new mommy lessons

Mommy lessons I have learned today:
1. It is better to have too many diapers than too few
2. Showers happen on baby time.

Last night we noticed that we were running low on newborn sized diapers. I had gotten a big box of size 1's, but Chris is still in the newborns. This morning, I said I could take a Target run and get them- Target isn't open as early as Doug goes to work. Somehow, through the morning, I got down to two diapers. Diaper emergency! So Chris and I went to Target. But he kept on slumping forward in the car seat on the way there, and I had to pull over several times, get off the road, put on the blinkers, and readjust him. I tried the two receiving blankets and washcloth and infant insert, ended up ditching the infant insert because it doesn't do anything and doubled up the receiving blankets next to his head. We got to Target and I got the goods. Then before heading back, I adjusted the angle of the car seat and he did much better on the way back- didn't fall forward. The bubble looked right for both settings. I bought a box and a big bag of newborn diapers- don't want to run out again! I am beginning to understand the production that is going to the store, or taking a shower, or I guess really doing anything that you take for granted pre-baby. Hopefully I have the car seat padding down now.

sahm

Doug went back to work today, so today is my first day home alone as a stay at home mom. I'm getting acquainted with daytime television, although hopefully I don't get too familiar with it. This morning I took Chris to his doctor's appointment for a weight recheck, and he has regained and surpassed his birth weight now at 6 lb 13 oz. Despite my padding the sides of his car seat, he got a little slumped over in the seat on the way home and I was glad to get him home.

sleeping

more pics

5 days old

Chris is five days old today. I am relieved that my milk finally came in so he can get some nutrition. Doug has been doing a great job of taking care of me- fixing meals, packing boxes, cleaning up the apartment. My responsibility has been breasfeeding the baby, and that is now going better now that I have milk. He is so tiny and dependent on us completely. Something interesting happened when we came home. I no longer cared about the baby stuff being in pristine condition. I had banished the cat from the baby/ computer room because I didn't want him scratching the wood. Well, now I could care less if he scratches the wood. It's just stuff. As long as he doesn't scratch the baby, I am fine. Jack has been pretty curious about Chris. I have been shooing him away. Yesterday (or was it the day before?) I had Chris on the changing table and the cat meowed and jumped up on the changing table pad at the end! I had the baby in the middle, but if he had been up at top, Jack would have landed on his face! That is a scary thought. Our cat has his claws. Doug and I went for a walk around the lake today. We took the Bob stroller- it was a very smooth ride.

Day 2.5 Home

Day 2.5 home and we're slowly figuring things out.

Eiko is the master mother and has taken to the task like a duck to water.

I, on the other hand, still have no clue what to do.

She is feeding him on a 2 hour schedule which basically means that sleep happens in small increments but somehow she doesn't even seem tired. It's amazing how much energy she has.

Yesterday we took Chris to his first peds visit and he got a clean bill of health.

I guess it's up to us to keep him that way. :)

Here are a couple more pictures.

More baby pics

We took Christopher home yesterday. We were pretty busy with him last night. He had his first doctor's appointment today, and is perfectly healthy. Here are some more pictures:

Christopher

Christopher Allen Browning arrived June 22! 6 lb 9 oz. We are so excited that he's here!

big

I am so stretched out, I cannot even imagine how moms of multiples feel. Or midgets.

39 weeks

match day

I matched in Heme/ Onc at the University of Colorado! I will start fellowship in July 2010. I'm very excited to be staying!

In addition to today being match day, I also had an OB appointment. My OB did a cervical exam, and I'm 75% effaced, 1cm dilated. He says that doesn't say anything about when I will go into labor- it could be tomorrow, or it could be two weeks from now. He guesses the baby is about 7 lbs.

waiting

I put the swing together. Somehow I'm the one on most of the baby product assembly, despite Doug's love of things mechanical. I wonder what that means. . . apprehension? The swing works great so far without a passenger. The nature sounds are a little annoying, probably won't use them much. I like the star mobile. Today I also put the car seat adapter on to the Bob stroller. That way we can use it from day one, although apparently it's recommended only for walking, not running. There is a warning in the instruction manual that mentions the threat of death if using the car seat and car seat adapter while running (on a jogging stroller).

pretty sure i've dropped

I am pretty sure that the baby has dropped. Doug and I met up with Paul, a friend from med school, on Saturday and we did a lot of walking around downtown. I had no problems with the walking. Then yesterday, I felt like my pelvic bones were loosening, and I've had more trouble walking. Plus, everyone says I look lower. I think I've dropped. I have my OB appointment for the week on Wednesday. Also, Wednesday is Match Day! That is when I find out where I'm going for Heme/Onc for 2010.

38 weeks

we rented a house!

We now have a place to live next month! We are renting a three bedroom house in Roxborough, which is to the south of Littleton. It's only 5-10 minutes away from Doug's work. That will be a great improvement from his current 45 minute commute. We signed the paperwork today, and will be able to move in July 15. With three bedrooms, we'll have our bedroom, the baby's bedroom, and a guest room/ computer room. Our lives (and collection of stuff) keeps getting bigger. Here are some pictures from Arrowhead golf course, which is close to where we will be living:

still haven't dropped

I thought that the baby dropped yesterday- I was getting kicked in the mid right abdomen rather than in the liver. But, I had my OB visit today, and he still hasn't dropped. Just a waiting game at this point. I think we have all the baby stuff we need. The baby's area is packed with stuff- I'm still storing stuff in the crib, since we plan to have him sleep in the pack n play at first. It will be nice to have more room and a dedicated nursery once we find a place to live.

37 weeks

37 weeks yesterday. Our baby will be showing up any time this month. My guess is June 16th- no particular reason, just sounds like a nice date. I finished reading "happiest baby on the block" and now am armed with book knowledge. Beware! 5 s's. Swaddling, shushing, side lying, swinging, sucking!

ob visit

Had my OB visit for the week today. Baby is doing well. He still hasn't dropped- guess I won't be delivering this week. Otherwise, I'm doing well. I'm still waddling around campus for work in the lab. Walking is ok with the maternity belt on. The reflux is bad if I eat too late at night. I checked a book out of the library, "the happiest baby on the block", and it's about calming colicky babies. It has some funky ideas about a missing fourth trimester. However, hopefully it has some good tips on soothing babies because I really have no idea what I'm doing. I really don't have any experience with babies. I would guess the closest experience I have is the cat, and cats aren't people. The advice the book has had so far is pretty common sense. Respond to the baby right away so he learns to know you care and learns to trust. Try to recreate the uterine environment by swaddling, rocking, and shushing. That is as far as I have gotten so far. There is only so much you can learn from books, but at least I will have some tools in the toolbox to try!

36 weeks