Working, Growing, Pumping, Teething... Oh My!

I have a rare moment this evening because baby boy wore himself out with all of the attention and new toys he got today and has went to sleep early.  After washing pump parts, I couldn't wait to say hello and send out an update in the blogosphere.  I am reading on my phone when I get a chance, but I have been terrible at commenting:[  I really want to make time somewhere in the schedule for blogging because it is therapy, whether it's IF or new mom related... I need this place!

Working- it is hard, and I don't want to come across like I'm whining about it since there are so many who would love to have a job these days, but I am just struggling to get enough done there where I don't have to bring it here.  This sounds crazy but I would really like to get a promotion with more pay because that would open more doors such as the possibility of PC staying home.  I feel like I could actually handle longer hours and a bigger workload if PC was able to take care of all things home and baby.  That plan would at least be 2 years in the making since we would have to attack some major debt first.    

Growing- wow, is our little guy growing!  The next update will be one for a four month old.  Craziness!  I will fill that post with updates but I can't wait to find out his weight and length this Friday at his four month check-up.  First, those crazy doctors had to do a weight follow-up visit to make sure I wasn't starving him and now they will probably tell me he's eating too much lol.  I am going to ask them about starting H. on his first food- avocados.  Here's the website I've been using the most to research about introducing solids- http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/.  I know that six months is generally regarded as a better time to introduce baby to solids but all babies are different and H. shows signs of being ready for a little something more.  I will let you all know how it goes of course!

Pumping- I'm getting ready to transition to exclusive pumping with the exception of night time feedings.  For whatever reason, H. is frustrated with the ladies.  Maybe because he gets more bottles now that I'm back at work and nursing requires more effort... not sure... but I can enjoy bonding with him just as much by looking into those baby blues and holding his hand while he takes a bottle:]  I feel grateful, especially after talking to so many friends and co-workers, that we have been able to nurse this long.  He will still get as much breastmilk as possible as long as I'm pumping and producing.

Teething- It's happening.  Already.  The biggest clue is the bulging white blistery-looking places on his bottom gum but other signs are sucking on hands (or anything), drooling everywhere, pulling at ear/scratching head, some coughing and issues with nursing/taking the pacifier.  We haven't resorted to any infant pain relievers at this point but I would love to know of any teething product recommendations!
That reminds me... someone recommended the nosefrida when I mentioned that the bulb syringes were not working for us and we could not do without it!  I have had intentions of doing a blog post just devoted to that little handy tool and haven't made the time.  If you have a little one with a stuffy nose and the bulb doesn't work... look it up and keep an open mind because it is SO worth the relief it gives to a stuffed up baby!

I'll end with the picture of our little "bunny" from today.  We had this "My First Easter" outfit for fun and another one for dressing up. 
   
 

Yesterday marked one year that I got the call from the RE's office and our lives forever changed.  It is my favorite blog post besides the day we brought our little miracle home.
  Dream.Come.True.   

Happy Anniversaries!!!

Seven years ago today, I married my P.rince C.harming and life got so much sweeter!  What a roller coaster past year it was!  From giving me those awful PIO shots in the rear to holding my hand through the birth of our son, he stood by my side through every up, down, twist and turn.  All in all, there were many more ups:]  I love you PC.

One year ago today, I had a 12 and 8 cell embryo transfer and I'm holding one very special baby boy as a result! 

March 26th... you have been good to me, making it a special day to remember how grateful I am for the two boys that have stolen my heart more than I ever thought was possible.  Happy Anniversaries!

BTW= Back to Work & By The Way

Back to Work= The "New Normal"

Wake up at 5:15 a.m.
Shower
Get Dressed
Nurse
Any baby needs- diaper change, clean paci, clean burp cloth, wash bottles
Warm up breakfast sandwich
Pack lunch, pack pump parts & bottles
Leave at 7:00 a.m.
Eat breakfast on the way
Arrive to work at 7:15
Pump at 8:30 a.m.
Pump/eat lunch at 11:30 a.m.
Pump at 2:00 p.m.
Leave at 4:00 p.m.
Arrive home at 4:15 p.m.
Change clothes, wash hands
KISS BABY
Nurse
Eat supper
Play with baby
Nurse/Supplement
Wash pump parts, wash bottles
Prepare bottles for next day
Prepare breakfast/lunch for next day
Get baby ready for bed
Get myself ready for bed
Go to bed at 9:00 p.m.
KISS PC
Nurse between 12:30- 1:00 a.m.
Nurse at 4:00 a.m. on one side, pump on the other
Sleep for one more hour
Start over!

But we're making it!  My first day back was spent in a fog... not really thinking about baby every minute, but rather trying to remember where I left off and how in the world I was going to get caught up!  I had some sweet surprises along the day... a co-worker framed a pic of me & little man for my desk, another co-worker put some "caution" tape through the room and listed all the things I have to do for a fun joke, my mom and little man sent flowers, a sweet friend sent flowers and PC had flowers waiting on me when I got home.  It reminded me that I have a good job with people I care about and such wonderful friends and family.  Blessed. 

Then, there is the pumping.  Ugh.  I close the door and put the "code" sign on it.  I work through each time, about 10 minutes total, and eat & pump so that my "lunch break" is really divided up through the day and used on pumping.  I'm getting about 3-6 ounces total for the day right now.  It is not enough to leave for the next day so I'm having to pump at night as well.  I don't know how long I can keep it up!  We are having to supplement between 4-6 ounces through the day of formula and it is what it is.  I want a full, content baby rather than insisting that he only gets breastmilk.  I'm lucky that it has even worked out this long with minimal problems and that he is still getting about 90% breastmilk!

Code for "Pumping"  :]

Sandwich with milk, lol! 

And by the way... I hope that I have always been understanding to the moms that I work with.  Because I understand so much better now how hard it is to balance both roles.  I have several 2-3 hour evening meetings coming up and the once reply of "sure, no problem" is now "how soon can we be finished?" This is a blog post in itself but let's just say I'm feeling pressure of what the job requires and getting home to this.sweet.face as soon as possible!

Three Months

Really?  Three months?!?  I would describe the past three months as the most exhausting wonderful work ever!  As hard as some days can be, I know we're going to look back on this time and smile and talk about how much we miss it!  We love every minute of being Mac & PC & Baby Makes 3:]  Hmm... maybe that should be our new blog title!  

Three Months Old!  No time to write on the picture yet!

Things to remember:

You have really started finding your hands.  Actually, you have started sucking on your fists a lot!
You have started to drool and "make bubbles" a lot.  Not quite like Charlie (our Newfie), but we are constantly looking for a burp cloth or bib now!

You spend at least an hour throughout the day on the piano gym.  It is the only place where you will not fuss with a wet diaper!  You love it, thank you Grandma!

You are smiling all the time!  Except when we get the camera out to take your picture... you get very serious.

You want your paci less... really only if you are really tired, riding in the car or at night when we put you to bed.
You had a birthmark to develop at about 12 days old (we first thought it was a scratch).  It is called a hemangioma, a collection of blood vessels close to the skin,  and the doctors say it will grow and then go away in your first few years of life.  You like to keep your birth story interesting!  It is also called an angel bite and that seems fitting!  

You are still loving a bath!

Tried some new lotion on you and you had an allergic reaction.  Oops.  A bath and some diaper rash cream made you feel all better again.  Until you had allergic reaction number 2 & 3!  More baths and diaper rash cream!  Please forgive us, we're working on it... now we think it may be fabric softener.  So we're washing all your clothes again to be safe.    
Grandma taught you how to reach up for her after a diaper change and now you reach out for someone to pick you up all the time.  Everywhere!  It is precious.  (Well, except for when we put you to bed!)

You love staring at people and hearing them talk.  
There have been some warm days where we have gone for a stroll or played on the back porch.  You seem to really like outdoors, but not the sun glaring in your eyes.  Of course we have bought some sun glasses!

You are holding your head up so much better but are not quite ready for the bumbo seat or Jumperoo.
You rolled over from belly to back on March 7th... you did it several times!
You still are very alert, taking in everything about the world around you.

We are totally in love with you, always and forever, sweet baby boy!

Blog friends:  please say a prayer for me tomorrow as the dreaded return to work day will become a reality!

Work. Weight. Cloth Diapers. Allergic Reactions.

Today marks just one week left with my sweet little miracle baby boy before returning to the working world.  My rational self says that he will be left in very capable hands and that having two incomes will help us to enjoy things that otherwise we would not.  My irrational self says to sell our house and everything in it, find a cheap rental and just live on baby love!  Good grief, I am a workaholic that has been detoxed!  I will need prayers next Monday to get through the day!  The time has went by too fast and he has changed so much already.  I am going to miss him like crazy, end of story.

In other news, our little guy went for the weight follow-up appointment and (as we guessed) he is just lower on the charts for weight but is gaining almost an ounce a day like a champ!  I should note we added 2-4 ounces of formula for the last feed to stretch out his sleeping and then I pump shortly after he is asleep.

Attn. cloth diaper peeps:  Our LO is 12 weeks, 10 lbs. 12 oz. and 24" long... does anyone have a baby around that size that you could recommend an AIO cloth diaper that is fitted?  I would like to try it out on the weekends.  PC is not totally convinced (probably because he does the laundry) but I think it would save some money, give the little tush a break from disposables, and save a diaper change through the night.  So sad that my main reason is not helping the environment... that will just be an added bonus.  I've been researching when I can and I need someone to fill in the gaps for me, please.  If I use AIO's- the whole thing just goes in the wash on cold, then in the regular wash with a hot/cold cycle, right?  If I go with a different kind with pre-folds, the pre-folds come out and are put in a diaper pail (versus a wet bag?) for the same kind of wash cycle?  Poop can go in the toilet or on a special liner that goes in the toilet, right?  Why do I need a special spray bottle and what goes in it?  We use D.reft detergent and free/clear fabric softener... would that be good enough for the wash?

New mom note to self- try out any new lotion on an area of the baby before using it and remove clothing if baby is fussy and nothing else soothes him.  We have had two... TWO... allergic reactions this past week.  The first one we traced back to a new lotion (so much for fragrance free & hyperallergenic) and the second one we (think) happened from rubbing a little olive oil on his head to help with cradle cap (ha, ha I just corrected myself from typing "cradle crap" which is true as well) and using the same wash cloth for the rest of the bath.  Both times he broke out in little red bumps all over his chest and back.  These things have made me feel like the worst parent ever!  I was just trying to remedy a little eczema and cradle cap.  Sorry, please forgive me sweet boy!