Posts
Coping with Anxiety
10 years ago
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Polliwogged Posts
I have been able to get some great posts on Polliwogged recently, so I wanted to link them up here. I am also working on a review of the new Medela FreeStyle Pump. Keep an eye out for that - it's awesome!
The Key to Infant Communication? I'll Keep Looking. - A review of Dunstan Baby Language DVDs
Baby Gifts Moms Will Thank You For
Choosing a Baby Carrier - How to Decide Which is Right for You
American Academy of Pediatrics Releases New Vitamin D Guidelines
The Key to Infant Communication? I'll Keep Looking. - A review of Dunstan Baby Language DVDs
Baby Gifts Moms Will Thank You For
Choosing a Baby Carrier - How to Decide Which is Right for You
American Academy of Pediatrics Releases New Vitamin D Guidelines
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
You Sure Have Your Hands Full!
This is the single most irritating comment that I get as a mom when I am out with my kids. Oye.
"You sure have your hands full!"
Veronica over at 5 Minutes for Parenting wrote about her experiences with this comment at the grocery store yesterday, and it got me thinking about just how irritating it is on so many levels.
"You sure have your hands full!"
I have three boys now. Yes, I realize that this family is a bit bigger than average, but we are not the Brady Bunch. The size of my family is my family's decision, so you don't get to judge me.
"You sure have your hands full!"
Yes, my older two are twins, and yes, they are boys, but that doesn't automatically make them hooligans. Even if they are sitting nicely in the cart at Costco, it never fails that we get comments on how full our hands must be. This was even before the newborn arrived!
"You sure have your hands full!"
My older kids are now almost three, and they pick up on the comments of strangers in grocery stores. Why must people make comments insinuating things about them right in front of them? It is rude and unnecessary, and this honestly is what makes me most irate about the hands full comments. When I hear "You sure have your hands full!" come out of someone's mouth, I tend to go into the protective mama bear mentality, give people the evil eye and respond, "You know what?! They are actually really great kids."
"You sure have your hands full!"
You're right. I do. And thank God for that.
"You sure have your hands full!"
Veronica over at 5 Minutes for Parenting wrote about her experiences with this comment at the grocery store yesterday, and it got me thinking about just how irritating it is on so many levels.
"You sure have your hands full!"
I have three boys now. Yes, I realize that this family is a bit bigger than average, but we are not the Brady Bunch. The size of my family is my family's decision, so you don't get to judge me.
"You sure have your hands full!"
Yes, my older two are twins, and yes, they are boys, but that doesn't automatically make them hooligans. Even if they are sitting nicely in the cart at Costco, it never fails that we get comments on how full our hands must be. This was even before the newborn arrived!
"You sure have your hands full!"
My older kids are now almost three, and they pick up on the comments of strangers in grocery stores. Why must people make comments insinuating things about them right in front of them? It is rude and unnecessary, and this honestly is what makes me most irate about the hands full comments. When I hear "You sure have your hands full!" come out of someone's mouth, I tend to go into the protective mama bear mentality, give people the evil eye and respond, "You know what?! They are actually really great kids."
"You sure have your hands full!"
You're right. I do. And thank God for that.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Important new mama skill - accepting help
I am not a person who very easily accepts help. I realize that this is a weakness for me. I always want people to think I am all put together and "with it." What would they think if I accept help? Would they snicker behind my back? Pity me? AHHH!!!
Of course, no one will think any less of me if I accept help, especially with a new baby. I was broken in the hard way when my first pregnancy blessed my husband and me with twin boys. Life with newborn twins, neither of whom was a very good sleeper, was rough. I remember that for the first six weeks or so, I thought getting more than four hours of sleep at night (TOTAL!) was a win. Oye. I had to accept help or I would have wound up in a mental institution.
I have come to see, however, that accepting help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength. How much more put together can I be if I allow other people to worry about things like dinner and cleaning so that I don't have to? I have learned the joy of letting other people play with my older boys so I can rest at home with my newborn, and I have stopped feeling guilty about it (well, most of the time).
I think the ability to accept help is something all new moms should be trained in before their baby arrives. Just think of how together you will be!
Of course, no one will think any less of me if I accept help, especially with a new baby. I was broken in the hard way when my first pregnancy blessed my husband and me with twin boys. Life with newborn twins, neither of whom was a very good sleeper, was rough. I remember that for the first six weeks or so, I thought getting more than four hours of sleep at night (TOTAL!) was a win. Oye. I had to accept help or I would have wound up in a mental institution.
I have come to see, however, that accepting help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength. How much more put together can I be if I allow other people to worry about things like dinner and cleaning so that I don't have to? I have learned the joy of letting other people play with my older boys so I can rest at home with my newborn, and I have stopped feeling guilty about it (well, most of the time).
I think the ability to accept help is something all new moms should be trained in before their baby arrives. Just think of how together you will be!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Post-Partum Clothing Options?
Let's face it. For the no-longer-pregnant-but-just-barely types, clothing options are few and far between. Right now, I just feel fat and icky. My maternity clothes actually try to accentuate the belly area, the very same area I am trying to minimize. Of course, none of my pre-pregnancy clothes fit either (it appears that the chest area may be an issue this time, too, but that is a whole other ball of wax...). What to do, what to do?! I can't live in yoga pants and hubby's t-shirts forever!
Monday, October 13, 2008
New Baby Z Finally Arrived!
I am so excited to announce that our new little boy Z has arrived! He was born on Thursday, October 2nd, at 4:10pm. He was 7 lbs., 12 oz., at birth and 21" long. Everyone is doing great!
Z did in fact hold out for his scheduled c-section. Hubby and I headed off to the hospital around 11 in the morning for our 2:15pm surgery. It was a bit surreal to walk into the hospital and tell them I was there for my surgery appointment - too much like a dinner reservation for my taste, but I guess that is the way it goes. Here is a last belly picture that we took on our way out the door to the hospital.
After a few delays because of a really busy day in the ORs, I walked down for surgery at around 3:5opm. (Yes, another totally weird thing to me is that I had to take myself to the operating room. What kind of service is that?! Aren't they afraid I could slip and fall while wearing those booty/sock things they make you wear?! "Here hop up on the operating table so we can stick this giant needle in your back..." Too odd. But I digress...) Z was born 20 minutes later. For this birth, the surgery went much smoother than it did with the twins. I stayed awake the whole time, and it was great to be able to see Z in his dad's arms while the doctors finished everything up. Z had a few tricks up his sleeve for the doctors, too. Apparently he was biting the doctor's fingers while she tried to deliver him, and once he was out, he peed on her!
In spite of his reluctance to leave my body, baby Z did great with the delivery. As soon as we got to the recovery room, he was ready to eat (and, I might add, he has been a great eater ever since). Once he was done eating, Z got his first bath, too. Here are some of his first pictures from the recovery room.
During our time in the recovery room, Z got to hang out with hubby and I and meet three of his grandparents.
We made it up to our room around 7:00pm, where we visited some more with the grandparents before settling in for the night. On his first night, Z did a great job sleeping, although I wish I could say the same for his constantly worrying mom! :)
Friday morning, we were thrilled to have B and E come up to the hospital to meet their new little brother for the first time. (They spent the weekend with their grandparents.) It was so great to see how excited the boys were to meet their little brother for the first time. Here is the first pic of all four of my fellas together.
Both of the twins got their coats of right away so they could get a chance to hold their brother, too. However, as excited as B and E were to meet Z, all of the above happened in a span of about ten minutes. The boys were also excited about something else - the cupcakes Grandma Jane baked and brought up to the hospital! They ripped into those like nobody's business. :)
Overall, Z's birth went really well, and I can't really think of anything that we wish could have gone differently. His first week at home went well, too, especially since hubby was able to stay home from work for the week. We are so thrilled he is finally here!
Z did in fact hold out for his scheduled c-section. Hubby and I headed off to the hospital around 11 in the morning for our 2:15pm surgery. It was a bit surreal to walk into the hospital and tell them I was there for my surgery appointment - too much like a dinner reservation for my taste, but I guess that is the way it goes. Here is a last belly picture that we took on our way out the door to the hospital.
After a few delays because of a really busy day in the ORs, I walked down for surgery at around 3:5opm. (Yes, another totally weird thing to me is that I had to take myself to the operating room. What kind of service is that?! Aren't they afraid I could slip and fall while wearing those booty/sock things they make you wear?! "Here hop up on the operating table so we can stick this giant needle in your back..." Too odd. But I digress...) Z was born 20 minutes later. For this birth, the surgery went much smoother than it did with the twins. I stayed awake the whole time, and it was great to be able to see Z in his dad's arms while the doctors finished everything up. Z had a few tricks up his sleeve for the doctors, too. Apparently he was biting the doctor's fingers while she tried to deliver him, and once he was out, he peed on her!
In spite of his reluctance to leave my body, baby Z did great with the delivery. As soon as we got to the recovery room, he was ready to eat (and, I might add, he has been a great eater ever since). Once he was done eating, Z got his first bath, too. Here are some of his first pictures from the recovery room.
During our time in the recovery room, Z got to hang out with hubby and I and meet three of his grandparents.His first picture with Mom and Dad
We made it up to our room around 7:00pm, where we visited some more with the grandparents before settling in for the night. On his first night, Z did a great job sleeping, although I wish I could say the same for his constantly worrying mom! :)
Friday morning, we were thrilled to have B and E come up to the hospital to meet their new little brother for the first time. (They spent the weekend with their grandparents.) It was so great to see how excited the boys were to meet their little brother for the first time. Here is the first pic of all four of my fellas together.
Both of the twins got their coats of right away so they could get a chance to hold their brother, too. However, as excited as B and E were to meet Z, all of the above happened in a span of about ten minutes. The boys were also excited about something else - the cupcakes Grandma Jane baked and brought up to the hospital! They ripped into those like nobody's business. :)
Overall, Z's birth went really well, and I can't really think of anything that we wish could have gone differently. His first week at home went well, too, especially since hubby was able to stay home from work for the week. We are so thrilled he is finally here!
I'm Back!
Okay, I really, really apologize for disappearing for the last four weeks! Life was crazy with the new baby coming and now that he is here, I am sure it won't let up. However, I am working on getting back to "normal" life, so I am hoping to be posting here much more often!
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