Questions to Ask

So, before I had a baby, there were questions I didn't even know to ask about life with a baby. I thought I would entertain all of you with my question and answer time.

What do you do when your baby has been crying for hours, you have to pee and you are alone?
Apparently, just set the baby down, let it cry and run to the bathroom.

How do you shower when its just you and the baby?
Bring him into the bathroom with you and shower as quick as humanly possible.

How do you get ready when its just you and the baby? Oh, and the baby is screaming at the top of its lungs?
You don't! Well, you throw on your clothes and grab the baby...the hair can wait.

How do you get over judging yourself for not getting enough done around the house?
I haven't quite figured this one out. I try giving myself a reprieve, but then I see my laundry basket and try to figure out how I can get more done around the house while caring for my little man.

I thought you only leak milk when a baby cries...why do I seem to leak all the freaking time?!?
Well, the baby crying thing, I think that is only a myth. The leaking thing really means its time for my baby to eat!

Why can my baby sleep for like 6 hours at night, yet seem so alive in the morning?
Its all those freaking naps he takes during the day! The problem is, most of them are cat naps, making it virtually impossible for me to nap at the same time.

How is it that you can be exhausted from the baby screaming, but as soon as it stops and smiles at you, your heart is melted and you feel content?
Motherhood just can't be explained!

Connor just melts my heart. I can't believe how fast he is going to grow up and want to enjoy every second of it. He is so adorable and I hope everyday he knows how much his mom and dad love him.

The Weekend

Friday:

On Friday, Connor had two visits to the doctor. They discovered that he has only gained 2 ounces since birth (this isn't normal) and that he has severe acid reflux (hence the reason he hasn't gained weight). So, he got put on some medicine that I have to give him after he feeds. Getting Connor to take all the medicine is a bit of a challenge. We have to give it to him in a bottle and he isn't too interested in taking it after he just finished eating. But, the medicine works. He is barely spitting up at all anymore. We head back to the doctor on Thursday to make sure he is now putting on weight...I think he is.

Saturday:

I had my first solo trip out of the house since having Connor...and exactly 4 weeks after having him. Ian and Connor hung out with some of our friends while I joined my old work for their Christmas party. It was nice seeing everyone and catching up...also realizing how much my life has changed in 4 weeks!

Sunday:

We participated in the Great Scottish Santa Run in Edinburgh with some of our friends. This was a memory to last a lifetime. The run was for charity and was only two laps around a park. In many places it was so crowded with "santas" that you couldn't run anyway. We walked the "run" anyway so it really didn't matter. Oh, and they gave out medals to everyone at the end!

My Little American

Connor's US passport came in the mail today. That has to be in record time too...exactly a week after we applied for it! Who knew it could be done so quickly? Also, Connor's "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" came. Apparently, when we are in the states, this is what I am supposed to use as his birth certificate. This makes no sense to me, given that it isn't his birth certificate, but this is what the people at the consulate office told me. The certificate looks very official (way more official than my birth certificate), but really just says that Connor was an American at birth...you go little man! So there you have it...my little man is officially a little American! And, he will be arriving in his homeland for a visit on January 18th...can't wait for him to meet everyone!


On a totally different subject, we had a much better night last night. Connor fell asleep in his dad's arms and slept much better than the night before. He got up to feed more than usual, but I think he is going thru a growth spurt. Also, even though I try to help him understand it is the middle of the night, he doesn't always understand that, so I did have to rock him back to sleep at 3:30am. But hey, he's still learning and I was feeling much better last night, so I didn't mind.

And here's a couple pictures of Connor in his giraffe-a-cow outfit...it looks like a giraffe outfit, but says "moo" on the feet, thus giraffe-a-cow.

HELP

My child is trying to kill me and I don't know what to do! Okay, so maybe "kill" is a little exaggerated, but torture me, at least. Last night, Connor was up from 9pm until 4am...and at least half of that time was spent screaming. I tried everything to calm him down. He was fed 4 times during that period, changed, rocked, walked, put in his car seat, set on the dryer...nothing worked. At one point, Ian had to take over because I was at my wits end. Then, when I finally got him to sleep, he slept for 2 hours and started up again. Ian took him for a ride in the car...that put him to sleep, but that sleep lasted for about 5 minutes after they got home. We slept and cried (him, not me...though I was pretty close) on and off until 10am when finally sleep took over. The little man then slept until 2pm.

It seems that there is no advice out there on getting newborns to sleep. It all deals with babies that are 3 months plus. With all you mothers out there, I am hoping some of you can give me some advice. I just need to figure out how to get my baby to sleep...or at least keep him from screaming at the top of his lungs for hours on end!

On a different baby subject...has anyone dealt with their baby spitting up all over when they are still feeding? Connor seems to enjoy doing this...it goes all down me and wherever we are sitting at the moment. Is this normal? And if so (or even of not) why does he do it?

Okay people, this is it...I am begging for advice. I am willing to try anything at the moment!

We've Done it to Ourselves

I came across an article on CNN this weekend about a store window display in Los Angeles. Basically, Christians are complaining that the window display is too promiscuous and the store is calling it art. Though I would have to say that I personally think it is weird that anyone would want to "slut up" the virgin Mary, I really think we only have ourselves to blame. I also think as Christians we get too sensitive about things sometimes, but that is for another blog.

As Christians, we have lost sight of what Christmas is all about. Isn't it about celebrating the birth of Jesus? Then, why do we put up Christmas trees, take our kids to get their pictures taken with santa and make it all about the gifts? Now, I am not saying that any of these things is wrong...I do them as well...but when Christians take a "Christian holiday" and paganize it, we can't complain when others do the same.

Also, when people are not Christ followers, why should we expect them to live their lives the same way we do? Shouldn't we be reaching out and loving people like this rather than threatening to attack them? Oh yeah, apparently the churches in the area are planning a protest if the window display isn't changes. Imagine if people came and protested the church every time they didn't like something we did or displayed? I know people attach the church a lot, but it has been a while since I have seen a church with protesters outside it...though it was entertaining when I saw it (and it was my church it was happening to).

Really, no matter where you fall on this issue (and I would love to hear your opinions), I would like to say...we really only have ourselves to blame.

The New Question

Now that I have graduated from being the pregnant woman to being the mom, there is a new question that keeps being asked of me. Everywhere we go, everyone seems to ask the same question...

How is he sleeping?

I am always a little baffled at how to answer this question. Come to think of it, I am always a little baffled about how to answer any question asked of me! I never know how much information people really want, if they really care and what information they care to hear. So, my standard answer has become...

It changes every night.

Is this true? Yes. One night Connor seems to sleep like a dream. The next, doesn't want to go to bed, then wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to be held and rocked for two hours...which is much more difficult than it sounds when you are delirious and sleepy.

Since having Connor, I have discovered that Ian can sleep thru most baby cries. I have to admit, this helps during the week. I don't have to feel guilty about Connor ruining Ian's night sleep because he has to work the next day. Instead, I can stay in the comfort of my own room and deal with Connor's middle of the night meltdowns. On the weekends, this isn't so great. Even if I wake Ian up and hand him Connor, he will pretty much fall back asleep holding a crying baby. I WISH it were so easy for me...since having Connor, I don't sleep well. I hear every noise and if I don't hear noise, I get up and check to make sure he is still breathing. It is pathetic. The other night, I was laying in bed praying for God to just knock me out cold so I could get a good couple hours sleep, undisturbed.

I am beginning to realize that I will need to take daily naps. Don't get me wrong, I love a good nap. It's just that nap time would coexist in the same time frame that allows me to get stuff done around the house...which helps me understand why it said in all those baby books that you are doing good when you get one non-baby related thing done around the house a day!

As I write this blog, my son lay on me sleeping. I am left wondering how deep this sleep is and if I dare put him in his bed. I am hoping for a couple more hours sleep...after all, it is Saturday...doesn't he know this?!?

The 80's Are Back

Since when have the 80's come back with such full force? I know fashion comes and goes. I wore bell bottoms in high school and wore a lot of styles from the 60's and 70's. But...there is one decade that I think really does not deserve a comeback, and that would be the 80's. Some of you may like the 80's, but all I can think of is huge bangs, fluorescent colored scrunchies, caboodles, LA Gear and more. And to be honest, I don't think these past trends deserve a comeback.


My mom and I were out shopping today and it seemed that at every turn I took, I was smacked in the face by trends from the 80's...trends I don't think should be making a comeback. There are the brightly colored high tops, jean everything and zippers all over the place. Me not like. Please fashion designers, skip the 80's and come up with a trend that won't haunt me later in old photos!