One month pics

Haven't posted any new pics on this blog for a while...here are some of the latest! =)

Top 10s

Now that we're settling into our routines, we have started looking back at things that we were glad that we did and things that we would do differently. I've put them into a Top 10 list format...hopefully some of you will find this useful...or amusing... =)

Top 10 things we're GLAD we did (no particular order):

#1 Not following crazy Chinese superstitions regarding postpartum care. Please see below:

"Chinese Postpartum Care

Chinese mothers too enjoy a special period known as “confinement” to help them recuperate. The period is usually 30 days although some families extend it to 45 or even 60 days, depending on their financial state. During this period, a caregiver called a “confinement lady” is employed to attend to all the needs of the mother and baby. Poorer families may request the help of older female relatives for the job.

The confinement lady is responsible for preparing special baths with herbs; cooking food rich in herbs, especially ginger; carrying out day-to-day housework and even taking care of the infant at night. She also makes sure that the mother observes all the taboos during this time – no hair washing, no showering with regular tap water, no frequent hand washing, no eating fresh and raw fruits and even no venturing out of the house!"

Isn't that ridiculous! Confinement to the home would have driven me insane...we've ventured out for walks, grocery shopping, trips to the mall, eating out and a wedding. If I was confined to the home I would definitely go crazy. I've fought my mother on this...she has decided that having a crazy daughter caring for her only grandson is not favourable...she has given up trying to keep me caged in.

I must say that having my mother help us out during the week has been a blessing! It's nice to have someone else around when the husband is at work...and bringing us food every day is nice too! Thank goodness for mom and my uncle who owns a restaurant! =)

Not washing hair? Not bathing? Can you imagine that! Especially after labour etc? What were my people thinking...basic hygiene dude!

#2 Splurging on a double electric breast pump

Once upon a time I considered only using a hand pump to express milk...in the hospital we were happy to use the single electric pump...but now that we have a double electric pump we have seen the light! Life is too short...time is of the essence with a small infant...having a double pump has saved us a lot of time! Well worth the money! The husband does the night feedings and we have extra milk to freeze and store for later as well (who knows how long this milk factory can keep going...) We have also invested in a contraption that holds the pump in place, freeing up the hands during pumping...well worth the investment as well!

#3 Buying baby things ahead of time bit by bit.

I love shopping. I love planning ahead. I love investing money in better quality things that last longer/work better rather than getting things just because the price is right. We were able to buy some nicer things because we spread out all of our purchases over a long period of time.

We started shopping for baby items well before we planned on having Baby S. Baby furniture, stroller, clothes were all purchased over the last couple of years. I must say it helps financially to break up the shopping over time...babies are expensive creatures...it's nice to have little purchases here and there rather than one whopping bill all at once.

There was some worry about "jinxing" our chances of being able to have a baby...you know...buying things ahead of time only to find out that you might have trouble...but it all ended up working out fine...no jinxing after all and we are blessed with our little son! =)

#4 Mountain Buggy Stroller and Carry Cot

We are extremely happy with the stroller that we chose! It's very maneuverable and it suits our needs perfectly (it'll be great on the muddy rugby field sidelines)! We purchased the carry cot to use for the first few months and we can't imagine life without it! It's great for newborns when you're out and about because they lay flat (babies should not be in car seats for long periods of time--see link below for details...hence us opting not just plopping a car seat onto a stroller.) We use the carry cot as a bassinet at home...Baby S has been sleeping in this since we got home from the hospital.

Info on why newborns should not be left in car seats for long periods of time:

http://www.canada.com/Life/leave+newborn+sleeping+seat/1370661/story.html?id=1370661

#5 Aden and Anais Muslin Receiving Blankets

http://www.adenandanais.com/

I bought these muslin receiving blankets a while back and they have been fantastic! For anyone that is having a summer baby...these receiving blankets are a must have! Because of the weave of the fabric they are super breathable and they keep Baby S warm without making him stuffy and sweaty. They are also HUGE and can be folded to suit your needs. A bit pricey...but well worth the money.

#6 Having the husband partake in feeding the baby.

The husband is in charge of night time feedings. I am up at every feeding as well...I'm just pumping instead. It's been great to have dad bond with the baby during feeding time. I also welcome the break from feeding (feeding 8 times a day is exhausting--especially since Baby S usually takes up to an hour to finish! ) We are happy that Baby S is able to switch from bottle feeding to breastfeeding without any problems...this means he doesn't have to be attached to me 24/7 and can be left with other caretakers if needs be. Am taking names for babysitters now... =)

#7 Using cloth washcloths as wipes instead of using disposable wipes.

We are planning on using cloth diapers for Baby S...he's just too small at the moment...we'll start once the sizing is right.

We have been using washcloths and water as wipes instead of using the disposable wipes (however we do use the disposable wipes when we are out of the house...it's just less hassle when you're on the road.) This has worked out well! Our decision to do so is based on the environment (less waste by reusing washcloths), finances (cheaper to reuse washcloths than to buy disposable wipes), and health (using only water is better than using wipes with various chemicals and additives.) Hopefully the cloth diapers will work out just as well!

#8 Taking pain relief drugs during labour.

I cannot stress this enough: they don't give out trophies for enduring labour pain! Why put yourself through it? The prospects of not taking the pain meds and being exhausted after the delivery while suffering through the pain does not seem to be a good idea to me. Being rested enough to take care of the newborn was important to me. I was a happy camper after the morphine and the epidural...Baby S had no side effects from it...nor did I. Some people are afraid of the epidural needle going in their back...honestly...the pain associated with that is NOTHING compared to the pain of contractions.

#9 My Brest Friend breastfeeding pillow

http://www.mybrestfriend.com/

Funny name...yes. Looks ridiculous...yes. Useful...absolutely! This is a pillow that wraps around the body to help support the weight of the baby during breastfeeding. It helps a lot especially since I had a c-section. It takes close to an hour to feed...so anything to take some of the weight is super handy!

#10 Getting a PVR.

I love watching TV. I was raised on TV.

With our crazy hours now it's tough to watch any show at any given time. Enter the PVR...recording shows ahead of time...skipping commercials...watching them whenever I want...what a beautiful thing...

#11 Buying and using the Snoogle body pillow.

http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=2691303

The Snoogle pillow has made sleep wonderful! Joe and Casey love it too and I have to fight them for it! I still use it now...LOVE IT! It's a body pillow that provides back support and keeps you sleeping on your side (moms to be should sleep on their left side). Best investment ever...been sleeping like a baby since this pillow! We no longer have to have 6 different pillows and cushions wedged everywhere at bedtime!

Three weeks in...

Three weeks into motherhood...where has the time gone!


We are JUST starting to get a handle on things...it seems that life revolves around feeding the kid around the clock...just when we think we're done...we're due for another feeding in a very short time. Thank goodness the husband has taken the lead with the diapers...and thank goodness my mom has been by every day to help out.


Phew! I don't know how people are able to handle twins etc. because our singleton certainly keeps us on our toes!


Here are some of the highlights and lowlights of the last three weeks:


Number of people pooped on: 2

(Joe and my Mom were victims of my poor diapering techniques...it LOOKED like it was on properly...)


Number of times Baby S "christened" the change table (and anyone nearby) during a diaper change: countless

(you'd think we would've learned to cope by now...nope...ahhh...the joys of having a son...)


Number of family walks with the dog a day: 2

(Casey has yet to learn that suddenly walking in front of the stroller is not a good idea...so oblivious)


Number of hours of continuous sleep at any given time: 2

What's REM sleep again? It's foreign to me now...



Number of feedings in a day: 7-8

Yup...that's every 3 hours or so...hence never sleeping for more than 2 hours at a time...sigh...

Number of visitors so far: 6

Let us know if you want to pop by to see Baby S! No sickies though! (Still a germaphobe...I know...)

Number of funny facial expressions that Baby S makes: too many to count!

I'll try my best to take more pics...he's just too funny! =)

Post pregnancy food update:

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, there are many foods that I have been craving for the last 9 months or so. I am happy to report that I have eaten many of the items on the list! My first week after the baby was born was not so fun...I had zero appetite and was in no shape to eat much of anything. I have recovered since then and have indulged on many of my favourites! The only things that I have NOT had a chance to eat yet are the following: vietnamese sub, screamer, rare steak and undercooked eggs. Sounds like the making of one heck of a breakfast meal all at once if you ask me! I will get to these items soon enough...=)

Ready for visitors!

Baby S is now a whopping two weeks old now and we are finally settling into our routines.


He loves keeping us awake all night and spends most of the day sleeping (soundly)...should've figured as much because that's how his activity was when he was still in the tummy.

Casey is being a very good big brother...poor guy is getting just as much sleep as we are...he looks exhausted and is craving the attention of others...please give him his fair share when you visit! =)

I'm feeling MUCH better this week and we are ready for visitors! Give us a call if you want to pop by to see the baby...we'll work out a good time around feedings etc. Please excuse the state of the "war zone" that we are living in...we'll have time to tidy up eventually... =)

Here are some recent pics:

Sleeping in his Mountain Buggy carry cot (aka the bassinet)...we are in love with our Mountain Buggy stroller...it's the best! Baby S falls asleep every time we take him out for a stroll too...maybe we should start taking 2am walks...

Baby S loves sleeping with his hand propping up his head or his hand on his face in some way...he's always naturally sleeping like this...so cute. He had his hands against his face in his 3D ultrasound photos too...

The next three photos are of variations of a cute face that Baby S makes that we like to refer to as the "Face of Carnage." Cute...yes...but unfortunately this face is usually followed by carnage in the diaper of massive proportions...watch out if you spot this face... =)

Big brother Casey loves bringing his toys to greet visitors...make sure you give him a nice pat on the head when you pop by so he doesn't get jealous! =) He's been very good with the baby...he even licks him from time to time (which really doesn't mean much because Casey licks everyone's feet as well...yuck...)

Labour and delivery...

Everyone always wants to know how labour and delivery goes...I will spare you the super details...but here's a gist of what went on.

Friday June 19
-Early signs of imminent labour

Monday June 22

3am--early labour begins with early contractions (increasingly painful but erratic)

Tuesday June 23

4am--went to Women's Hospital (contractions were within 5 minutes apart)

6am--sent home after a shot of morphine and gravol to labour some more at home (the nurse felt we should've been admitted...but the resident disagreed...bah!)

--morphine was GOOD...slept for 3 hours when we first got home

--hadn't slept since contractions started...

--then the meds wore off and it was back to the pain again...sigh...

7pm--back to Women's hospital--admitted--bring on the EPIDURAL! Tears of joy when I saw my saviour in green scrubs with the drugs... =) The epidural did not take away all of the pain though...Baby S must have been pushing against a nerve or something because I had continuous pain in a particular spot despite the many increases in medication...it did not cure all...but close enough! =)

***can't imagine how women go through labour and delivery without drugs...there was a woman in the next room SCREAMING during her delivery...it was her third child...no drugs...INSANE! Mucho respect to anyone who can do it without pain meds...I sure as heck can't!

Wednesday June 24
6am--started pushing for an hour...no good...

--got drugs to help strengthen the contractions...

--pushed again for an hour...no good

10am--doctors figured out that Baby S's head was turned the wrong way

--docs tried turning the head...no good

--we were given two options: A) forcep assisted delivery or B) c-section

--at this point I hadn't slept since the morphine coma, hadn't eaten since Monday lunch (indigestion associated with labour), and the baby needed to be delivered soon...we were exhausted...and there was no guarantee that the forceps would work...we may end up with a c-section afterwards anyway...

--c-section was the choice

--Baby S delivered before 11am (geez they were efficient!)

Recovery from the c-section itself wasn't bad. My pain was minimal thanks to the meds and I was mobile pretty soon afterwards. My problems were mostly associated with the side effects of pain medications (ibuprofen screwed up my tummy) and just having my whole system being screwed up from the anesthesia from the epidural for surgery.

Yup...this was my worst nightmare...the great "double whammy" or the "two for one"...having to suffer through labour only to end up with a c-section...argh! Next time it'll be straight to a scheduled c-section...skipping the labour and pushing sounds good! =)

Wimpy...I know... =)