Mother Nature has a funny sense of humor

We survived both the earthquake and Hurricane Irene this past week.  Only minimal damage to the house (thanks to the earthquake).  Neither Phil or I felt the earthquake and we were mildly disappointed.  Everyone we have talked to says it is a feeling they hope they never feel again, but we feel slightly cheated that we didn't get to experience it.  I was at the gym on the elliptical machine and he was driving.  Oma did a great job of getting Dominic to a safe place, something we are overwhelmingly thankful for.  She even straightened up the pictures in the house.

The hurricane brought back fond childhood memories of growing up at the beach, but now that we have a little one to care for, I was thankful we only got rain and a few wind gusts.

In other news, the little man is growing so fast!!  Here is a collage I put together of him at roughly 11 weeks. 

2 Month Check Up

It is official...Dominic is 2 months old!! 

We went for his 2 month check up on Wednesday and he is right on track with his growth and development.  We saw a new doctor this time around.  He was one of the doctors that came to see Dominic in the hospital and I thought I was really going to like him.  When he came into the room I was even more convinced when I saw his flamingo socks.  However, I was disappointed with his "baby-side" manor and don't think I will be making any appointments with him in the future.  He was nice enough and was gentle with Dominic, but he didn't ask me if I had questions and when I asked them anyway he made me feel like they were dumb questions.  The appointment really made me morn the loss of the amazing doctor who we saw in the beginning.  Long story short, I am happy there are 11 doctors in the practice and we will keep hunting for the best one.  We have seen one other doctor, but she just had a baby herself and has been out on maternity leave.  I like her, but my husband raised a good point that as Dominic gets older he may not be completely comfortable with a female doctor, so we might try one more male doctor before we settle on her.

Back to his appointment - he is now 11lbs 11 oz and 24 inches long.  He is holding his head up pretty well and starting to put weight on his legs.  Smiling is his new favorite past time, and I melt every time he does it. Here are some great pictures of his adorable grin.

Another big milestone for Dominic is that he is sleeping through the night.  For a couple of weeks now he has been going down between 9 and 10pm and sleeping until 6 or 6:30am.  This is fantastic news for Mom because I start going back to work next week.  It is so nice to feel rested in the morning.

Speaking of work, I am anxious to get back.  I have talked to my co-workers and there is so much to look forward to this year.  I am so excited to get back and start a new year.....as a teacher and mom.  The last three months have given me a whole new respect for stay at home moms.  That job is just not for me.  I love my little man, but can't wait to have a few minutes to feel human again....and not hear a fussy baby or smell a poopy diaper. 

Here's to getting back to real life - and praying we survive the transition.

Life is beginning to feel normal again

Now that Dominic has reached 7 weeks things are starting to feel a bit more normal. We have fallen into a routine (albeit flexible) and we are getting a reasonable amount of sleep at night. He has been sleeping for close to 6 hours his first stretch of the night, which is amazing at his age and weight. With this normalcy kicking in I have started to shift more focus on to getting myself back into shape.

I have been trying to fit in the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred video (only a 20 minute workout) while he is napping in the mornings and I have signed up for Weight Watchers online. I have used Weight Watchers in the past and have had luck with it, so we will see if it pays off. It has been 2 weeks and I have lost 1 lb. I hope I can pick up some steam in the next few weeks. I am only looking to lose 10 pounds or so, but I was not expecting for my body to look so different - even though I am only 3 lbs. from my pre-pregnancy weight. I feel like I am a totally different shape now and things definitely need to be tightened up :).

I also signed up for Gold's Gym membership and am hoping to get back into running. That has been the only exercise that really makes me feel good and it is a great way to melt off the inches. I am starting to stress a little about finding time to get to the gym though. I am afraid I will feel guilty not rushing home to see the little guy after work. But I know that a happy, healthy mom is a better mom, so I will have to tough it out.

I am feeling very optimistic and I think this is the most committed I have ever been to weight loss and improving my body image. Wish my luck over the next few weeks - both with my weight loss plan and fitting into my work clothes before I go back to work ;)

Another issue on the forefront is post baby contraception. My doctor and I discussed it at my 6 week checkup and she suggested a 5 year IUD. Apparently the hormones are more localized to the uterus and don't run through your blood stream like the pill. It is inserted at the doctor's office and can prevent pregnancy for up to five years without the risk of human error......and I don't have to remember to take a pill. She said there would be some mild crapping at the beginning but that it would be safe and would lighten my period significantly. She said a lot of women don't get a period at all. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!!

Top 10 things I've learned so far

1. No one says bottles have to be warm....room temperature works just fine and saves loads of time

2. We (women) were created to raise children....trust your gut over all else (Even if it goes against every book or article you read during pregnancy)

3. Trust your doctor, but remember that you know your baby best, so refer back to #2

4. Take all the help you can get.  No one is handing out medals for the mom who can do it all on her own.  Let friends and family chip in any way they can.  Remember....it takes a village.

5. Try to take time for yourself everyday.  Even if it is a 10 minute nap.

6. While we are talking about naps.....it is totally unrealistic to "sleep when the baby sleeps".  But remember this - Don't stand when you can sit, don't sit when you can lay down and don't stay awake when you can sleep. 

7. Try to keep your life in order as best as you can.....you will be amazed at how folding a load of laundry can make you feel human again.  But don't feel guilty if a day (or two) goes by without any chores being done.

8. Ask your husband for help!  He wants to help - but likely doesn't know what to do.  Try not to get frustrated when he hasn't completed the long list of chores running through your head....just ask him to do EXACTLY what you want him to do.  Men aren't good at reading between the lines.

9. Spend time every day gazing at the little life you created.  The days go so fast and I have to remind myself that HE is the reason I am not at work.....not the loads and loads of laundry or the pile of dirty dishes.

10. Enjoy the calm moments you share with the little one in your arms.  Soon enough you won't be able to keep him that close for longer than a few seconds.  Relish the fact that you are the center of his universe....even if it is only for a few months :)

1 Month Appointment

Yesterday was a long day.  Dominic was super fussy all morning...I think he some how knew that we had his 1 month check up that afternoon....and that their would be a dreaded SHOT!  He usually naps several times a day, but not yesterday.  He was up the whole day with the exception of a 45 minute nap on my chest.  As soon as I put him down he woke up and started crying again.

Miraculously we made it to the doctor on time and in one piece.  There was good news and there was bad news.  The bad news is that my favorite doctor is moving to a practice in Maryland.  I am so sad to see him go.  The good news is that we have a wonderfully healthy little man.  He is now 8lbs 8oz....almost 2 pounds more than his last appointment 2 weeks ago!!  That is exciting news since he was having such trouble gaining weight before.  I guess the formula is paying off.  He is a little taller too....coming in at 24 inches.

At birth the doctors were a little concerned about the size of his soft spot. They said it was significantly larger than normal - probably caused by a vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy.  More good news is that his soft spot has started to grow up and is no longer a concern at all.

Overall he is healthy and his growth is right on track.  We go back August 10th for his 2 month check up. 

Since I promised to be honest.....

I promised myself from day one that this blog would be filled with nothing but honesty and a true representation of my experiences.  I made myself this promise to ensure a realistic representation for myself and those dear friends looking to me for what to expect.  That being said, Dominic and I have already faced an emotional struggle that I feel I should share.  We are now exclusively formula feeding.....and VERY happy about it.

The background:
From the day I found out I was pregnant I vowed to make a valiant effort to breastfeed for at least the first 6 months.  I had heard amazing stories from friends about how much they enjoyed breastfeeding....once they got through the hard part (the first few weeks).  I read up on it and even signed up for a breastfeeding class at the hospital.  I bought a pricey breast pump and all the accessories I would need to be successful. 

How it went:
We started off well in the hospital.  Dominic latched right on and the lactation consultants were optimistic that he would be a great feeder.  Once we got home things got a little tougher, but I had expected that to be the case.  We stuck it out...even with chapped, sore nipples and feedings happening every hour or so.

We went to his first couple of doctors appointments and found out that he was not gained weight, so the doctor said that I had to supplement with formula until he started gaining.  I believe this was the beginning of the end.

I will never know why (the supplementing, his 5 hour sleep stretches at night) but my milk never completely came in.  I tried feeding him from the breast and he never seemed satisfied.  On one particular day I let him feed for 20 mins on each breast, then gave him 2 oz. of pumped breast milk and because he was still crying and looking for more to eat, gave him another 2 oz. of formula.  At that point I realized that my milk supply was not meeting his demand.  I tried exclusively pumping and was only getting about 5 oz. total per day.....barely enough to cover a feeding or two. 

I read in multiple places not to quit breastfeeding on a bad day so I stuck it out that day and told myself that I would reevaluate the next morning.  I hardly slept that night thinking about the pros and cons of quitting.  I knew that breast milk was best, but I also knew that he and I were both miserable and I was not meeting his needs with breastfeeding alone. When I woke up the next morning I decided that it would be best for Dominic and me if we made the switch to formula. 

Looking back, I believe that this was the best decision for both of us.  He is so much happier now!  He is much calmer and hardly cries at all.  He sleeps better too...which is a plus for both of us.  My husband can be much more involved now as well, which I know makes him happier.  Letting him take a couple feedings a day not only gives me a break, but also gives them a chance to bond.  And lastly (and selfishly) I can now enjoy a glass of wine here and there with out feeling guilty. 

Choosing to switch to formula was a very emotional decision for me and one that I did not take lightly.  My advice to anyone in this situation is to give the decision a lot of thought, but to make the choice that best meets your needs and the needs of your baby.  It is a personal choice and you should not feel guilty if you choose to formula feed.  There are plenty of successful, smart, thriving children and adults that were formula feed. 

The trials and tribulations of mommyhood....

Everything has been pretty good so far.  Dominic is healthy and happy and we are starting to adjust to our new lifestyle.  It hasn't all been roses though....there have been a couple of bumps in the road during these first two weeks. 

Breastfeeding started out relatively easy with the lactation consultant confirming that he has a strong sucking reflex and should do just fine.  Once home, things got a little tougher.  The doctor told me to wake him for feedings every two to three hours....which just felt wrong when he was sleeping so soundly.  I also felt that his tiredness was making it difficult to get him latched properly.  At around 1 week old things go really tough.  The doctor suggested we supplement with formula because he wasn't gaining weight quickly enough.  He LOVED the bottle and was refusing the breast for a whole 24-36 hours.  At my wits end, I considered calling a lactation consultant to come to the house....and honestly, quitting altogether.  I was convinced that giving him a bottle so soon had ruined any chance of successful breastfeeding.

As if he could sense my frustration, the next day Dominic decided to do a complete 180.  He suddenly latched right on an wouldn't stop eating!  He hasn't let up since.  We went to the doctor on Tuesday and he had gained 3 oz.  This amazing news led the doctor to change his plans about supplementing.  I no longer have to supplement with formula or wake him at night.  This was the best news I could have asked for!!  I am still using the formula to help me keep up with his demand....my poor breasts are WORN OUT!  I am trying to limit it to one 2 oz bottle a day....usually right before bed to ensure a longer stretch of sleep for both of us. 

Speaking of sleeping...he is pretty good at that.  Last night he slept for a solid 6 hours before starting to fuss.  This was the longest stretch of sleep I have gotten since he was born.  AMAZING!!  I am trying not to get to excited because I know this might not last long, but it is nice while it lasts.