Half Birthday

Happy half birthday Meredith!!!  Today my little girl is 6 months old.  I cannot believe just how big she has gotten in such a short time.  In some ways I feel that it was only yesterday that I brought home her tiny little body...and other times I feel like she has been part of our life forever.  I can barely remember my life before her.  In some ways being a mom is easier than I thought, and some ways tougher.  There are more sacrifices and adjustments that we have to make, but every single one is worth it when I look into her smiling, laughing face.  I love that the person she wants most in the world is me.  The best moments are when my husband and I are holding her together and she reaches up with her little hands, putting each one on Skip's and my faces.  She is absolutely perfect and we are blessed with each and every day we have with her.  I can't wait to see what the next six months and beyond bring to our little family!!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my AMAZING husband who let me sleep in until 9 and made me a pancake breakfast in bed....for no particular reason.  I love you Skip!!!

Mommy Groups

Tomorrow Little M and I are going to not one, but TWO Mommy Group meetings! It will be the first outing for both groups. I am super excited to meet some fellow moms and get out of the house! I will post tomorrow night how they go!

Wordless Wednesday

Here's a picture of our other dog...Shiba Inu! (Yes, her name is the same as her breed...we were not feeling original!) Her birthday is the day before Little M's and she's 4 1/2. Here she is laying in bed, taking over my spot!

Baby Gear - Feeding

From now on, all of the blogs about baby items are going to be based off the registry on buybuybaby.com.  I just don't seem to have the brain power to come up with all these lists by myself.  Obviously all of the opinions about each item will be my own.  

Bibs - buy lots and lots of these....I didn't use them for the first three months and thought it was a waste, but as soon as Little M started teething she had one on constantly...sometimes I would need to change them three times a day!  They are also great now that she is bottle fed.  Buy several plastic ones for when they start solids.  They can easily be wiped off or washed in the sink.

Burp cloths - I used these all the time when I was breast feeding.  Now that Little M is on the bottle we mainly use bibs.  They are also good for wiping up messes and when she spits up.  My mom says that once all my future babies have grown up they make for great dusting rags.  I love the Gerber ones the best as they are the softest.

Bottles and Nipples - This is a matter of preference, yours and your baby's.  I got both the Avent and Platex Drop-Ins.  Little M liked the Avent in the beginning, but will now only drink from the Platex Drop-Ins.  They may not be the most eco-friendly, and do cost more because you have to buy the drop-ins, but they really help with gassiness.  Clean-up is also much easier since I only have to wash the nipples.  Also, buy several nipples in the different flows.  I was amazed at how quickly she moved up to each level.  She is not quite six months and has been using the fastest flow for a month now.

Insulated Bottle Tote - I never gave much thought to these before, but I received one for my shower and I love it!  It not only ensures the bottle will stay at a comfortable temperature (great for these upcoming hot months) but it also keeps the bottle from spilling into the diaper bag.  I plan on buying a few more for when I need to bring several bottles with me.

Bottle Brush - I have two of these and really do find they are the best for cleaning the bottles.  Any brand will do.

Bottle Sterilizer - I got one of these and really only used it twice.  I boiled all of the bottles and nipples in a pot on the stove when I first bought them (the directions to do so was on the packaging).  Now I just wash them with soap and hot water in the sink and feel that the extra sterilizing is just an extra step I don't really need.

Bottle Warmer - I never got one of these and never seemed to need one.  When I was feeding M expressed breast milk that had been stored in the fridge I heated them up in a pot of boiling water.  It worked fine for me and was never a problem.  Now that she is on formula, we simply make the bottles with room-temperature purified water mixed with the powdered formula.  I had read that if you start the baby off this way they won't get used to the taste of heated formula milk.

Bottle Drying Rack - Never bought one.  I just leave the bottles and nipples to dry on a towel on the counter next to the sink.

Dishwasher Caddy - Never bought one of these either.  I just wash the bottles and nipples in the sink because we really only run the dishwasher every two or three days, so it wasn't practical for me.

Breast Pump and Accessories - This is really a matter of need and preference.  I breast fed exclusively for the first five months and registered for one because I knew I would want to express milk so my husband would be able to giver her bottles.  It would also make it easier for me to feed her if we had guests over. (I personally was not comfortable breast feeding in front of anyone other than my husband)  Because I am a stay-at-home mom and knew I would only be expressing maybe one bottle a day, I registered for a single manual pump.  I got the Avent package that came with the pump and several large and small bottles that fit right onto the pump.  This was great for me and my situation.  If I had gone back to work or needed to pump more often, I would have gotten an electric one.  Keep in mind they are more expensive than the manual ones.

Breastmilk Storage Container - As I said, the Avent pump I had came with bottles that fit right onto the pump.  They had screw-on tops for the bottles so I could put them right into the fridge, and then just change to a screw-on nipple when it was time to feed her.  I never needed to freeze milk so I didn't need too many, or to use the breast storage bags.  Again, this will depend on your level of necessity.

Nursing Pillow - Definitely buy the Boppy pillow!!!  I absolutely love mine and use it all the time.  It makes everything much more comfortable.  I only wish I had brought it with me to the hospital to make the first few tries much easier.  I still use it sometimes when I am feeding M a bottle.  I also place her on her stomach on it for "tummy time" and now it helps her sit up straight, as she still doesn't have great balance when sitting.

Nursing Wrap / Cover - As I said, I was never comfortable breast feeding in front of other people, so I never got one.  I would have though if I would have been feeding her in public or in front of friends or family.  A blanket can also serve the same purpose, though some say it is not as easy as using a wrap.

Nursing Bra - I only bought one and that seemed enough for me.  I wear alot of tank tops, either alone or under clothes, and they were easy enough to pull down.  Sports bras also offered me enough support and again were very easy to pull up or down.  

Breast Pads - These were invaluable the entire time I was breast feeding.  I wore them all the time, even when sleeping.  I used disposable ones, but never tried the reusable ones.  I used a few different brands and while some were a little better than others, all did the job.  It is a matter of trial-and-error.

Nursing Stool - I never had one and personally didn't miss it.  I  breast fed Little M most of the time in bed sitting up with my legs stretched out, or just sitting on the couch.

Splat Mat - I honestly have no idea what this is even!

Infant Feeding Spoons - I waited to buy these until Little M was ready to start solids at four months.  I have the rubber-tipped ones that turn white if the food is too hot.  Although I just just feed Little M her food at room temperature and don't heat it up.  Again, I read that if you start your child off eating this way they don't get used to the warmed food.  She also eats it cold.  It is a nice feature to have though once she is eating regular food and I want to easily test if it is too hot.  I have four spoons and that seems enough.

Infant Feeding Bowls and Plates - I like the ones that are specifically designed for infants because of the separated compartments.  It makes it easier to mix together the cereal with formula and keep it separate from the strained fruits and vegetables.  Though Little M does like them mixed together on the spoon!  They are also made of plastic so I am not worried about them breaking if she gets a hold of them and drops them on the floor.  They are easily washed in both the sink and the dishwasher, though the packaging says to only wash them in the top rack of the dishwasher.  I have five dishes and this has been a good amount.

Sippy Cups - So far I only have one sippy cup that I received for free in the mail.  Little M is not yet old enough to start using them, but I will buy several more when she is.  I have not really decided which ones to get yet, though they all seem comparable and will probably go with the ones that are most economical.

Memorial Day

I'm a day late with this, but I'm pretty much a day late with all my blogs.  Yesterday was Memorial Day, and as I'm sure you can all guess, this is an important day of remembrance in our house.  I have been getting rather annoyed in the past few years that people seem have to forgotten the true meaning of the holiday.  I heard about the bumper-to-bumper traffic all the way down the parkway to the shore, starting on Thursday night.  I watched on the news Friday morning, people setting up on the beach at 5 am!!!  I know that Memorial Day has become the unofficial start to summer, but that is not what it's about.  It's about remembering all those men and women who gave their lives for our freedom.  We are allowed to spend our days at the mall and down the shore, sitting outside with friends, grilling and enjoying the sunshine, because of their sacrifices.  I just think it's important to pause and reflect on just how lucky we all are to be alive and enjoying our freedom.  Thank you to everyone who has ever served in the military and to their families left behind.  We should remember you today and every day.

The Soldier

It is the soldier, not the reporter, 
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet, 
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, 
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, not the lawyer, 
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier, 
who salutes the flag, 
who serves under the flag, 
and whose coffin is draped by the flag, 
who allows the protester to burn the flag.

By Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for this gorgeous day.  I feel like I talk about the weather in every other post, but today was just PERFECT!  And beautiful weather always makes even the toughest days seem better.  Like today for example...the husband was working another 16 hour shift and the baby woke me up at 5:00 am.  I'm not even sure how I'm still up at 11:30 pm with no nap!! (just shows you just how obsessed with my husband I am still...I'm only waiting up to see him, since I haven't seen him since 6:00 am this morning!)  But despite all that, Little M and I had a great day.  She was very happy and smiley, which is always a bonus.  We went to the store first thing, then came home for breakfast.  Afterwards we walked up to my parents' house and we hung out there for a bit.  After lunch I took her to the park (first time I've done that by myself!) and I walked her around the pond for an hour.  It was so nice to be in the sun, get in a decent workout, and I even got some nice color on my arms and face! (don't worry, Little M was wearing her SPF 70+...no color for her!!)  Then we ran out to the store again and picked up an inflatable pool!!  It is going to be 90* tomorrow and I'm very excited to try it out!  Hopefully Little M will top off this great day by sleeping in nice and late.  Keep your fingers crossed!!!

Separation Anxiety and Mommy Groups

So it seems as though my little girl is going through some separation anxiety.  Going back to work those two days was definitely not a good idea for her.  Since Friday night, she wakes up several times after we put her to bed.  As soon as my husband or I go in and pick her up, she falls right back to sleep.  It is only when we try and put her back in the crib that she cries.  We have to slooooooowly put her back in and tip toe our of the room.  This happens at least 4 times between 7:30 and about midnight when we go to bed.  She has also been getting up between 5:00 and 5:30...much earlier than her normal 7:00.  I'm assuming that this is separation anxiety since it started the night after I subbed at school, and nothing seems to be wrong with her, other than freaking out that Skip and I aren't with her when she wakes herself up.  I'm hoping that she will start to settle down soon.  Skip and I have decided that I definitely won't sub at all for the rest of the school year (which is only a few weeks any way)  and we'll revisit it again in the fall.  By then she will be older and much better adjusted.  This definitely proves to me the importance of keeping babies on a schedule...and the hell it can be when you interrupt that schedule. 

On a brighter note, I have recently been in search of some Mommy groups to join.  My friends have been so great, listening to me and trying to offer advice.  But I still want to find a group of women with babies Little M's age who I can talk to.  It would also be nice to find some women around my age, as it seems most women in my generation are waiting to have babies until they are older.  After a lot of searching I have found not one, but TWO Mommy groups to join.  I am going to be meeting up with one of the them at some activities next week, and I can't wait.  I am nervous because I am not really good at meeting new people.  But this is something I really want, so I just have to suck it up and do it!  I will definitely let everyone know how I make out with it!

Baby Gear - Bathroom

As a new mom, it is very difficult to navigate through all of the "stuff" that babies seem to need nowadays.  Without experience, it's hard to figure out what is really necessary, what will actually work, and how much of something you really need.  I am going to dedicate these next few blogs to what I personally have learned about baby "stuff" so far.

Bath Time Needs

bathtub - Invest in an infant-to-toddler one with an attached sling.  It holds the baby comfortably and makes bath time a lot less nerve wracking.

Washcloths - The baby ones are softer and easier to use; one package of four or five is plenty.

Shampoo - Buy a body wash/shampoo combo.  There are tons of great brands out there, but I have found Johnson & Johnson to be the best, and it is not expensive

Towels - I like the ones with the hood.  They help keep the baby's little head warm and they look so cute!  The number you need depends on how often you want to do laundry.

Disposable Washcloths - I received these at my shower and I love them!  Huggies makes some and they are a lifesaver in the early days when you can only give the baby a sponge bath.  They are also great to throw in your diaper bag or bring on a trip.  Clean more thoroughly than just a wipe.

Lotion - There are tons of fabulous brands of these out there, but I again prefer the Johnson & Johnson variety.  Just make sure whatever you choose it is gentle and specifically designed for babies.

Powder and Oil -  Have never used them.  Don't waste your money.

Comb and Brush - Any baby-specific one will do.  I have a comb but haven't used  it at all yet.  I will probably get more use out of it once Little M is older and has more hair.  The ultra soft brush is perfect for now.

Grooming Kit - Only other grooming you will need to do besides brushing the baby's hair is nail care.  I was VERY nervous about cutting Little M's nails when she was very young, so I just used a regular nail file.  Now I am more comfortable with it and cut her nails.  Any baby clippers will do.

Toys - Babies are too little to play with bath toys until they are closer to a year old.  Don't spend money on them until baby can actually use them.  Same goes for those mesh toy holders.

Kneelers - There are several different kinds of kneelers that attach onto the tub to make it easier for mom to bath baby.  I have not found a need for one, but it might be a nice luxury.

Faucet Cover - I have not yet purchased one, as Little M is still in her infant tub.  I will probably buy an inexpensive one when she moves to sitting in the tub.

Bathrobe - I was given and ADORABLE Winnie the Pooh one for my shower.  Little M looks ridiculously cute in it, but it is not a necessity.  It will probably be handier when she is older and attempting to run around naked after I towel her off!

*Please keep in mind that I want to get the best for my little girl, but price is a major consideration.  That will fuel a lot of my personal decisions*

More to come later!!

Back to School

Today was my first day back at work since Little M was born.  No, I haven't gone back to work full, or even part-time.  I was just a substitute teach for the day.  Before the baby, I worked as a middle school teacher in a local elementary school.  I still keep in touch with many of the teachers, and happily agreed to sub in the fourth grade class today and again on Monday.

I was excited to get out of the house and reconnect with all my old colleagues.  I also used to love teaching and was excited for the chance to dust off my rusty skills.  I was very nervous though.  It was the longest I was going to be away from Little M ever.  With her constantly changing skills, I was worried I would miss out on so much.  I was also concerned because I had committed myself to working both days.  I was locked in to Monday, even if today didn't go so well.  

I was grateful to my husband who would be home with the baby before work at 1, and my mom who would take over from there until I got home around 3.  This was a huge help, but would be difficult in that I would have to jump right in to full-time mom duties right after working a full day.  I know there are thousands of moms out there who do both every single day, and I really shouldn't be complaining, but it was still tough.

As I had mentioned in my Mother's Day post, there are both good and not so good parts to every day.  (Notice how I didn't say bad??  Life is so precious, and each day is a gift, so I'm trying not to view any part of my day as bad.  Days might not go the way I plan them, but I still try not to call it bad.)  Anyways, the not so good parts of my day were:

- having to be up, dressed, and out the door by 7 am

- it was absolutely GORGEOUS outside and I just wanted to be with my husband and little girl, taking a nice long walk

- my husband was off this morning, but I didn't get to spend time with him:(  He also took overtime tonight so he won't come home until 7 am tomorrow.  He then needs to go right to bed, only waking up to get ready and go right back to work at 2 pm.  So I won't really get to have a real conversation with him until tomorrow night at 11:30.  If I can stay up that late.  Awesome.

- it was really exhausting to work all day, and then be a full time wife and mommy for the rest of the day while the husband was at work (which was exhausting for him too, but full time dad in the morning and then working a 16 hour shift!!!)

- I MISSED MY DAUGHTER LIKE CRAZY!!!

On the plus side it was nice to:

- get out of the house for a bit

- talk to someone other than a 5 month old baby and two puppies

- sit and eat a leisurely 45 minute lunch without someone crying or barking at me

- actually get all dressed up and not be covered in strained food, poop, or spit up 10 minutes later

- make a little extra cash

- feel personal accomplishment for the day

- be someone other than "Meredith's Mommy"

All in all it was a pretty good day.  It was great to see some old friends and students.  It was nice to have a little change in my daily schedule.  But my heart was at home with my little girl.  I will obviously be coming back on Monday, and I would like to sub again in the future, but today reaffirmed just how lucky and happy I am to stay home:)

Thankful Thursday (Late Again!)

This week I am thankful for:

- My husband who tries to let me sleep as much as possible whenever he is home

- My beautiful daughter's laughter

- My husband and my mom for watching Little M so I can substitute teach sometimes

- Not having to work full-time outside the home

- Take-out at the end of a long day

- My mom making me a homecooked meal the first day I go back to working

- My health and the health of my family

Wordless Wednesday

Here are some flashback photos to my wedding...way back on July 29, 2005!!

Mother's Day

I hope all my fellow moms out there had a very happy Mother's Day! This was my very first as a Mommy, and I was very excited. If there is one thing I have learned since becoming a mom, it is that nothing goes the way you planned...and yesterday was no different! As with every day, there were both good and not so good things that happened.

First, the not so good:
-Cops don't get holidays off, so my husband had to work from 7am - 3pm....sp there went my dreams of sleeping in nice and late.
-Little M thought that the point of Mother's Day was to spend as much time with me as possible...by waking me up at 5 am!
-I pulled a muscle in my back while trying to load car seat, baby, purse, diaper bag, and giant bag of gifts into the car...all at the same time (ok, maybe that was my own fault)
-my FAVORITE Italian restaurant in town (the one I had been practically dreaming of for days) was CLOSED!! Seriously...who closes on Mother's Day!??!
-The pizza place we ended up ordering from (which I had ordered from before and was pretty good) was not good at all and a big disappointment

However my husband and family made sure that the good prevailed:
- I had a very nice time at church with Little M and my mom
- My parents had us over for a lovely brunch with my family, where I was surprised with several touching cards, a great book and some beautiful black and white framed pictures of my sweet little girl
- My husband and Meredith (who obviously went in on some gifts together) each bought me cards that brought tears to my eyes...yummy chocolate truffles....the cables needed so I can hook up my computer to my TV....and a gift certificate for a mani/pedi in town (which will also mean at least an hour of alone time!!)
- Skip took over all diaper and feeding duties when he got home, so I just got to snuggle and play with Little M when she was happy
- I got to take a lovely nap while waiting for dinner
-Skip let me have complete control over the remote and did not complain even once!


So while maybe it wasn't the "ideal" Mother's Day that I would have planned for myself, it was still a very lovely day. I'm just so blessed to have my little girl so that I can celebrate in this beautiful day!

Check This Out!

Check out this GREAT blog I follow...and her new giveaway!  It's a military cookbook filled with stories from past military wives.  Right up my alley as you can tell!!  Head on over there and check it out!  

Military Cookbook Giveaway

Not All Precious Jewelry Has to Sparkle

By nature I am not really a bracelet type of girl. I have a few beautiful ones that I save for special occasions, but never day-to-day.  However, recently I have taken to wearing a bracelet every day that my husband gave me a few years ago.  Now my husband has WONDERFUL taste in jewelry and has gotten me several beautiful pieces over the years.  However this particular bracelet may not appeal to most of the general public.  Here are two pictures:

It is made of green parachute cord, attached with a button found lying around somewhere.  It was a birthday present from my husband when he was only my fiance, back in October of 2004...when he was deployed to Iraq.  See...it's all starting to make sense now:)  All of the Marines in my husband unit wore these 24 hours a day 7 days a week, the entire length of their deployment.  He had one made for me, that matched his, so we could always be connected to each other in some way while he was gone.  Neither of us took it off until months after he came home. (I had even wanted to wear it to my wedding, but my mom refused and knew it would look terrible:) ) While he was gone, whenever I missed him, I would look down and touch the bracelet, wondering if he was doing the same thing at the same time.  It really helped to get us through those long hours, days, and months.  

This bracelet also has special meaning for me in another way.  The Marine who actually made the bracelet was one of my husband's closest friends, Jesse.  Jesse was Skip's roomate for the entire deployment, sleeping on the top of their bunk beds.  He was the turret gunner in their humvee and was always great for some comic relief.  He made me the bracelet in return for a mix CD (Skip and I don't agree on music, but Jesse and I did, haha) and I even talked to him on the phone once in Iraq.  The last time I saw him was the day they came home, underneath the plane, while waiting for all their bags.  I gave him a hug and said I was glad he was home safe.  Sadly, that was the last time I saw Jesse, because only 3 months after they got home, he drown while on vacation with some of his friends from home.  The shock that someone could survive a war and then come home and die, tore my heart apart.  Being at a military funeral for someone so young was one of the worst days I have ever experienced.  That day, and every year on the anniversary of his death, I put on the bracelet and think of Jesse.  I feel lucky that all the guys in his unit will forever has this special tie to him.

So why am I wearing this bracelet again?  I put it on the other day in support of my husband as he ran his first 5K race (he laughed at me, because he runs at least a 5K length of 3.2 miles about 4 times a week, but I was excited about the first actual race)  And as I was looking at the bracelet that day, it reminded me again about how much he and I went through when he was deployed, and how it strengthened our relationship.  It is a reminder of just how lucky I am every day to have him home with me.  And as with Jesse, it is a reminder that even though someone survives a war, they are not immortal and bad things can still happen (an especially big worry when your husband is a cop!) It reminds me of all the Marines and soldiers still over there, and all the families at home struggling without them.  It reminds me that even when things seem impossibly hard, I can find the inner strength to do them.  It reminds me that if my husband had not come home, I would never have my beautiful daughter.  It reminds me that small problems and annoyances are trivial in the face of real danger.  It reminds me that my husband is a true hero in all sense of the word, and I will never fully be able to express how proud I am of him.  It reminds me that just because someone leaves the war, doesn't mean that the war leaves them.  It reminds me that Skip and I can get through anything life throws at us, together.