Apr/May/Jun/New Moms

Gregsbride22

Since I feel so close to a lot of you (but, seems like I can rarely catch up with some of you!) thought I would post something to see how you're all doing. So.....

1.  How ARE you?

2.  Something new your LO is doing?

3.  Any words of wisdom/lessons learned in your early mommy days?

Gregsbride22

1.  I'm doing pretty good, still trying to adjust to this work & daycare thing.  Luckily I get to work PT for a while, SO thankful for that!  It's so hard to be away from him still though. 

I'm happy that Jake is starting to consistently sleep at least 4 hours on the first stretch, so if I could get over MY sleep issues I think we would be making some progress. 

2.  Jake has pretty good head control now and has gotten a lot more interactive/smiley with us in the past week.  So much fun to play with him!  I'm going to try to get a video of him smiling, but he always wants to stare at the camera.

3.  I think I've learned lots of lessons!  But, I guess most important is to just go with the flow and do whatever works/helps your baby. 

AngelLuver_02

1. I am doing really well. Started back to work extremely part time ( 3 waitressing shifts a week). Madison is a great sleeper, which makes me a great sleeper.

2. She is starting to smile like crazy

3.  Just go with the flow and never doubt your instincts.

SpartyGirl

1. i'm good. not looking 4ward 2 going back 2 wok in3 weeks : ( but at same time i could not be a sahm.  wish i could do part time though.

2. he is getting more &more squirmy. 2day he nearly pushed himself off my lap while nursing. literally. rolled over again 2day & no didn"t have time 2 grab camera. stinker.

3. w a boy, ALWAYS cover his stuff when u take diaper off.  : )

SpartyGirl

AngelLuver_02:

never doubt your instincts.

i second this

Stellar1

1. I am good! I LOVE being a mommy. It is sooo amazing how wonderful it is to have a daughter!! DH is so in love with her too and I love seeing them together. I am a little tired some days since Taylor is still waking up to nurse at night. It is totally worth it though!!

2. Taylor loves to blow bubbles and make funny noises with her mouth. She thinks she's a riot. She rolled from back to tummy last week or the week before and now she is doing it ALL the time. Today everytime I put her on her back she is on her tummy within seconds and has realized how to get her arm from under her and she is laying there looking all around! It is sooo cute!!

3. If family/close friends offer help, TAKE it!! Those first few weeks I had my family here and it was such a huge help for me and DH. My mom is really the only person outside of our house that I feel 100% comfortable leaving Taylor with. She's a nurse and has 5 kids so I feel like she can handle any situation. MIL comes over and watches Taylor for an hr or so here and there but I don't really want her doing to much of the "taking care" of Taylor. She is good at playing with her but she is a worry wart so I'm glad that's what she does with her. I don't think she really would feel comfortable giving her a bath, etc...

katie2shoes

1. I'm Ok.  A little depressed actually, but it comes and goes.  I'm sure sleep deprivation has something to do with it.

2. Well, since she's not even 2 weeks old - everything is new!  She is sleeping better at night though and awake more during the day which is good.

3.  None - but I could use some for all of you!!

nellieboo

Hey Michelle!! I know what you mean about catching up. I'm a lurker since DD is a handful!

1. I'm tired. DD isn't the greatest sleeper. She thinks she'll miss out on something so she fights sleep. But I absolutely love being a mommy and do not want to go back to work.

2. She is very smiley and loves to tell me stories  

3. Like they say, sleep when the baby sleeps! And I also agree with trusting your instincts and baby. What worked for someone else may not work for your kid, no matter how many times someones insists!

ValerianOddity

1.  How ARE you?  We're doing great!  Everyone seems so shocked at how quickly I bounced back from my L&D, it always makes me giggle.  I've been out walking around the neighborhood at least every other day, wearing Gabriel in my Wrapsody (which I LOVE, btw).  I think the little old ladies who run my local library are in complete awe of me; they make such a fuss over me and Gabriel when we come in.

2.  Something new your LO is doing?  Smiling!  Gabriel just started smiling in response to us this week, and I melt every time I see it.  He's got my dimples, just like his older brother.  Hopefully I can catch him on film soon, so I can make an AW post out of it!

3.  Any words of wisdom/lessons learned in your early mommy days?  Sometimes it's easiest to just smile and nod.  I know people mean well when they offer advice, so I try not to be offended or get mad when the advice is contrary to my parenting style, or just plain ignorant.  I'm a much happier person when I take it in the spirit in which it is intended, smile, and mentally throw it away.

Also, I agree wholeheartedly with whoever said to trust your instincts.

LindseyS0504

1. I'm doing well. Savoring my last few days on maternity leave. I go back on August 3. Luckily, things are looking up in that department. I had always dreamed of being a SAHM... but DH wants to see how me continuing to work works out for us first. Fortunately, I work from home 4 days a week and go into the office one day (which requires a flight to Austin). My sister just graduated from college and hasn't gotten a job yet, so she's going to come stay with us for a while and be Reid's nanny. I couldn't be happier to leave him with my sister! I know he'll be very well taken care of, and she'll be able to help during the week when I have conference calls as well.

2. I had resisted tummy time for a while because Reid hated it so much. Then, a friend of mine whose son is 3 days older than Reid told me that her son was lifting his head up and stuff. CRAP! So, we've been doing tummy time a lot more. Not only has Reid grown to like it, but he's pushing up on his arms so well and can completely raise his head up and look at me for a few seconds. I'm so proud!

3. Nothing will be as you expected it to be - so roll with the punches!

LindseyS0504

Oh, and Michelle - I MISS YOU!!!

ava_belle

I'm am doing a lot better.  I had a lot of help in the beginning with my mom.  Then she left and I felt so alone thinking I can't look after Ethan, cook, clean, all at the same time.  But I am getting the hang of it! Right now, I am a SATM until we move sometime in the fall.  But I love it and wouldn't change anything.

 Ethan is smiling a lot. He really is such a good baby. Wish I could get him to nap more!

 Resting before the baby came! 

Stellar1

Another thing- You don't always have to listen to what other mommies say they have done. What works for you and your baby is the best for you and your family. I have had some serious problems with a girlfriend of mine who has a son 7 weeks older than Taylor. She finally noticed what she was doing and apologized so things are a lot better now. Do what is best for you!

MrsRoehl_2008

Thanks so much for doing this Michelle!  I really miss some of you. 

1.  How ARE you?  Better.  We have a routine and it seems Fiona and I have figured eachother out.  Although going back to work makes it seem like there are not enough hours in the day and I miss F terribly, I also feel like it's good for me mentally and emotionally to not be home all day.  I just wish it was part time.

2.  Something new your LO is doing?  F discovered her hands not too long ago but over the last week they seem to be in her mouth all the time; it's adorable.  She sucks her thumb so loudly in her sleep that it has woken us up in the next room.

3.  Any words of wisdom/lessons learned in your early mommy days?  a) Ask for help, ask for advice, and ask for company.  I got depressed during my maternity leave when I wouldn't hear from friends, but they weren't calling because they didn't want to interrupt my day or wake baby.  I should have called them more frequently.  b) Nights of screaming and no sleep are fleeting; the first two months were really hard, but it gets so much better.  Now I am trying to savor every snuggle and smile and coo because I know they won't last.  c) And even if you have no where to go, take a shower and get dressed every morning.  It made me feel so much mroe human to do so.

jen&sean

Thanks for posting this

1) I'm doing ok.  I only have 1 more week before I have to go back to work and I'm not handling it well.  I've had lots of crying bouts in the last few weeks.  Alex is not taking the bottle and I'm not sure how he is going to eat when he goes to daycare.  I also had a problem with my daycare lady this week and had to scramble to find a new situation.  Thankfully it worked out and he is going to be staying with a really nice family. 

2) Alex rolled from belly to back today for the first time!  He has been sleeping on his belly and after I put him down for his nap this morning, he started crying.  When I went back in to calm him down, I found him on his back!  He has also been working on finding his fingers and thumb.  He loves to suck his thumb when he is sleeping and it helps him to STTN!

3) My biggest piece of advice at this point is to introduce a bottle early if you know you are going to have to go back to work.  We are not having a lot of luck right now and have tried every different kind of bottle that I can find.  I didn't want to mess up BF so I waited too long. 

YukonC

1. I go back to work in a week. I am so torn up about it. Otherwise, I am doing great! I still have to figure out if I am diabetic yet, but we will see. I hope not.

2. Alison is great! She just started to smile, alot and coo...she will hold conversations with you!

3. No real wisdom here! I just try to remember to cut myself some slack.

JessMike07

1) Doing really well! Can't believe I only have one week left of maternity leave. :-(

2) Landon had a lot of smiles for us today which I just loved!

3) I think you're right Gregsbride...you gotta go with the flow. And different things work for different babies. They aren't all text book babies!!

Thanks for checking in on us....maybe we should make this a weekly thing?!?

candj07

1.  How ARE you? I am good, it's hard to believe I go back to work in like 2 weeks...I am so sad about it and don't know how I will deal with it. I would love to be a SAHM but finances won't allow it. She is sleeping really well too..she wakes up every 4 hours to eat like clock work2.  Something new your LO is doing? kinda starting to smile, she loves the lights on the tv as well3.  Any words of wisdom/lessons learned in your early mommy days? just kinda go with the flow. I love being a mom but I have found you learn as you go.

lrenae1647

Such a great idea Michelle; thanks for posting this!!

1.  I'm doing pretty good.  My mom was with me for the first month, which was awesome, but this is our first week without her and it's going pretty good.  Dh works long hours so it's been really hard being with Ava all day long and not getting any relief until nearly bedtime and of course some days are easier than others.  Also since Dh is a chiropractor, we've been debating about vaccines and it's not been fun!!

2.  Ava has started to smile while awake which I just thing is so fun!  She's been sleeping better through the night, sometimes sleeping up to 7 hours straight (yay!!). 

3.  I definitely agree with going with the flow.  I was also told to try everything you can when your baby is fussy and if none of it works, start over and try it all again! 

Kris721

1. tired

2. Kaitlyn is really starting to attach to me and CRY when I'm not around (not good!!)

3.  Ask for help.  Sleep when you can.  And write down everything you want to remember...because you will forget!