The Sleep Situation

I know it can happen. I have seen it. She will sleep in her crib at night again. I remember when Michelle would not nap consistently, but would than sleep 8 hours straight at night. Then she started napping consistently AND sleeping decently at night, though not usually for 8 hour stretches. Then came the Christmas cookie weekend at auntie Tammy's where the routine totally went to shit and the first 2 night home were hell getting her back to the routine. Now take a whole week in unfamiliar surroundings with a crappy sleep routine and NOW come home and see how you like it. I don't like it. Michelle doesn't like it. 2 nights down. It will get better. It will get better. It will get better...

The Christmas Post...finally!

Ready for Solids???


We are home from a very nice Christmas week with family in Salt Lake. It is getting to the point in Michelle's development where something new and remarkable seems to happen every day. Each day she gets stronger, grabs more, interacts more, eats more...which brings me to the fact that we started experimenting with a rice cereal/ breast milk concoction. The biggest cue to her readiness for solids came one night when we went out for Chinese food and she grabbed a fortune cookie and shoved it in her mouth. The wrapper was on. She seems to be doing well with the rice cereal but unfortunately it didn't mean a better night's sleep. If you think all these milestones meant a restful week, you are shamefully mistaken. From the get go, Michelle decided she was NOT going to have anything to do with the portable crib at night. During the day, no problem, bring on the pack n play. "I will nap 'till the cows come home, but lay me down in that thing after the sun goes down and I WILL SCREAM like there's no tomorrow!" That is, of course, unless she was in bed with us, taking advantage of the of the all-you-can-eat buffet at the all night diner we call "Boob Cafe". There was no fooling this kid that she was NOT at home despite our best efforts to keep her on the usual sleep routine. And no, starting solids did not help. Not one bit!
So night after night, we suffered serious sleep deprivation. This was not serious enough however to keep us from taking advantage of baby-mongering Grandparents. Barry skied three days and I skied two. Cory and I skied together at Snowbird on Tuesday morning and hit the spa at the Cliff lodge in the afternoon. Barry and I even skied together on Christmas day. Yes, I also sing my songs of praise to the all mighty breast pump that made this all possible!
Christmas always brings out a little crazy, but for the most part, we left Salt Lake today already missing our family, the mountains and feel more determined than ever to get our asses back there where we belong! It will be a very interesting year.

Momma's Christmas baby!

Mmmmm. Wrapping paper. Best gift of all!

Grandpa lovin'.

Auntie Cory gets a nose job.

Kisses from Grandma.

'Tis the Season

Last weekend we went up to Auntie Tammy's to decorate the Christmas tree and do some serious Christmas baking. I haven't baked Christmas cookies in probably over 15 years. We baked some of my mom's favorites from back in the day: Almond Candy Cane cookies, Peanut butter cups, Christmas cut-outs (yes, there were a few R-rated Santas and elves!). I also tried out a recipe from our friend Sharon for Pumpkin Crunch Bars. I have slowly recovered this week from the vast quantities of refined sugar, butter, and red and green food coloring consumed over the weekend. Of course, Michelle got off her routine and bedtime was not easy for the first couple of nights back. But last night. LAST NIGHT....Michelle slept about 9 hours straight! She didn't even cry when she woke up this morning. I just heard her moving around, sucking her hands and was greeted by smiles when I went to Check on her at 5:30. We haven't had a night that good in 2 months!

Io is very proud of his Christmas tree.

Michelle would rather eat the ornaments. Mmmm teething mmmmm.



COOOOKIES! This is less than half of the iced cut-outs we did!

We topped off the weekend with a trip to Point Defiance zoo to see the "Zoo Lights" display. It was a wonderfully festive weekend. Now we get ready to head to Salt Lake on Saturday. I am pumping a reserve milk supply so I can hopefully take advantage of some Utah powder while willing Grandparents watch the baby!

Santa!

Yes, I think I could possibly have the cutest baby girl in the whole history of baby girls that ever lived! Doesn't every mom think that? Michelle had a little JC Penney photo shoot today for her "First Christmas" pictures and I have to say, I was very impressed with our photographer's ability to pull out those expressions! Clearly, we did NOT have that same photographer for the mall santa.

Our little string bean

Michelle survived her 4 month shots today. She did much better than last time. Followed up the doctor's visit with a 3 hour nap and doesn't seemed phased by the poke in the leg. Here are her current stats...for those who ask and I can never remember.

Weight 12# 12 oz 25th percentile
Head Circumference 16 inches 27th percentile
Height 25 1/2 inches 90th percentile!!!

Our little string bean.

Thanksgiving Fun in the Sun

First swim in the big pool!

We had a wonderful time in Arizona for Thanksgiving. We originally had planned on staying put for Thanksgiving, but several factors came into play that made Arizona hard to resist: one, THE CRAPPY NORTHWEST NOVEMBER WEATHER, two, traveling with Michelle by air is not as hard as we thought after conquering trips to both Salt Lake and Southern California, three, Barry's company decided to shut the plant down for the entire holiday week, four, THE CRAPPY NORTHWEST NOVEMBER WESTHER. So relatively last minute, we booked tickets to Phoenix. Michelle got to meet her uncle Chad and great uncle Dave and great aunt Charlotte for the first time. She also got to see grandpa Martin and great grandparents Bea and Bert Wilson again. Michelle missed grandma Donna this time since Donna had already made plans to visit her mother in New York. Grandma Nowak's health has declined to the point where she is unable to live alone anymore and it was important that Donna be there for her right now. Michelle hopes to play catch-up and see Grandma Donna soon! The weather was sunny 75-80 every day we were there. I pumped milk like crazy and even got to play 18 holes of golf while Barry stayed home with Michelle one day! We were in great need of serious vitamin D and the week in Phoenix delivered!

Too Cute in my Swim Suit!

Coming in for a kiss from Great Grandpa Bert

Great Grandma Bea holds her princess in pink!

Ahhhh. Vitamin D!

Mommy shares some D's too!

Momma's Little Cheerleader

Today Michelle is 16 weeks old. We have seen all the changes she has been going through, but I thought I would use this opportunity to show the changes I have made. I am truly proud of myself for getting in shape like this in 4 months. I feel great and with my new curves, I have to say I actually like the shape of my body now more than I did before pregnancy! Thank you, breastfeeding, for burning all those extra calories so that I can indulge in a little bit of chocolate/hazelnut Rittersport on a nightly basis!

Talkin' and Rollin'

Rolling over...back to front!

So Michelle is hanging out on her activity mat, on her back, kicking and grabbing at her mobiles. I go into the office to check email, Barry hits the bathroom. I go back out to find Michelle, head held high, on her tummy propped on up on elbows. "Barry! Did you put Michelle on her tummy?" I call out. "No! She must have rolled over by herself." Apparently so! Another milestone met and we were both here to see it. And THIS is why I can't possibly go back to work right now.

Photo of the Week

I don't think this photo needs any explanation.

How did I become that woman?

It is a terrible picture, but it is the ONLY one I have of the three of us together since the first week of her birth.

Cory said to me on the phone today after hearing me go off on another natural birthing tirade "Kelly, you have gone totally baby crazy." And I thought, God, I am! I am a full-blown baby monger! I now understand that feeling my mother got when she saw little babies. I always thought she was weird whenever a baby entered the room. Always wanting to hold the baby, touch the baby, kiss the baby. Even through my pregnancy, I was honestly a bit afraid of babies. Now I feel this strange joy in my heart just looking at a baby. And of course, I can't get enough of MY baby! I can't kiss her enough, love her enough, hold her enough. I am completely addicted to her! The pure biology of this addiction astounds me. I see now what my mother saw when she looked at her little girls and how once the "mother" hormones are triggered, you never look at a baby the same way again. So how did I become my mother? Easy. I became a mother. I remember what a hard time I gave my mother and how I was embarrassed of her cruel to her and even made her cry sometimes. My heart drops when I realize that Michelle too will one day think I am extremely lame. And I too will cry. Then I will remember her as she is right now, my little baby. Barry and I have pretty much decided, barring any unforeseen circumstances, that I will stay home with Michelle for the first year. So how did a woman who at one time was convinced she didn't want kids become a stay at home mom that actually enjoys the smell of baby vomit? I have no idea. They say having a baby changes everything. What an understatement.

We spent the last couple of days with auntie Tammy since Barry is out of town this week.

No! I won't allow it! Michelle, you CANNOT be big enough to hold your own bottle.

Auntie Tammy gets Michelle ready for the holidays in her little party dress...and party antlers.

Official transition to 6 month clothes

I have been waiting for Michelle to grow into this onesie, dreaming of the following photo montage!


"All the better to EAT you with, my dear!"

Yes, it's official. We have squeezed Michelle out of the last of the 0-3 month clothes. And HERE is the pile of barely worn 0-3 month clothes we are left with!
Luckily, I found a wonderful second hand children's clothing/toy store. I scored an almost-new looking Baby Einstein jumping saucer for just $40 (retails for $85). Since she was low in warm 6 month clothes, I bought a few cute outfits all under $10 and that includes the top AND bottom! Everything in the store is in great condition and some things even still have the original tags! They will buy gently used clothing too so guess where I am headed on Monday with her 0-3 month clothes? I'll tell you, as a mom, it doesn't make sense for me to buy her new stuff that she will only wear for 3 months and I might as well send them on down the line. I've heard things like "but what if you have another baby?". Even if we did THEORETICALLY have another baby down the line, there is still a 50/50 chance that the insane amount of pink clothing would not be appropriate should that THEORETICAL child be a boy. I know my mom kept a smattering of items from my baby wardrobe which I admit are nice to have for keepsakes. Grandma Martin sent us a care package yesterday with a new snowsuit for Christmas in Utah and a couple of new Christmas outfits. Too cute for words! I think these items may in fact be keepers!

I'm Gonna Be Published!!!

Most everyone who reads this blog routinely already knows, but I wrote and submitted my birth story as an article for the professional journal Midwifery Today and they want to publish it! I sent it in on a whim, just because the experience was so amazing, I wanted to share it even if it meant just being read by the editors with a "thanks, but no thanks" letter in return. Writing has always been a challenge for me and to have it recognized right now feels something like it did when I passed nursing boards! I will keep everyone up to date on when and where they can read it in publication.

I would write more, but Michelle's nap did not last as long as I hoped!

Just when you think you have it figured out...

...something else changes. I remember those days in the first 6 weeks where I was petrified even to leave the house with Michelle and thinking "I know it will get easier". Yes, some things definitely get easier. It is tremendously helpful that Michelle likes her daddy now and can be both calmed and entertained by him. But there was also a time when all she did was eat, sleep, cry, poop. Now there is that interval of ACTIVITY that comes into play. Michelle is sleeping less and less during the day which means I actually have to entertain my child! She will entertain herself under the activity gym for awhile, but after 10 minutes or so, yells at me to switch things up. Yes, it gets a little boring when you can't just get up and move to the other side of the mat or jump into the bouncy seat. We are getting better every day at communicating with each other. For example, she has a particular staccato "uh-uh-uh-uh" that she makes if her bib flips on her face. The best part now is that when I take the bib off, she smiles with delight as we move into a game of peek-a-boo. Nothing is funnier than blowing raspberries at each other during peek-a-boo and today this game threw her into her first outright giggle. Oh, did I mention she grabbed the rings on the mobile of her bouncy seat intentionally for the first time today? Yesterday, no grabbing. Today, grabbing!!! The milestones are starting to pile up literally over night. I wish I could see the dendrites and neurons grow and connect inside her brain!

Michelle has expanded her book interest past the black and white faces of Woof-Woof Baby Flip-A-Face and is enjoying pop-up books and anything else with big colors. She likes On the Day You Were Born but apparently isn't quite ready for Goodnight Moon as she screams and squirms when I start reading. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a toss-up. Sometimes she likes it, sometimes she gives it the same attitude as Goodnight Moon.

The hardest thing right now is figuring out when to pump my damn boobs! Michelle has settled into a rather predictable sleep routine, but I still can't seem to settle my routine! Almost everyone I talk to says they have the most luck first thing in the morning. Well, Michelle usually wakes up around 5:00 and has NO PROBLEM draining two engorged boobs in a very short period of time. She has also gone back to waking once after 6 hours for a feeding. I usually wake just minutes before she starts to cry which is wonderful that we are in sync, but annoying that I can't seem to wake up with full boobs to pump without her waking up too. So taking the advice of others, when we got up at 5:30 this morning (1 hour after Michelle woke up and dined on both boobs), I attempted to pump because theoretically, there is more milk in the morning after collecting all night, even after a feed. I could barely squeeze out 1 oz. She had nearly COMPLETELY drained both boobs! Yeah. That was pretty much ineffective.

So tonight I am going back to my old way of doing things. Michelle asleep by 7:30. Stay up and pump boobs at 10:30 (usually a good 3 ounces). In bed by 11:00. Possible wake-up call between 1:00 and 2:00. Get up, feed, back to crib (hopefully!). Michelle wakes up between 4:00 and 5:00. Exhausted, I bring her to bed to feed where she nibbles on the all-you-can-eat buffet until I am damn well good and ready to get out of bed!

And who really cares how, when, where or why I pump my boobs? Well, I do. That is my life right now as a breast-feeding mother. Our lives revolve around the boob. So I think "when she is 6 months old, it will be easier because she will be taking solids". And then I remember, that is when her diapers start getting REALLY interesting! Just when you think you have it all figured out... welcome to parenthood!

Monster Mash, Raspberries, and Playdates

Michelle had her first playdate with Teagan yesterday. Teagan is just about 1 month older than Michelle and was also born at the Birthing Inn. I met Teagan's mom at The Birthing Inn's anniversary celebration about a month ago. Michelle tends to be all legs and doesn't grab very much yet. Teagan is a real grabber so she was able to show Michelle a thing or two, starting with holding hands. Could anything be cuter?

On Halloween, Michelle CLEARY imitated us doing Raspberries for the first time. I think it was all the brain-building activity during The Monster Mash earlier that evening.

First Halloween!

Happy First Halloween Michelle!

Trick or Treat!

Mommy says Michelle is the best treat of all!

And some pictures from the past week for smiles and giggles!

3 months old

Posting this morning, I am proud to wake up after Michelle slept another one of her marathon 10 hour stretches! I was cautious to label her as a "good sleeper", but for the past 3 to 4 weeks she has slept consistently for eight, nine, TEN hour stretches...in her crib...by herself! Of course, the week in L.A. threw her off the routine a bit, but as soon as we got back home, she settled right back into the game. Michelle and I spent the night at Tammy's on Thursday night and she had some trouble getting to sleep that night, but considering last night's marathon, I am chalking it up to strange surroundings. We picked Barry up at the airport on our way home from Bothell yesterday afternoon and I am happy to say, it looks like that was the last work trip for him for awhile.
Wow. 3 months old. The "Fourth trimester" officially over. We have this little human developing that giggles and smiles and cuddles and experiences her world. What a delight!

Auntie Tammy carries Michelle on our walk on the Sammamish River Trail.
Io is NOT allowed on the nice purple couches at auntie Tammy's house. He knows this. But he does often eye them with a look of longing for the heavenly giant purple dog bed. I was uploading pictures WITH MY BACK TURNED after Tammy left for work and Io found himself and very comfortable spot. He made himself VERY small thinking "If I am extremely still and make myself very small in between these pillows, perhaps I may blend into the scenery and no one will notice..." Sorry Io. I noticed. And Tammy, if you read this, I DID brush off the dog hair after his momentary lapse of reason.

Fit baby work out!

As the weather is getting crappier, I need to find other ways to exercise on Michelle's schedule. As usual, I thought she was out for a nap around 10:00 this morning and laid her down thinking I might actually be able to do a living room work-out. As usual, she woke up 10 minutes later, just as I getting warmed up. She cried when I put her on the play mat, bouncy seat or swing so I had to stick her in the Bjorn. The "Fit Deck" is a deck of cards with different exercises on it. Barry gave me both a prenatal and postnatal deck. It's great because you can shuffle the exercises to mix up the routine. I did all the ones I could do with Michelle in the Bjorn adding nearly 12 pounds to my work-out! Several exercises require bending over which gives Michelle suspended "tummy time" and while I am on the floor stretching, she gets her baby yoga. Her favorites? Superbaby crunches (suspending her above me while doing crunches on the floor) and Toes to the Nose of course!

Work, Fun, Friends and Milestones

First of all, the format is all screwed up and I am driving myself crazy trying to fix it. Sorry, the words don't match with the photos. I'll try to fix it later.

BIG MILESTONE!!! CHECK IT OUT!!!

Back from California today. Greeted by wet, dark, heavy rain in Tacoma. Yes, we had some rain in So Cal, but there is something nice about the rain when it is actually needed in a particular region. Here are some highlights from the trip!

Michelle decked out in pool attire in San Diego. Unfortunately, the pool felt a little cool for 12 week old babies so she just strutted in her own little beach-wear fashion show.
I snap hundreds of pictures of Michelle but it seems like I am rarely quick enough to catch that heart-glowing smile. Her whole body is smiling in this one! Tuesday's walk on Huntington Beach. Michelle and I made the most of it while Barry hit the road for work. We came across this red rose that looked like it was washed up by the tide. It seemed so random and beautiful to see the delicacy of the petals against the energy of the waves. Of course, Michelle's fair skin and eyes must be protected. Daddy brought home her first pair of sunglasses that day. It looks like our California baby already has the So Cal attitude!
Is there anything cuter than a baby in sunglasses "Bjorned" by her daddy? Thursday, the clouds melted and we were left with sunny, 83 degree weather. We drove to Burbank on Wednesday night which was reasonably close enough to spend time with my good college friend, Heather. And what better thing to do on a fair-weather day with a 3-month-old and an 18-month-old? The ZOO, OF COURSE! The last time I saw Heather's little girl Abby, she was about the age Michelle is now. It was like peering into a crystal ball to see Michelle's future. A little girl, running around, speaking words, eating her little PB & J sandwich, taking in all the animals and naming them in Toddlerese. It really hit me how much Michelle will change in the next year. My baby will only be a baby for such a brief time. Cherish every moment.