i'm happy i managed to catch her cute little noise there at the start. i've been trying to catch it for a few weeks, but each time i bust out the camera, she gets quiet. we sure love this little wiggly, talkative girl!
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
jude, 1 month
caveat: this blog has quickly turned into being all about jude. i suppose it follows the classic middle-class american blog trajectory: blog about your adventures, then about your dog, then about your home remodel projects, and now about your baby. oh well, such is life!
i know keeping a proper baby book is unlikely to happen for me, so for now, this blog will serve the purpose of helping me remember her milestones and moments.
weight: 8lbs 1.5oz
length: not sure, she was 21" at her 3 week appointment.
diaper size: newborn or size 1.
clothing size: 0-3 months primarily, with a few newborn things still fitting.
nicknames: jude bug, juno, babykins, critter (only brandon calls her that last one, but he calls all kids under 3 critters).
health: after we got home from the hospital with this little one, we ran into major issues with breastfeeding. i'll spare the details, but it was rugged for her and for me. i spent a lot of time pumping and feeding her with a syringe, which had me comparing the experience to raising a stray kitten. she kept getting fussy, so i thought maybe we were overfeeding her with the syringe, since we squirted it into her mouth (as opposed to breastfeeding where she would moderate when she was done). turns out, we were starving her--totally unintentionally and i, gladly, have no mom guilt about this mistake. she dropped from 7lbs, 11oz at birth to 6lbs, 9oz on day 5 so it was a rough start at life. we have overcome this issue and she is eating like a champ now!
sleep: she has a pretty consistent 5 hours at the start of the night, but the 2-6am period is a little unpredictable. she has slept 7 hours in a row a few times and that has been glorious!
diet: she breastfeeds 8-9 times a day and has her early morning (somewhere between 5:30 and 6:30) feeding from a bottle with brandon. i am so glad she is taking the bottle without issue because i really love to be able to stay in bed in the morning! i think brandon enjoys getting to participate in the feeding process too.
baby gear love: she simply wouldn't have survived the first month if it weren't for having a nipple shield. i didn't even know these existed prior to her precipitous weight plummet (see above), but this little piece of silicon saved her from the unintentional starvation she experienced in her first week of life.
loves: the swing, being swaddled, skin-to-skin time with dad, mimicking a woodpecker when she gets too hungry, and bath time. this kid is also clearly an introvert (hmm, wonder where she gets that?), as she requires a fair bit of alone time every day.
dislikes: change. diaper change, clothing change, position change, etc. she recovers from her annoyance quickly, but she makes her annoyance known.
milestones: she is starting to be more interactive with brandon and i, which is really fun.
random notes: this girl is completely unfazed by the giant, rowdy dog who adores her. he loves to sneak licks, especially when she is in the swing and at the perfect height for him to nuzzle his way up to her. i guess because harvey has always been part of her life, she doesn't know to be perturbed by his kisses.
also, her eyes are a steely blue and i am eager to see what color they will turn out to be. there aren't any hints of brown, but i'm not sure they will stay as they are now.
i know keeping a proper baby book is unlikely to happen for me, so for now, this blog will serve the purpose of helping me remember her milestones and moments.
---
age: 1 monthweight: 8lbs 1.5oz
length: not sure, she was 21" at her 3 week appointment.
diaper size: newborn or size 1.
clothing size: 0-3 months primarily, with a few newborn things still fitting.
nicknames: jude bug, juno, babykins, critter (only brandon calls her that last one, but he calls all kids under 3 critters).
health: after we got home from the hospital with this little one, we ran into major issues with breastfeeding. i'll spare the details, but it was rugged for her and for me. i spent a lot of time pumping and feeding her with a syringe, which had me comparing the experience to raising a stray kitten. she kept getting fussy, so i thought maybe we were overfeeding her with the syringe, since we squirted it into her mouth (as opposed to breastfeeding where she would moderate when she was done). turns out, we were starving her--totally unintentionally and i, gladly, have no mom guilt about this mistake. she dropped from 7lbs, 11oz at birth to 6lbs, 9oz on day 5 so it was a rough start at life. we have overcome this issue and she is eating like a champ now!
sleep: she has a pretty consistent 5 hours at the start of the night, but the 2-6am period is a little unpredictable. she has slept 7 hours in a row a few times and that has been glorious!
diet: she breastfeeds 8-9 times a day and has her early morning (somewhere between 5:30 and 6:30) feeding from a bottle with brandon. i am so glad she is taking the bottle without issue because i really love to be able to stay in bed in the morning! i think brandon enjoys getting to participate in the feeding process too.
baby gear love: she simply wouldn't have survived the first month if it weren't for having a nipple shield. i didn't even know these existed prior to her precipitous weight plummet (see above), but this little piece of silicon saved her from the unintentional starvation she experienced in her first week of life.
loves: the swing, being swaddled, skin-to-skin time with dad, mimicking a woodpecker when she gets too hungry, and bath time. this kid is also clearly an introvert (hmm, wonder where she gets that?), as she requires a fair bit of alone time every day.
dislikes: change. diaper change, clothing change, position change, etc. she recovers from her annoyance quickly, but she makes her annoyance known.
milestones: she is starting to be more interactive with brandon and i, which is really fun.
random notes: this girl is completely unfazed by the giant, rowdy dog who adores her. he loves to sneak licks, especially when she is in the swing and at the perfect height for him to nuzzle his way up to her. i guess because harvey has always been part of her life, she doesn't know to be perturbed by his kisses.
also, her eyes are a steely blue and i am eager to see what color they will turn out to be. there aren't any hints of brown, but i'm not sure they will stay as they are now.
the plunge
we envisioned using cloth diapers for jude, but during her first month she was too small and i was too tired. however, this week we took the plunge. we don't yet have enough to get through more than a day and half, so our plunge has been gradual, but i am pretty impressed with how uncomplicated they are. plus, she looks so darn adorable in these giant colorful diapers!
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
jude bug, the wiggle worm
here is a little video of jude from this morning. she really likes checking out the world on her own in the mornings, which is awesome because it gives me time to drink my coffee and eat before she requires much of me. she is still a pretty content little one.
(sorry for the poor video quality. those of you who care about the video likely won't care about the quality...)
we are getting a little better at life with jude as we learn her needs and cues. she has taken to a bottle, so i get up for the middle of the night feeding but brandon does the early morning feeding, allowing me to sleep in a smidge. i think brandon enjoys being able to participate in feeding her and i really enjoy sleeping in!
the other night brandon did the middle of the night feeding, so i went without seeing jude for about 10 hours. i swear she grew up in that time! it was incredibly strange for me to go that long without seeing her!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
PPPP
i've always admired people who compete in the pole, pedal, paddle in bend. i remember watching at the finish line at drake park when my kindergarten PE teacher was a competitor.
today we instituted a christmas eve tradition (can you call something a tradition on the first go round?): a sunset ski followed by bowls of grandma's delicious clam chowder. brandon nailed her chowder recipe and it was an incredibly comforting meal after our short ski up at happy jack.
i am thrilled i could squeeze my feet into my ski boots (compression socks were required) and get my body in motion on the day before my due date. (i did have to wear brandon's snow clothes, as none of mine currently fit.)
as we were returning to the parking lot after our ski, i realized that over the course of my pregnancy i did my own version of the pole, pedal, paddle race. i just stretched it out over many months while carrying a whole extra person. that counts for something right? the pregnancy pole pedal paddle!
Sunday, December 22, 2013
always wanting what you can't have
the biggest want i have this year for christmas is to meet this little one occupying the greater portion of my abdomen. but it looks like that wish is very unlikely to be fulfilled, given the lack of signs of labor.
the other thing i want is to go for a ski.
i have been incredibly lucky this pregnancy, with being able to keep moving freely and the absence of limitations. were it not for the snow storm in early december and the subsequent sub-zero temps (resulting in perma-crusty, slippery roads and sidewalks), i know i could have ridden my bike to work up until my last day. but the roads are still an icy mess and my concerns about wrecking my bike kept me playing it safe, so i haven't been getting my usual exercise.
i keep hearing/reading that walking is one of the best ways to get labor going. can i just say that sounds dreadful right now? i don't walk these days: i waddle. slowly and cautiously. so the idea of walking the multiple miles i would likely need to get labor going sounds like torture.
but a ski, that sounds nice and peaceful. i know it would be difficult and likely awkward, but it would mean i was up among the trees, slushing through the snow, watching my crazy mongrel of a dog bound around joyfully. this sounds far more up my ally than being drug around the park with said dog whining with discontent that there are squirrels in HIS park, while i waddle along in shame.
(i must admit that the idea of going for a ski also calls to me, perhaps, in part, because i hope the gliding motion will jostle baby o. into developing an evacuation plan.)
but my ski plans have been thwarted by my edematous hobbit feet.
i knew pregnancy wouldn't be glamorous and that parts of my body would change, but i did not expect that my feet would look like they belong to a morbidly obese person nor that they would pulse with discomfort. some days, my toes look like they are going to pop. my feet ache with each step i take right now; all this water-weight does not equate to walking on pillows of air, as my friend mia optimistically hoped. and i currently have two pairs of shoes i can tolerate wearing, so that really limits my wardrobe and comfort options. the other downside to these distended feet: they won't fit into my ski boots. sigh. so i sit here on the couch, with my feet up, hoping for relief and wanting to beg santa for three things this year:
the other thing i want is to go for a ski.
i have been incredibly lucky this pregnancy, with being able to keep moving freely and the absence of limitations. were it not for the snow storm in early december and the subsequent sub-zero temps (resulting in perma-crusty, slippery roads and sidewalks), i know i could have ridden my bike to work up until my last day. but the roads are still an icy mess and my concerns about wrecking my bike kept me playing it safe, so i haven't been getting my usual exercise.
i keep hearing/reading that walking is one of the best ways to get labor going. can i just say that sounds dreadful right now? i don't walk these days: i waddle. slowly and cautiously. so the idea of walking the multiple miles i would likely need to get labor going sounds like torture.
but a ski, that sounds nice and peaceful. i know it would be difficult and likely awkward, but it would mean i was up among the trees, slushing through the snow, watching my crazy mongrel of a dog bound around joyfully. this sounds far more up my ally than being drug around the park with said dog whining with discontent that there are squirrels in HIS park, while i waddle along in shame.
(i must admit that the idea of going for a ski also calls to me, perhaps, in part, because i hope the gliding motion will jostle baby o. into developing an evacuation plan.)
but my ski plans have been thwarted by my edematous hobbit feet.
i knew pregnancy wouldn't be glamorous and that parts of my body would change, but i did not expect that my feet would look like they belong to a morbidly obese person nor that they would pulse with discomfort. some days, my toes look like they are going to pop. my feet ache with each step i take right now; all this water-weight does not equate to walking on pillows of air, as my friend mia optimistically hoped. and i currently have two pairs of shoes i can tolerate wearing, so that really limits my wardrobe and comfort options. the other downside to these distended feet: they won't fit into my ski boots. sigh. so i sit here on the couch, with my feet up, hoping for relief and wanting to beg santa for three things this year:
- to go for a ski.
- to have my ankles back.
- to hold my healthy, kicking baby girl to my chest.
for the record, i would be content with only getting one of those wishes, but you have to give st. nick some options. hopefully he knows the thing i want the most!
Monday, December 16, 2013
o tannebaum
our tree has come a long way from it's home in the woods last weekend. we even got a few of our favorite ornaments up before baby o's arrival!
brandon and i tried to take a few family photos, which turned out ok on my camera, but are uploading strangely here. never-the-less, we are savoring our last few days as a family of two.
i'm almost 39 weeks and eagerly anticipating the end of being pregnant, but i'm grateful to have a healthy baby and to have made it full-term. i would be lying if i said i didn't hope for her arrival soon, but no signs of that happening in the next few days.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
ready for a christmas baby (hopefully!)
how far along: 37.5 weeks.
total weight gain/loss: a lot.
maternity clothes: exclusively and those are starting to reach "capacity" as this belly grows out in front of me!
stretch marks: still none, amazingly. i have a feeling when this baby is out they will make their appearance though--i think my skin is just stretched too tight now to show them.
sleep: what is that again? i usually get a good 3 hours at the start, which ends with a trip to the bathroom and then restless tossing and turning the remainder of the night. it feels cruel because i know i "need to sleep before baby comes" (as everyone in the world likes to remind me right now) but it isn't for lack of trying!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
t minus 10 weeks
how far along: 30+ weeks
total weight gain/loss: 25 lbs
maternity clothes: currently i am working on some painting projects for our kitchen remodel, so i am spending the day in painting clothes, which means my belly is hanging out the bottom of my shirt. i'm sure i have paint on my belly, but i can't see it so i'll pretend it isn't there!
stretch marks: still none, but i feel my skin on my stomach crying "mercy" so i think it is just a matter of time.
sleep: a few rough nights earlier this week, but the last two nights have been solid and i have a whole different lease on life!
best moment this week: when our friend's daughter, anjali, was able to feel the baby's movements and was so excited to "touch the baby."
food cravings: apple cider!
gender: female.
what i miss: not having a laundry list of things that i need to do every night. between the last stage of our kitchen remodel, my grading (for 4 classes!), and projects for the nursery, i wonder how i will get all this stuff done.
milestones: brandon and i completed "birthing class" this past weekend down in fort collins. it was incredibly helpful for both of us and initiated conversation that otherwise might not have come up. in addition, we squeezed in one last camping trip for the year, which is also likely the last camping trip with just the two of us.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
did time suddenly speed up?
how far along: 29 weeks
total weight gain/loss: 23 lbs
maternity clothes: oh yeah! and when i try to wear my regular t-shirts, they get caught on my bump, so the bottom of my belly hangs out the bottom. i'm trying to bring back the crop-top, apparently.
stretch marks: still none!
sleep: pregnancy insomnia has been a real pain in the ass because i know i am not going to sleep through the night once she is here and i would really like to be able to do so now!
best moment this week: feeling the love of my many laramie (and elsewhere) friends at my shower this past weekend!
movement: lots of rolling, big movement lately.
food cravings: chocolate.
gender: female.
what i miss: my normal face. pregnancy "fat face" has set in so in all my photos i look super puffy!
milestones: my mom and i spent saturday evening sorting through all the baby clothes she already has and grouping them into sizes. let me tell you, this little girl already has a lot of clothes (mostly hand-me-downs from anjali) but definitely has more newborn-sized clothes than she will EVER be able to wear! it was strange to go through all of these things and think that a little person will soon be wearing these adorable onesies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)