Happy Thanksgiving

Well--Mimi's first Thanksgiving! What a crazy week it has been. My mom was visiting this week with her boyfriend. Add that to the fact that my husband's friend has been staying in our house for 2 months now--and remind yourself that our house is only 975 sq ft--and remember we have a 72 lb lab and oh don't forget the baby and all her associated baby STUFF! Yikes--it's been a little crazy.

We went to the natural history museum in town and wanted to see the butterfly rainforest but it was raining and we were told the butterflies would not be flying--we contented ourselves with walking around campus and seeing the other exhibits. We also took Mimi to the mall to sit on Santa's lap---what a ham she was smiling away. She even grabbed Santa's (real) beard! Poor santa, she has quite the grip.

Tonite we had an awesome dinner with all the usual fixins. I walked 3 miles with my friend earlier in the day to combat the extreme overeating I did! It was worth it. I haven't had that much to eat since I was 9 months pregnant!

I've had some other parenting woes on my mind. I've been applying for jobs lately and even though I haven't even gotten the interviews yet, I cry at the thought of putting Mimi a daycare 40 hours a week. Just typing this makes me want to cry. This is strange to me because I always knew I did not want to be a stay at home mom--even though it is a perfectly respectable job--I have been going to school (college) for 10 YEARS now (holy shit!), and thought I might like to use my Bachelors, Masters, and soon my Doctorate. But just the thought at actually having to be away from her all day everyday makes me scared and sad. I was playing on putting her in parttime daycare next semester until I find a full-time job. This would be a nice transition--hopefully that will work out.

Does anyone else ever get slightly jealous when someone else at your office has a newborn and your kid isn't the only infant around? This sounds so conceited, but this other phd student recently had a baby and I thought to myself---oh no, no one will care about Mimi anymore! I know this sounds so bad, i'm just being honest.

My other woe is how fast Mimi is growing up! She had her 4 month appointment and was 17lbs and 25 inches! She is the size of a 6 month old. She already wears 6 months clothes as well. She can roll from back to stomach and visa versa. She can't sit up unsupported, but loves to sit up and hold her own head up when you hold her. She hates to be held in the cradle position unless she's nursing or sleeping. She's not my little tiny baby anymore. This is why women keep having more babies! lol

She still is only getting breastmilk but the Dr. told me to gradually introduce solids ( i was surpriesed) because she doens't thrust her tongue out when you put a spoon in her mouth and she is drooling. I give her about a Tablespoon once a day or every other day at dinner time. The Dr. says it is not for nutrition, but for practice. She said it might also help her poop more regularly. It's messy but fun. I'll post pics.

I'm looking forward to christmas and all its associated fun events. I hope everyone is well.

What's in my diaper bag?

Mimi and Mommy update

I love my daughter's crazy hair

Having some of momma's water, like the tongue in the bottle? nice eh?

Mimi and Mommy at the Fall Art Festival

Holds her own bottle!

I have finally accepted that I can't get schoolwork done during the day while I'm home with Mimi. Now that I have accpeted this fact, I LOVE spending my days with her. I just do my work at night when she goes to bed or in the evening when my husband is home.

Mimi is an awesome little girl. She if growing like weed. I don't know her weight or length because she goes for her 4-month apt. next week. She is still only on breastmilk, and no solids yet. She sleeps all night, only waking up a night a few times a week to eat. She takes 2-3 naps a day, usually two 1 to 2 hour naps. She still sleeps in her crib. She has rolled, laughed, and held her own bottle all in this week! Holy crap. No diaper rashes yet either. She is in 6 month clothes in most brands (and she's not even 4 months officially yikes!), and she's got the most adorable crazy hair.

Life is stressful for me--going to school remains to be a struggle. My husband is so supportive though--he helps out with the baby so much--wish he would help more with housework. I don't get out much these days but that's okay--not like I have money to anyway lol.

I applied for a job last week, i'll know in a few weeks if I even get an interview. If I get it, life will definately be changing. It the salary is enough I may consider using a nanny instead of daycare for awhile, maybe until Mimi is one year. We'll see what happens.

I am still right at my pre-pregnancy weight but I want to lose more. I did lunges, crunches, pushups and squats at the gym last night and almost fell down the stairs from jelly legs! If you have never expereinced this go to about 30 or so lunges and you'll feel it.

Getting SO excited about the holidays. I LOVE christmas. I can't wait to put Mimi in her xmas dress! Sorry for the erratic typing-it's 2am and I have to get to bed, just trying to throw out a quick blog.

Comment if you read my blog, love to see who reads it.

Jen

Travelling to my Hometown

I did something most people thought I was crazy for---I took an airplane trip alone with a 3 1/2 month old baby. It was a little crazy, but a great visit to NY, where I grew up.

We left on Friday and drove to Jacksonville (1 1/2 hour drive) and Mimi slept all the way. Getting my stuff into the airport and checked was a little crazy. I had a large duffle, a diaper bag, and Mimi's carseat. Once I got the duffle and carseat checked it wasn't too bad. It sucks that you have to pay $15 to check your bag. At least the carseat was checked for free. Mimi stayed awake all day on the plane just checking people out. We arrived in Buffalo around 7 pm and got some AWESOME pizza. You forget how good pizza is in western NY. Pizza in FL SUCKS. Mimi went to bed and slept all night in my friend's pack in play.

We spent the entire next day travelling around visiting. That night we went to my mom's and spent the rest of the weekend there.

On the way home Mimi was so pleasant on the flights. I have to say I was very impressed with Airtran. They gave me my own row on all my flights, even though I only bought one seat, they were more than accomdating and polite, can't beat the price ($150 round trip), and the flight attendants even warmed up my bottles ( I pumped a bottle before I left monday morning for the flight). Nursing in the airport and on the plane went fine. I figure--they can be offended by my exposed boob or be offended when my child screams.

Mimi is doing great these days. She can settle herself to sleep sometimes, she still sleeps all night and she is holding her body weight up really well. She goes for her 4 month apt. at Thanksgiving.

I am still at my pre-preggo weight-hopefully I'll go below it soon.


Hope everyone else is well.

Happy Halloween and such!

We are into the fall holidays! Yes I am so excited! I love the fall to winter holiday season.

Yesterday we took Mimi to "Boo at the Zoo" with my friend Grace and her daughter Dahlia. Poor Dahlia was tired and it was sooo hot, so she didn't have too much fun. Mimi LOVED it. She had her eyes wide open looking around the entire time! My husband thinks it is a waste of time to take her places because she is too little to enjoy things---that's crap, Mimi didn't cry or fuss and she didn't even fall asleep. She looked around with so much curiosity. I need to make an effort to take her out more. We "dressed" her up as a bunny--which was really just a white gerber onesie with a bunny hat. I did this for two reasons--I'm too cheap to spend 30 dollars on a costume that she won't remember and two costumes for babies are sooo hot--they're practically fleecy sleepers and it was over 90 yesterday. So go ahead and think i'm cheap---I saved 30 bucks and she didn't overheat.

In other news....
I have one pound left to lose! Yeah, most of my pants fit and i'm not even really trying. Imagine how awesome my weight loss would be if I didn't eat fun size snickers and junk? Yeah for breastfeeding!

My husband is going to NYC today for work and will be back Tuesday, I am so desperate without him--being a single parent would SUCK. I'm taking Mimi to NY next weekend for 4 days to see friends and family. I'm excited but a little worried about travelling alone with her on the plane and in the car. We;ll see--she usually is pretty chill when I need her to be. I'll let you know how that goes. This time I am travelling lite! I learned from the trip to Portland--the less you carry with the baby the better.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!
:-)

In other news--Mimi is sleeping 10 hrs a night, breastfeeding is good, and we laid her down awake today and she went to sleep all by herself without crying!

Random Post

Loves sticking out her tongue these days...

Like her earings? Daddy put them on her.

Today I feel crazy and stressed. I think I really took too much on this semester. I am taking two classes (one of which i'm really behind in) and teaching a class. Normally when I lecture I am super prepared, never flustered and totally put together, but lately, I'm always running late, I mis-speak all the time, I am always looking like a bum with wet hair and acne. Life is just nuts.

Why is god cursing me with acne at age 27? It's kind of a cruel joke. Having a baby really wrecked my body. My hair is falling out, my skin is breaking out, and I have this AWESOME saggy belly. Don't get me wrong--Mimi is worth all of that. But---that doesn't change me feeling down about how I look these days. Anybody got a cure for hormonal acne that's not birth control?
---a side note on birth control---I started taking the "mini pill" last month that is safe for breastfeeding and I've forgotten it 5 times this month! Let's just say I told my husband not to count on me for the birth control!

I really want to just go get a full-time job so I can work my 8 hours then come home and focus on Mimi and my husband and just spend time as our little family. Increasing our family finances would be nice, however that really hasn't been a big issue-we pay our bills, we put food on the table, we take the occasional trip....Boy would I love to be able to afford to go back to having a personal trainer to whip my ass into shape.

My friend Grace, who has a 16 month old daughter is in the interviewing process for jobs. I am jealous in a way. Although I'm not ready to get a job just yet--I still love being home with Mimi. I like that it's ME who watches her grow and sees all of her firsts---still waiting for that first giggle though! I try everyday--I've had squeals but no giggles!

Enough bitching and moaning---positive stuff

Mimi is adorable healthy gorgeous and fun. I can't wait every morning to go into her room when she wakes up. She sleeps 10-12 hours a night and very rarely wakes up at night to feed anymore. She has been sleeping in her crib since about 3 weeks old. It's so weird, I had the co-sleeper and she HATED it. I thought, well maybe she just needs to be with me and hates to be put down, but no, she would easily go to her crib. I didn't think infants liked that, all the people I knew with babies used their co-sleepers for months. Mimi is about 14 lbs now. She wears 3-6 month clothes, but Gap stuff she can still wear 0-3. She is still nursing well and takes bottles for 1-2 feedings a day. She eats 3-4 oz at each feeding. She smiles and coos, but hasn't laughed yet. She can grab toys and grip them but has trouble letting go. Sometimes she gets ahold of her own hair and can't let go. She hasn't rolled over yet, but has really impressive head control. She loves her play mat and will entertain herself for awhile when she's full and rested. She recognizes my husband and I and smiles when she sees us. She is kind of fussy when other people hold her but I think that's just cause she nurses so much that she's a mommy's girl. Mimi did great on our trip to Portland and I'm taking her to NY next weekend to see my mom.

I can go eight hours at night without pumping--then I give in because i'm so engorged. My supply is still really good, I pump 2 more bottles a day than Mimi eats. Our freezer is kind of full--but I don't want to let my supply go down because what if she needs more later and I can't produce enough? So I reluctanly had to take my pump with me to Portland--and i'll have to take it to NY< style="font-style: italic;">for this reason alone really wanted to give up nursing anyway, the dairy thing just gave them an excuse they don't feel guilty about. Nursing is hard work--I have had moments where I say to myself, life would be so easy if I was a formula feeder right now....but I keep at it--I'm trying my best to give Mimi the best start I can, she deserves that. I don't feel like I'm better than anyone else--I just feel proud that I stuck it out. When Mimi is upset and I nurse her she calms down and her entire body relaxes--nursing is more than feeding your child--they get so much more from it then food. If you're nursing--stick it out--you can do it! If you're pregnant go into nursing prepared with a positive attitude and a tube of lanolin!

Let me see...other vents?
I've been following some new girls vlogs on youtube---don't think i'm a bum who sits on youtube all day--I don't have cable--so I watch vlog while I nurse--I nurse every 3 hours for an half hour--you do the math. This on girl is having another baby and her child is I think 6 months--I don't know how she can handle it--I feel like each week I'm holding on by a thread. God bless her, I"m excited to follow. One of my other fav..Umbumgo is having another baby--this women cracks me up--I love listening to her accent and how blunt she is about stuff.

Forgot to mention==we took Mimi to the pumpkin patch with her friend Dahlia--i'll post photos, they were so cute together.

Family at the pumkin patch. Mimi eating Dahlia's arm--yum yum yum

Little Buddies :-)

Travelling with Baby

Family Trip to Portland with little Mimi ;-)

Mimi and Grandma at Widmer Brewery in Portland, where my brother works.

Us at Cannon Beach
Mimi and Daddy at the park one morning

So it's been awhile since I have made a blog post. Life is crazy. I don't know what I was thinking going to school, teaching, working on my dissertation and staying home with little Mimi. When this semester ends I think I might go into a coma!

So in the craziness of our life, we took a long weekend trip to Portland Oregon. My brother has lived there for 2 years and was graduating from culinary school. I was a little worried how Mimi would do on the trip. She is just over 3 months now. She caught a cold (from me :-() about a day or two before we left. I thought, great, the one time we actually go somewhere (and on a an airplane) and the poor kid gets her first cold. As soon as we saw her nose was runny we starting using the "little noses" non-medicated saline drops. I was surprised how well she did with us squirting this stuff up her noise every hour or two. We also elevated her crib mattress and put a vaporizer in her room. I use a vaporizer because we live in Florida and a cool mist humidifier does nothing because our air is already so humid.

I was also worried that with the change in time (we went from eastern to pacific) that her sleep would be all messed us. I also had this fear that as soon as we boarded the plane she would be screaming and everyone would hate us. But...to my surprise Mimi was a DREAM on the flights. I nursed her off and on and she sleep and never made a peep. People complimented us on how quiet she was.

While in Portland we did a ton of walking ans site seeing. The first day my brother took us out to Cannon Beach, which was AMAZING, that is where they filled the beach scenes from the Goonies (80's movie I loved as a kid). One of the days we were the our friend Michael and his girlfriend came up to meet us. He lived about 1 1/2 hours away. We shopped the markets, saw the river walk, ate a delicious restaurants, my brother cooked for us...just a great trip all around. The weather was misty and cool. This is exciting for us, as New Yorkers transplanted to Florida 6 years ago we were excited to wear jacketes and sweaters for a weekend. It was really fun to bundle Mimi up in hats and sweaters too. She was such a doll the whole trip. She just rode along in her snugli carrier and got spoiled with kisses from Grandma.

Mimi all bundled sleeping in her Snugli carrier

My brother seemed so happy there, it was great to see him. The only drawback to the trip is we go almost no rest. We were going going going from the night we got there. We stayed at a really nice hotel right on pioneer square. It was called The Nines, got a great deal with Expedia.

This is Mimi and Daddy chillin' in the hotel watching Star Trek

I think we may consider moving to Portland in a few years. Such a clean nice city. Very environmentally conscience people, great natural landscapes, great food.

I could go on more about Portland but Mimi is growing bored of her playmat. She last a solid 20-30 minutes on that thing though---I'm glad my friend Grace lent it to me because I would not have paid 60 bucks for one!The loaner play mat she loves

Advice for travelling with kids:
Travel Lite!
Be prepared for the worst (explosive poops on airplane, extra clothes, etc)
Be Flexibe

Hope everyone is well! Sorry for the crazy random sentence structure post--gotta run.
Jen