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| Bryan-5 weeks |
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| Bryan-2 weeks |
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| Chris |
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| Jenna |
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Mini-who?
Perspective
I love puzzles, untying knots, story problems and algebra. I think that makes me a good Mom. Just when I think I have Bryan figured out, he changes. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE every second of it.
Bryan is home with me this week, my first week back at work. Thankfully, I work from home. And my job is crazy busy beginning at the first of the month and continuing for the next two to three weeks. The last few days of a month are always pretty quiet so it worked out nicely. Bryan is on a nice 3-4 hour feed/wake/sleep cycle and is only awake for about 45 minutes of it.
This morning we were a little behind schedule and I was stressing a little bit about being late for work while Bryan was having his morning playtime. But then I got this on video:
He's so stinking cute. And that's when everything falls into perspective. Who cares if I am 15 minutes late for work. Nothing in my life is more important than this little Nugget. And he will only be six weeks and four days old once. And that's today. Tomorrow, he will be another day older and more than likely discovered that the thumb that keeps accidentally landing in his mouth is actually attached to his own hand.
So, for today, I will start my day with a cup of coffee and this:
Bryan is home with me this week, my first week back at work. Thankfully, I work from home. And my job is crazy busy beginning at the first of the month and continuing for the next two to three weeks. The last few days of a month are always pretty quiet so it worked out nicely. Bryan is on a nice 3-4 hour feed/wake/sleep cycle and is only awake for about 45 minutes of it.
This morning we were a little behind schedule and I was stressing a little bit about being late for work while Bryan was having his morning playtime. But then I got this on video:
He's so stinking cute. And that's when everything falls into perspective. Who cares if I am 15 minutes late for work. Nothing in my life is more important than this little Nugget. And he will only be six weeks and four days old once. And that's today. Tomorrow, he will be another day older and more than likely discovered that the thumb that keeps accidentally landing in his mouth is actually attached to his own hand.
So, for today, I will start my day with a cup of coffee and this:
Work can wait.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Teaching and Learning
This week, it has been extremely difficult to understand the role of teacher versus student. For the most part, I think I've been the student and the teacher has been this little Nugget:
Today marks his 5 week birthday, and here is a shortened list of the things he has taught me this week alone!
1. When I say to him before every nap/sleep, "I love you to the moon and back, all the time, every day, no matter what," the statement must also apply at three o'clock in the morning when I am putting the third onesie over his head in less than 10 minutes because he had peed through the first one, peed on the second one before I could get his diaper attached and pooped on the third (it was 3 o'clock in the morning, cut me some slack!). Thankfully the third application lasted until morning.
2. Sometimes motherly instincts trump medical school degrees and I should have followed my instincts. Thankfully nothing was unable to be undone. I hate wrecking the little guy's digestive system even if only for a day.
3. Being 10 lbs, 1 oz when you are 4 weeks and 3 days old only lands you in the 50th percentile but 0-3 month sleepers will be too small. Remind me to write a letter to Gerber and tell them how their clothing is inappropriately sized.
4. Just because the label says "1 month+" doesn't mean that when you are exactly one month old it will be the right option for you.
5. Sleep during the day is apparently optional. But sleep at night is not. Which is the way we would prefer it. Thanks for the great night last night, Nugget. But I pay a stiff price today!
6. Running four weeks postpartum is difficult. Running four weeks postpartum pushing a jogging stroller uphill, against the wind is IMPOSSIBLE! We need to find a flatter route. Or hope for the wind to ease up.
7. At some point in the past five weeks, I have learned the difference between the cries of "I'm bored and don't feel like sleeping so come pick me up and play with me," and "Oh, Momma, I am in distress please come quickly, I need your help." Rule of thumb: if he sounds like a cat, it's a trap...he doesn't need me, he wants to play!
8. Lower intestinal gas cannot be "cured" with infant Mylocon. But keeping his belly warm and massaging it in a clockwise motion can release enough "Nugget Toots" to make me giggle for HOURS!!!
9. Whoever invented the baby swing deserves a Nobel Peace Prize...with emphasis on the "Peace!!!" Thank you, whoever you are!
10. Spit-up happens. It dribbles down chins and onto shoulders (his and mine alike...shoulders, not chins), so I need to except it, wipe it up and move on. Stop stressing about the clothing. Tide Boost can remove the stain but it will not give back the 15 minutes of quiet time I just lost because I insisted on changing his clothes and therefore needed to settle him back down before nap time.
Today marks his 5 week birthday, and here is a shortened list of the things he has taught me this week alone!
1. When I say to him before every nap/sleep, "I love you to the moon and back, all the time, every day, no matter what," the statement must also apply at three o'clock in the morning when I am putting the third onesie over his head in less than 10 minutes because he had peed through the first one, peed on the second one before I could get his diaper attached and pooped on the third (it was 3 o'clock in the morning, cut me some slack!). Thankfully the third application lasted until morning.
2. Sometimes motherly instincts trump medical school degrees and I should have followed my instincts. Thankfully nothing was unable to be undone. I hate wrecking the little guy's digestive system even if only for a day.
3. Being 10 lbs, 1 oz when you are 4 weeks and 3 days old only lands you in the 50th percentile but 0-3 month sleepers will be too small. Remind me to write a letter to Gerber and tell them how their clothing is inappropriately sized.
4. Just because the label says "1 month+" doesn't mean that when you are exactly one month old it will be the right option for you.
5. Sleep during the day is apparently optional. But sleep at night is not. Which is the way we would prefer it. Thanks for the great night last night, Nugget. But I pay a stiff price today!
6. Running four weeks postpartum is difficult. Running four weeks postpartum pushing a jogging stroller uphill, against the wind is IMPOSSIBLE! We need to find a flatter route. Or hope for the wind to ease up.
7. At some point in the past five weeks, I have learned the difference between the cries of "I'm bored and don't feel like sleeping so come pick me up and play with me," and "Oh, Momma, I am in distress please come quickly, I need your help." Rule of thumb: if he sounds like a cat, it's a trap...he doesn't need me, he wants to play!
8. Lower intestinal gas cannot be "cured" with infant Mylocon. But keeping his belly warm and massaging it in a clockwise motion can release enough "Nugget Toots" to make me giggle for HOURS!!!
9. Whoever invented the baby swing deserves a Nobel Peace Prize...with emphasis on the "Peace!!!" Thank you, whoever you are!
10. Spit-up happens. It dribbles down chins and onto shoulders (his and mine alike...shoulders, not chins), so I need to except it, wipe it up and move on. Stop stressing about the clothing. Tide Boost can remove the stain but it will not give back the 15 minutes of quiet time I just lost because I insisted on changing his clothes and therefore needed to settle him back down before nap time.
Monday, May 14, 2012
A Mother...
Yesterday was a big day in this house with SO much to celebrate. It was Bryan's one-month birthday AND it was my first Mother's Day!
And if those two things weren't enough to celebrate, I also celebrated officially becoming Another Mother Runner! Yup! That's right! For Mother's Day, Chris bought me a jogging stroller, so Bryan and I registered for our first 5K together (on July 4th and strollers are allowed!!), and have officially begun reconditioning my body. Only 4 weeks postpartum and I am starting to feel like myself again. Only with club hands. But that's a story for another day...and a hand doctor or something! LOL.
While our two miles this morning were a little off pace (OK, let's be honest, they were A LOT off pace and I had to walk a lot), I consider it a success that we got two miles of hill training in less than 30 minutes. I think that's a faster pace than when I started running in December 2010, and that was without pushing a stroller with a baby in it, and my biggest physical challenge was that my foot hurt. Ugh. That seems like a lifetime ago!
Anyway, I am part of an elite club now. I am one of those crazies that will bundle up myself and my little one to breathe in the fresh mile-high air first thing in the morning. I will push that stroller until my hands are numb. And somewhere along the way, I also hope to teach Bryan about the value of exercise and how fun it can be. I can't wait until he's three and yells "GO FASTER MOMMY" when I am running as fast as I can up a hill. My legs burn (and my heart warms) just thinking about it.
This feels so good to say. I am a Runner. And I am a Mother. And today I celebrate the marriage of the two! Bring on the half marathon training with a stroller! (Just imagine how easy a race will be when I am not pushing a stroller around! WAAAAA HOOOOOOO!!!)
And if those two things weren't enough to celebrate, I also celebrated officially becoming Another Mother Runner! Yup! That's right! For Mother's Day, Chris bought me a jogging stroller, so Bryan and I registered for our first 5K together (on July 4th and strollers are allowed!!), and have officially begun reconditioning my body. Only 4 weeks postpartum and I am starting to feel like myself again. Only with club hands. But that's a story for another day...and a hand doctor or something! LOL.
While our two miles this morning were a little off pace (OK, let's be honest, they were A LOT off pace and I had to walk a lot), I consider it a success that we got two miles of hill training in less than 30 minutes. I think that's a faster pace than when I started running in December 2010, and that was without pushing a stroller with a baby in it, and my biggest physical challenge was that my foot hurt. Ugh. That seems like a lifetime ago!
Anyway, I am part of an elite club now. I am one of those crazies that will bundle up myself and my little one to breathe in the fresh mile-high air first thing in the morning. I will push that stroller until my hands are numb. And somewhere along the way, I also hope to teach Bryan about the value of exercise and how fun it can be. I can't wait until he's three and yells "GO FASTER MOMMY" when I am running as fast as I can up a hill. My legs burn (and my heart warms) just thinking about it.
This feels so good to say. I am a Runner. And I am a Mother. And today I celebrate the marriage of the two! Bring on the half marathon training with a stroller! (Just imagine how easy a race will be when I am not pushing a stroller around! WAAAAA HOOOOOOO!!!)
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