Short baby clip

Little man hanging out, enjoying some SXSW tunes with Mama.

Yeah, I know, I need something that takes better video than my cell phone but at least it works ya know? :-)

Hold that head up high

a milestone.

Wonder

Angel lips

*this wee one makes me sigh with love every time I look at him*

Surely I'm Not Alone

::Based on a true story::

You wake up. There's light out, you sleepily drift back off to slumber land when in a panic you realize your baby, whose fresh out of the newborn stage and sleeps in cycles ranging between 2-4 hours hasn't cried you out of bed and it's been 7 hours! Panicky you jump up, making such a clatter with your clumsiness that baby wakes up. All is well, and you wish you could go back to sleep.

-The end...

sweet baby gods save me

or at least my hearing.

Jason, my poor little babe, has some major issues that leave him wailing everyday (and night). For starters he has a pretty nasty case of seborrheic dermatitis which is causing a horrible looking rash on his face that leaves his skin almost like a tough leather with scales. :( the oozing has has ceased for the most part and if it doesn't clear up by the end of the month our pediatrician believes he has Eczema just as Cyler did as an infant.

Next, also in following Cylers foot steps, Jason has a milk protein intolerance despite the fact that I am breastfeeding. joy joy joy. Soy milk tasting is in my near future *gags*

to top it all off with a big fat cherry, she also believes little man may have Gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

Sweet baby Gods, save me, please, okay, that was WAY over the top for someone like myself. But you get the idea. I can't even manage to shower daily, and some days when I do, it's a treat to have time to wash my hair. Making dinner, I've resorted to the fact that the background music for making dinner is crying baby 90% of the time. I have yet to be able to go grocery shopping, or even go for a walk, a walk you guys, a walk. This poor little baby is SO sensitive because of all of these things that he cannot 'deal' very long with being awake & alert, its too much for him and he starts screaming and has to be swaddled and rocked, have his butt patted, or put in his swing. Which I am not knocking, the swing has been a godsend ~okay, an Amazon send that the pediatrician encouraged to see if it helped with the GER.

My new screen name should be "living dead girl" or zombie mama.

I know it'll get better, I wrote that book, time and time again, it's just ass kicking for now, so very ass kicking, but he's still the most precious tiny being in the planet. He's now 6 weeks, weighs almost 12lbs already! I just wish poor little man would feel better, send him some love and good thoughts if you have it in you.

Much love to you all! I miss blogging (and reading your blogs, along with caffeine and wine, and dairy!).

Does anyone still read this thing???

I hope so! Sorry to my loyal blog readers that I haven't posted an update so as a Christmas present to you all take this mini update with pics as I try to redeem myself for your worthy eyes. ^,^

I started working on Jases' birth story last night and just don't feel up to writing more about it today. Things are long and hard right now and will be for a while I'm thinking; yet I am totally in love and taken in by this precious angel baby. He is such a GREAT baby. I just adore him more than I ever thought possible, maybe because of what I went through to bring him into this world.

Anyways, without getting too carried away, I also managed to process, get this, 4 pictures! Yeah, 4! only 196 to go. haha... So since I am such a slacker and haven't finished the birth story I will be kind enough to leave you with those 4 pictures, for now... :)

Brand new to the world!!! Here I am after 8 minutes of snuggling with Mama. I weighed 9lbs and was 20" long even though I was two weeks early!
Here they measure my head! 14" and Mama STILL has the stitches to prove it!
we get it already, I got a big head!
and 13 1/2" around my chest! Mamas gonna be paying for this for a long time.

Oh Baby: steal of the day

I was able to buy this: http://www.armsreach.com/pages/shop-pv-c10-2.html for $139.00 today.
Plus we can pick it up in the store so no shipping charge.
It was a total whim that I went to walmart online last night just out of curiosity.

As for the Co-Sleeper, I wasn't planning on getting one but with the Husbands hand he's not really in the position to take apart the crib, haul it down the stairs and put it back together again; and if he did there's the chance of having a major set back in his healing process. ugh.

I was also able to pick up the BPA-free bottles I needed, along with the baby tub for dirt cheap.
Lowest prices I've found anywhere for these several things and trust me when I say I have been scouring everywhere for the best steals on all the things we need for this little guy.
But look at the bright side, or shall I say the blue side (it's a bit extreme in it's blue isn't it?)cheap and easy... Everything is finally coming together.

Next month I need to pick up wipeys, Pampers, pacifiers, sleep sacks, bottle liners and extra nipples, and a Moby wrap if I can bring myself to buying it (any of you Mamas have it?).
And then, believe it or not, I think we're good to go.
It just all started coming together, finally, a huge thanks to the financial help of my family.
I can breathe a little easier now. I should have everything ready by November giving me 4 weeks of rest before the big day. (Okay, totally freaked myself out by saying that, eek!)

Oh Baby: The Carseat

Baby Jake's car seat came in thanks to his awesome grandparents.
It's a lovely seat, my only concern is the material for the cover.
it's definately different, imagine a weather resistant, anti-rain, feel to it if that makes sense. I worry about him being too hot in it. Which wouldn't be hard. During the 6 months of "summer" here in AZ you have to understand that walking out of your front door is a lot like opening the oven after you've been baking, ALL DAY.

We'll see how it goes. I guess it's a silly thing to worry about.
The kids going to be hot and sweaty in everything when it's 115+ degrees out.

Oh Baby: Beautiful Dreamer Cocooon

This is the Arm's Reach Beautiful Dreamer Cocoon:
http://www.armsreach.com/pages/shop-pv-c10-75.html
If you had to compare it to something it'd be the Amby baby bed, but unlike the Amby ($300+) this guy retails for $160.
I purchased it today at http://www.bellacroft.com/ for $134.00 but the best part: $5.00 shipping. Yep. five bucks.
I've seen ridiculous shipping cost on this cocoon (sometimes up to $70.00).
So the shipping alone was a steal.
I really hope he likes it, my last swing was a total life (and sanity saver) during Cyler's infancy.

(a recap of our previous swing history)
Our first swing was the Fisher Price Aquarium swing.
It lived, I mean, lasted us a year and if it wasn't for that swing I never would have slept.
At one point in time, I went 48 hours on 5 random hours of sleep because my little guy had major issues thanks to things a cruel case of infancy eczema, and I never produced enough milk, and he couldn't tolerate formula. any formula. Turns out he was severely lactose sensitive.

I was one of those Moms who didn't want to give into him not being able to sleep in the crib (he would only crash out in my arms, nursing). finally, I caved into letting him sleep in the swing after that 48 hours. I had too, I simply couldn't go on anymore. I popped him in the swing and the poor sleep deprived kid slept 8 hours.
I kid you not, 8 hours, my poor babe, poor me!
We were exhausted sleep deprived messes.

**on a side note**
If only I had known about and read http://www.thehappiestbaby.com/ during Cylers infancy.
Read it Moms to be, especially if your a first time Mom. or, if you had a difficult babe the first time around. It can't hurt you to pick up this book from Amazon ($10.00) and give it a spin.
It encourages swaddling, Swinging, and sucking. All so very basic right? but when you read his thoughts on why, it really makes sense.

~back to Swing talk~
This time around I was going to go with the Fisher Price Rain forest Swing and bouncer and while the bouncer does look great, I actually saw the swing this weekend and it looks so rigid and uncomfortable.
The quality is in no way comparable to the Aquarium swing I had with Cyler.
So I when I saw the cocoon I did my endless weeks of research reading reviews and decided to go with this in place of the swing and the bouncer.
If need be we can always pick up the bouncer from the local Walmart but I think this will be adequate especially for the first three months of little guys life, plus I'll able to use this in place of a bassinet in the living room.

Oh Baby Rambles...

I had my glucose test done yesterday.
I felt like royal shite all day, I was very weak and very moody.
Joy to all!
The stuff was disgusting. Point blank. Disgusting.
I pray I passed. I passed with Cyler and I didn't have to do any weird "don't eat this, that or this" back in 2004 so we'll see what happens. It was really hard considering I've turned my life around a great deal diet wise since being pregnant with Cyler and now fruits are a large part of my diet (esp.breakfast) since I don't eat processed foods or fake sugars.

My regular OB is on her honeymoon. Poor girl got married in March and is just now getting to take her honeymoon!

Anyways this new guy was alright. Nothing invasive, typical measuring of the uterus and asking of questions. Then he said it, any bleeding or contractions, fluid leaking? My reply:
Ah, no, YES, and no.
Truth is I've been having contractions for a month.
But they are very hmmm, short?
They weren't very intense, until this week.
And, they're beginning to happen a little more and more each day,
along with a lot of pressure from the baby's head.

The Dr says it's totally normal since I've had a baby recently (apparently in Dr land recently is 2005) the bones in your pelvis do not reshape, I mean to a degree they do, but everything is much more lax, including your muscles, cervix and uterus.
Which explains already feeling all that great pressure beginning to push down on me.
My two week appointments have officially started.
ALREADY!
I'm not ready for that, I am not ready for this.
I have these little milestone goals now:
Like, making it to 30 weeks, and then 32 weeks, and then 34 weeks.
The Dr told me if I go into labor anytime after 36 weeks (Nov 11th) there not going to try to stop it, but try not to worry about delivering early because right now all of my numbers are great.

Numbers?
that's right, he said numbers.
My numbers are great so don't go worrying.
Which fine, I'll buy that, I am not a Dr, you are.
But numbers??
Screw that Motherly intuition in the pit of my stomach that says:
This baby is going to come early.
I'm just working on keeping him in there long enough, lung maturity would be nice you know...

Baby has a NAME!

or does he???

I believe indeedly-do that we have a name. I'm going to take it slow and see how it fits over the next few days. After a few days of trying it on I should be able to say comfortably if the name game is done deal. How cool is this?!?!

Dear Little Baby,

Finding a name for you is proving to be most difficult, almost as difficult as naming your big Brother. One thing I do know is you're little face is adorable and I can't wait to meet the rest of you in 4 months. Do you have any names you like? Maybe you could send some telepathic message to me? Maybe you could send me a kick if you hear something you like? I dunno, just throwing things out there that may help us out.

I mean, don't get me wrong, there are names (okay, two names) I love that your dad doesn't, and then your Daddy has names that, well... He's trying, its very sweet, but I am not going to name you Remy, or, Nathan, or Brandon, or Israel.

Ah, I'm rambling, get used to it, my rambles will be your lullabies.

Love, your Mum (desperately seeking baby name)

Easy Sew Baby Blanket

Project courtesy of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores.
Designed by Debra Kinzel


SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
• 1 yd. fabric, front
• 2 yds. fabric, back & ruffle
• Matching thread
• Basic sewing supplies
• Sewing machine


DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut fabric for front and back 35"x45".
2. Cut 7 strips 5" wide by 45" long for ruffle.
3. Sew ends of ruffle, right sides together using 1/2" seam allowance. Press seams open.
4. With wrong sides together, fold ruffle in half and machine gather raw edge. Baste ruffle to right side of
blanket front adjusting gathers to fit.
5. Sew front to back, right sides together using 1/2" seam allowance and leaving opening for turning.
6. Trim corners, turn right side out. Slip stitch opening closed.

"here I am"