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Postpartum Update // One.

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It’s been over a week since my whirlwind delivery of Mila Rose. I really expected things to be different than they are right now. Not in a worse way, but not in a better way either.

Just… different.

Expectation Versus Reality  //

We’ve all been going through a bit of an adjustment. I came home from the hospital on Thursday, the 21st, late in the afternoon. The kids were very surprised to see us because Mimi told them we wouldn’t be home until Friday! And, truthfully, we had a really easy first night home. Mila slept for 5.5 hours straight!

But the days that have since followed have not been easy. The kids have been restless and overly energetic. I’m certain that some of it is the adjustment of having a new sibling at home; some of it is the crazy heatwave we’ve had; and the rest is probably the fact that their lives are totally different with having their daddy at home all day.

Sure, our patience has been tried. And sure, we expected quite a bit of that. But expectation versus reality can be a bit of a shock.

But over the last week we’ve attempted to keep their lives (and ours) as ‘new’-normal as possible. Chad took both the big kids to see a movie, they’ve played in the park, had playdates with friends, and ran errands. Basically, business as usual (minus work, plus an infant).

Mental Health  //

I’m surprised at how well I’m doing, honestly. But I know it’s still early — and I’ve had a lot of help with my husband being on paternity leave. So I’m taking it one day at a time.

It definitely helps that she sleeps better than the other two kids. Ari had colic so the witching hour was awful; and Remy just never slept (day or night), period. So the fact that this child will sleep some is better than the other two already.

And she absolutely LOVES sleeping in her DockATot. If you haven’t heard of a DockATot, you must go check them out. Mila apparently likes hers so much she’ll fall asleep in it during all of the crazy chaos of the big kids being loud!

Again, it totally helps my mental health that she will sleep — and with this incredible product to help us? Even better.

Physical Health  //

I’ve recovered so quickly from this labor and delivery, it’s nothing short of amazing. It’s honestly amazing what our bodies can do. I keep looking down at my squishy belly and I think “I can’t believe this body just had a human in it a week ago!”

I’m happy to say that I’ve definitely lost a significant amount of baby weight already (something that never happened this early for me with the other two) and I can’t wait until I am cleared to workout! I’m itching to sign up for a race of some sort, but I also don’t want to push my body too soon.

Maternity Leave + Paternity Leave  //

I’m still planning on going back to work in about a week and a half. The older kids are so restless and we all thrive on a well-oiled schedule. Getting them out to play with friends while I’m working will be helpful.

But I’m honestly dreading the fact that my husband goes back to work after the upcoming holiday. Both kids have gotten so used to having him here during the day that I’m certain another ‘adjustment period’ will be coming when he returns. Our saving grace is that he has 6 more weeks of leave he can take — whenever I need him to!

Yes, I realize we’re beyond lucky that his company now offers paid paternity leave! This is a first for us since it just started this year! And we’re going to absolutely use it!

This Upcoming Week  //

We have more ‘tot time’ scheduled, another $1 movie from Cinemark Kids Clubhouse, and a 4th of July without plans! Luckily my parents are coming up on Wednesday so I’ll have some help when Chad returns to work Thursday.

Mila’s newborn photos have been rescheduled for this Thursday (thanks to a baby who refused to sleep during her shoot last week) and we have a weekend with zero on the agenda.

So basically survival. Survival is the only solid plan I have for this week. Everything else is negotiable.

Tell me —

What got you through

 

the early postpartum days ?!

 

Welcome, Mila Rose

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It hasn’t intentionally been radio silence around here. After my last post went live, I took a little hiatus — getting all of my ducks in a row before my due date came (and went) on June 16th.

But our little girl finally decided to make an appearance.

Born at 12:16 AM, Wednesday, June 20th, Mila Rose made her entry into the world!

We are so in love with this little lady!

She weighed 8lbs and was 19.5 inches long!

Her siblings are over the moon! And I can’t believe how well Remy is taking to being a big sister!

She’s absolutely in love and keeps saying “Baby! Baby! Wake up, Baby!”

I’ll update with her birth story soon! Right now we’re just all trying to adapt and adjust!

Gender Reveal // Baby Number 3 is a >>>

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It’s a girl!

I can’t keep it a secret any longer! I know I said we weren’t going to find out the gender of this baby, but at that 20 week anatomy scan I started having second thoughts. I text Chad and said “I think I want to know.” He, of course, couldn’t be there for that appointment and gave his blessing for me to find out for us. But I still waited. I had the ultrasound technician write it down and put it in an envelope for us.

I could barely contain myself to wait til Chad got home from work. Chad was convinced we were having another boy, but I really wanted another girl. I mean, we already have one of each, but I just have grown to love the sass of a little girl.

We opened the envelope and it said “Congratulations — it’s a girl!” and I literally jumped into Chad’s arms. I was so excited. Heck, I’m still so excited. But we waited to make a big announcement because, well, it was a bit more fun that way.

It’s been getting harder and harder to keep it a secret, especially when you have a 5 year old who is willing to tell everyone, “I’m having another baby sister!” Ha.

I haven’t bought anything new for baby number 3, with the exception of her first pair of Freshly Picked moccasins! I just couldn’t wait to get her first pair of shoes!

And aren’t these the cutest little flower moccs you’ve ever seen!? For those who are unfamiliar, these moccasins are so soft and come in so many different patterns (umm, have you seen the tacos and donuts!?), and just so happen to be perfect for newborns and tiny walkers!

And this little lady was so happy to pose in her most recent pair of rose gold moccs. Ha! And that dress? Well, little miss #2 has an exact same dress for when she’s born (thanks, Mimi!). Hopefully Remy’s will still fit her in June. 😉

Thank you everyone for the love during this pregnancy! I can’t wait to share her name in the coming weeks (that’s something we WILL be keeping on the downlow until birth).

 

Stay tuned for a Freshly Picked giveaway. In the meantime, thanks to Freshly Picked for gifting these moccs for little number 3!



Soothing A Colicky Baby //

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In my (many) efforts to be a super-‘real mom,’ I’ve shared our struggles with colic quite a bit. Honestly, before becoming a mom — heck, even after becoming a mom — I had read and heard so little about the battle that is colic. It was discouraging, to say the least.

We found ourselves knee-deep in colic with both Ari and Remy pretty much from day one. The crying, the screaming, the inability to soothe my babies… it was pure torture. We spent so many sleepless nights and fussy days just trying to survive. We tried every ‘trick’ in the book: special ‘holds,’ dietary restrictions, bouncing, rocking, and even driving her around in the car in hopes the screaming would stop (breaking news: it didn’t).

It was easy to find ourselves frustrated by the idea that they would ‘grow out of it’ in time. Especially when we were comparing (PS. don’t compare) our parenting journey to that of our friends or strangers from the internet. Those babies who slept through the night from day one (or even month 6)? Please. Please stop bragging. That’s the only thing I could think to say (and, honestly, the nicest thing I could think to say). For us, we were legitimately just trying to figure out a way to make our babies comfortable; a way to get them to sleep more than 20 minutes; and a way to simply make it through.

So what is colic?

Colic is usually when a healthy baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, at least 3 days a week, for over 3 weeks. It usually starts in the first few weeks of life. Babies may experience increased crying in the evening and at night. It’s the kind of blood-curdling, incessant, screaming, that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. (Lies: I probably would wish it on my worst enemy because colic is a GREAT torture technique, ya’ll).

If you wonder “hmm, maybe my baby had colic,” chances are your baby did not have colic. There is a significant difference between crying a lot and colic. I promise.

Soothing a colicky baby.

There are options for both breastfed and formula-fed babies. For breastfed babies, trying dietary restrictions through an elimination diet are helpful, but often take weeks to make a difference. In the meantime, introducing Gerber® Soothe Colic Drops is ideal for breastfed babies because it contains calming probiotics that can be helpful for their tummies!

The same goes for formula-fed babies! Trying different bottles, feeding positions and using Gerber® Good Start® Soothe Infant Formula are all positive changes you can make for your baby.

Still looking for help and answers? Gerber has so many experts available — Registered Dietitians, Certified Lactation Consultants and Certified Baby Sleep Consultants — to answer any questions! Just call 1-800-203-4565!

When all’s said and done, try anything and everything. Because less crying for babies means more smiling for all!

Do you have any experience with soothing a colicky baby?? If so, what tips would you give a mom navigating her way through colic?

First-Year Mommy Must-Haves // and a GIVEAWAY!

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Whether you’re a new mom of one, two, or seven, the first year with a new baby is tough! Now that we’ve made it to the other side of that first year (hooray!) with Miss Bea, I want to share the things that helped make this transition a whole heck of alot easier!

  • Seventh Generation Wipes. See, you can easily make the simple mistake of buying cheap wipes. However, once you either use thirty for a single diaper change, or — worse yet — end up with poop on your hand, you know that those thin wipes must go! I love Seventh Generation wipes because they are thick and get the job done. We subscribe and save our wipes from Amazon so that we never even have to run out to the store to get them! They’re delivered to us once a month so we never run out!

  • Ergobaby Carrier. My Ergobaby is my lifesaver — especially with the transition of one to two kids! It has made it easier for me to do everything, from grocery shopping to preschool drop-off; from making lunches to changing laundry; this carrier is life-changing, ya’ll.

  • A Nose Frida. I know, I know… Gross, right?? Wrong. First of all, it’s your own kids snot. Second of all, just because you are sucking on the end of this nasal aspirator, doesn’t mean you’re sucking snot. You’re just pulling the snot through with the suction of your moth. Not gross. And super easy! Way easier than those balls they hand out at the hospital! I promise!

  • Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit. I put off this purchase for way longer than I should have. I mean, $39 for (what looks like) a giant snow suit? My thought for months was “We can survive without it.” Ya’ll, I wish we would’ve just bought it from the start. This thing is magical! It’s perfect for once a child can get out of a swaddle, but still need that feeling of security.

  • Chicco Travel Seat. We skipped the fancy/bulky highchair both times around. Why bother? They take up so much space! Instead we opted for this clever snap-on seat. Not only is it portable, but it’s lightweight. Truthfully, we keep it at home almost all of the time; but, if absolutely needed, we take it with us to a restaurant.

  • Car Seat Poncho. Between snow and rain, our babies cannot catch a break! Especially since it’s dangerous to put your kiddos in the car seat with a coat! This car seat poncho is a genius way around the great coat debacle. I’m able to easily transport Miss Bea from the house, to her car seat, and into the Ergobaby without once having to remove her poncho. It keeps her warm and cozy and safe from the elements.
 

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to win a $25 credit to Plays In Puddles boutique — to use on any in-stock item of your choice (including the car seat poncho!).

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

**Disclosure: I received a car seat poncho in exchange for my honest thoughts and review. As always, all opinions herein are my own. **

Remy Bea // 1 YEAR!

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Guys. I can’t believe we survived a whole year with this child! She has been challenging since her first days at home. She has pushed me to my physical and mental limits, but we survived. I feel like this blog post should just be titled “WE SURVIVED!” I’m not even joking.

For those who haven’t followed our journey from the very beginning, let me quickly recap: Remy Bea came into this world a few days late, but in a big hurry. After a drug-free delivery, and immediate latch, we headed home. Once home, Miss Bea decided that she didn’t want to latch anymore — at least not without using a nipple shield. We dealt with it. It was fine.

But that was really just the beginning of her difficulties.

We spent the better part of the next 8 months trying to figure out why she wouldn’t sleep. She averaged about 2-3 hours a night and then would literally scream the whole rest of the night. Oh – and she wouldn’t take a bottle. Just me and my nipple shield. I was exhausted. I was at my wits end. I would regularly wake up my husband (who slept in the other room so he could actually sleep) just to cry and hand her off because I was afraid I might actually shake her. I spent so many nights crying and screaming and saying atrocious things to my baby. These are not my proudest moments, but I have to share so that if anyone else has been in this position (which, I believe more women have been than care to admit) they know that they are not alone.

After figuring out she’d been dealing with UTIs and then visiting a chiropractor to get treated with cranial sacral therapy (oh, and me giving up dairy), our life took a turn for the betterish. No, there weren’t rainbows or butterflies; but the nights where I screamed obscenities were fewer and further between.

And since I didn’t do an 11-month recap, here’s what you’ve missed since her 10-month recap:

  • Girlfriend still isn’t walking, but totally should be. That’s right. Chick can cruise furniture, she can stand up on her own in the middle of the room, and she can walk using her walker. In fact, I know she could walk if she wasn’t so lazy. That’s even what our pediatrician said! Ha! She just knows she can hustle by crawling even faster!
  • Eating. Ari calls Remy Bea a “hungry, hungry, hippo,” and this could not be more accurate. She throws down full-adult sized meals. No joke. Her favorite foods (besides ‘everything’) are rice, chicken, beans, muffins, bananas, pancakes, cranberries, blueberries, prunes, grapes, pasta, and ham. This kid can eat, y’all.
  • Which is amazing considering she weighed in at 16 lb 3 oz at her one year well-visit. If you’re keeping track, she’s still holding strong in the 2nd percentile for weight. I legit asked the doctor if she has a tape worm because she’s honest to God eating food nonstop!
  • Sleep is happening, ya’ll. Sleep is happening! I feel like shouting this from the rooftops! About 5 weeks ago, I moved her out of our room (where the crib is) and into Ari’s room with the pack-n-play. And, believe it or not, she sleeps! I swear it has more to do with me not being in the room than anything else. If she can’t smell me in the middle of the night, perhaps she just doesn’t wake up because of me! (It also can’t hurt that I wear earplugs and will only go down to her if she really needs me).

  • Girlfriend is still very much breastfeeding. It was still regularly every 3-4 hours up until a few weeks ago. Magically, one week before her first birthday, she decided to take a bottle of pumped breastmilk and just drink it. I. was. in. disbelief! Also? A little irritated. Like, now, you decide to take a bottle!? Sigh. Oh well. Hashtag WeSurvived.
  • Words. Miss Bea can scream “Mama,” “Dada,” and “Mommy!” like it’s her job. But she’s also saying “no,” “mine,” “ball,” “hi,” “bye,” and “hello?” Hello is by far the cutest thing she says, because, when she says it, she’s either holding up my phone to her ear, or just her hand. And it’s definitely a question! “Hewo?” ahhh! Melt my heart!
  • She had her first experience with throwing up. (insert sad face) When we all had the stomach virus, Remy got hit almost as hard as Ari. I was able to stop her from getting dehydrated, but she still was throwing up quite often for a few days. It was awful, ya’ll. See all those different types of food she likes to eat?? Well, it wasn’t just breast milk vomit. It was real-food vomit too. Ugh.

I have to say, as much of a pain as she has been, and as much as I can actually see her continuing to be a ‘spirited’ child in the future, I’m so grateful that she completed our family just one year ago! But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m ecstatic to be out of the ‘baby’ stage. It’s a cute stage, but it’s oh-so-difficult! I’m so excited to see what this next year bring us with both of our kiddos! Thanks for following along for the first year of Miss Bea’s life! xo