Happy 2 Months, Ben!

April 22, 2013

I can't even believe my baby, baby is 2 months old today!  Wow, this time is going so much faster.  Don't grow up too fast Benny-boo-boo!

Thankful

April 19, 2013

Well after being up until 2 am cleaning, everything is bleached.  Thank GOD for a great baby that slept through the whole thing.  Of course, he was up at 3 to eat, which meant pretty much no sleep for us, but still.  We couldn't have asked for a better baby last night. 

I also have been on FB the last 24 hours and have seen some terrible damage in other Elmhurst homes. Right now I am feeling pretty lucky.  There are some people that lost everything in their basement.  I feel so bad for them!  

We lost a rug (which we don't even care about) and a vacuum (that's kinda broken anyway and needs to be replaced).  Pretty good. 

Ugh floods.

April 18, 2013

Why is it whenever we have a baby in this house, our home floods?

Our basement flooded in 2010 when Hannah was 4 weeks old.  And today we took about 3 inches of water with our almost 8 week old.  What gives?

Basically we shipped Hannah off for the night and are praying that Ben sleeps a solid 5-6 hours so we can get everything bleached.  Thankfully we won't lose anything (unless we get like 3-4 feet) since we have planned ahead after the last time and only put things on the ground that can get wet.  And since the water was coming in slow enough, we could get most things off the floor in time.

What a mess.

Mommy Truth #1

April 16, 2013

Mommy Truth #1

When you are crying and I'm rocking you, telling you "it's ok", I'm not just speaking to you.

Tax Day, HOORAY!

April 15, 2013

I have never been so excited for tax day in my life.  I can't wait to have Dan around more.  We all miss him, and I can't wait for some more help with the baby.  Especially in the evenings.  Bath time around here by myself is a little crazy - doable, but stressful.  And even just having Dan do the last feeding of the night gives me, like, 3 extra hours of sleep at night.  That is HUGE.

I'm tired.

Dear Future Carey

April 14, 2013

Dear Future Carey,

It has occurred to me, present Carey, that there are many things I wish I had written down about Hannah to have a point of reference for Ben.  I have decided to start a list of these items, and add to it as necessary.  That way if we do end up having a third, you will have this list.

1.  Ben's belly button stunk and fell off in 7 days.  Thank GOD.
2.  Ben hiccuped all day long at first.  By 6 weeks it was almost completely gone.
3.  Ben was startled by everything the first month.  Now, Hannah is practically screaming in his ear all day and he is fine.
4.  Once we went to all formula (6 weeks) Ben was doing 7 feedings.  Most of his feedings were 4 ounce feedings but we are doing one day feeding at 6 ounces and the "before bed" feeding at 6 ounces.
5.  Almost 8 weeks and we get up about 3 am everyday to feed him and then every 3 hours until bed the next day.
6.  Ben had the baby acne about week 4 or 5.  Since then he's had super dry skin on his face and head and is starting to "molt".  He's very flaky, but I don't want to put anything on it.
7.  My milk took about 10 days to dry up.
8.  I got my period for the first time when Ben was _____ weeks old.
9. Ben was very gassy once he was getting more formula (about 5 weeks). I have him gas drops for almost 3 weeks. Not sure if they worked or not, but I stopped because about 7 weeks I felt he didn't need them anymore and maybe they were even have a reverse effect.
10. I tried 6 different pacifier brands and for the first 6 weeks Ben wouldn't take anything. Then, like magic, at 6 weeks he took the Nuk (just like Hannah).

Ok, that's it for now.  But I WILL be adding to the list as we go.  You are welcome, future Carey.

Love,
Present Carey

Postpartum Appointment

April 10, 2013

Today was my postpartum appointment.

Everything is on the up-and-up.  Stitches healed, things back where they need to be.  I have even lost 24 of the 30 pounds I gained with the pregnancy, so I'm feeling pretty good about that.

Hard to believe it's been 6 weeks already.  The second time goes so much faster!

Potty Training

April 9, 2013

Kill me now.

I seriously am the absolute worst at this potty-training business.  Today I actually spent time online looking to hire someone to do this for me.  I'm not kidding.

No matter how calm I try and remain, my nerves get shot about 2 hours in.  I honestly am considering pulling her from pre-school next year to by myself another year before she has to be in underwear.  She's going to be 10 before she's trained by this rate - and honestly, I don't care.  I don't have the mental or emotional strength to "train" her.  She's just going to have to start doing it on her own.

Ugh.

Hannah is two

April 8, 2013

Oh Hannah.

Someday I will look back at this time with you and laugh.  I hope.

You are so stubborn and so adorable.  Probably too smart for your own good.  And did I mention stubborn?

I really do remind myself almost daily that I'm the adult here.  And I am quite aware that you are playing me like a fiddle, but usually not until far too late.  

I'm just trying to stay calm and weather your "comments" such as "Mommy, goes and takes a walk in a forest."  Good grief.

The crib

April 6, 2013

Tonight I am going to put Ben to bed in his crib.

Up until this point, he has been sleeping in the bassinet in the back room with me on the couch.  Because it's tax time, I wanted to be nice and let Dan have the bed.  And honestly, I was also worried about his snoring waking up the baby (it practically wakes the neighbors) and the baby crying waking up Hannah.  We are very comfortable in the back room, so no big deal.

But, I think it's time.  I really would love to sleep in my bed again.  And I think that he might sleep better if he can stretch out (he's huge!)  Fingers crossed that I'm not up every 5 minutes.

LAST DAY! Hooray!

April 5, 2013

Today Ben is 6-weeks old.  And while that is important - it's not NEARLY as important as the fact that today is my LAST DAY of breastfeeding, HOORAY!

Ben is really great at latching on - but truth is, I'm just not making a lot.  I have been feeding him for every feeding and then he still eats another 3-4 ounces of formula from a bottle.  I figure I'm providing him maybe 1/3 of his nourishment at this point.

I wanted to go the full 6 weeks because that's what I did for Hannah and I felt like I needed to keep it equal.  Although, I'm certain he got way more since he latched better.  Regardless, 6 weeks is up today and we will be moving to all formula and not looking back.  I can't wait!

When we switched Hannah to all formula she started sleeping 7-8 hours at night.  Will we get that lucky with Ben?  I hope so!

The Nursery

April 2, 2013

Ben's room is almost done.  I feel terrible that his room is such a work-in-progress, but that's what happens when you don't find out the sex ahead of time.

Chris was over today and hung some shelves for me.  I'm working on the letters above his bed and should have those up in a few days.  And my mom is sewing drapes, we just have to get the fabric.  That should be it for awhile.

Ben's not even IN his room yet - but still.  Boy should have a finished room!

April

April 1, 2013

APRIL.  Thank GOD.  I cannot wait for tax time to be over.  I am so sick of feeling like a single parent.  It causes so many mixed emotions for me.  On one hand, we are a single income family and Dan runs his own business.  This is his busy time and it's not "that" long. 

On the other hand, we have a newborn baby and I really feel like I should be getting more help from him.  

It's not the same having family or friends help out.  Yes, it's wonderful (and necessary since I couldn't do it alone, I'm sure), but no one replaces Dan being here.  It seriously sucks to not have him around at such an important time around here.  

I'm tired.  I'm emotional.  And I feel very alone/lonely.  Two more weeks.  Go fast, please!