TGIF

Madison Today...

~Woke around 10:30 AM this morning.

~Belly Button stump fell off.

~Smiled sveral times today and held for a few seconds! Biggest smile yet:)

~You are starting to react when you hear my voice.

~Looking around a lot.

~Very alert.

~Starting to roll from back to stomach position.

~Sleeping on your right side.

Today Madison had a lot of visitors. Her Great Aunt Lore and Uncle Marty came infrom OKC just to meether! My parents came over as well and even my Oma, Madi's Great Great Grandmother made it over!

Proud Papa

Aunt Lore

Uncle Marty

My little drooler!

I swear she slept like this in the womb!

There is only one pretty child in the world...

Today I had to go for my two-week post natal check-up. Grant and Madi came with me. My stitches are almost all the way dissolved and I am healing well. I had torn pretty badly during delivery (ouch!)


On the downside of the visit, I have gained an extra 5 pounds!! I now weigh even more than when I was pregnant!! And I am nursing ALL the time. Must be all the carbs I keep grabbing for lately. lol

Madison slept throughout the night in 3 hour intervals without waking longer than 1 hour in between. She is making a lot more sleep noises and tosses and turns quite a bit.

~She is discovering her voice and her tongue.

~In the morning, she sneezes 2 or 3 times.

~Really alert and looking around a lot.

~Really likes our bedroom and bright colors.

I love my little Ladybug!

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. ~Chinese Proverb

Two Week Check-Up

A baby has a special way of adding joy in every single day.


-- Author Unknown

Today we went for Madison's 2 week check-up with her pediatrician, Dr. B. I am sooo happy her and can't tell you how much we adore her! She is fabulous and I knew the second that I met her that I was making the right choice.


I spent a great deal of time researching local pediatricians. I got professional referrals from other doctors, family and friends. In the end I decided to interview with an MD that both my OB and SIL use. She was currently not taking on new patients, but I convinced her office to meet with me. I think she felt the connection as well when we met, because she took us as patients! I was so relieved. She will be Madi's doctor for a long time and it is important that we are comfortable with her.

They measured her weight and length to make sure she was gaining back her birth weight...which she did! She is 7 pounds, a gain of 1 LB from 1 week ago. Yay! My good little nurser:)

After she was born, she lost 6 ounces. This is typical of newborns, as they generally will lose up to 20% of birth weight. She measured right at 19 1/2 inches. I was told that the hospital does not always record "exact" length and usually round the number. It is easier for them to record. So, Madi more than likely did not grow any longer...the hospital was just a bit 'off' with their numbers.

Madi has had a bit of a stuffy nose today...I think she may have some sinus or allergies...just like me. Sorry for this baby girl:) Dr.B reassured me that it was not in her chest, just her nose.

Last night Madi slept for 5 hors straight from 6 AM to 11 Am for the second day in a row. I think she may be getting into a predictable routine with her sleeping. I am remembering that while in the womb, she would usually be sleeping around these hours. I would rarely feel movement...and she was an active baby even in vitro!

~~~~~~

Dear Madison,



You are 12 days old today! To think that I brought you into this world just a week and a half ago. I love you so very much and count my blessings every day taht you are in my life. You have brought so much joy to our lives.

Monday with Madi

To become a mother is one of life’s greatest blessings. It is a lifelong event that forever changes you. Becoming a mother changes your heart, your thoughts, and your actions. However, you may soon wish you had a few extra hands.



Madison is 11 days old today!!! I can't believe I have been a mama for 11 whole days! How sweet it is....

After 4 AM feeding Madi cuddled with me for 30 minutes before falling back asleep until 11 AM. Good girl! She is still waking to nurse every 3 to 4 hours during the night. She will generally nurse for ten to twenty minutes at a time.

At around 12:30 PM you went down for an hour and half nap. I still have to hold you while you nap because as soon as I try to set you down, you wake up! Today, I decided to take a nap with you. I do anything these days to sneak in a little extra sleep:) You stayed awake for 2 hours before going down for your big nap of the day. Like clockwork, you nap around 5PM and stay down until 8 or 9PM.

Grant is still on leave from his work, so he has been a BIG help. He has been going to the grocery store for me (and even picking out the right items). I haven't even attempted to get back into the kitchen so we have been eating take out for the past two weeks. I can't wait to have the time to cook again...all the unhealthy processed restaurant food is making me gain weight! lol I will miss the extra set of hands when Grant returns to work on Wednesday;(

Madi today

~Starting to push off with her legs when I hold her up on my lap.
~While asleep, rolled onto stomach for the first time with your head facing to the side. I immediately turned you onto your back and wedged you under the crook of my arm (paranoid mama that I am. LOL)
~Really starting to squirm and roll around a lot while sleeping.
~Locks eyes with me and holds a strong focus on my eyes.
~When awake, she is very alert.
~Focuses intently on my face during nursing.
~When I turn my head side to side, she will follow my movement with her eyes.
~Madison LOVES being outside!
~Crys immediately when I leave the room. Mama's girl already!

Madi and Daddy enjoying some sunshine.

It's Go Time!

...today...



We are made to do this work and its not easy...I would say that pain is part of the glory, or the tremendous mystery of life. And that if anything, it's a kind of privilege to stand so close to such an incredible miracle.


~Simone


I just know that I am going to meet you soon! I can't wait to hold you!!!

I woke up Wednesday morning feeling kind of 'off'. Almost like I was coming down with something...kinda' fluish'.


My dad took me to lunch at one of our fave dives...good ole' Brownies hamburgers in T-Town.
As kids, Dad would take me and my older brother to this local buger joint on Saturdays after our soccer games. It has been almost 15 years since I have been there. I was really looking forward to a root beer float and a greasy hamburger and fries!! I crave meat these days!


I started having STRONG contractions around 9ish that evening. My dad still SWEARS it was the hamburger and root beer float! LOL

Thursday morning around 1 AM my contractions increased in intensity from mild to mild-strong:) and they were exactly 1 hour apart. Around 6 AM they were 10 minutes apart.


So, like any lady going into labor...what did I do?


I took a shower, got dressed in my cutest dress, did my makeup and 2 hours later called my DH at work to inform him it was time to go to the hospital!

He goes, "OK. Let me finish up here and I'll call you back."


10 aM...no DH.


"Hello, honey?" me


"It is TIME to come home...I'm in labor"


I was very calm.

Exactly 10 minutes later, a flustered DH comes through the door, visibly flustered


"Are you packed?"


"Are you Okay?"


Finally noticing me, beaming,"You look great, babe! How long did it take you to get ready!?"


"Oh, I took my time" me trying not to let myself be nervous


We arrived and checked into the hospital about 20 minutes later (it took us a mere 8 minutes to get to the hospital from our house) and things took off!

My water broke at 1 PM...contractions began regular 4 minutes apart until around 7ish when they were about 1 minute apart.


Walking off a contraction!

Yeah...I look stoked to be in this gorg gown!!

DH and I. He was so great!

A Kiss from my Baby Daddy! LOL

Dad and DH sleeping.

Shouldn't I be the one sleeping! lol

It's Go time!!!

 



Birth is the scariest event of most peoples' lives. You have to feel safe enough in your own mind before you can remember your own birth.
~Leonard Orr


...tomorrow...

Welcome To My Blog!!

…today…


Your blog is your unedited version of yourself.

Welcome to my blog!

Just weeks before I gave birth to my first daughter I decided it was finally time to start blogging. After much prodding and encouragement from family and friends I decided to have a go at it!

I was skeptical to say the least. Why would I want to share my life with the world?? And why would the world care to take interest in my life??

I have, up until this point, always had a skewed opinion about blogs. I felt like they were just brag sites…a place to boast about one’s good fortune and a platform for parents to show off how cute their kiddies were.

Before all you long-time bloggers reading this are quick to judge and hate me…I can admit that I was looking at the blogging in a slightly negative way. I am a pretty private person and have never wanted to just put it ALL out there.

I was a little nervous about becoming a Mama for the first time. I do not have any close friends that have babies or children that live close by. I was pretty much the first of our friends to get married and now, have a baby. As I began blogging, I discovered that it was a wonderful way to share news and experiences with family and friends. It also became an avenue to release ideas and thoughts trapped in my head.

I have a new appreciation for the blog world and realize that I was being a bit bias and a little close minded to the whole idea of blogging. I now know that this is a great outlet for one’s feelings, emotions and thoughts.

I thank God that I have my wonderful SIL and Mom for support and guidance. I speak with my Mom daily and see her several times a week. Being a mother to three boys and a practicing doula and childhood educator, my SIL is a big support.

There are days where I feel very alone with and spend many a sleepless night obsessing and worrying over motherhood.

I found myself wondering if I am doing everything right.

This blog is dedicated to my daily struggles and joys of being a new Mama and adjusting to the lifestyle changes of motherhood.
Being an attached parent, having never been apart from Madison for longer than 3 hours at a time for only a handful of times, I rarely miss a smile,sneeze,laugh,cry,roll,crawl,etc..

I decided on the title Parenting In My Pajamas, because for the most part of my days, I am in my PJs. Of course Madi is usually dressed in a matching ensemble…complete with a matching pair of socks and bow!

My hope now, is to develop this blog as a place to document my daily experiences as a mother and to discuss the real things I face as I raise Madison. I want to share every new milestone and just plain old daily ‘stuff’. At times, it is smiles and laughs. Other days are filled with meltdowns and diaper explosions.

As I find useful and trendy baby products and services that are fantastic, I will offer weekly reviews. I know as a new parent, it is difficult to find functional and practical items that really are worth the money! There are so many baby products to choose from. Hopefully, my reviews will help other Mamas make informed purchases!

Any and all comments, experiences, feedback and suggestions are welcomed and greatly appreciated!
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed for frequently updated content!

…tomorrow…