A 2nd Birthday, Belated

It's been a little while since his birthday, but that's no reason not write about it!

I'm super behind on just about everything these days, so "Better late then never" repeats in my head quite a bit.

My Booboo turned 2!

His birthday was slightly overshadowed by his brothers birth and NICU stay. Plus, there were a few things going on in our family and weather issues so we skipped the big family party and did some little things together.

On his birthday we had dinner at home with cupcakes and presents.

Then, the following Sunday we did a repeat with my parents and brothers.  He was a happy boy despite all the changes going on around him.


One of the things I look forward to so much is to see WHO my children become.

They come out of your womb these helpless, beautiful sweethearts and before you know it they are walking and talking and becoming independent of you.

Seeing each of my kids developed personalities that are so unique even though they came from the same parents and are experiencing life similarly is so amazing!  It truly is a nod to nature in the nature vs. nurture debate.

This little boy has developed a sense of humor, charm and charisma that knocks me for a loop! And just about everyone else, too.

He has shown us an intelligence that is beyond his years since before he was talking, but now he's giving us the "what-for" in full sentences.  I'm blown away every day by what he mentally digests and what comes out of his mouth

On top of all that, he has a smile that is so mischievous and adorable.... and he is so darn kissable with those big smushy cheeks!

His laughter, smiles, hugs, kisses and cuddles bring me back from the darkest of moods.

Happy belated birthday, Baby!

Sample Infant Schedule: Nemo

This is the third and final installment of my sample infant schedules. I have described in previous posts Princess's and Little Man's, now it's time to talk about Nemo :)

I followed a child led schedule with Princess and a pretty strict schedule adapted from On Becoming Baby Wise and The Sleepeasy Solution for Little Man.  Nemo has gotten the benefit of my experience with the others.  I started the schedule early, but I also took cues from him on what he needs.

Week one:

• Nursed on demand, which was often
• Found out he had lost weight and began supplementing with 1-2oz of formula after each feeding.
• Sleep was often, but erratic.

Week two:

• Found out he had acid reflux and started rice cereal mixed with is formula as part of his supplemental feeding.
• Nursed on demand otherwise.
• Sleep became a little more steady.  He seemed to be following his activity schedule from in the womb.  Nights and days were not confused as much as with the others.

Week three:

• Began Zantac for acid reflux.
• Stopped rice cereal (binding).
• Started using formula as a full supplemental feeding in the evening (3-4oz).
• He still mostly slept in between feedings which were about 2.5 hours apart except for at night when they were about 3-4 hours apart.

Weeks four and five:

• Feedings stayed the same with the addition of one formula bottle in the AM (4oz).
• He was awake more, but content.
• His began sleeping up to five hours straight at night.

Weeks six and seven:

• Added another formula feeding in anticipation of going back to work. 
• Sleep jumped up to 7 hours straight at night.

Week eight:

• I went back to work full time.
• 6:30AM nursed
• 7-9AM nap
• 10AM formula
• 11AM-12:30PM nap
• 1-2PM formula
• 4-5PM nursed
• 7PM  pre-bed nap
• 8-9PM formula
• 9PM bed
• 3-4PM nursed

5 Months:

• 6:30 formula (6-7oz)
• 10AM formula
• 2PM formula
• 5PM nurse
• 7PM still takes a pre-bed nap :)
• 8PM formula (6oz)
• 3-4AM nurse and formula (3-5oz)
• He usually takes a 1 hr nap in the AM and a 2 hr nap in the PM.  Sometimes he splits them into smaller increments.

You may notice some of the differences:
1.  Nemo started formula much earlier, but he has also nursed more that 4 weeks past what his siblings did.
2.  I generally don't lay him down awake.  He naps similarly every day on his own.  At night, he may go down groggy.  As long as it is dark and pretty quite, he will go to sleep.
3.  I still do not consistently offer him cereal.  He had it very early for his acid reflux and it bound him up.  I began offering cereal at 4 months but he is still adjusting to the texture.  I also don't give him rice cereal, he gets oatmeal which seems to be gentler on his system.
4.  He has a pre-bed nap.  I worried about this because I would never have allowed it with his sister or brother, but it works for him.  He only cries when he is hungry, tired, has a dirty diaper or his teeth are bothering him (haven't come in yet, but teething has begun).  He gets really cranky at 7PM like clockwork, falls asleep for about 30mins, plays for a while, eats and passes out for the night.  If it starts to affect bed time, then I will try to drop it.
5.  I am still nursing, though just barely.  He is the only one that I have been able to continue nursing after 4 months which is surprising because I have not pumped once.  I won't be doing it much longer, but so far he still gets at least one feeding from me.

I obviously don't have more information on Nemo's next six months, but I imagine it will be more of the same.  We have been blessed with a very happy baby :)

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Fisher Price Rock n' Play Sleeper {Recall Information}

Fisher Price Rock n' Play Sleeper

For the first time in the infancy of 3 children, I was blessed with one who would lie down in the bassinet in absence of Mama’s arms and sleep for extended periods of time.  I thought, “FINALLY!  We have done something right!”

But then, Nemo was diagnosed with reflux and I realized that was the reason he  spit up constantly. He needs to be held upright for 20-30 minutes after eating and he needs to sleep at a 45 degree angle.  So, we began letting him sleep in his car seat ( not recommended by baby experts...) and his bouncy seat (also not recommended...). We do what we have to do.  

Then, my Mother in Law came across the Fisher Price Rock n’ Play Sleeper.  IT. IS. AWESOME.

I love, love, love this thing.  It’s compact, folds up, easily travels from room to room and I don’t have to worry about reflux or him rolling over during the night.  I wish I had this for my other children because I might have actually slept.

So I went in search of some additional info so that I could share my beloved sleeper with you guys and I came across a recall....

Apparently, mold can grow between the plastic and lining causing some infants respiratory problems.  I loved this thing so much, that I purchased one for my parents home for when my Mom watches the kids.  And I bought it second hand.  Ug.

After further examination of the quasi-recall, they don’t actually say that the sleeper needs to be returned or repaired.  It just needs to be cleaned properly if mold should begin to grow.  

Despite this little problem, I still recommend the Rock N’ Play sleeper to everyone who has a small baby.  And I am recommending it to you, now, especially if your baby is struggling with reflux or even a bad cold.  My poor baby has  had his fair share of colds already and the sleeper has kept him from choking on mucus.  It has really saved us on a few different occasions.

So, if you own one of these beautiful sleepers, just be sure to check underneath for mold.  I checked both of mine and there is nothing there.  I imagine this would be more common if moisture was building in there after, say, a diaper leaked or some other fluid were to be spilled.  Just like with anything you use with your children, be vigilant.

If you should have a problem, please contact the manufacturer:

Fisher-Price; at (800) 432-5437, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.service.mattel.com for more information.

This post includes my personal opinions that were NOT solicited by the company.  I just wanted to share a product I love!

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Baby #3 is Here!

It's been two weeks since this special little person came into the world and its been a whirl wind. Two weeks! How can he be that old already? I agonized over labor and did everything I could to make it progress and suddenly I'm here, 9 days past my due date with three beautiful children.

Last you may have heard, I was on bed rest. On February 5th my blood pressure was crazy high, but because I was just over 38 weeks the doctor didn't want to induce yet. He said he didn't think I would make it to the weekend anyway. He stretched my cervix and stripped the membrane and sent me home to be on bed rest until Friday if nothing happened. I was scheduled with another doctor that Friday, the 8th at 9:20am.

That morning, my blood pressure remained the same and the doctor I saw wasn't sure why the other doctor hadn't called for induction earlier in the week. He told me to go home, pack my stuff and head straight to Labor and Delivery. He was recommending monitoring and induction.

However, he was not the doctor on call at the hospital that day. I got all excited, packed my stuff, made arrangements for Princess and Little Man and my husband and I got settled for a long stay. This was the day that Winter Storm Nemo hit and we were curious about the truth behind storm systems causing a rise in births. The nurse informed us that they were slammed. By 10 that morning they had already delivered 5 babies. I was getting strong, frequent contractions and had been for days so I felt like I would be an easy patient. But Since I didn't HAVE to be induced, I was sent home.

The on call doctor stripped the membrane again, the third time that week.
I was mad and disappointed. He scheduled me for induction on Monday morning, but I felt cheated. Ridiculous? Probably, but I was so ready.

That night I bounced on my exercise ball, ate pineapple and had my husband go get me Nachos and hot wings from my favorite place. I went to bed defeated.
Sometime around 1:00am, I had one really strong contraction that woke me from a dead sleep, but once it passed, I fell back to sleep.

At 1:20 I woke up again and decided I needed to go to the bathroom and as I sat up I felt as if something gave way and I got the full gush of my water breaking!

I called L&D and they really didn't seem interested in having me come in. Again, I was a bit miffed. We were in the middle of a snow/ice storm but my water freaking broke- come on! What had them tell me to come in was that I had not received the results of my Strep B test, so they needed to be sure I was negative or get me started on antibiotics.

My parents met my husband and I at the hospital and stayed in the delivery room with us. Only my Dad left at the awkward times that neither he nor I wanted him to witness.

I had an Epidural, my third. I was given Pitocin at 8:30am to strengthen my contractions and they assured me that by my progress, I would be delivering by noon.

I told the nurse that I was feeling shaky and that was normal for me during transition. She told me that it's hormonal and didn't necessarily mean anything but when she couldn't get a read on the babies heart rate she decided to check my progress. She couldn't get his heart rate because I was ready to push and he was too far engaged!

My beautiful baby boy was born at 9:42 on Saturday, February 9th, 2013! 8 Ibs, 12 oz, 20 inches long. I pushed for one minute and he was here!

My perfect precious baby is here and is surrounded by doting family. Princess and Little Man are smitten! Our biggest challenge is protecting baby from all the hands-on love his siblings dish out ;)

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Baby Timeline

Other than to complain, it seems that I have not written much about this pregnancy.  I announced it, posted some ultrasound pics and then talked about how horrible I felt.  As I near the end I am regretting not reveling in it more.  Every time I thought about writing about it, it seemed redundant or I just wanted to keep the details to myself.

This was definitely a challenging pregnancy and I have battled the usual Blood Pressure and pain issues that I had with my other children, but this one was especially hard because I already have two rambunctious little ones and near constant contractions from about 6 months on.  I am lucky, though, that none of it every amounted to actual Preterm Labor or Pre Eclampsia and it's only right now that things are progressing.

I am currently 37 weeks and 2 days.  Induction may be in my future if my Blood Pressure does not steady itself so I am doing everything in my power to move things along naturally-the sooner, the better ;)
And, no worries.  I realize that 37 weeks, although full term, is a little early.  Nothing that I am doing is hurting my little guy and even if he did come today, he's not that little-my kids just aren't small.

I out together a little time line collage of our growth thus far.  I hope you enjoy!

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