Reflux

I know I haven't been blogging lately.  It's definitely been time consuming to be Momma so, I am sure you all understand why I haven't posted.

Most recently, the little one was diagnosed with reflux.  It explains the excessive spit up and the tummy problems in general.  I tried everything suggested to help him but, in the end I had to put him on Zantac.  I wasn't happy about it.  I don't like the idea of putting a 7 week old newborn on medicine.  However, seeing him in pain was heart breaking for me.  He would scream and cry and I would just sit there and cry with him because I felt so helpless.  The medicine seems to be working.  He still spits up but, it isn't as much and the pain seems to have subsided.  He still screams when I try to burp him...I guess he just is conditioned to the pain from it. 

I guess the worry of being Momma has kept me busy.  I understand why my mom was always worried about me when I was growing up.  It just becomes part of who you are as a mother. 

And its Halloween!

I cannot believe that we are already entering November.  That means Jonas is nearly 2 months old!  It seems like it has gone by so fast in retrospect but so slow in the present.  As I sit here handing out candy to the children in the neighborhood, I can't help but think, "Wow, next year we'll be taking Jonas out!" and that notion blows my mind.  My neighbors came by with their 14 month old daughter and I know that will be Jonas next year.

We didn't really dress Jonas up, per se.  He has a monster onesie and matching hat so that was his "costume".  Originally, I wanted to buy him a bunting costume that was a ketchup packet.  Frankly, I found it hilarious.  But, my husband didn't see the point in spending $30 with shipping for something no one will see (other than in pictures).  I realized after a quick pouting session (I really thought the ketchup packet was awesome), that he was perhaps right and we should save the big gun costume for next year.  And in all honesty, he looked pretty darn cute as a monster.  Not to mention, because I happen to dress him everyday, he'll wear that onesie past Halloween because I think its darn cute.

The Road To Recovery...

When I was pregnant, I received a lot of flack for working out strenuously 4 days a week.  I took spin classes, practices vinyasa yoga, weight lifted and ran through my 6th month and only dropped running and spin class (which I replaced with 35 minutes on the recumbent bike) after the 6th month.  I continued until 2 weeks before I gave birth and I have to say that I lot of people weren't too fond of my decision to do so.  I often got lectured on it but, I continued anyways.  After all, my doctor said it was fine to do so.  I had no issues during my pregnancy...not even so much as elevated BP. 

And I am lucky I did exercise because my recovery has been amazing.  At 1 week postpartum, I was back down to weighing only 6 lbs more than my pre-pregnancy weight and today at 4 weeks, I weigh 2 lbs less than my pre-pregnancy weight...with no exercise.  Yes, much of it has to do with being on the go a lot and eating while doing so but, I find it amazing that I have made it to this point.

1 Week Postpartum

 4 Weeks Postpartum

How God amazes me....with poop

Nothing can describe how incredible you feel having a child.  Everyone kept telling me that but I didn't know what they meant.  How could I?  In fact, the thought of a baby scared me endlessly.  I have no younger siblings, my younger cousins lived far away growing up and none of my close friends have children for me to ever have experienced anything with a baby.  So, when Jonas arrived, I was scared to say the least.  I spent the first week and a half with 'baby blues' wondering if I was hurting him, doing the wrong things, meeting his needs, etc, etc.  I tried to nurse - failed miserably.  I pumped - hated it (but still continue it).  I generally felt completely lost.  Until today. 

This morning I woke up feeling good - 'baby blues' were subsiding and my mother in law was treating me to a massage (she had offered me a prenatal one my entire pregnancy but, I never felt comfortable going in for one).  The massage was great.  I drove home feeling so comfy and relaxed.  However, when I got home, my mother in law told me that Jonas was being overly fussy (odd because he has so far been a very calm baby...sleeping well at night and having defined awake periods during the day).  The fussiness got worse.  He refused to be put down and would cry whenever his pacifier was out of his mouth.  He wouldn't fall asleep no matter what we did.  Scared, I called the doctor and suggested I bring him in tomorrow, fearing colic. 

Now I am no baby-expert but, I am well aware that colic is not good.  I have met people who have had colicky babies and it always seems like hell.  I immediately googled colic looking for some sign that if it were the case, something could be done.  One suggestion was to do the 5 S's which I had learned about in birth class.  We tried, it didn't work but, we didn't have a swing.  I rushed quickly out the door to Babies R Us to buy one.  I never understood how my parents and my husbands parents would be willing to drop any amount of money on something to help us until my defining moment in the swing aisle at Babies R Us.  I didn't care how much it was, I wanted the best plug-in swing with vibration, music and white noise with a 6 speed setting.  As long as it made my little dude happy, it could have been $500 and I would have gotten it (luckily, and to the relief of my husband, it was only $105 with my coupon).

However, some time during my insane whirlwind trip to Babies R Us, my little guy did something amazing.  He farted twice and pooped.  I know this sounds really dumb but, I have never been so relieved to hear that farting and pooping allowed him to smile, take his 5pm bottle and fall fast asleep, no pacifier needed.  I got home and broke down and realized in that moment how much I really, truly love my son.  I didn't care what i had to do as long as he was OK.  I know to many-a moms out there, this seems like common sense and and over reaction to probably a mild case of constipation and gas but, I don't care because I have never been so scared in my life. 

For some reason, he is mesmerized by the black and white ring.

Prada Prada Prada

Due to late night pumping sessions, I have been spending a lot of time on the Style.com ap from my iPhone and yesterday, I fell in love with the Prada Spring 2012 show....the dresses are just AMAZING.  If only I could afford something so chic!  Now I am on the look out for similar fabrics and colors in the stores (which of course right now, most of my shopping will be done online).

Welcome Little Owl

This is my son.  Jonas Christopher.  Born at 7:13pm on September 15th.  8lbs 3oz and 21.5 inches long.

So now you know where I have been!

Why I cook from scratch

 

I was cooking dinner yesterday which included the above (heirloom potatoes, a purple onion I got from the farmers market, zucchini in garlic olive oil and tarragon) and I realized that people often ask me why I cook with fresh veggies and meat.  To be honest, I really don't know how to cook anything else. I own a crockpot but, I have no idea how to use it.  I am lost in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store and really, to me it is easier to cook from scratch.  This is especially true with a crockpot.  Ok, so it is ready when you get home from work but, you still have to prepare the ingredients, right?  And something about a machine that slowly cooks raw stuff over the span of like 9 hours frankly scares me.  (Maybe it was all those classes I took to get my sanitation certification).

I think I also have to blame my upbringing.  I don't really remember any of the women in my family ever cooking any other way.  Definitely not my French grandmother and maybe my mom only on special occasions (we would ask for chicken nuggets or something for our birthdays).  But mostly I grew up eating meals made from fresh ingredients.  So, I guess I can't see it any other way.  I know people think this will change when Baby Owl is born but, I don't see how.  I just think it is easier to cook that way that I do!