Told you so

He was laughing while I took this photo.

I told you that our new adventures would be covered with poop and spit-up. I'm ok with that because they're also full of these deliciously fat baby legs.

Month Four

Dear B,

Yesterday, you turned four months old. Apparently this is when I stop counting your life in weeks and switch over to months. I'm glad, because honestly, I was cheating on my phone to see how many weeks you were and unless the person asking was a mom, they just gave me a blank stare. So from now on - months it is.

Attempting to take your 4 month photo. This one is my favorite

The fun part is really starting. You laugh and smile at me every day. Your personality is really starting to come through and I have to thank you for being one of the most easy going and laid back babies that I've ever met. You take our inexperience in stride and pretty much tell us what we need to do. You only cry when you're tired or hungry and both of those situations are easily fixable.

I've been back at work for about a month now, and we've figured out a routine. Honestly, I have a love/hate relationship with being a working mom. I want you to know that your daddy and I didn't take this decision lightly. We crunched the numbers, and realized that, at least for the time being, I have to be a working mom. The good thing about this is that you get to spend your days with Lana and all of your friends. I know that you're enjoying all of the activity that you get to watch and they're all enjoying having you there. Your friend Gavin is very protective of you and you're giving him good practice for when he becomes a big brother this summer.

Working from home with Momma

All of the activity during the day really tires you out at night. You are awake when I pick you up and sometimes take a cat nap in the car on the way home. I selfishly hope that you sleep for a long time, so I can enjoy some additional awake time with you in the evening. Usually though, nap or no nap, around 7-7:30, you start to fuss, telling us that its time for bath, boob and bed. When the fussing starts, I sing you your favorite song, "If you're happy and you know it" and you're powerless to resist. The fussiness changes to smiles as I get you ready for your bath time. Our final chorus of, "If you're happy and you know it, throw a diap at dad" almost always gets you to laugh. After I throw your diaper, we get you into the tub for some relaxation before bed.

As much as you've changed our lives, you've done a great job fitting in. We take you everywhere. We go to the store, to lunches and dinners, to friends and family's house and even into mommy's work. You just hang out in your seat or sit on our laps and enjoy the view. If you are awake, you love to sit up and look around. If you're sleeping, you can sleep through just about anything.

At Wyandotte Winery

I'm having so much fun being your mom and getting to know you. I love that you think that my singing voice is the best ever. I love that you don't mind when Chino sneaks in some kisses. I love that you are so strong. I love how brave you were at the doctor's office when you got your shots. I love how pleasant and happy you've been, even though you've had a cold for a month. Yes. A month. I love how you smile the biggest smiles at me and how you're starting to giggle. I love how you and your daddy have a whole separate way of playing. I love how being a mom makes me feel.

I know that everyone says that time really flies when it comes to your kids, and I agree. But, as someone who was always planning that next big thing, you have forced me to slow down, to enjoy every moment and to live in the now. So, I don't want to keep you young and I don't want you to get older, I want you to be just as you are at this very moment..and the next and the next.

Love,
Momma

Four months in - my favorite things...so far

The other day, a fellow mom stopped me in the parking lot at BuyBuy Baby to ask my opinion on my stroller. I happily obliged and then promptly called Nick to tell him that I obviously looked like a legit, experienced mom who knew what I was doing. I may have squealed.

Last week, a former co-worker announced that she was expecting a Baby Girl and asked her mom friends for their favorite and necessary things. As a very opinionated lover of lists, I was happy to oblige. Of all of the stuff that we now have and use. These are the things that we use almost every day and that make this whole parenthood thing just a tad bit easier.

• The book, Baby Bargains. This helped us out a TON when we were registering. It is a great starting point for comparing products and brands. While we were in the store, someone even asked us to borrow it, which was kind of akward, but funny

• The DVD - The Happiest Baby on the Block. My friend Marci bought this for us and I received multiple recommendations that it was the must-have. This DVD will teach you some crucial calming techniques, including how to swaddle.

• A white noise machine for the nursery. We had no idea that we needed this, until we watched #3. Thank goodness for friends who knew and who bought this for us.

• A swing. We ended up having B in our room for the first month. This was more for us than for him, and the swing provided a cozy place for him to sleep until he got the boot into his own bedroom.

• A Moby wrap. I was a skeptical about the whole baby wearing thing, but the prospect of having my arms and hands back was irresistable. If you decide to use a wrap, give it time, and practice, practice, practice. It took me awhile to master this and I'll admit that there was almost a baby dropping incident. Note: It was almost, I caught him and it didn't happen again.

• If you decide to nurse, get a good breast pump. When I saw the milk starting to flow, I realized that it meant a little bit of freedom for me. I'm not going to lie - it also was pretty gratifying to see the amount that my body was producing, since I had no idea before. I have a Medela Freestyle. I picked it because it is small and lightweight with a timer and memory feature. 

• A Pack & Play with a changing table attached. This was a tip from several friends and I'm so glad we listened. Not only is it convenient, it was necessary during the first few weeks when I was told to limit my times up and down the stairs. 

• A Chicco KeyFit Caddy. This was something I saw in the Dr.'s office. Instead of using the gigantic stroller that comes with the travel system, this is essentially a stroller frame that accommodates the car seat. You clip the seat right in. It is light, easy to fold and much more convenient than the oversized stroller. I also realized that the area under neath is more accessible for this stage. Once B is out of the car seat and sitting up, this won't be as important, but for the first few months, its been fantastic.

• Muslin blankets. These work well because they are lightweight, oversized and great for swaddling. The best part is that they're also breathable, which means fewer mommy freak outs if the B pulls it near his face. Our favorite is aden + anais and they also make a great little security blanket. It is also muslin, trimmed in satin and helps keep his hands occupied at night. from BuyBuyBaby.

• A breast feeding pillow. I have three, and it might take you a few tries to find the one(s) that is right for you. My two favorites are the Boppy and My Brest Friend (yes that is really the name). It just depends on where I'm nursing as to which one I use.

• A video monitor. This was another recommendation. A parent told us that it helps you figure out when the cry is a cry versus a whine and they were right. We received the iBaby as a gift and can keep tabs on B from our phones or iPad. It wasn't a huge deal in the beginning because when he cried, he was hungry - but now it is awesome because he cries when he gets stuck on his belly, which means that it isn't something that requires a boob to fix.

• An extra car seat base. This seemed like a no-brainer and it is. Having one in each car makes drop offs and pick ups so much easier.

• A diaper Genie. Those diapers get stinky and the Diaper Genie keeps all of those diapers contained into a plastic bag for easy clean up and trash.

So. Did you make it all the way to the bottom? What are your favorite products? What should I start shopping for now that I'm into month 4?

Baby's First Photoshoot

A few weeks ago, I saw a post on Facebook from Amy Clark Studios, about their Milestone Sessions, specifically mentioning 3 month old babies. I was curious, so I emailed and found out that this studio offers a package where they capture the milestone moments of your little guy (or gal's) life. The package includes three sessions. The first is when they have mastered tummy time, next is when they can sit-up unassisted and the third is when they are able to stand on their own. I loved this idea because it is both logical and practical as it captures all of the phases that Baby B is going through in his first year.

When I emailed the studio though, I had one mandatory element that I needed to have added to our session and that was a family photo. As cute as B is, I wanted to be sure that I had a family photo so that someday, he could look back and laugh at how young and unhip we were. I think every child is owed that opportunity - to laugh at his parents when they were young - and to see that they weren't always the "parental" type. Actually, someday when he's 21, we'll probably show him some of the photos of us being non-parental, but until then, I'm happy to let him think what he wants.

Anyway, adding a family photo, including Chino, was not a problem at all! They got us scheduled for February 8, which was a couple weeks shy of B's four-month birthday. It also happened to coincide with him pushing up on his tummy without a major hissy fit. 

So, on "Family Picture Day", we piled into the family truckster with the baby, the mutt and all of the gear and headed down to the Short North. I had never had an in-studio session before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Before the appointment, I had fretted about what to wear, what Nick should wear and what B should wear. Somehow, we all ended up coordinating. Luckily, Chino's wardrobe was already decided.

When we walked into the studio, we were greeted warmly by Amy and her assistant Jackie. They told us to make ourselves at home while we woke B up from his nap and while Chino explored the space. They didn't even skip a beat when I looked up and saw our well-trained mutt peeing on the floor. Yes. Peeing on the floor.

Once B woke up and shook off the crankies, it was time to get down to business. Amy, a momma herself, held him for awhile and talked to him, getting him comfortable before his time in the spotlight. I loved how her and Jackie took charge of the session and the poses, making the entire experience stress-free for me. You could tell that these two knew what they were doing, especially with the under 1 crowd. As Amy snapped, Jackie shook toys and clapped, anything to get his attention focused on the camera.

Baby B, modeling his blanket

A few days later, we received our sneak peeks and the only word we could think of was, "wow." Amy's talent for capturing expressions and moments is unmistakable. I'm not sure how we're going to choose our prints. If you want to check them out for yourself, you can visit her Facebook page - www.facebook.com/amyclarkstudios.

I'm so glad that we decided to spend the extra money and hand B over to a professional. The every day photos are so special, but these ones are phenomenal...the perfect memories of this tiny little time in his hopefully long and happy life. And the family photo? Perfect. I'm not trying to wish away any time, but I can't wait to see the next milestone as Amy captures it through her lens.

Crocheted With Love

I'm not sure how it started, but I've been making blankets for every one of my friends' babies. This is for the first of the 2013 arrivals, due at the end of March. Baby C is a surprise, so I had to go neutral with the colors. Baby's mama tends to decorate in greens and yellows, so I stuck with that (excuse the mess on the kitchen table).

The pattern I used, from Lion Brand Yarn, is one of my favorites because it doesn't require a lot of counting or skills, which means I was able to whip this up while watching Downton Abbey. It was a win-win because the crocheting kept me awake and kept my hands occupied.

If you want to make this blanket yourself, here is the pattern: Limeade Granny Throw

I used around 7 1/2 balls of yarn. Nick told me to quit before I went through the 8 balls that the pattern called for. He said something about the blanket being huge and the baby being small. I heard mostly, "blah, blah. blah..." If I did this one again, I'd probably buy 6-7 skeins. This blanket was definitely toddler sized.

If YOU want to start making baby blankets, I suggest starting with the Lion Brand website. They have tons of tutorials, videos and patterns to get you started. I've been making baby blankets for years, but once my fertile friends move on to new endeavors, I'm looking forward to adding more skills to my repertoire.

Next on the hook: A blanket for a baby boy, due in March.

Little stuff

This is the kind of "stuff" that is so much better than flowers or candy or gifts. Last week, Nick packed my lunch for me while I was feeding Ben before heading to work. When I opened it for my morning snack, I found this:

Opening my lunch bag and seeing this, felt like another step in the right direction of getting back to "us" after Baby B, which has been a harder process than I could have imagined.

Peter Pan

Dear Baby B,

You don't know this yet, but one of my favorite movies ever is Hook, a story about Peter Pan. Peter Pan has always been my favorite fairy tale and someday I look forward to reading the book and watching the movies with you. Before we watch anything though, I'll have to reminisce about watching VHS tapes on a VCR and then I'll have to explain what a VCR was, then you'll roll your eyes and think I'm ancient. But I digress...

Daddy found the REAL Peter Pan statue in London!

Back to Peter Pan. In the beginning of Hook, Peter Pan runs away from his mother because she was making so many plans for his future, even though he was just a baby. Hearing her talk made him frightened and scared to grow up. Personally, I'm not a fan of growing up, but I am a fan of plans...BUT in your case I'm going to do my best to make an exception.

Instead of speculating about what sports you might play, I'm going to cheer you on as you work hard to roll over from your back to your belly. Instead of wondering what you're going to be when you grow up, I'm going to quietly save money for your future while focusing on enjoying the present. I'm not going to worry about whether sucking your thumb now will be an issue in two years, because for now, that is what brings you comfort. Your first words will come, but will bring an end to the coos and screams that you have been practicing. Someday, I won't be able to carry you, so for now I'm glad that I can.

Every day is a first for you and will be for a long, long time. It's hard for me to believe that someday, one of your firsts will also mark a last, so taking care to live in the today and now with you has become one of my top priorities. I promise to live in it, with you, enjoying every moment.

Love,
Momma