Remember my friend who tried so hard to have a baby and then finally got pregnant? Well, baby Luella is here and we’re all so happy to meet her.
I took some (amateur) photos of her this weekend and thought I’d share a few.
I’m also sharing a few of Waylon, so he won’t be too jealous of all the attention on the new girl in town.
Welcome to the world, Luella!
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Filed under 6-12 Months, Newborn
When you’re pregnant, everyone is bursting at the seams with advice; how to eat, how to sleep, how to exercise, how to tell the sex of the baby, how to avoid looking like a beached whale. And it doesn’t stop once the baby arrives. People love to offer their two cents, which I appreciate, except I feel like there were some some major things missing.
What I heard: Babies are hard, babies are messy, babies are cute, babies are tiring.
What I didn’t hear: You will lose all your hair and accidentally pee your pants.
I feel like that’s pretty important, no?
Here’s a list of the top ten things I wish I’d been told. Happy Tuesday.
1) Point the peep down. For some reason no one tells you that when you’re changing a boy’s diaper, you have to point that sucker down or else get soaked. Maybe it was general knowledge, but I had no idea what to do with a tiny baby peep.
2) Don’t buy newborn clothes because everyone else will buy them for you. Waylon has piles and piles of clothes he never wore. Piles. Actually, maybe I should change it to don’t buy anything. This is a baby, not a space alien. It doesn’t need half the crap you think it does. Major necessities include plenty of spit rags, a comfortable chair to nurse, and a swaddling blanket.
3) Breastfeeding is a commitment. Learn how to do it lying down. When Waylon was born I was determined to keep him in his room all night long. The problem with this is that at 3am, sitting in a rocker for a half hour is brutal. The best way I can explain it is this: Let’s say you are required to get up four times a night to hold a watermelon. You can either a) sit in a chair and hold the watermelon or b) lay beside the watermelon and keep sleeping. The choice is obvious.
4) You will lose your hair and it is totally gross. I literally pull out handfuls of hair every day. It’s all over the sink, the floor, the couch, our baby. Lately I’ve taken to keeping a lint roller beside the bed so I can sleep without ending up with a mouthful of hair. I don’t know how I’m not bald.
5) You will lose your mind. You lose all sorts of things post baby; your keys, your phone, your wallet, your general mental capacities. Why? Because you are very busy not losing your baby. So tell your husband to relax when you forget to buy floss for the third week in a row. Maybe also mention that not flossing for a few days won’t kill you (Austin).
6) Pooping is terrible. It’s no secret that labor and delivery hurts, but where was the pamphlet on how much worse it is to waddle around for weeks afterwards with a sore front and rear? I know I’ve talked a lot (too much?) about post-baby pooping, but it’s no joke. It is worse than pushing out a 7 lb. infant, especially if you’re in constipation station and have fissures or hemorrhoids.
7) Just say no. Babies are chick magnets. Everyone wants to visit the baby, hold the baby, talk to the baby, kiss the baby. The problem is that you are a sleep deprived, hormonal mess who just had the most painful poo ever. Give yourself a break. Don’t play host unless you are up to it. Don’t feel bad about cancelling at the last second. Don’t feel bad about asking people to leave. Don’t feel bad about crying in front of your husband’s cousin’s wife who just wanted to drop off a casserole.
8) You might want to start lifting weights because that car-seat is heavy. Admittedly, I lack basic arm strength. But seriously car-seat makers? Why does that thing have to weigh so much? You are breaking my back.
9) Sleep When The Baby Sleeps is total crock, especially if you were planning to ever do laundry, dishes, or feed and bathe yourself again. The time when your baby is napping is precious. Sacred. Sleeping through it is impossible if you want to get anything accomplished. My advice? Put the whole family on the same bedtime.
10) You will always be late. I am a prompt person. I don’t like being late and I don’t like when other people are late. This all went out the window when Baby Baer arrived. Not only am I late to everything, I’m really late and probably forgot my wallet.
It all comes with the territory, I just wish I’d known.
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Similar on Motley Mama: Top Ten Best & Worst Things About Being Pregnant
Filed under Newborn, Top Ten Tuesdays
Height: 24 inches
Weight: 15 pounds
Favorite People: Baby Daddy still ranks #1, but after that–anyone who coddles him is in the circle of trust (especially these suckers).
Favorite Places: Outside.
Favorite Things: Ceiling fans, his own smelly hand, the mobile, and this doorway jumper thing we found in the attic.
Milestones/Brags: HE ROLLED OVER (unprovoked) from his back to his belly. I thought this was supposed to happen much later, not when he was less than three months old. If he keeps progressing this quickly, I might need to get a cage.
Overheard From Mom: “Hey Baby Stalin.”
Overheard From Dad: “I love his stink.”
Sleep: He still wakes up starved at least once every night. We go back to sleep for a morning nap together around 8.
Schedule: What schedule? He continues to eat and sleep on demand like he’s the prince of Persia, but he does take a significantly long nap in the afternoon now. A round of applause for some much needed baby-free time.
Happiest: When given attention.
Saddest: Strapped into a car-seat with an empty belly or left for dead on the living room floor.
Summary
I can’t believe this guy has already graduated to the 3-6 month category. Instead of mourning his newborn clothes however, I am trying to appreciate the improvements in both of us. For example, I have learned when to let him cry it out and when he needs to be comforted. He has learned that if I’m not holding him, he probably won’t be eaten by wolves. We are also having more success when it comes to the car-seat and colic. The three month hump was not a lie after all.
So far my favorite thing about this stage is his love for music. Anytime we sing to him, he smiles and laughs like it’s his own personal comedy hour. Have you ever heard a baby belly laugh? It’s so beautiful you almost have to look away. I’d show you some footage, but every time he does it–I’m too busy staring like a love-struck idiot.
3-6 Months? Bring it on.
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Filed under Newborn
Hey, it’s Friday! It’s also super chilly. Wasn’t I just in a tank top?
Here are some end of the week bits for you to snack on.
1) This weekend I’m playing the part of “bridesmaid” in a wedding. I’m considering carrying the baby down the aisle instead of flowers so everyone knows I was just a giant pregnant lady and that’s why I look like a purple sack of potatoes with a train.
2) I got Twitter. Why? I realized the only reason I didn’t have Twitter was so I could say, “I don’t have Twitter.” Now that I’m there, it’s not so bad. I have, like, 3 followers. You can see my tweets on this here sidebar. Or you could join Twitter yourself and follow me. Whatevs.
3) I know I’m biased and all, but my kid is pretty fantastic. Not only is he crying less, but he is doing more. Like sitting in his bumbo like a big person.
And discovering his foot.
And entertaining himself for up to a half hour on his own without demanding boob or rocking or songs that are mostly made up of terrible rhymes.
4) The problem with all this big and talented business is that it also means he’s out of his newborn clothes. It’s tragic, really.
5) The great part about all this big and talented business is that he now takes longer, marathon naps.
6) With all this bigness comes a bit of neglect on our part. Sometimes we forget that just because he’s all grown up now, doesn’t mean he can do everything for himself.
We’ll do better, bud. Promise.
Happy Friday.
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Next Week: Pictures Of Me As A Purple Sack Of Potatoes? (Probably Not)
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Filed under Newborn
