For the love of Minnie Mouse, take the bottle! (A letter to my two month old daughter)

Dearest Val,

When you came into this world just two short months ago I knew my life was complete, and so was our wonderful family. You have brought so much joy to our lives in the little time you have been in the outside world. I love that you already have your own unique little personality. I can't wait to watch you and your sister grow up side by side and become the best of friends...but...

For the love of Minnie Mouse and your mother's sanity - TAKE THE DAMN BOTTLE!!

When I first put you to my boob it was love at first site - for you and my ginormous melons. You latched right away and went to town and started gaining weight like a high school wrestler trying to make his weight for a big match. We were told to wait until 3-5 weeks to introduce a bottle to you, as we didn't want to create "nipple confusion." You know what I say about nipple confusion? Eff nipple confusion. Eff it in the A.

We snuck two bottles in there before the 3-5 week mark and you took them unwillingly, but you took them. Then around 4 weeks we left you with your grandmother, for a whole hour and a half, and you refused to latch on to the silicone nipply goodness. Your grandmother actually called us to come home from your sister's school meeting because you were inconsolable and breaking her heart with your cries for boob!

We tried and tried for days to get you to latch onto that bottle with no luck. And in those days Mommy started to feel defeated. Am I to have no time away from your sweet little self? Yes I love you with all my heart, but I need my time away. I need my adult time, I need my alone time...I need to get the old Mommy back.

I even sought out the help of a professional at Isis, and tried all of her tried and true tips for getting a breastfed baby to take a bottle. We have tried 5 different brands of bottles - and you have refused them all.

4 nights ago while trying for the third time that day, I was actually able to get you to take an ounce of freshly squeezed b-milk from the bottle (Momma by Lansinoh brand). I had reached my breaking point and looked down at your little face going to town on the bottle and broke down in tears. I was overwhelmed with joy and thought there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel. No longer would I have to turn down offers for fabulous dinners and nights out on the town with friends! Daddy could finally take some of the feedings at night! Mommy was back baby!!

But you teased me Val. I thought you were on your way to bottle town, but no, you just teased me with your latch on that bottle that night. Since then, nothing. Since then I have wasted many ounces of breast milk trying to get you to take a bottle again. You now gag and cry whenever it comes near you, which in turn leads mommy to tears. I thought it was the beginning of Mommy's freedom, but no it was just a fluke.

I am begging you, sweet baby Val, take the bottle!! I am not asking for  you to give up the boob, not by any means. Your precious mama jugs are here for the taking all day long, but I need a break here and there, and if you want to eat when Mommy isn't around, you need to take that silicone nipple in your mouth and show it who's boss!! I don't know how much longer Mommy can go being attached at the boob to you with no freedom in site.

It is breaking my spirit, and Mommy is losing the happy and fun Mommy she used to be. I don't want to have to give Daddy guilt trips when he is out doing adult things, and going to work dinners and drinks with friends as I stay home with you and your sister. Mommy wants to take a shower and get dressed up (in something that doesn't require me to have direct access to my boobs) and actually put some make-up on and have some adult conversation with friends. And booze! I miss my booze...BLURG.

So if you love your Mommy, Val, you will read this letter (she is a genius at 2 months of course) and cut your Mommy a break and take the damn bottle!! Pretty please?!?! I promise to buy you a pony!!

I'm Like Sandra Bullock in Speed

BABY ON BOARD! MOVE IT!

My daughter Val, now 6 weeks old, is pretty much the opposite of my first born, M. Val is breastfed, M wanted nothing to do with the boob. M was an incredible sleeper, Val can only sleep when being held by someone. M was born early, Val was on time. Val is thriving, M was an itty bitty peanut. M has blue eyes, Val has very dark brown. M looks like me, Val looks like my husband...yada yada yada...which brings me to the topic of this post...M loved the car, Val LOATHES the car.

I seriously hate going anywhere with Val in tow because I know that the majority of the car ride I will have my arm on her carseat, shaking it back and forth (as much as it allows of course), constantly saying "Shhhhhh - it's ok Val. Mommy is here. We're almost (insert there, home, etc.)." And poor M next to her in the backseat just says "What's wrong with Val??" over and over. It does not make for fun adventures to say the least.

As soon as we get to our destination and I get her out of her carseat she is peachy keen. Even if I leave her in her car seat, just the movement of getting her out of the car and inside stops her crying.

The only time she isn't crying while in the car is when we are on the highway, doing at least 50 MPH. I kid you not, if we hit the brakes to slow from 80 to 75, she does not like it! Driving on a road where you hit every light - forget it. Breakdown central - and I mean Val not other automobiles.

So whenever I am in the car with Val I do my best not to slow down if possible. If on the highway I use my Spidey senses to try and avoid getting behind a car going slower than I am. No, I am not weaving in and out of traffic like a fool, but I am so much more aware of cars going slower around me. I feel like I am like Sandra Bullock in the movie Speed, where she can't let the bus go below 60 MPH or the bomb will go off.

The bomb in this case is a 6 week old with lungs of steel and a cry that will break any humans heart. (Booyah!)

Parenting Two Kids = NO JOKE

Today marks two weeks since I had my second child, Val. Let me start this post by saying that in these last two weeks I have gained more respect than I ever thought I could for mothers and fathers of two+ children. Holy crap, this job is no joke. I have so much to report that I could separate this one post into many, but I am going to just give you the facts. 

Here is Mama J's two week report: 

- I have a house husband. And I freaking love it - and love him even more than I did before for taking over all of my responsibilities, except breastfeeding baby Val. He has pretty much taken sole responsibility of M, he is taking the dog to the park every day, he lets me sleep all I want, he does the dishes, he does the grocery shopping and any other errands that need running. I rue the day he has to go back to work (next week at some point) but as he explained in order to keep our house, he needs to work, so I guess he needs to go back. Boooooo. 

- My boobs were made for breastfeeding. As I have mentioned a million times, I didn't breastfeed M. I pumped for 14+ weeks. This time with Val I was determined (and scared shitless) to breastfeed. Well, she took to it like a champ and my giant melon jugs are falling right in line with her. I am not in pain (except when milk comes back in), nips are good to go, and she latches like she was born to breastfeed. In the last 2 weeks she has put on one pound 5 ounces! 

- It is nearly impossible to get out of the house with two children. I used to laugh when my friends would talk about how hard it is to get out of the house with two kids, when I should have been giving them the benefit of the doubt. This shit is no joke. Just the sheer packing of the diaper bag for two kids takes 15 minutes. Diapers, wipes, change of clothes, burp cloths, snacks, drinks, tissues, Nose Frida, boogie wipes (M has been sick the past week), my wallet, phone, keys, nursing pads, hooter hider...and guaranteed I go up and down the stairs at least 3 times during the getting ready...and have to go back in the house once we are already out of the garage. And this is with two parents at home! I think when my husband goes to work I am just going to stay home all the time. 

- M loves Val, but does not like her. When M came to visit us in the hospital she was on the brink of tears the entire visit (only 15 minutes) and said repeatedly "I wanna go home." The second visit was even less successful and resulted in tears, for both her and I. When we got home she wouldn't even go in the same room as Val. A few days later we got her to remain in the same room, and a few days after that we got her to give Val a high five...and then a kiss on the head. And that is about as far as we have gotten. I tried to take a photo of the two of them (see right) and this was the best I could do after basically throwing Val down on the couch next to M and her realizing what was happening and trying to bolt (notice my husbands hands holding her down and the look of fear on her face). I am doing my best to include M in all I do for Val, but she has not shown any interest at all as of yet. I keep hearing it gets better - hopefully that will be sooner rather than later. 

- The second child is much easier than the first. When you have your second child in the hospital you are immediately in a different class than people who are there having their first. The nurses check in on you much less often, and basically give you your space as they feel like you have been to this rodeo before so you know what you are doing. For the most part that is true, but you really do forget a lot about living with a newborn. They like to be held, a lot - which I have no problem with of course, but trying to run after a 2.9 year old with newborn on your shoulder is not easy. They sleep a lot, and poop a lot, and like to eat a lot. All of this scared me the first time around, but this time around I feel like it is so much easier in general. I can change her diaper in 5 seconds flat. I find myself basically throwing Val around (not literally of course) where I was so freaking scared to move M when she was little. 

- The hard part isn't the baby, it is the toddler. I have found that since Val has been home M seems to be regressing a little bit. She is constantly asking to be picked up and given hugs and kisses (which I love, but most times it is when I have Val in tow, or we are out and about and I can't pick her up). She has been sick with a chest cold, so I know that has something to do with it, but she has been so much more whiny lately. When Val cries or whines M starts to whine or fake cry and she will say "Val is sad...M is sad too!" We had also began attempting to potty train her, but that has gone out the window and she wants nothing to do with the potty. Hopefully things will regulate soon, otherwise Mama is going to be turning to the bottle herself - the red wine bottle!

- Everyone assumes this is your first child. Whenever I have been out the last two weeks with just Val in tow every person that I talk to assumes (rightfully) that this is my first child. My favorite scenario was when I was at Isis, and a class was released as I was checking out, and a group of young moms with babies who were about 6 months old comes over to me and says "Oh she is so cute! How old!" and I said, "10 days," and they were all "I bet you are tired! Don't worry it gets better...I remember when my daughter was that age and...yada yada yada." I just smiled and acted naive - but I wanted to say "in about a year that sweet child you are holding won't be so sweet anymore!" 

So life is good - crazy and tiring - but good...actually great. I truly feel like our family is complete and love having baby Val in our lives. Stay tuned for many more posts about being a mother of two! 

the dog days of summer

We are officially in August.  The days are still warm and humid, but the nights are a touch longer and cooler.  Everyone is still in summer play mode, yet back to school advertisements are beginning to crop up everywhere.  All of Boston is on vacation, but I’m beginning to think of Labor Day weekend just around the corner.

This summer has been a bit of a relief.  Last summer we were in full newborn mode.  After little miss was born, the months of June, July, and August were spent navigating breastfeeding, sleepless nights, and the intensity of new sibling rivalry. It was like one big, long exhausting day smooshed together.  I always joke that I can’t remember clearly that time period (except through looking back at pictures, and then still my memory escapes me) for either little miss or the dude; I was so sleep-deprived and tired that my brain was not capable of laying down new memories.  The dude was born in June '09, little miss two years later in May—those two newborn summers are just one big blur.

Some snippets I am able to piece together of last summer: every morning our nanny would arrive bright and early at 7am to take the dude out so I could catch up on sleep during the day while little miss napped between feedings. We treated ourselves to a weekly locavore food delivery service to maintain our sanity (highly recommended). Every evening when little miss was fussy before her bedtime, my husband and I would crank up the white noise (“Ocean Waves” was the #1 on our family playlist) on the iPod speakers and take turns walking her around the house.  To cope with our daily grind, we would share a g-rated nightcap: chocolate chip cookies and milk.  We were just getting by. 

Fast-forward through the little miss’ first year—ups and downs of infanthood, but easier and easier as her routine has become more predictable. She’s now officially a toddler, walking, “talking” (sign language and some first words too), and even using a fork and spoon.  Our son has graduated to “big boy” preschool-hood.  Slowly, the burdens of caring for two young children have lightened.  It’s not perfect, and we still have our challenging moments, hours, and days even—but compared to last August, this one is positively a walk in the park. 

I’ve been slowly ramping up my work responsibilities this year, but I am taking it easy this month on purpose to savor the summer.  It’s a rare privilege to have more time in my day than work I have to do for a change.  I’m enjoying the time—to myself and with my kids.  Something about the sultry August air reminds me of the lazy slowness of my childhood summers in New Orleans.  This year, I want to remember every wonderful moment of these dog days. 

First Big Girl Bed, Next Driver's License

Last summer I needed a project. I was failing at getting pregnant, and needed something to distract me, so I took on the decorative project of getting M's "big girl" room ready. My plan was to redecorate the biggest of our 3 spare bedrooms into a luxurious girly space that she would immediately fall in love with, and want to spend all her time in, especially the hours that she slept. I spent most of my free time for a few months deciding on a color scheme, the bed (headboard or full bed - twin or double?), the bedding, the furniture, the wall stencils, the lighting, the window treatments...blah blah...I was going balls to the wall with this project.

Most parents I know take the rails off the crib and convert it into a toddler bed. I had decided to put M in a bed/room fit for a princess. I had also decided to buy her a bed (a double) and a dresser that she would use for, what I hope will be, the next 10 years of her life. I bought her fabulous bedding at Bloomingdales (way on sale) that my mother took one look at and was like "you know you probably should have gotten something cheaper and kid friendly."

No way grandma! My daughter will appreciate this fabulous stuff - she will love the scrolly metal bed that I bought her, and the beautiful dresser, and the hours that I spent strategically painting the graphic flowers all over her wall. She will totally think I am the coolest for the art work that I created using the paper dolls from my childhood mounted on handmade paper!

She was only about a year and a half at the time that I began this endeavor, and almost 2 when I finished. During those six months she went into her new room a few times, mostly to admire all the big "flowders" on the walls...and never really paying attention to the beautiful bed in the center of the room. So for the first part of 2012 the room sat there decorated to the nines, with decorative pillows in place...with no child to enjoy it. That is until about a month ago...

My husband and I decided that we should take a crack at this whole big girl bed thing. We have a baby coming this summer, and it would be one less thing to deal with if we just went ahead and made "the switch." So we started moving some of her toys and books over to the big girl room, and then started playing in there during the day to get her interested. I would ask her "do you want to nap in your big girl bed?" and the answer was always "no thanks." But we continued to spend more time in there, and eventually I got her to climb up on the bed and lay with me...and after a while of doing that she actually asked to nap in there!

I had purchased a second camera for our Lorex monitor, so the first time she napped in there I stood outside her door watching her on the monitor. I only had to use the two way communication feature a few times to tell her to get back in bed, and go in there once to actually put her back in the bed, and then she slept for three hours! It was a festivus miracle.

Nights were a little different - we started her in the big girl bed a few nights, but I don't think we were committed to the whole process, as after about 30 minutes of putting her back in bed, we just put her in the crib for our own sanity's sake. Three nights later though we decided to go whole hog and tough it out. Lo and behold it after about 45 minutes she was sound asleep!! And slept through the night without making a peep. Another Festivus miracle!

So that was 5 nights ago...and we haven't looked back at the crib since. We are still trying to find our groove with the falling asleep portion of bed time. M is so excited to be in this new space, with all her stuff in new places, that she loves to crawl out of bed and grab a book and sit in the corner and "read" or "clean up the place" (as she says) by moving her legos from one bin to the next all by the light of her nightlight. Eventually she tires herself out and stays in bed, and so far (knock on everything) the nights have been drama free.

And my mother is right - she doesn't care about the fancy bed and bedding (of which the duvet cover is now crumpled at the bottom of her bed) of course. But it does warm my heart whenever she says "look Mama painted flowers on the wall! So pretty!" - at least I know that was worth it.

This is a love/hate situation for Mama though. I love more than anything those couple minutes every night that I lay with her in her bed, about 6 inches from her face, and stare into her eyes and sing her a song...I seriously tear up every time as I take in her beautiful little face that is growing up way too quickly for my taste. But I hate going into her "baby room" where her crib remains empty - it makes me sad that it is the end of an era for M. I feel like next week we will be taking her to get her driver's license!

Now if only I can get M onboard for her baby sister's arrival. She is actually acknowledging the fact that there is a baby in Mommy's belly, but not the fact that that baby will soon be on the outside of Mommy and getting a whole lot of attention.

The answer to "do you want Mommy to bring home a baby sister for you to help take care of?" is still "No, thank you." Hell, at least she is polite about it.

How to Prepare for a New Baby (...Kind Of!)

This isn't going to be a terribly helpful post (I like to set expectations up front!). It's the same thing you hear time and time again, "You know what's best for your kid." The same stands for getting your child ready for a sibling.


My second child (of unknown gender) was going to be born about 2 years, 8 months after my first boy. My oldest is very easy going...isn't one for tantrums and after years in daycare, was generally well adjusted around loud babies and people in general. I was a lazy pregnant woman. So I did virtually nothing. We talked about a baby in my giant belly, but we couldn't discuss the gender (because we didn't know) or the name (because we didn't have one...see, I told you I was lazy). I got some books from the library, but they didn't have cars in them so he was not interested.

We transitioned daycares a few months before the due date, which is apparently a bad thing. And we moved his bedroom the day of the birth. Another big no-no. However, I did let him keep his pacifier and hadn't attempted to potty train, but those were battles I was not willing to fight at 9 months pregnant. Yet, the transition went off without a hitch.

We connected moving to a "big boy" room with becoming a big brother. The baby and big brother exchanged presents at the hospital. Everyone does it, and it seems to work. However, I think the kitchen in the post-partum ward, stocked with apple juice and graham crackers, was a bigger hit. After my oldest came to visit for the first time, he cried because we couldn't bring the baby home that very moment.

I tried to spend a few hours with my oldest every day. I took over bedtime duty for him and made sure I gave him lost of attention once my husband came home to take over baby duty. We had lots of playdates with other new moms. The moms sat with the babies and bigger boys played amongst each other, not feeling the least bit deprived. Even if you don't need help the second time around, take it so you can spend some extra time with the oldest.

I know there is no groundbreaking advice here. Just take it day by day and do what works for your new family. Easy going kids will have an easy transition. Older kids seem to have an easier transition. But kids will surprise you. I think they're just plotting ways to torture their little siblings in the future.

Paci Wars: Return of the Peace Maker

At week twelve of her young life, my daughter decided to ditch the pacifier and opt for sucking on her hand. Fine by me! During these last 8 weeks, we have occasionally tried to shove a "peace maker," as we call them in our household, into her mouth when she is inconsolable and we are out of tricks. She would suck for a few seconds and then it would go flying across the room.

Cut to two days ago when she was so overtired she was screaming herself hoarse. Again I tried the PM, but this time she went to town on that thing...and thankfully fell sound asleep shortly afterwards. And just like that we were back on the pacifier train.

For the past 48 hours all she wants to do is suck on a pacifier, which I have mixed emotions about. I was happy to have her ditch the paci and suck on her hand, because she could soothe herself pretty much instantly and I didn't have to be a paci butler and keep re-inserting it into her mouth. But, her hand didn't quite do the trick of a pacifier. I was also happy that we didn't have to have the paci-fairy come at some point in the next year, and deal with all the attachment issues that come along with it.

I am glad to have it back in the mix (at least for now) because she is instantly soothed when it is put in her mouth. But, now we are dealing with the whole "crying when it falls out" as well as the "I can pull this out of my mouth but I can't put it back in so now I am getting upset you better help me now woman!" thing.

And I have no idea if this has any relation to the return of the PM, but SHE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! I had put one in her mouth as she was in her crib, but she shortly spit it out before falling asleep at 8 PM last night...

Whatever it is due to the return of the PM or not, I say it is a Festivus Miracle!!!


 

Mama knows best...or does she?

I am the type of person that thinks they are right all the time. About 90% of the time I am totally in the wrong, but it takes a lot for me to admit it. Call it foolish pride. When it comes to my baby, I think I know best...or like to think I know best, because I have been with her for almost every second of her life, save a few hours here and there when she is with daddy or my parents are in town and Mama and daddy get to have a date night (not often enough).


When my husband has her, and she is screaming at the top of her lungs, I of course jump to the conclusion that he has just been sitting there ignoring her cries.

"Did you try and burp her?"
"Of course, honey."
"Did you change her diaper?"
"Just did, honey"
"Did you feed her sitting upright?"
"Yes, I have done this before, honey."
"Did you keep her upright after eating?"
"This is not the first time I have done this, HONEY."
"How about walking around the room with her?"
"I just did that for 20 minutes..."
"Then give her to me"


I seem to think that I have the magic touch (and sometimes I actually do), but more often than not I can't do anything that daddy can't do, and peanut continues to be Fussy Pants McGee.


Rewind to the Monday after Easter weekend...
Location: Newport, RI...scene: Exterior of the Marble House Mansion. Characters: A mid-30s mixed race couple, Mama still holding on to "baby weight" has young baby on her chest in a Moby Wrap, dad is freakishly tall. They are joined by a woman in her mid-50s, who seems off the plane from Palm Beach and looks 10 years younger than she actually is (my mother :), and bears a striking resemblance to the aforementioned Mama with baby (but with a healthy glow). Also in tow is Mama's hipster brother in skinny jeans (another freakishly tall character) and hipster girlfriend in all black.


Baby was awakened from nap to be put in Moby Wrap. Baby starts to fuss as they enter the mansion. Due to the early morning arrival, the group of 5 1/2 are the only patrons in the entire home. Fussy baby becomes a crying baby. Key word: MARBLE [house]. Babies cries much louder than normal...MUCH louder. Mama shushes, sways, bounces, pats, swings and repeats, while trying to listen to her audio guide and continue on the tour. Baby is not buying it. Daddy takes a turn. Baby not buying what they are selling. Mama's turn again.


Mama is approached by woman that works there. "You know you can leave and come back later." Mom knows, but that isn't happening, "she will be fine, she is just tired."


"Are you sure she isn't hungry?" Marble House lady says. "No, she just ate two hours ago, she isn't hungry."


"Would you like me to show you the bathroom where you can take her to change her diaper?" says the Marble House lady. "I know where the bathroom is, thank you. And her diaper doesn't need to be changed"


"I think she might be hungry."


"Well, she isn't."


After 5 more minutes of making a scene, Mama exits with baby. Still crying. Diaper change (diaper was wet). Still crying. Walk around outside with baby out of Moby. Still crying. An exhausted Mama sits under a tree and as a last resort fixes a bottle. Bottle is inserted in babies mouth. Baby is finally happy. Mama's face turns red and hopes that Marble House lady can't see her where she is sitting.


I still don't think she was hungry...I think she just doesn't like Marble houses.

Can't Live Without: Month Four of Motherhood

A lot has changed in the last month of my daughter's life: we are now feeding her solely formula, she is awake more (which means she needs to be entertained now), she is growing like a weed (almost three times the size she was when we left the hospital), the weather is finally nice enough for us to be able to get out and take walks and we've been on many outings and trips with her in tow. This all means I have new products to share that I can't live with out!

1. Links: The simplest form of entertainment, these links (or inter-latching rings) are technically supposed to be used to suspend toys from the arm of the carseat, but I use them as a toy themselves...and baby girl LOVES them. Whether they are hung from the carseat bar, or just dangled in front of her face, she screams with delight whenever she sees them. She just learned to reach out and grab them - mama is so proud!!

2. Formula Dispenser: Now that we are part of the formula clan, this little bugger is a big part of our every day lives. It is always in my diaper bag, and we fill it up and bring it downstairs with us when we go to bed so we don't have to travel to the kitchen for the nighttime feeding.

3. Bottled Water from Costco: This may seem silly but for all of you formula parents out there, you MUST buy your bottled water from a wholesale shop (whether it be Costco, BJ's, etc.). For $4 you can get 6 gallon jugs of Poland Springs water...$4!!! That will buy you about 2 bottles of Aquafina water at any store.

4. The Miracle Blanket: The most aptly named product out there! Our little houdini baby could get herself out of any swaddle, and therefore was waking herself up during the night and naps. Enter the Miracle Blanket! This swaddle pins down your babies arms separate from the main swaddle action, making it impossible for them to move their arms while they sleep (I have one friend that claims her daughter can get out of it, but I will have to see it to believe it :). I truly believe it is because of this product that our daughter only gets up once in the night, and now for only 30 minutes. Since the day I bought it, she instantly started sleeping at least 8 hours straight every night.

5. Tiny Love Mobile: Along with the Miracle blanket, this product change our whole sleep routine for good. Before we would have to rock her to sleep, or hold her until she fell asleep, but ever since we got this mobile, we can just lay her down in the crib and she will look up in amazement at the animals circling around her and soon after fall asleep. The music is a nice mix of classical favorites, that for once actually sound like they are played on a piano.

6. Shutterfly: Ever since I had my first digital camera in 2000 I was a Kodak Gallery (or Ofoto for those old timers like me) girl. Then my best friend from high school (and the best photographer in the world) introduced me to Shutterfly, where you can make a simple webpage to share your photos. Peace out Ofoto!! Now I share my photos using my own "share site" as they call them, to which I upload all of my photos of the peanut, as well as videos. You can create a unique URL by adding your babies name before the ".shutterfly.com" address and your friends and family can check the site for updates at their leisure. You can also post the photo books that you create to the site, allowing people to purchase them at their convenience.

7. Eurobath: I didn't register for a bathtub because friends had told me that you could just put a towel down in the sink and be good to go. Well, my daughter is Squirmy Pants Maguillicuddy, and it was too stressful for me to keep protecting her head from the side of the sink (we also tried the sling in the sink, but you had to fill it up too high to actually cover her bum - and we tried it in the tub but it was too awkward). I was lucky enough to have a friend that wasn't using her tub anymore, so she lent me the Eurobath she used with her son. Thus started our nightly bath ritual on the kitchen island: a.k.a. my daughter's favorite time of the day. While the tub is rather large, it has this fabulous slanted part that she can lay back and relax in and I don't have to worry about her sliding down, or hitting her head on anything. I think maybe because she was born 4 weeks early she loves the bath more than anything in the world, but this bath tub sure helps too!

Playtex Drop-in Debacle!

We introduced formula to our daughter a few weeks ago, and after trying three difference kinds (while feeding her frozen breastmilk the majority of the day) we decided on Similac Sensitive RS. In order to see if it actually worked, and curbed her spit-up/reflux as advertised, we decided to just feed her the formula for a week and see how she reacts.

The first 3 days of our test were miserable. She seemed more agitated than normal, the feedings were longer as she struggled to take the formula down. She was still spitting up massive amounts of chunky fluid during and after each feeding - so much so that I was worried she wasn't keeping anything down.

And then one night my husband went to prepare a bottle in the kitchen. "When you put the water in here do you measure it on the side of the liner? Or the side of the bottle?" he asked.

(Now since day one we have been using Playtex drop-ins, per the advice our our lactation consultant. We have also used the Playtex Vent-Air bottles because I thought they looked cool, and happen to get a free one somewhere. Since we started using the formula though we have used the Drop-Ins solely as they are 8 ounces to the Vent-Airs 6, and were easy to mix the powder formula in. As for the actual liners, we have used Playtex brand, Target and most recent the generic brand at Rite-Aid that specifically say on the box "Use with Playtex Drop-In Bottles") Cut back to the conversation the other night...

"I use the numbers on the side of the bottle...and fill it up to the 6 with 3 scoops of formula...why do you ask?" I enquired.

"Because there are measurements on the side of the liners too, and they don't match up to the ones on the bottle," he said.

I rushed in to the kitchen (because I was baffled) and we did an experiment. We poured 6 ounces of bottled water into the Vent-Air bottles and then poured it back into the Drop-In bottles. What was 6 ounces of water in the Vent-Air was actually at the 8 ounce mark on the side of the Drop-In Bottle!!! The markings of the liners were actually correct, and the 6 ounces of water lined up with the 6 ounce mark...so it is the liner bottles that are incorrect. We then got out my liquid measuring cup in the kitchen and confirmed that the measurements on the outside of the bottle are indeed wrong.

So this entire time we had been giving her 3 scoops of formula with only 4 ounces of water, a concentrated mix of liquid, which was making her terribly uncomfortable. Ever since this revelation feedings have been significantly easier...I wouldn't say like night and day, but she does not struggle to take down the formula like she had those few days on the concentrated mix. She still spits up, but we have just come to grips with the fact she is a happy spitter.

So the moral of this tale is that if you are using Playtex Drop-In Bottle System, please do yourself a favor and measure the water outside the bottle to make sure you are using the correct water to powder ratio!!

OxiClean: the magical powdery substance made by wizards

Want to make your whites whiter? OxiClean!

Red wine on the carpet? OxiClean!!

Got spit-up on the shoulder of all your shirts? OxiClean!!!

Did your baby not poop for 2 days and then have the poop of the century, getting it all over her clothes, your clothes and anything within a two foot radius? OxiClean!!!!

Did your dog manage to throw up on the tiny carpet in your living room, when the rest of your house is hardwood...twice (right after the colossal diaper madness)? OxiClean!!!!!

Husband go out for drinks with his co-workers and leave you home with a crying baby? OxiClean!!!!!

Well, for that last one I recommend a bottle of red wine, but if you spill it on the carpet and have your OxiClean handy you are golden! I am telling you, this stuff is made by wizards, or the devil, or some mystical being that has magical powers, like Voldemort or Gandolf. A little scoop of OxiClean and few cups of water will take the poop, throw-up, pee or adult beverage out of any fabric. I highly recommend that everyone, with baby or dog (or man baby for that matter) to pick some up.

Pour a little out for Billy Mays when you do...

The Happy Spitter: Part 2

A few months back Mama S wrote a post entitled "The Happy Spitter." This was before I joined Mama-dom, and of course never thought my baby would have this problem. Oh was I wrong. Not a meal goes by that my little munchkin doesn't spit some back up: sometimes just dribble out the mouth, and sometimes like she turned on a hose. But the great thing about it - she is not phased by it one tiny bit!

When she first started doing it so consistently I was driving myself mad by changing her clothes 5 times a day, and doing load after load of laundry filled with onesies and burp cloths...but then my husband made a life changing suggestion - "why don't we use one of the hundred bibs we have in the nursery?" While they might cover up all those fabulous outfits her grandmother has purchased for her, they are truly a clothing saver (see giant bib on happy baby on right :).

And as for burp cloths - anything that is technically labeled "burp cloth" is a waste of our time. We have come to use only receiving blankets as burp cloths due to the sheer distance this little one can spit up. We still have about 15 of those blankets that you get at the hospital (yeah, we stole a few more than were offered) and they come in handy daily during feedings at our house!

So the point of this post? I guess...use bibs if your kid spits up...and little burp cloths are for sissies.

The Beginnings of Great Friendships

Last Friday was bittersweet for Marlo and I, as it was the last class of our 6-week Great Beginnings class at Isis Maternity center. I was sad that we wouldn't have our scheduled weekly meeting with the other 9 mothers, but so happy that I made the decision to take the class in the first place, as the 9 women (and babies) that I met 6 weeks ago will be in our lives forever. Never did I think at the beginning of class that I would meet such a dynamic, intelligent, charismatic and crazy group of gals, and that we would all get along so damn well! And the class itself was a great experience too...I can't recommend it enough to all new moms to get out there and meet other Mamas. You are not alone on this motherhood journey!

Over the six weeks we discussed topics such as sleep, feedings, expectations about being a mother, sex after baby, returning to work, establishing routines and child care, to name a few. Each class was led by the lovely Nancy G, a former stage actress in London who is originally from Boston. She was a wonderful moderator for all of us opinionated women, and a wealth of knowledge when it came to our newborns (who knew you could keep breastmilk out of the fridge for 12 hours?). We learned all about infant massage from her, and most classes spent a few minutes working out our babies kinks and knots (from all their hard days work). She shared with us techniques to help with our gassy babies, taught us a wide variety of songs to sing to baby (I cannot get Trot Trot to Boston out of my head most days), and made us feel sane for thinking the crazy things that new mothers do. And she was a wizard when it came to calming a crying baby - I think they were all mesmerized by her crazy hair!

It was Nancy who suggested at the first class that the 10 of us get together before or after class to get to know each other better. And get to know each other better we have. From our daily email discussions about anything from poop to reality tv, to our weekly lunches before class at Tossed, we have definitely gotten to know each other better. We have become a sounding board for each other to share the good and the bad: when a baby slept in their crib for the first time, when we want to throw in the breastfeeding "towel," when we need advice about feeding schedules, when one of us reluctantly went back to work...we turn to each other for support and words of wisdom. I feel like because of them, these first months of my daughter's life have been even more enjoyable that I could have imagined.

We have also gone on adventures outside of class, and already have some more planned for the future. What were the chances that 10 random ladies could all get along so well, and actually really like each other? I look forward to the weeks, months and years to come as we watch our babies grow into toddlers and beyond. And who knows, maybe like Rachel's mom, who to this day is still friends with the ladies from her Mommy & Me class almost 30 years ago, we will attend each other's children's weddings.

Here's to our futures ladies...may there be many adventures together!

Music to Marlo's Ears

I have spent way too much time the past few weeks crafting the perfect playlist for my 10 week old daughter. It started with a few rock lullabies and has morphed into this 80+ song list featuring anything and everything from Disney to Death Cab for Cutie. It is an ongoing project,
that I add and delete songs to daily in hopes of finding that perfect mix of music that soothes her, but that I can also enjoy (hence no twinkle twinkle or itsy bitsy). Since I carry my iPhone with me everywhere (including around the condo) it is my go to move when she is fussy no matter where we are. She seems to like it, especially when I sing along, so I figured I would share it with you all (well, the abridged version):

• Disney Favorites (I downloaded the Julie Andrews Selects her Favorite Disney Songs) album on iTunes
• Classical Favorites (Debussy's Clair de Lune, Carnival of the Animals: Aquarium, Beethoven's Pathetique, to name a few)
• Jazz: Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Vince Guaraldi (all the Peanuts music), Diana Krall, Sade, Melody Gardot
• Select Lullaby Renditions of The Cure, Pink Floyd, Queen and the Beatles
• Lots of Peter, Paul and Mary (big in my childhood)
• Justin Timberlake's version of Hallelujah from the Hope for Haiti fundraiser (incredible)
• Counting Crows' Anna Begins, India.Arie's Video, *NSYNC's Gone (all songs I love to sing)
• Ray LaMontagne's Be Here Now, Iron & Wine's Naked As We Came, Goldfrapp's A&E and a few classics from the Indigo Girls, Colin Hay and Jeff Buckley
• Favorite Movie Themes: Harry Potter, The Ludlows (Legend's of the Fall), Falling Slowly (from Once), Latika's Theme (Slumdog Millionaire)

And it all ends nicely with Billy Joel's appropriately titled "Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)"...

If your baby/toddler has any favorite songs, post them in the comments!!

Smooth Sailing...well, Flying! (THE LONG OF IT)

If you don't want to read my long winded story about traveling with baby, see the next post "THE SHORT OF IT".

There have been few times in my life where I have been sick-to-your-stomach-nervous: before my final dance performance in 2004, before I gave a toast at my best friends wedding, every time I gave an oral presentation in college, during a one-time pregnancy scare when I was first dating my now husband (and as you all know that was for naught! HA!)...and the days leading up to yesterday's flight to Florida with Marlo.

For weeks before our vacation (which I am now enjoying the crap out of by the way) I lost slept over the logistics of this trip. Since I was traveling down here by myself (hubby to come this weekend), I wanted it to be as smooth as possible. Should I strap her to me? Or put her in a stroller? Do I buy a snap n go or bring the big UPPA? Do I check it under the plane or gate check? Should I have my mom buy a pack n play? How much breast milk should I bring on the plane? How should I time my pumping so I won't be so uncomfortable on the plane? What if I have to pee during the flight? What if she is fussy and people get annoyed with me? What if there is a delay? My brain hurt.

So I reached out to my fellow Mamas and gathered a plethora of mixed advice. Many recommended putting her in a stroller and carseat, while others raved about the ease of traveling with a baby strapped to you. I opted for putting Marlo in the Moby, as I am a hands-free kind of gal. In order to make my decisions easier, my mom reached out to her fellow grandmas down here in Florida and was able to borrow a Graco carseat and base - one less thing for me to worry about. I struggled over whether to bring the UPPA (I know, my life is so hard), and finally decided that I would - we have this fancy thing, might as well get some use out of it! I then went online and researched travel cases and purchased the one that UPPA makes for the stroller system. Since we weren't bringing the seat there was plenty of extra room to shove things in the bag with the stroller (pump, Ergo, etc.). So now I had three bags packed: one for Marlo, one for myself and one with the stroller. Since my parents graciously donated miles for this trip, we were flying in style in first class, and were allowed three bags free of charge...thank God!

Now for carry ons: I obviously needed to bring everything I would in a diaper bag, but I wanted to bring twice as much for fear of us getting delayed and being stuck without the necessities. And I had to bring my camera, which is a big DSLR, therefore large and in charge. My good friend Mama M (at whose wedding I gave the aforementioned toast) gave me some great advice: put things in ziploc bags, and then put everything in one giant LL Bean tote bag. That way it is open at the top (no zippers or velcro to worry about) and things are contained inside just as you need them. It also makes it crazy easy when it comes to going through security. So, inside this giant LL Bean bag I had the following plastic bags:

• diapers, wipes and disposable changing table cover
• saline spray, lotion, wet ones, lip stuff (for both of us) and other things like tylenol, thermometer, etc
• change of clothes, bib, hat (if we had leakage or blow-out)
• bottles: I brought three bottles with 6 ounces of breast milk in each - overkill, but I wanted to be safe rather than sorry
• pacifiers (I brought six with me, again, overkill - especially because she doesn't really even like them- HA!!)

So all of that stuff was put in my diaper bag, and along with my camera and a boppy I put all that in an LL Bean bag. This way I could just throw the one bag over my shoulder and be done with it! It made going through security super easy, which is what I was worried about most. Well, maybe second to her being Princess Fussypants on the plane!

We quickly settled into our digs in first class (did I mention we were flying first class? Because we flew first class...first class?) and as we were taxing I took her out of the Moby and put her in the Boppy on my lap. We did a bottle during take-off, as recommended by my pediatrician and many others, and then she seriously did not make a peep the entire 3 hour flight. I had to wake her up when we were making our approach into West Palm to give her a second bottle to help with her ears, during which she took a huge poop that the guy next to me heard and I tried to ignore. That's my girl!

The flight attendants were super nice and accommodating. I was unable to have a tray of breakfast, so they took the little tray they serve drinks on and gave me a smaller version of the breakfast that I could manage with peanut on my lap (see photo above). Also, we were given a certificate, signed by the pilot (oohhh! ahhh!) that said "My First Flight" on it, which I thought was fantastic.

It wasn't just the flight attendants that were nice though, it was everyone I came in contact with. The men at security all wanted to know about Marlo - how old is she? First flight? The people in front and back of me at Starbuck's struck up conversation about her, and offered to help me put splenda in my ice tea. Someone offered to help me with my bag when I was sitting down to wait to board. A man helped put my bag above my seat on the plane...I felt like I was pregnant again!

So basically the experience of traveling with my 9 week old by myself was easy as pie. I got myself all worked up for nothing, but isn't that what mothers do?

For my advice about traveling with baby, see THE SHORT OF IT post that follows!

Smooth Sailing...well, Flying! (THE SHORT OF IT)

Here are some tips for traveling with a newborn...

• Use Ziploc bags when packing your carry-on/diaper bag. Easy to grab things when going through security, or when you are on the plane so you don't have to take your entire diaper bag with you
• Use a small wallet/wristlet. I used a Coach wristlet and in it put my ID, some cash, iPhone and boarding pass. This way I didn't have to rummage through a purse or my big wallet.
• If traveling by yourself, strap that baby to you! I had my peanut in the Moby wrap and it made it so much easier to walk through the airport, go through security (FYI you do NOT have to take them out of the carrier to go through security), get food and shop for magazines in the tiny stores. If my husband was traveling with me, I probably would have kept her in a carseat and stroller, but I didn't want to have to deal with that all.
• Bring a Boppy: this was a lifesaver on the plane and made it all the more comfortable for both of us
• Get the Kindle application for iPhone: I have been using this for a while now, but it came in super handy on the flight. No fumbling with books and turning pages with one hand. It is free and is awesome.
• Feed during take-off and landing: I don't know if this did the trick, but I did this and she didn't stir for the three hour flight. It was recommended to me by my pediatrician because babies can't clear their own ears.
• If you have the UPPA Vista stroller, I highly recommend the travel case (amazon.com for $60). I checked it under the plane and was able to fill the bag with other things (pump, Ergo) because we just had the stroller frame in there - it fits the bassinet and seat as well.
• Take advantage of people offering to help. I felt like I was pregnant again with all the people offering to open doors, lift bags, and help me out with random things.
• If you are brining bottles, be sure to bring extra in case of delays

Do you have any travel insights or advice to share from your own experiences? Please comment!!

Can't Live Without: Month One of Motherhood

As I was getting ready for bed tonight, I was frantically searching through a pile of clean laundry (that was on my not so clean floor waiting to be folded and at some point put away) for one of my Medela Nursing Sleep Bras. Due to the ginormous size of my boobs, and the over abundance of milk I produce (I am talking I could feed the entire Gosselin clan with these puppies), I have to keep them on lock down when I sleep at night, and the only thing I have found to be comfortable are the Medela sleep bras. After finding one that had become attached to the velcro tab of one of Marlo's sleepsacks, I thought to myself how I have come to rely on certain items the past 4 weeks and this led me to this post. I figured I should share with my other Mamas out there the things that I have found that I cant live without anymore (no longer is it my 5 inch Michael Kors heels and evening glass of red wine - ah how times have changed) in no particular order I should add:

1. Medela Sleep Bras: I mentioned it before, but I feel like I need to say it again - my boobs are huge. I can pump 2-3 ounces out of each boob every 3 hours, if that gives you any idea as to my milk production. But with this bountiful supply comes bountiful bosoms. BB (before baby) I liked my 36 small D boobs, and I liked to free them from their underwire cages when I went to bed at night. Those days are gone. Not only do I need something to put my breast pads (so that I don't leak through to my shirt) in, but I need something to keep them supported because otherwise I am in pain. Enter the Medela Sleep Bra. At $19.99 you can't go wrong with this sports bra-ish bra. I say "ish" because it doesn't have anywhere near the support of a sports bra, but it just looks like one. It is very thin and soft, and does the job I need it to do, without cutting into my boobs like most nursing bras do. I don't even feel it on when I sleep, which is what I was most looking for in a sleeping bra.
2. First Years Milk Storage Organizer: As I just mentioned, I am "Moo-tilda" so I need some place to store my excess. This organizer does just that. Keeps the bags of milk flat and upright, and doesn't take up too much room in the freezer. As for bags I love the Medela ones that attach to the pump, but they are pricey so I switched to these byLansinoh.
3. APNO: Better known as All Purpose Nipple Ointment, this prescribed ointment is like the La Mer of nipple creams. At $75 for approximately 3 ounces, this turned pumping around for me. I had yeast build up in my nipples (I know TMI) that was making them red and irritated and making feeding and pumping terribly painful. My Lactation Consultant called in a prescription (with doctor approval) for this wonder cream and away the infection went. I use it after each pumping and feeding and it makes everything soft and pain-free. I am not sure if the cost is due to my crappy insurance or not, but I do know that each batch is hand made when you order it, so that might have something to do with it. Either way, it is worth EVERY penny.
4. Carter's baby clothing: When I found out I was pregnant I went out and bought a bunch of baby girl clothes: short sleeved onesies, little dresses, and other impractical things for a newborn, but what the hell did I know! For the past 4 weeks, my daughter has lived in Carter's baby clothing. Especially the one pieces with the feet. Her little feet are too small for any socks, so these are perfect. Plus, it is 20 degrees outside! What was I thinking with the short sleeves? You can always find these on sale somewhere, be it Babies R Us, Target, JC Penny, Kohls or you can visit there fabulous outlet store in Wrentham. They are cheap, they wash up just fine, and you don't mind if your baby spits up on them, unlike the Ralph Lauren clothing she has hanging in her closet that she will most likely not wear while she fits them. So much for my fancy baby!
5. Things we stole from the hospital: OK, so we didn't steal all of these, they offer them to you, but I think we took more than alloted...and thank god! The first item is the white asymmetrical tops they put on your baby. For the first week or so at home, Marlo lived in these (whether solo or under Carter's gear)- wrapped in my second favorite item, the hospital blanket. My husband was obsessed with these for some reason, so we have about 15 of them. They are perfect for swaddling your little one before they can fit into any swaddling sacks. And finally the Nasal Aspirator Bulb-thing. I lived with this by my side for the first two weeks Marlo was at home (I got sick, therefore she was sick too and you can't blow a babies nose!). That was, until my dog got ahold of it and chewed off the pointy end (I should say she did this the two we brought home from the hospital). It is terribly gross, but so satisfying to suck out baby snot. HA! I have yet to find one of that size and quality in stores, so if you can get your hands on one, put it in a safe place!
6. My iPhone and holder: It gets lonely and boring to pump in the nursery for 15 minutes 8 times a day. My iPhone has become my new best friend. I just place it in the trusty holder (which about two years ago I was planning to invent and become a millionaire, but little did I know someone beat me to it), and hook it on my glider and play one of the many games I have on there (Scrablle, WordWorm, and Monopoly as of late). I have also loaded it up with a fabulous mix of songs (Disney, Rock Lullabies, some Indigo Girls, Ray LaMontange, Ella Fitzgerald, and instrumental music from movies) and put it on speaker while I am rocking the little peanut to sleep.
7. My Dutalier Glider: This was one of many very generous gifts from my parents, and has certainly been put to good use. We feed Marlo at night in this, we rock her to sleep, I pump while sitting in it, and I even take naps in it sometimes. We got the one with the highest back and widest seat to accommodate my large bum and my husbands crazy long body. Some people say you don't need one of these, but it has been a blessing to have.
8. DVR: I took a 3 hour long nap yesterday at 3 PM, and could have easily slept until this morning. Needless to say I don't stay up and watch tv like I used to - I don't even stay up to watch the 7:30 Jeopardy some nights. So I thank God for my DVR, and thank God that episodes will be new again this week!
9. SKYPE: I put Skype on my computer years ago so that we could talk to my sister-in-law and her family in Spain. Other than that yearly phone call, we never used it, until Marlo came. For Christmas I gave my grandmothers webcams (one is in Dayton, the other in Denver), and got them set up on SKYPE so that they could "meet" Marlo. My parents have it at their house in Florida now...we can chat with my brother-in-law and his family in New Jersey, and my father-in-law in upstate New York. While none of our family lives within a 4 hour drive, they are now in our living room whenever we want! For free! Who would have thought my 86 year old grandma would live to see the day when she would meet her great granddaughter via a camera on a computer. It is just like Horizons at Epcot!!!
10. My Husband: I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I am the luckiest woman on the planet as I married the best man alive. I kid you not. Despite having to be told on occasion that it is OK to buy your wife flowers (even if she says she doesn't want anything for her birthday or Valentine's Day), he is seriously the perfect husband. And now he is the perfect father. It makes me want to cry when I see him with Marlo in his arms (she is so tiny and he is so big) - I catch him just staring at her sometimes in amazement and my heart leaps. I sometimes forget that he too had been waiting for her so long...And now that she is here he goes above and beyond the expectations I had for him as a father. He is first to go to her if she makes a noise, always wanting to feed her, has no problem changing her (both diapers and outfits), always wanting to hold her in his long arms...he even came upstairs the other day with a book in hand and told me that he felt like reading to his daughter. I thought I would melt! Even being back at work, he is willing to get up with her in the middle of the night to allow me to get sleep. He is always concerned about me getting enough sleep, or being healthy (I was really sick for over a week and now again feel like I am coming down with something) - both physically and mentally. He has also taken over dog-walking duties for the next few months so that "his ladies" can be warm at home inside. Every day when he leaves work I get a phone call asking if he needs to pick anything up, and without question he will run here and there to pick up food or anything else I ask before running home to see all his ladies. I don't, and will never, take him for granted, and know that I am lucky to have such a loving husband (and a hot one at that). Sorry I got all shmoopy on you :)

Thar she blows!!

The past couple nights have been rough. While I don't expect my 4 week old daughter to sleep through the night, I would expect her to grant her loving parents at least 2 hours of continuous sleep at a time. That is all I am asking for little one!

For the last 5 nights in a row Marlo has been going through somewhat of an eating-as-much-as-I-can-get-and-staying-up-all-night binge. As new parents, we figure, if she is hungry and wants to drink 4 ounces of breastmilk, she must need it! I wouldn't want someone to tell me that I couldn't eat a forth piece of pizza if I was still hungry after 3 (yeah I know, I need to go on a diet)...

So our little 4-week early peanut has been waking up at least every 2 hours and housing a bottle each time...what am I saying "waking up"? She doesn't sleep! After drinking down the milky goodness and keeping her upright for 15 or so minutes after feeding, Marlo falls asleep in our arms. We then proceed to put our little angel in her bassinet by the bed, where like clockwork - just after I get comfortable in bed with my pillow just so - the grunting starts. The grunting is accompanied by what we call "staccato" breathing. As well as the back arching, and the gurgling sound. Not exactly what you want your new baby to be doing. Needless to say this leads to me freaking out, and picking her back up in my arms...where again she would get comfy cozy and fall right back to her angelic sleepy mode. Not ideal, but at least I can get a few minutes shut eye in a seated position until my arms go numb, at which point I try to put her back in her bassinet, and the grunting begins again.

I should also mention that before the past couple nights, every time she would eat she would proceed to take a giant poop in her pants (what my husband likes to call "a big dump"). We started to notice that she wasn't pooping as often as she had be, so we figured something might be going on in her belly area.

So for four nights straight she basically slept in either of our arms, on my husbands chest, with me in our glider, or even between us in bed on the Boppy pillow (yes I know there is a big label on there that says SLEEP with a big X through it, but we got desperate!). I figured it was time to call the pediatrician!

Christine, our fabulous Nurse Practitioner at the doctors office, told me that what I thought was acid reflux was probably a bad case of gas, because each feeding was not accompanied by a large spit-up, AND this was primarily happening at night, not all day long (I am writing this at 9 AM and I just want to mention that Marlo is asleep snug as a bug in her upstairs bassinet - gotta love my little nocturnal vampire baby!!). Christine then gave me a list of a few techniques we could try with Marlo: pedaling her feet while she is on her back (like you would doing bicycle sit-ups), giving her a warm bath before bed (making sure her belly is in the water), increasing tummy time to 20-30 minutes a day (which meant doing tummy time in the first place for us, as we keep forgetting to do this), and finally giving her some long belly rubs (always my favorite thing to have done when I am gassy!).

We proceeded to try all of the above - and all she absolutely loved (especially the warm bath). But that night she still became Princess Fussy-Pants (daughter of Queen Fancy-Slacks and King Cool-Britches). The next morning (yesterday) I figured I would call my lactation consultant to see what they thought about the situation. After telling her how much Marlo has been eating, and guesstimating that she is about 7 pounds, she told me that we are overfeeding our daughter! Now, I don't know who to believe because the doctors office knows how much she is eating and didn't mention the overfeeding to us, but we were open to trying anything, so yesterday instead of giving her everything she could eat, we cut her off at 3 ounces. If she was still hungry after the bottle, I brought her to my breast for a little "dessert" (still don't have the breastfeeding thing down - see previous post :). This seemed to work, and we capped her off at 3 max all day long...

Fast forward to 8 PM, that night...the peanut is fed, the big humans are finished with their steak dinner and enjoying a glass of wine, the pooch all curled up in between hubby and I on the couch - one happy family. Baby is on daddy's lap, legs are being bicycled...and then it happened. My beautiful, sweet, eflish daughter turned into old faithful. Now, I have heard of projectile vomiting, but this was like nothing I had seen before. Marlo blew chunks all over my husband, the couch, and yes, the dog! Being out of the danger zone on the other end of the couch, I stared in amazement at the seven pound baby that just tossed her cookies all over everything, who was just lying there, acting like nothing happened. The pooch was so shocked that she got hit by friendly fire that she jumped over my husband off the couch and fled the scene of the crime (she ran into the kitchen where she proceeded to lick herself clean - gross but hysterical). I couldn't stop laughing at the whole situation, and thankfully neither could my husband - vomit covered and all. How could something so small create such a gigantic mess?

We then drew a nice warm bath for the exorcist baby and cleaned her all up (not once did she cry or fuss about the whole experience), as well as my husband. After a good swaddling and some time in the vibrating chair, she was good as new. And when I say "good as new" I mean that we actually got a stretch of 3-4 hours of sleep last night! I know, I am still in shock...it is amazing how refreshed we both feel.

As my husband said "she just needed to exercise that demon in her belly, I guess?!" Fingers crossed we get some sleep again tonight...

Happy New Year!