First Week Back

Wow...what a week! Three days back to work and I can honestly say I missed it. Not nearly as much as I missed Jackson but I missed being at the hospital, taking care of people, and working. I really think St. Joe is going to work out. It's a new learning curve mainly with the computer charting, but after another week or two I think I will have it down.

Jackson did really well this week at daycare, except for one small oops where he pee'd on one of the teachers (she was warned lol).

This weekend has been rainy and quiet, can't say I hated it. Got to spend the last two days in comfy clothes with 2 of my 3 favorite guys. Cam had a birthday party to go to and the rest of the team headed to Eldora for the 4 Crown.

Need some advice...Jackson HATES tummy time and he's not wanting to hold his own head up for very long. Of course the books say he should be able to raise himself up on his arms and I'm getting worried. I know he won't be a bobble head as an adult but is this normal? How can I get him to hold it up longer or even tolerate tummy time. I hate hearing him scream cause he gets to frustrated. I've tried a mirror, being on the floor with him, even the boppy and he HATES it. Any suggestions?

He will be 12 weeks on Thursday...I can't belive it. To think not long ago he was still in my belly and now he has grown so much. Its scary how fast the grow and change.

                                                                      11 weeks

I Survived...

What a busy week. I started orientation Monday at St. Joe. After shedding a few tears dropping my baby off at daycare I headed to orientation; 4 days later and only a few tears gone I survived. I feel better about this change. St. Joe offers alot for their patients and not just on the medical side. They are a Catholic Ministry Hospital so they focus on the medicine and on the person to heal, which I really awesome. I start12 hour day shifts of Tuesday...wonder how many tears I will lose with that.

Jackson did amazing at daycare. I was so worried he was going to get kicked out on his first day. But he didn't and I felt much better. We are getting into a new routine and hopefully he won't be waking up at 2-3am for a bottle. Not sure if it was the lack of swaddling or the fact that he was on a new schedule w/ daycare and all. I'm sure after another week or so we will be good a situated.

Today is a simple, lazy day at home. Looking forward to some quality family time..after errands and laundry.

Am I ready for this?

We are T Minus 15 hours until the big day...I start my new job and Jackson goes to daycare. I'm starting to have mixed feelings about this. Have I made the right decision; new hospital, new policies, new people? Will Jackson transtion to day care? Will I have constant fits of regret for leaving him? I guess being the type A personality that I am I wasn't thinking this was going to be so hard. I don't want to miss a smile, a laugh, him rolling over...anything. I know that this is the best decision for our family not only financially but also as a whole. I do better working; I enjoy my job and what I do and that will only help make our family stronger.

Now the other big thing on my mind...what is wrong with my baby? He does so good sleeping through the night *knock on wood*. But for some reason unknown to me or his dad when the "tarnished" (cause gold is too nice of an adjective) hour hits he melts down. Typically Jackson wakes up about 830 (sometimes earlier). He gets a 4 oz bottle and is a happy little bug. Then by 1030 his starts screaming. So ok I give him another 2 oz and the meltdown continues. I'm thinking is it fighting a nap, is he hungry, is he in pain? I'm contemplating adding just a bit of rice cereal to his bottle. He doesn't have these melt downs at night nearly like he did. But he will typically scream, fuss, and cry from 1030 until he falls asleep but he never takes a good nap of the afternoon he fights it and will wake up in about 45 mins and it starts all over again. I'm wondering if the little bit of rice cereal will help him stay satisfied. I'm read info saying both yes and no. I guess we can give it a shot, if it works YEA..if not we go back to what we were doing. I'm worried the poor girls at the daycare will kick him out or worse ignore him because of his fits.

That's another worry of mine. Are these women going to love and take care of him the way I would? I'm feeling 80% that this daycare is going to be a good fit. Its a small infant room with two women; one older one my age who seem to really enjoy what they do. They document everything on the babies (when they eat, sleep, poop, play etc) and also build in enrichment activities as they get older. They also start on basic sign language such as more, please, mom, dad. I'm really hoping it will be a good fit. Part of the paperwork I filled out asked about your child, their preferences, etc so the staff can have an idea as to how the baby works. I just really hope this fits.

Well I better go get some bottles washed, laundry switched, and grocery list/meal plan done...a mothers work is never done! But I wouldn't trade this for the world

2 Years Ago Today...

On September 6th 2009 I married my best friend in a simple yet beautiful ceremony in my in-laws front yard. Fast forward to today and over the last two years we have gone from living in an apartment to owning our own home and best of all growing our family with our much loved Jackson. I couldn't ask for a better life. I have a husband who supports me, challenges me, and works not only with me but by my side. I am one very lucky woman.

So how did we celebrate today? Jackson and I drove to Westfield and had a simple Subway lunch while all Rich's co-workers oooh'd and ahh'd over Jackson. Then when Rich came home I had a scrumptious dinner waiting. I was pleasantly surprised to see a sweet basket of flowers in his hand.

We are simple people and don't need much pomp and circumstance. Just the love we share is all I need to get through the day. Two years ago when we walked down the aisle as husband and wife we were a bit untraditional and walked to "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. The lyrics in this song ring so true to Rich and I.

"I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I’m lucky we’re in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday"

Happy Anniversary Rich! I love you more every day!

Supper Situation

Since being on Maternity leave I have had the pleasant opportunity to actually start cooking again. I believe that had I been able to choose any career and make a good living at it I would have been a chef and not a nurse. But practicality won that battle so I cook when I can. I have slowly started broadening my horizens (mainly because I spend alot of my day watching Food Network between diapers, bottles, and laundry). Sunday I watched $10 Dinners w/ the winner of that Food Network Star Show. She made this really yummy looking garlic chicken. Now when it comes to cooking I get a little nervous especially stepping outside of my comfortable box, but I did it. I bought all the ingredients (minus the herb d' Provence cause well Walmart doesn't carry that- sub McCormicks Tuscan seasoning). I pulled up the recipe online, followed all the steps, and it did turn out fairly good except the skin didn't brown quite like I wanted or expected. So after finishing my step outside the box I turned to a quick and easy side dish, Pasta Roni (hey it works- I want to get good staple of new recipes under my belt before jumping completely out of the box if you know what I mean). Then I decided to make a yummy toasted italian bread under the broiler. Well I picked French Bread instead of italian cause lets just face it that crusty wonder if not made right can be a bit tough. All was good with the bread toasting until I went for just a bit more golden and after a small fire (on the bread not on the kitchen) I was able to salvage a few slices for the hubby and I. So what I have learned- 1. Stepping out of the box may be a bit scary but can turn out to taste pretty good, 2. sometimes you don't need that PERFECT golden brown, 3. I can get a home cooked meal on the table by 6 pm which I great for when I go back to work.

Wonder what I will tackle later this week..any suggestions?

Can This Be True?

Two Nights...yes TWO NIGHTS in a row he has slept 4+ hours. Talk about feeling better on my part. I can actually remember things, sort of; new mom brain still catches up from time to time. How'd did we do it? I'm not real sure. I have been trying to schedule his naps a little better and give him his last bottle between 830-900 that way he has a full belly. Also, I went to our local library and checked out some books. Go figure, me looking for answers in books. One thing I did read fairly consistently was to use soft soothing music or sound machines to help them sleep. Well our sound machine works great but I also checked out a few classical CDs designed for babies. One in particular incorporates traditional nursery rhymes and a faint sound of a heartbeat in the back ground. I put them all on my iPod, plugged it in and let it play all night. So who knows if any of these actually played a part, but 2 nights now he has slept through.

Its getting closer and closer to me going back to work. I have a new found respect for stay at home moms (SAHM). As much as I love my little guy and wouldn't give these last 7 weeks up for anything I miss what I do. I truly feel that for our family to be well run we all need to take care of ourselves and one way I do that for me is to work. Thankfully I am in a profession that gives me the flexibility to work only 3 days a week and still be home with him quite a few days. Plus at my new job I am only 5 mins away and if need be can run home for a quick kiss...

Now let me vent on one thing...what happened to common courtesy. When did people in service positions get so rude. I am so tired of telling people thank you and getting a look like I have 2 heads. I remember being told as a child that if you give a smile it will spread that smiling is the best spreadable disease...well did they outlaw smiling too. I get so irritated by the lack of respect and friendliness. There I feel better.

Back to my library trip. I found some great books for new moms that I wanted to share. First off who knew there was actually a MANUAL for new moms. As a matter of fact the Must-Have Mom Manual answered alot of questions I had from breast vs bottle feeding, to co-sleeping, and that ever hush hush topic of Post Partum Depression (which I was beginning to wonder if I was suffering from, more on that in a minute). The book is written from the perspective of two moms both friends who raised children at the same time. Highly recommend this to new and not so new moms.

On to the Post Partum Depression. So first off let me say I LOVE my son. He is such a joy, but lately he has been a bit tiresome and fussy. I had the feeling like I wasn't doing something right. I actually continually apologized to Rich for doing it all wrong (who never blamed me for a meltdown just told me it would be ok). As many of you know I am a complete Type A personality and creature of habit and routine. Jackson has really taught me that routines don't always work especially for a newborn. What I realize now is that I'm not doing anything wrong, these are just adjustments that all new moms go through. Thankfully I have an awesome support system in my husband, mom, and many great friends. So Post Partum Depression, not so much but can definetly say I have Baby Blues from time to time.

Well, that's a bunch of updates and little man is awake and having fun with daddy so I better take advantage of some much needed smiles and coos from him.

My Little Piggie

6 weeks old today! 6 weeks...he is growing up so quick, LOL! Went to my New Mom's Group yesterday and weighed little man *drum roll please*... 9 lbs 10 oz! That is a 2.2 lb gain since birth. Today mom and I "measured" him and got 24". He is getting so BIG.

Things are getting better on the fussy front. He has maybe 2 good meltdowns a day and they are pretty consistent in time frame. Nice thing he doesn't scream when changing his diaper but he doesn't like to be wet and awake all at the same time.

Got my work schedule for my new job and finished up loose ends at MGH. I'm really going to miss the girls there but I need to make this change for my family and for my stress. Hopefully being closer to home will help decrease my stress a bit. I can't believe I go back to work on September 12th. This is the longest I have not worked since I was about 13. Working is what I know. I give it to stay at home moms though. I thought my nursing job was stressful but as much as I love hugging and cuddling and watching him grow I miss taking care of people. I'm fortunate that I get the best of both worlds because I don't have to work 5 days a week only 3.

We picked a day care center which was such a big step. I would love for mom to be a live in grandma but that's not realistic. The nice thing is this daycare is run by a mother and daughter and the mother runs the infant room. Its very homey for a day care. As long as he is happy there and stays healthy that's all I can ask for. Plus it will hopefully help us stay on a schedule.

Cam started Jr. High this week. Crazy to think that when we are doing Kindergarten round up for Jackson we will also be planning a graduation party for Cam.

Hoping to get some family pics soon. Rich has been doing freelance graphic work for a local photographer and I'm hoping to have him do so family pics. Plus my friend Jenn is home from Arizona so between the two I'm sure we will get something. Its kinda hard for Rich and I to take our own lol.

More Soon!