Yesterday was ROUGH. I am not sure what happened, but his normal 2 1/2 - 3 hour schedule turned into 2 hours at best, including overnight. And his typical 2 1/4 oz to 3 oz feedings turned into only 2 ounces. I have no idea what went haywire, but it seems to have leveled out today. Maybe it's because I got him up earlier than usual, or maybe it's because he's only 17 days old and I expect too much from him.
So far, today is a great day. My perfect little Nugget is back to his perfect little self today. And I am getting into my own groove today too. It's 2:00 pm and here has been the day:
6:15 am - morning feeding and wake time
7:15 am - I am back in bed, exhausted from the 2 hour schedule overnight.
8:45 am - second morning feeding and play time spent staring at the dogs and ceiling fan while I change the crib sheet, empty the diaper pail and clean up the remnants of the nighttime feedings.
9:45 am - second nap of the day for Bryan. I start a load of laundry, and another load of laundry, wash the bottles, have a cup of coffee, a quick breakfast, and get the gear ready for Bryan's bath. I also managed to catch up on one DVR'd show from three weeks ago!! YAY!!
11:30 am - Bryan is up and playful! He eats like a champ, spends a few minutes in his bouncy chair staring out the window, then he gets a bath. Nothing is sweeter than a clean (and naked) baby! We sing and rock then go down for another nap.
12:40 pm - Bryan is in his crib and is seconds away from sawing logs...so I take the chance to jump in the shower.
Dressed and ready to go, at 1:15, I finally have the chance to have a little lunch, update the grocery list, shop for a Fathers Day gift on Amazon (I fully appreciate online shopping now!), and write this blog.
It's now 2:30 and I can hear Nugget starting to squeak a little. And that's three hours since the last feeding. I'll take it!!
I now live life in 2 hour increments. Sometimes I get two hours to get stuff done. Sometimes I get only an hour and a half. This incremental life takes lots of planning and a few good lists. And I love every second of it! In our next increment, I think we may take a walk. I am starving for a run, but don't have the right stroller for that, and want to make sure the Pediatrician is OK with a 3-week old in a jogging stroller before I go buy one (and yes I know they make attachments for infant carriers to attach to the jogger...but some websites say that you shouldn't jog with an infant until they can hold their head up on their own). Otherwise, I'll start running either before Chris goes to work in the morning, or maybe after he gets home from work in the evening.
Regardless, I am feeling great and so in love with our little Nugget and our new Incremental Life.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
And just like that...
It's just us. The three of us. Me, Chris and our perfect little Nugget, Bryan. I knew it would be love at first sight, but I had no idea the magnitude with which I would love him. Much like The Grinch on Christmas morning, my "heart grew three sizes that day..." Mom and Dad left for home today and it was emotional, to say the least. It's never easy, but this trip was especially difficult. It was so wonderful having them here for Bryan's first 2 weeks, and to be there an hour after he was born. I wish we lived closer.
It's hard to believe how much Bryan has changed in just 16 days. He's gained more than a pound already, is in a wonderful 3-4 hour feeding/sleeping cycle at night, and 2-3 hours during the day. He's also grown out of the newborn diapers and outfits already and is creating a load of laundry (or two) a day! The hardest part is not spending every waking moment NOT staring at him and watching him explore his new world. We joke, but so far, Bryan's best friend is the ceiling fan in our living room. He's absolutely enamored with it. It's cute.
I have so much to say about our new little family and all it's glory and will try to send some updates this week during the nap times...unless I sneak a nap myself :-) So, in the meantime, some much awaited photos.
It's hard to believe how much Bryan has changed in just 16 days. He's gained more than a pound already, is in a wonderful 3-4 hour feeding/sleeping cycle at night, and 2-3 hours during the day. He's also grown out of the newborn diapers and outfits already and is creating a load of laundry (or two) a day! The hardest part is not spending every waking moment NOT staring at him and watching him explore his new world. We joke, but so far, Bryan's best friend is the ceiling fan in our living room. He's absolutely enamored with it. It's cute.
I have so much to say about our new little family and all it's glory and will try to send some updates this week during the nap times...unless I sneak a nap myself :-) So, in the meantime, some much awaited photos.
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| only minutes old. He's so little! |
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| Proud Daddy |
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| Love |
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| Bryan showing his "love" for Babies R Us. BTW, that's how Chris sits when he's tired!! |
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| Have you ever seen more proud grandparents? |
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| Saturday, April 28. 15 days old. Man am I in love with him! |
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| His frist adventure in the bouncy seat...look how tiny he is. |
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| in the hospital. |
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| coming home |
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| 15 hours old. And I hope that expression is one that lasts forever in his world. |
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| Unposed. The only instruction was, "Dad, give baby a kiss." Bryan reached up on his own. That's love. |
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A letter to my little nugget
Dear Bryan,
It's hard to believe that you'll be here tomorrow. It seems like I've been waiting for you for a very long time, but that I just found out about you yesterday. How strange that time can move so quickly and crawl so slowly all at once.
There are so many things I want to say to you, but you won't understand a word of it for a while. First and foremost, I want to ask you to be patient with me and your Dad. We have no idea what we are doing, how you will respond to the routines we want to establish, or where we are going to keep the bottles. But rest assured,we will figure it out as quickly as we can! Just know that everything we do, we are doing to make you the happiest little boy on Earth because we love you more than our words could ever express.
We are so excited to meet you and figure out whose nose you have, what color your eyes will be, if your hair will be curly (how could it not be?) and whether or not receding hairlines are inherited from fathers. Will you have my sense of adventure (uh oh) or your dad's more conservative approach to exploration? Unfortunately, I think you are doomed to stubbornness, but maybe characteristics your Dad and I have in common will also mean you will love hockey as much as we do. I will let you choose your own team after I've taught you all about the Red Wings. I'll let your Dad talk about the Stars too, just remember, ice isn't natural in Dallas.
Your Dad and I have so much love in our hearts and laundry list of things we want you to learn. We want you to be unafraid of the unknown. Be courageous enough to take chances realizing that not all of them will work out the way you had planned, but never forget that in our family, there is on such thing as failure, only lessons learned.
And Nugget, there is one more thing I want to give you when you are ready. A long time from now. My mom gave it to me because she knew it about me. And I already know this about you. "Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." (said Christopher Robin to Pooh). You'll learn who those guys are very soon.
We love you, Nugget. See you tomorrow!
Mommy and Daddy
It's hard to believe that you'll be here tomorrow. It seems like I've been waiting for you for a very long time, but that I just found out about you yesterday. How strange that time can move so quickly and crawl so slowly all at once.
There are so many things I want to say to you, but you won't understand a word of it for a while. First and foremost, I want to ask you to be patient with me and your Dad. We have no idea what we are doing, how you will respond to the routines we want to establish, or where we are going to keep the bottles. But rest assured,we will figure it out as quickly as we can! Just know that everything we do, we are doing to make you the happiest little boy on Earth because we love you more than our words could ever express.
We are so excited to meet you and figure out whose nose you have, what color your eyes will be, if your hair will be curly (how could it not be?) and whether or not receding hairlines are inherited from fathers. Will you have my sense of adventure (uh oh) or your dad's more conservative approach to exploration? Unfortunately, I think you are doomed to stubbornness, but maybe characteristics your Dad and I have in common will also mean you will love hockey as much as we do. I will let you choose your own team after I've taught you all about the Red Wings. I'll let your Dad talk about the Stars too, just remember, ice isn't natural in Dallas.
Your Dad and I have so much love in our hearts and laundry list of things we want you to learn. We want you to be unafraid of the unknown. Be courageous enough to take chances realizing that not all of them will work out the way you had planned, but never forget that in our family, there is on such thing as failure, only lessons learned.
And Nugget, there is one more thing I want to give you when you are ready. A long time from now. My mom gave it to me because she knew it about me. And I already know this about you. "Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." (said Christopher Robin to Pooh). You'll learn who those guys are very soon.
We love you, Nugget. See you tomorrow!
Mommy and Daddy
Monday, April 9, 2012
Catching up
It's been difficult to blog the last couple of weeks. I am getting a bazillion emails a day asking "how are you feeling?" from friends I can only assume actually care about how I am feeling. I feel so blessed to have kept our little nugget healthy and safe on the inside for 38 weeks and 3 days. Let's just say this...I feel pregnant. VERY pregnant. It's difficult to be so excited and have others around me that are probably just as excited as I am, but feeling so completely pregnant that I really don't want to talk to them until nugget makes his appearance!
Chris and I are ready. Very ready. Ready to love this little nugget like we've never loved anything before. Ready to be parents and teach him everything we know and hope that he turns into a wonderful man. Ready for 3:00 am feedings after a late night with friends and a little too much wine. Ready for play dates and tough decisions.
And the best news is that nugget will be here by Friday. That's right. Friday, April 13. My doctor is inducing me on Friday, April 13. I am not superstitious and have always liked Friday the 13th. And besides, April 13 is also Thomas Jefferson's birthday. Not a bad fellow to share a birthday with, if you ask me! Only four more sleeps!! I can do anything for 4 sleeps. Funny thing...it's like Christmas Eve for a 6-year-old over and over and over again. Can it just be Christmas already?!?!?
I have no idea how much blogging I will do in the first couple of weeks, but I am guessing not much. Thankfully, most of you are family and will have pictures and updates emailed to you!
Chris and I are ready. Very ready. Ready to love this little nugget like we've never loved anything before. Ready to be parents and teach him everything we know and hope that he turns into a wonderful man. Ready for 3:00 am feedings after a late night with friends and a little too much wine. Ready for play dates and tough decisions.
And the best news is that nugget will be here by Friday. That's right. Friday, April 13. My doctor is inducing me on Friday, April 13. I am not superstitious and have always liked Friday the 13th. And besides, April 13 is also Thomas Jefferson's birthday. Not a bad fellow to share a birthday with, if you ask me! Only four more sleeps!! I can do anything for 4 sleeps. Funny thing...it's like Christmas Eve for a 6-year-old over and over and over again. Can it just be Christmas already?!?!?
I have no idea how much blogging I will do in the first couple of weeks, but I am guessing not much. Thankfully, most of you are family and will have pictures and updates emailed to you!
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