Baby Steps....literally!

We have made some advancements this week.....are you ready.......Carsyn Danielle is now sleeping in her crib by herself!!!!!!! YEAH!
It took me exactly a week but no "Crying-it-out" methods had to be done and she now goes down in her crib around 9:30. I would like to move this time up about 30 min but with 2 working parents one of which gets home at 7:30 most nights this is almost impossible. Besides if she sleeps 9:30-7:30, which is what we are aiming for, than I think 10 hrs a night is a good sleep with 2 or 3 naps during the day! Man does this feel like an accomplishment! Now she still wakes at about 1:30 and 4:30 to eat, however last night she only woke at 3AM so I didn't have to feed twice!!! Lastnight I gave her a bottle at 8:00 and then another one at 9:00 right before she noded off so that she was good and full so I guess that is why I can attribute the longer sleep.

The sitter situation has still been going well. I have asked them both to implement my Baby Whisperer routine and it seems to be working! Next week will be the first week that they both work the entire 5 days because up until today I have had off or a mother/mother-in-law has been here to help. I am not happy about having to work 5 days a week. This working mother situation is MUCH more difficult than I could have ever imagine. There are days where I just get so upset having to leave her in someone else's care. It would be better if my job were more flexible but at this time I dont think that is an option. I do enjoy being out in the daily grind but there are moments where I just wish I could come home. Even though she is well taken care of- no one can care for her like her mommy! In a general week I only see her for maybe 30min-1hr in the morning and a couple of hours at night. And her poor daddy sees her less! Staying home is not an option right now but it might be in the future until she gets ready for 3yr old preschool!

The biggest Mommy lesson I have learned this week is Consistency always pays off even if it is hard to follow-through AND DOwhat works for you, your baby, and the rest of your family. I have done every DONT in the baby book in the last 2 1/2 months and she is still here! When you first bring them home you try to follow all of the safety instructions: don't put them in crib on stomach, don't put them in bed with you, don't have anything in the crib, don't give them cereal until they can sit up, don't don't don't! Well I say, and most mothers tell me, DO what works for you! Sometimes you have to break the rules for the time being until you can get over the hurdle otherwise you will lose your sanity. So try your best- even if you have good intentions-to not instruct nor scold another mother how to raise their baby and do not allow yourself to feel guilty if you do not follow the "RULES!" This too shall pass I always say!

Now for a fun-filled weekend with my little girl! Let the weekend BEGIN! :)

Weekends are always Great but they go so fast!

Well hopefully this week will go much more smoothly than last. Carsyn has made some rapid advancements in her development this week. She can hold her head up by herself much better and she is turning half-way over. She loves to watch the world if she is in a new environment.





Saturday we went to a birthday party for her babysitter's little boy's first birthday. Carsyn just sat watching the festivities! And then she took a short nap in Weston's crib before we went downtown to a small art festival. I got to use my Peanut Wrap shell to tote her around and she slept snuggly while admirers stopped to see her! I can't believe how well the day went! The babysitter announced at the party that she was pregnant again due in October. I guess I will be looking for a new sitter come later in the year :(!





I have been reading The Baby Whisperer and after one day of implementing Tracy Hogg's routine Carsyn took to it like a duck to water! I think this is why our day Sat went so well because I was able to time our events and transportation accordingly. It goes Eat, Activity, Sleep, REPEAT. Since Carsyn already was doing this on her own, the routine is great for her.





Since the middle of last week I have been trying to get Carsyn to sleep in her crib- preferably through the night but she is still waking at 12:00, 2, and 5. And actually she sleeps less in the crib than with us but I am hoping the more sleepless nights will pay off in the long run. I am beginning to think I will never sleep through the night again! I have been sleeping in the guest bedroom while Danny has been sick and so I can be closer to the nursery but I miss my husband! It is VERY difficult to get her back to sleep in the crib once she wakes at 2 and I am usually so tired I give up trying. If I had like a week to stay up doing it maybe I could have more success with her but I DONT!





Sunday night Capt Pappy came over for a visit and we went to dinner at Carraba's. I was hesitant to take her to a more fancy restaurant but she acted like an angel the entire time. And there were several other babies in there as well including one lady breastfeeding at the TABLE! I don't think I could do that at the dinner table in a restaurant.





Here is the pic of the Bunko Babies from the previous posts. It looks like Carsyn is smiling at Colt! UH OH- she is already flirting!


And here is a pic of Carsyn showing her new head holding skill and enjoying the warm weather finally!





:)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well that made me feel a little better quitely screaming via typing! What a stressful week I have had. Since my last post when I was relieved to be leaving work it quickly went downhill!

First, I began to feel ill Thursday evening and into Friday. Carsyn's "cold" had also continued to hang around. Friday late afternoon we left for Mississippi. I definitely would not have ventured on this trip had my cousin who we seldom see been coming into town from Colorado. Once I arrived at my mom's, I crashed and handed Carsyn over to her. I let her take the middle of the night feedings so I could get some sleep and see if I could kick this sickness. The next day I still felt bad but we loaded up and went to visit my grandmother. Carsyn continued to be stuffy and choke on her bottles because she couldnt breathe. My stamina was dimenishing but the girls were all supposed to get together to go out to dinner. So we headed back to Hattiesburg but only myself and one cousin were able to go to dinner. Since we don't often get to indulge in dining out experiences now that we are mommies we still wanted to go. Allison and I had a grand time at the Walnut Circle Grill, a beautiful and quaint restaurant in downtown Hattiesburg while we congratulated ourselves for being MILFS- see photo of new hair and jeans that fit!

When I got back to my mom's the other two cousins, Lauren and Megan, arrived to meet Carsyn. She put on a good show laughing and talking to them. See Lauren and Carsyn photo #2.

THEN....I crashed! I woke up at one of Carsyn's feedings with an over 100 fever. My mom surely thought I had the flu! What?! After all of the work I had done to keep Carsyn sick free now I HAVE THE FLU?!
When I awoke on Sunday expecting to head back to Mobile later that morning, I still felt bad and my fever was around 100 still. So I decided to treck to the Immediate Care clinic to get on some meds to ensure my baby didn't get it. After waiting outside the building in a line of around 25 that circled the building I finally got my visit with the doctor who was great! The best doctor I have seen including OBGYN, Hospital Staff, Pediatrician, etc in the last 4 months. I wish I could see him all of the time. He told me I had a negative flu test but because of Carsyn he would treat me for it in case it was too early to tell. When I got back to my mom's I took my meds and crashed. I wasn't able to hold my baby from Saturday until Tuesday! It was horrible and when she would cry I couldnt help her. So I obviously couldnt drive home so I stayed again until Monday. I felt better Monday but my Mother-n-law met me in Hattiesburg to follow me back to Mobile and stay until Wed morning since I needed to keep my distance from Carsyn. BTW, good thing I am not nursing or I wouldnt have been able to get my meds.

So that is about me...now about Carsyn....

Her "cold" has continued for 3 weeks- but no fever and no ill temperment so now I began to think allergies. Everyone means well but they all offer their suggestions and I don't know what to believe. She is not upset but she does have trouble eating because she can't breath and she chokes at night from the drainage. So I got to thinking maybe she is allergic to her fomula because Danny had to be on soy milk. So last night she broke out into a slight rash on her face and swollen cheek and eye. So I call the afterhours doctor they tell me to bring her in. The doctor pretty much tells me that she is fine, healthy, and has no problems with her formula or she would have stomach issues. She is too young to be tested for allergies and unless running a fever is fine. Her congestion is probably due to the weather and the season as is her rash. He even told me to begin giving her fruit and cereal in a couple of weeks since she is already so big. WHAT?! Everywhere I turn someone has a different opinion! Can't someone just tell me what to do?! And I honestly do not feel like her congestion should be continuing this long and I defnitely did not like the manner in which both her regular pediatrician and this other pedi treated me and dismissed my fears. I am definitely on the search for a new clinic if any of you Mobilians have any suggestions. Possibly a female?

Is it Spring time yet?!

Poor Baby

This has been a rough week for my poor baby! She is still sick with a cold (Lord I hope not allergies)! She had her 2 month shots which she seemed to take like a champ- much better than her mommy takes shots! They didnt seem to make her too terribly irritable but we went to bed really early that night! She weighed a whopping 13 lbs and is 24in!
Why do sicknesses seem to get worse at night? Last night she was caughing so much and kept choking. I guess I should have breastfed a little longer, huh? Mommy guilt for not being able to help her! She doesn't have a fever though and still laughs and smiles so her demanor is still happy!

I had my check up yesterday and all systems seem to be back in order. I do think I have some scar tissue that is causing me some slight pain but supposedly this will deminish as the year progresses. I still have 10 pounds to go though for pre-pregnancy weight!

Today is Friday for me because I do not have to work tomorrow! YIPPIE SKIPPIE! We are heading to Mississippi for the weekend to visit my cousin flying in from Colorado. She has yet to meet Carsyn. I really wouldn't be traveling with her under the weather but this only happens once or twice a year. And we get to have a Girls NIGHT OUT on Saturday night in Hattiesburg which is the first time I have been out with no baby in a while! And I have a pair of jeans that I can actually fit in! I SOOOO want to be a MILF!

I am sure there will be new pics come Sunday!

AES

Sometimes the best plans are not Planned

I am a planner....a BIG PLANNER! I plan EVERYTHING! This weekend our intended plans got halted so we didnt have any plans. Sometimes no plans result in the best weekend.





Danny and I had been discussing getting another vehicle so we would have any extra one to cart Miss Carsyn to and fro but we couldnt agree on one. He wanted a Maxima- I've never been a huge fan, but I found a great deal on a beautiful used one. We went over the Bay to this new dealership just to "look" at it and 2 hrs later we were driving it off of the lot. A little quick for my taste, but oh well it is beautiful and a great deal! Now we are going to fight over who gets to drive it!





Then Saturday morning I got up to run an errand or to and when I got back my dad called to say he was coming over for lunch and to visit. When he arrived we went to pick up Danny for lunch and then went to Best Buy. My dad is a professional gambler(jk but he could be!)--he does not lose hardly ever and that is because he really plays it like a game with strategies not just luck. So when he got home last week from work I said "Dad if I give you $150 can you make it $300 so I can buy a new video camera to record Carsyn?!" And sure enough he did and so we went to Best Buy to pick it out- he also bought himself a 40 in Sony Plasma while he was there. This must be the weekend for impulse purchases!





Anywho, I now have a new video camera that I am learning to use. I recorded Carsyn yesterday but I have yet to figure out how to upload it to the computer. The salesman told me I could use a USB port but I think he is mistaken I think I have to buy a new kind of cable. I will have to research this some more.





On the bright side, a tape I took from our Alaska trip in 06 which I thought was lost fits this camcorder so I got to see it again and will be able to convert it to DVD- it has a whale flipping completely in the air out of the water!





Saturday night I attempted to put Carsyn in her crib and from 10-12:45Am she was awake so I ended up bringing her to bed so we could all get some sleep. I did everything I was supposed to do to get her to sleep on her own but she still wasnt having it!



Sunday morning, Danny surprised us by not going to work. He works 7 days a week so this completely caught me off guard. We had a enjoyable lunch and then the entire fam including poodle Trey took a nap on the sofa.





Once evening arrived though, Carsyn became irritable and was up all night with a cold so we did not get much sleep last night. She has to get her shots today for 2 months so I am sure this evening will not be much better for sleep!

TGIF!

Yeah for Fridays!!!!!!!!! What a whirlwind of a week! It seems like it has taken forever to reach Friday and I had Tuesday off for Mardi Gras! We did not partake in any parades this year much to Capt. Pappy's dismay. I told him we would catch one next year. Carsyn and I spent the day just hanging out at the house in our pjs!

When I picked Carsyn up from the sitter on Monday it didn't take me as long as I thought it would and she seemed well taken care of. ..worth the longer drive and hassle to ensure she is kept safely. The sitter's one year old little boy was amazed by Carsyn and kept touching her as if he didn't think she was for real! My bottle system seemed to work well and it seems like Carsyn eats less when she is not around me- seriously, maybe she thinks she is supposed to eat when I am around.

Yesterday the college student kept Carsyn at our house- it seemed to go well. Carsyn was quite fussy with some stomach issues but Courtney seemed to handle it well. I had this terrible feeling that she wouldn't show up but she did right on time.

Next week my mom is coming to stay a night and day while Danny goes to Mississippi for the grand opening of his family's new store. I didnt want to have to get her loaded up for the sitter by myself and besides Nonny is having withdrawls I am sure! I also have my Friday off again next week! Yeah- it makes so much of a big difference only working 4 days of the week.

Last night Carsyn went with me to Bunko to meet the Bunko Babes~ my friend Sarah who had the same duedate as me also brought her son, Colt. They had their first playdate which consisted of sleeping! Ha Ha! Carsyn was so well behaved and just sat looking and listening to everyone! I will post a pic of the two Bunko Babies when it is emailed to me! It is amazing how they are experiencing the exact same things at the exact same time such as discovering their hands and eating habits, etc! They even have similar expressions and yawns that I guess all babies do.

This weekend we had intentions of going to the Coast in MS to visit my dad's family but the flu is just out of control in Mississippi and all of my little cousins are still in school so I think I might postpone this trip. I think I am going to get my dad to come see us instead since he is home.

Besides when I saw how much laundry needed to be done in the utility room this morning I almost had a panic attack!!!!!! Looks like that is what I will be doing for the most part this weekend!

Look for my next post at the end of the weekend to see what was in store for us!

Amanda :)

I HATE MONDAYS!

I am sitting here at my desk and it is 3:28- this has been the longest day of my life!!!! Tomorow is Mardi Gras in Mobile so most businesses/people have already mentally departed if not physically. With so much free time for me to think it is driving me CRAZY!

Danny dropped Carsyn off at the sitters this morning around 10AM- it took 30 min just as we suspected it would. This might be a problem. He was NOT HAPPY! AND getting all of her stuff together and playing vehicle swap. It would be so much easier if we lived closer to them or if someone we trusted as much as her could come to our home. I am meeting with a woman tomorrow who is interested in staying at our house but I dont know her from Adam so I doubt I will trust her. I believe we are going to get another vehicle because Carsyn can't ride in Danny's truck and this vehicle swapping is just not going to work!

I am sad today and confused. I don't know what to do! I am glad I don't work tomorrow!

AES

Weekends have taken on an entirely new meaning!

After my last post (nervous breakdown!) I came to my senses a little better. These past few days have been heavenly spending them with my baby girl! I may be crazy but I swear it was like Thursday night she knew that MOM was home and has been attached to me the entire weekend! She has been smiling and laughing non-stop! Maybe we are approaching an easier phase? Friday I had off of work as I will be off on Fridays until March 1st. I sure wish I could have every Friday at home?! Maybe I can ask the bosses? Carsyn rewarded me with sleeping from 10-4:45 on Friday night! That was awesome!

Saturday we ran a few errands and picked up a friend's bassinet that vibrates in hopes that she would sleep in it (she didn't last night :( I will keep trying!)

Today was such a beautiful day that I had to get her outside. She had her first visit to Church- which went very well! I didn't have to get up until right at the ending to avoid a crying spell. We spent the afternoon working in the yard and taking pictures.

Last year I did some photography sessions http://www.reflectionsphotographysite.com/ and have been on leave since about July (too hot for a pregnant woman in the south to take pictures!). I have been asked if I will be doing Easter Portraits again, so I wanted to practice on Carsyn. Two of the pics are from this morning after church and the Vday one was taken this afternoon. I had forgotten how much I loved taking pics. Next I need to get my studio lights!

Tomorrow will be the real test since we didn't have to take Carsyn to the sitter this week. It should be interesting! Atleast it is a good friend of ours!