasn’t so. Gone (they have been for awhile now) are the days of leaving C in the living room while I step into the kitchen for a minute. Soon I will be spending my time chasing him instead of him following me around. I love that he is doing so much, but I’m not ready for him to grow up!

All of this growing up is making me think about the things I will have to start teaching him. “No, my phone is not a teether, yes the dog bowl is fun, but probably not the best way to take a bath, and yes my hair is attached to my skull and it’s best if it stays that way.” Up to this point being a parent hasn’t necessarily consisted of much ‘parenting.’ We love him, feed him, rock him, play with him, etc, but we don’t have to tell him no or teach him lessons or anything like that. Being a middle school teacher required WAY more parenting than C has needed so far!

Even before I had C, I had been trying to get back in shape and focus on being healthier. I have always struggled with making smart food choices and staying active. When I got pregnant and especially now as a new mom, one of my biggest concerns is with teaching C to make good decisions when it comes to food. I also want to teach him to be active by being that way myself. The best thing I’ve done since becoming a parent was joining Stroller Strides. The ladies at SS have been kicking my butt and helping me get in shape. Finally, the motivation to get active and some awesome moms to push me to do better! Over the past few months I have been getting stronger and it is so nice to have some confidence in my body instead of wallowing in all of those crazy new mom hormones.

As of a few days ago, I signed up to run a 10k with many of the Stroller Strides moms and Moms On the Run. I am so excited to challenge myself to complete this goal. I haven’t run more than a mile since high school, so I have a lot of work to do. I know that by working hard I will be that much closer to teaching C what hard work can do. The best way I can think of to teach him is by example, so here goes one of the hardest things I’ve done.

Here’s to milestones for Bubba and milestones for me!

Thankful for Patience

Little man is 7 months old today! I can’t believe how fast it’s gone. The number one thing that God has been teaching me since C joined us is patience.

I have loved being a mom, but patience is something that you can’t have too much of and admittedly, I’m a little short on.

Being a parent means lost sleep and frustration over why the perfect little being in your care wants nothing to do with sleep. Or why he won’t stop crying even though you have tried everything you know how to make him happy. In those first crazy weeks and months (and let’s be honest – even now), it is so easy to get frustrated. Frustrated that I have to wake up every few hours to feed him. Frustrated that I can’t leave him for more than an hour or two. Frustrated that he won’t let me set him down. Frustrated that he’s dead asleep in my arms but as soon as I lay him down he’s wide awake. Frustrated that I have no idea why he’s crying. I admit, I had and still have times when I just have to put him in his crib and walk away for a minute so I can cry, scream, or both.

I don’t want to be a mom who is always frustrated or stressed out so I belatedly asked God to give me more patience. I understand that this is a double edged sword. If I ask for patience, there have to be more opportunities for me to NEED patience. I am so thankful that I have a God that can help me through even the craziest days with my little guy. I am not perfect. Even today I had to laugh at the fact that C fought me to take a nap and provided me with all sorts of chances to practice patience.

I am so thankful that God has been providing for me. Ever since I made an effort to tell my frustrations to God and ask for His help, I have had much more peace and patience as a mom. I try to have an entirely new attitude when frustrations arise. I try to focus on the fact that having to constantly hold, feed, or rock him to sleep is just extra cuddle time. Soon enough he won’t want me to hold, feed, or rock him. I thank God for my attitude adjustment. It’s not always easy to focus on the positive when Bubba’s screaming in my ear, but I know that God will always give me the strength I need to be a good mom.

I always pictured being a mom as a great opportunity to teach a little one all about life. I love that I’m the one that’s learning how to be a better person.

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4

I hope that one day I will be mature and complete as a mother and wife.

New Mom Must Haves

I’m pretty new at this myself, but I have a gagillion and one friends who are pregnant, so I thought I would give a list of the things I (and my little man) can’t live without.

1. Motherlove Nipple Cream
2. Some form of cold/hot pack
3. Bamboobies nursing pads
4. Cloth diapers!
5. Simply Saline nose spray
6. Nosefrida Snot Sucker
7. Swaddle blankets (These go on Babysteals.com and Babyhalfoff.com all the time!)
8. Receiving blankets (Ross and Marshall’s have good deals on receiving blankets)
9. A video monitor
10. Moby or Boba wrap

1. Motherlove Nipple Cream: A good cream is a must have! Pure Lanolin works too, but I feel this gave more immediate relief. Earth Mama Angel Baby also makes a cream which is supposed to work really well, but I have not tried it. Both are a little pricey, but trust me, it’s worth it!

2. Hot/Cold pack: When your milk comes in you will need relief. Sometimes hot is best and other times cold. Nuk, EMAB, and others make some especially for mammas. Lansinoh also makes these gel pads which provide some great relief (I got a free pair in the hospital!).

3. Bamboobies: I used the disposable pads for the first several months, but I soon realized that I was still sore and chafed because of them! I finally decided to just buy the Bamboobies gift set and I’m so glad I did! These are so soft and super absorbent. The best part is the waterproof backing and heart shape actually make these invisible which the disposables never will be.

4. Cloth diapers: They may sound intimidating, but they’re not! Super cute patterns and easy to use styles make it almost easier than disposables. No late night Target runs, no loads of trash, and best of all NO poop explosions! Even better, they’ll save you about $2000 over the course of one child. Kelly’s Closet has the best pricing because of their free diaper coupons – just don’t buy unless you get the freebie. I have gotten a total of 30% off everything I’ve ever purchased because of those freebie coupons. The Diaper Shops facebook page has the most helpful mammas out there if you ever have any questions.

5. Simply Saline: I stumbled upon this at Target and I’m so glad I did. Made especially for babies, you just squirt a tiny bit in their nose and it loosens up all those boogies. We haven’t had any bad nights because the poor little guy couldn’t breathe. Just a squirt of this stuff and then #6 and you’re good to go!

6. Nosefrida Snot Sucker: I kept seeing this and didn’t want to try it. I finally did because little man’s nose was all plugged up and the hospital had warned us not to use the bulb syringe too much or it might hurt his nose. This can’t harm their nose and is dishwasher safe!

7. Swaddle blankets: We didn’t have any to begin with (receiving blankets are just too small), but we had a HALO sleep/swaddle sack which actually worked well. Unfortunately it got too hot way too soon. I finally decided to get the Aden + Anais ones and they really are as awesome as everyone says. I’m sure other brand muslin swaddle blankets would work too. Target sells a 4 pack for $30 but they are a few inches smaller. Hold out for Baby Steals or Baby Half Off to have them since they are on there pretty often.

8. Receiving blankets: We use these for everything! Especially keeping sweaty heads from sticking to mom’s arms while feeding. You seriously can’t have too many and they work to clean up everything. Look for ones that are really soft. My favorite are some from Carter’s (which I have seen at Ross and/or Marshall’s).

9. A video monitor: We weren’t going to get one because it seemed a little too big brother-y, but my mom convinced us and I’m thrilled. We have one by Lorex and we like it. It takes a pretty sustained noise to turn it on which bothered us at first, but it’s actually nice that it doesn’t turn on at every squeak. The screen stays off unless it hears something, but you can turn it on to check if you want. It also has an infrared camera so it can see in the dark. There are tons of options, so be sure to check them out. A video screen is SO much better than having to peek in (he’s playing in his crib right now instead of sleeping, but I don’t have to go check on him because I can see him with the camera!).

10. A baby carrier: Those first few weeks/months when little one won’t let you set them down, a wrap was a life saver! Not only can I still get things done (and more importantly, still use the bathroom), but he’s happier and almost always falls asleep. Please remember babies should always face you on back or in front and they should be in a seated position with their knees higher than their bottoms! The Moby and Boba are great wraps for those first weeks and months when baby is tiny. As they get a little bigger, a ring sling is faster to put on for grocery shopping or whatever you need. Craigslist is a great place to find carriers for cheap. Often people buy them and give up on them without using them. I assure you, a little practice in the mirror and you’ll be a pro! Also, YouTube has a plethora of great videos to show you how. As they get older a more structured carrier is great. Check out the Boba or the Ergo.

Past Winter Fun in AZ

Geek Books for Babies

Since little man was born I’ve started to see more and more tech oriented books for babies. I personally think it’s great. I especially love that Goodnight iPad was written by the pseudonym Ann Droyd. Very clever!

Another great one (although I haven’t been willing to dish out the $20 for it) is My Little Geek.

If you know any techie parents or parents to be these are some great gift options!

Elimination Communication

I’ve had the opportunity to go to China twice and one thing always fascinated me. I can’t recall seeing even one diaper even though I saw tons of babies. I just could not fathom how all these moms and dads were not constantly covered in baby mess! On one of the trips I even had the chance to visit a baby boutique where all the little pants had open crotches and we thought they were crazy. The ladies in the store looked at us like WE were crazy for being fascinated by the pants.

Fast forward a few years and I have my own little munchkin. Since I cloth diaper and breastfeed, the blogs I read tend to get hippie-er and hippie-er. A few weeks ago I ran across an article about elimination communication and I had one of those light bulb moments. THAT’S how parents in China did it.

Babies naturally don’t like to soil themselves (even animals don’t go where they sleep) and that’s why little boys are so infamous for spraying their new parents. It’s not because it’s cold, it’s because they are waiting for you to take the diaper off so they don’t make a mess of themselves. This makes sense especially since after a few weeks babies stop going when you change them.

Since reading that article about 3 weeks ago, I decided to start trying to pay more attention to Bubba. Poop is pretty easy to spot – most parents know when their little one is going. And pee isn’t too tough. Most babies go right when they wake up and after they eat. Other times I’ve just been timing it, but sometimes he will start to fuss and he has to go. In the few weeks I’ve been paying closer attention I have only missed one or two poops. He will actually try to hold his poop until I can put him on the potty. Who would want to have to sit in that? I’ve even noticed that if I take him for a walk or go out with him in the sling he will hold it until we get home. A few times it’s been about 2 hours, but when I get home I put him right on the potty and he goes!

I know I’m a little crazy and I’m ok with that. It has been amazing to realize that my 6 month old definitely prefers to use the potty. If I put him on it and he doesn’t have to go he fusses. If he does have to go, he sits there calmly. The best part is I try to be very low key about it. If we go out for a while or I’m just not in sync with him I just change his diaper like normal. It’s no added stress and it’s fun to not have to change poopy diapers!

For more info go to Diaper Free Baby.

Reflections and Thanksgiving

This month is national novel writing month (NaNoWriMo), but I am obviously not going to be writing a novel, so I’ll just try to post a little more consistently this month.

I am not a writer, but I know it’s important to write things down, reflect, and look back on things. I have always tried to keep a prayer journal, but I’m never very good at sticking with it. I do love looking back at old entries and remembering how God was working in our lives and how faithful he has been to answer prayers. I especially love looking back through old prayers that I hadn’t realized were answered and realizing that God had answered it, just not the way I thought He would/should. It sure is a good thing I’m not in charge!

I already can’t believe how much has happened in our little man’s life. First he was just the alien blob in my tummy that was kicking to get out, then he was the tiny newborn who was so perfect. Over the past several months he has discovered his own hands and feet, learned how to crawl, and is trying to sit up on his own. He’s starting to be a real little person instead of somewhat like a toy. The best was when he learned to smile and then laugh. His laughter has to be one of the best sounds ever. I don’t think I could ever get tired of that.

It’s crazy how much a baby changes everything. Damien and I have been married for more than 8 years and a baby still threw us a curveball. I am so thankful for a husband who understands and is patient during crazy mom hormone changes, irrational fears, and downright moodiness. We’ve learned a lot about communicating about what’s going on and I’ve learned that “I don’t know” and “I’m fine” are not going to magically tell him that I’m on the brink of tears or ready to run from the house screaming. Without his support, I don’t know where I would be. Probably locked up somewhere. Although it’s been tough, I wouldn’t trade any of it. I love watching Damien be the most amazing dad to our son. I love watching Bubba’s face light up when his dad walks in the door from work, and I love listening to Damien play guitar or sing to him so he’ll fall asleep.

Thank you November for bringing thanksgiving to the forefront. I would like to make it a point to be more thankful all year round.

Thank you Damien for being the best friend, husband, father, and supporter I could ever hope for. I love you.

Why Cloth Diapers Make Me a Better Christian

Ok. I’m totally joking, but I am curious about something.

Does being hippie (ie: using cloth diapers, reusable shopping bags, and eco friendly products) have any bearing on my faith or vice versa?

I grew up in a town that isn’t quite what you’d call environmentally friendly. The most common vehicles are gargantuan trucks, pulling out a reusable grocery bag will get you the strangest looks, people insist on having green lawns even though the record temperature is 130 degrees, and Toyota Prius’ are like an endangered species. I have to admit that I love big trucks too, but you get my point.

In contrast, I now live in super-hippie-ville. If you DON’T bring a reusable bag you are given a weird look, people driving big trucks are often confronted in parking lots for being evil, people tend to let native plants grow (although things actually grow here without a ton of water), and there are so many hybrids it’s crazy.

Right before I got pregnant a new friend mentioned that she cloth diapered her kiddos. I looked at her like she was a crazy person, but since we were planning on starting a family soon, I asked her about it. She assured me that it was pretty easy and wouldn’t be a big deal. When I found out I was pregnant I started researching them and not only is it easy, they are cute! To be honest I decided to cloth diaper for the savings and a little bit for the environment. I have continued to cloth diaper because it really is pretty easy, but also because so many people told me I couldn’t/wouldn’t do it.

As I’ve entered into the world of cloth diapers I have become greener in other parts of my life. I even made my own deodorant! When I go home to visit I have to be careful not to be judgmental because of how un-green people are. So…does all of this have anything at all to do with being a Christian?

1 Corinthians 4:1
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Often the Bible talks about us being good stewards. Whether it be of money or our talents or the “mysteries of God.” I believe this has to do with our world too. I’m not so concerned about global warming or any other such problem. (I believe that the earth is warming up, I just don’t believe that man can really affect change on an entire celestial body.) However; if I am supposed to be a good steward that should include every part of my life. I make an effort to be ecofriendly because that’s how I can take care of this amazing planet that God gave us. I like that cloth diapers help reduce waste in landfills because I want to keep God’s creation beautiful for all to enjoy not because I’m some hippie who thinks the world is coming to an end. I think it would be wise to evaluate some of our behaviors and see if we are truly being good stewards of God’s creation.

I think people on both sides of the eco-debate should be less judgemental of each other and instead focus on what they are doing to make a difference.

What do you think?

Parenting Surprises

So, we’ve officially been parents for almost 4 months. We’ve been married for more than 8 years. I am blessed to have the best husband in the entire world (I’m obviously biased, but he really is the best). We have an amazing relationship and have become really good about communicating with each other.

One great thing about our relationship is that neither of us have a need for anything especially fancy. For our anniversaries we go to Taco Bell and then shop together at Target for a small present. Our idea of a date night is going to Best Buy and checking out all the gadgets or going to a car dealership and getting them to let us drive a new car.

Since Little Man was born, many of our friends have offered to watch him so we could go out. So far we haven’t taken anyone up on that offer other than a few times that my parents have watched him for a short period of time. Some of that is because I am a control freak and I obviously like being the one to take care of Bubba. I consider that to be pretty normal parenting issues.

The surprises? Among other crazy, hormonal, new mom issues I feel bad that I actually want to leave him. I feel like only a bad mom could need a break this badly. I know that my feelings are irrational and absurd, but that doesn’t make them any less there. I just really need some time with Damien that isn’t centered around the baby. I’ve always known that it’s important to make sure you take time for your marriage even when you have kids, but I never expected to feel bad about it. Now I just need to trust God to deal with my ridiculous emotions and make sure I am taking care of my son, my marriage, and my self.

Anyone want to babysit?