Registering For Baby- My Reviews and Recommendations

Registering.  Love it or hate it, registering has become an expected part of getting married and having babies.  Registering for our wedding was fun and exciting for me.  Plates, flatware, vases, towels, coasters... hand me that scanner, I'm all over this! But when it came time to register for baby stuff, things felt a bit more overwhelming. 

It can be pretty intimidating (especially at stores like Babies R Us or Buy Buy Baby) walking in and seeing a billion and a half baby items stacked to the ceiling.  We did a minimal amount of research about strollers and car seats and monitors before going in to register.  That helped a little but our registry looked vastly different from the time we began the process until our first shower.  And that's ok! Don't be afraid to change your registry as time goes on! It's not set in stone!

Public Service Announcement Before You Register: Go well fed.  That's what some of our friends told us to do and that was some very wise advice.  A hangry pregnant lady, or a hangry husband for that matter, is no fun to register with. 

Now that we are 9 months into this new life with a baby I thought I would share a little bit about the things we got - reviews and recommendations.  I tried to highlight the most important, loved, and used items.  I also made note of things that were maybe not as useful - things we could probably have done without. 

- Transportation -

Stroller

We had such a hard time picking out a stroller.  Literally, I think we had registered for about 7 different ones before we decided on which one we wanted.  My mom finally gave up and just gave us a gift card because we kept changing our minds ;-) We decided on the Graco Pace.   We thought about registering for a jogging stroller, but realized we probably wouldn’t use it for jogging :-) We did like the maneuverability of a three wheeled stroller vs four.  We have been very happy with it.  It’s easy to set up, it clicks in with our car seat, it's fairly lightweight, and has ample storage.  We like that it has two cup holders and space for stashing keys/cell phones.

Car Seat 

Another agonizing choice.  We looked on Consumer Reports, which ranks the Chicco as the best car seat.  We ended up going with Graco due to a rather sizable price difference…especially if you factor in the cost of strollers (most brands usually will allow the car seat to click into the stroller- you typically want the same brand due to that fact).  I know people that have Chicco strollers and car seats and love them.  We have the Graco Snugride 30 that clicks into our Graco Pace.  The Snugride 30 also scored well on Consumer Reports, just not as well as Chicco.  We like it just fine.  No major complaints.  We also bought a mirror to hang in the car so that you can see what your baby is doing.  I LOVE being able to peek back at him to see if he is sleeping, or just to see his cute little face! :-)  And we have an extra base for the car seat so that we can easily transport Mr. Abe in either of our cars.  We just recently switched him to a convertible car seat (Graco Contender65) and have been very happy with it thus far. 

 

Umbrella Stroller

An umbrella stroller is great to have since its extremely light weight and stores easily.  We were gifted the cutest little shark umbrella stroller. (Side note: as cute as this particular stroller is, it's not super durable.  The wheels feel a bit flimsy to me so I don't see it lasting for too many years of use.) Abe and I went trick-or-treating downtown with my sister and her kids.  I dressed him up like a pumpkin and I put him in his little shark umbrella stroller.  I told people "He's a shark who ate a pumpkin!"  He was quite the crowd-pleaser!  Can you believe that I don't have a picture?! #momfail

 

Baby Carrier

When Abram was a newborn I got a Boba Wrap which I really liked for going on walks, doing stuff around the house, grocery shopping.  It's especially nice for when they are really little and can’t support their head.  We also were given the Baby Bjorn and we use that a lot now that he is older and can support his head.  He loves, and always has, being put in a carrier.  And it’s nice for us too!  There are tons of different types of baby carriers out there.  But for us, having these two different types worked well. 

- Nutrition/Eating -

High Chair 

We have the Chicco Polly High Chair and we don’t really love it.  However, we aren’t convinced that we would love any high chair.  I think they just tend to be a little cumbersome.  A feature that I really like about it, that I’m guessing is standard, is that you can recline the back.  Sometimes I will finish feeding him food and then it’s nice to recline him and give him some of his bottle.  But when you do recline the back and when you move the tray in and out, I feel like it is difficult to get them locked into the next setting.  I remember seeing some highchairs that had a storage net for bibs on the back of the high chair.  I wish ours had that. I do like that we can lift off the tray cover and wash that versus having to take off the whole tray.

Bumbo 

We opted to not get a bumbo because it doesn’t seem like it would be super useful for a significant amount of time.  Instead we registered for the Ingenuity 2 in 1 booster seat .  It’s great because it has an insert that acts as a bumbo when they are little, or you can take the insert out and use it as a booster seat when they get bigger.  We like to take it with us when we travel.  It has a built in tray too that fits into the base when you aren't using it.  Which, again, makes it easy to travel with.

 

Pump

It is absolutely imperative (at least in my opinion) to get a good quality pump.  Depending on your insurance, it will likely cover the cost of the entire pump.  I was worried about the quality of pump I would qualify for but it turns out that the Medela Pump in style advanced is one of the best. Just an FYI, insurance covered the pump and basic accessories, but not a storage/travel bag -which you will definitely want.  Having a quality pump has been essential for me.  I nursed Abram for 3 months but would pump about once a day (usually in the morning) to relieve any engorgement and to encourage supply.  I was still having a fare amount of pain with breastfeeding so I switched to pumping exclusively a little after 3 months and have been doing that ever since.  I know that if I didn’t have a good pump I would have stopped long ago and switched to formula.  Also, even if you just plan to pump at work, I highly recommend getting a handsfree bra for pumping.   It makes the process a lot less of an annoyance.

Boppy 

I know there are probably better, more specifically made, pillows for nursing, but this is what I used.  It’s also nice for when they are just starting to sit. We used it a lot to prevent him from falling back and hitting his head. 
 

Bottles

We have about 15 bottles (mainly 6oz and some 9oz) which is great.  My sister gave us all of hers and she used Playtex VentAire.  We have no complaints about them, although, we haven’t really used anything else.  I also have heard very good things about Dr. Brown bottles.  I’ve heard that those really help prevent excessive spit up.  As far as cleaning bottles go, we bought a bottle brush without a sponge (gross!) and just use a normal drying pad to dry them on.  No need for a special drying rack just for bottles… at least we didn’t think so.  We have slow, medium, and fast nipples but you may not need the medium or fast nipples if you stick with nursing. 

Baby Bullet

Another thing my sister passed on to me was their baby bullet for making baby food.  Do you need a baby bullet specifically if you want to make your own baby food?  No, you could use any food processor or blender.  But since I was given one for free, that's what we use.  It works really well, creating smooth purees for my little babe.  I don't particularly care for the plastic individual food storage containers.  They break easily.  My preference is to freeze food in silicone baby food trays and then transfer them into big freezer bags.  I also use ice cube trays for freezing food.  The bullet also comes with a helpful book with recipes and recommendations as to when to introduce certain foods.  But you can find that information easily online.  Making my own baby food has become something I really enjoy doing.  It's pretty easy, you save tons of money, and you know exactly what your baby is eating.  I think it sounds much more impressive than it actually is.  :-)

- Play Time -

Swing

Abram loved his swing but I also have heard raving reviews for what’s called a rock-n-play. A lot of people use that as a bassinet.  Abe slept in his crib from day one so we didn’t really have a need for something like that.  Although, I probably would have used the rock-n-play for naps.  I’ve heard that it really helps to soothe fussy babies, but so does a swing.  My strong recommendation is to make sure your swing plugs in and doesn’t run on batteries.  This is very similar to the one we have.  We used it from newborn to 6 months.

Bouncy Seat

A bouncy seat was another thing that was passed down by my sister (here's one that is similar).  We used it from about 1 month to 5 months.  So you don’t use it super long.  I liked it for play time or I’d put it in the bathroom while I got ready in the morning.  They are light and portable, so we occasionally took it with us to friends' houses.

Sophie the Giraffe 

Pretty much the only official teething toy we use.  I don’t know exactly why, but babies love this thing.  Abram is no exception! For a while we would bring it with us almost everywhere we went.  We also have the elephant version but he doesn't like it nearly as much.  Although, if I would have seen this fawn version, I probably would have registered for this one over all the others! So cute!

Exersaucer

Here is the one we have.  I think a lot of times you can get these second hand.  I like having it because it helps exercise their legs, keeps them entertained, keeps them upright, and keeps them contained.  I use it a lot if I need to sweep or do something where I want to make sure the baby stays out of the way for a little bit.

Learning Table

And now, more recently, Abram LOVES his learning table.  My mom got it at a garage sale a couple years ago and looks like they still sell it.  It's great for him now that he can stand. (and it's great before they can stand too because the legs come off and they can play with it on the floor.)  Lately, he'll spend most of his playtime at it dancing and grooving to the music.  And I spend most of my time watching him do that.  :-)  His cute little hips just'a movin' and a'shakin'! 

Play Mat

We registered for a play mat and I probably wouldn’t recommend it.  Not because it is a bad thing to have, just because it is not that useful for very long.  I feel like a blanket on the ground and you interacting with your baby is the best thing for him/her.  You don’t need a $50 toy to do that. 

- Nursery Items -

Baby Monitor

I went back and forth as to whether or not we needed a monitor, but in the end I’m glad that we got one.  And I also debated as to whether we really needed one with video.  But actually, we use the video aspect more than the sound.  Here is the link for the one we got.  It's nothing fancy but very reasonably priced.  It does not have two way communication which may be something nice to have in the future, but our house is small enough that we didn’t feel like that was necessary.  I will say that the range is not the best.  So if you have a large home, I would not recommend this monitor.

Rocker/Glider

One thing I agonized over was a rocker/glider.  I didn’t want to spend a lot of money but I wanted something comfortable for those middle of the night feedings.  We ended up semi-splurging on one and I’m so glad we did.  It is an upholstered glider that I know will last through all of our kids.  We got it scotch guarded and that has helped keep the spit up from ruining the upholstery.  I also felt strongly that the back of the chair had to be high enough that I could lean my head against it, and I’m glad about that decision.  I would say if you are going to spend money somewhere for your nursery, a comfortable and functional rocker/glider would be the place to spend it.

Diaper Pail

We got the Arm & Hammer version.  It works well, but then again, we are just now getting into the really smelly diapers! So we’ll see! But we like it because we have figured out a way to use regular trash bags in it instead of the expensive ones that they make to go inside.  The door does feel a bit flimsy.  When it becomes very full, the diapers start to push the door open, even when it's locked, but I think that is because we rigged it up to take the regular sized kitchen trash bags.  I imagine that when it is full of smelly diapers, it may not do the best job of keeping the smells at bay.  I recently found this new brand of diaper pail (Ubbi)  that I would be interested in trying.  It is a bit more expensive but it seems like it might be worth the extra cost.  If someone has one, I'd love to hear how you like it.

Changing Station

We use a dresser as a changing table, which I love because then he can still use it when he gets bigger.  To make the dresser into a changing table, we just bought a changing pad to put on top of the dresser.  We have two changing pad covers and some changing pad liners .  I thought it would be nice to have the liners to cut down on how often I needed to change the pad cover.  But I’m not happy with how this brand of liners wears in the wash.  It would work just as well to put a burp cloth down, or towel, instead of the changing pad liners. 

Bedding

We have four cribs sheets (I love these jersey sheets) which has been plenty, for now! We probably really only need/use 3.  We did not get bumpers or a comforter.  We pretty much just have a crib skirt and sheet and that’s been fine for us.  The quilt was a hand made gift from one of my best friends. And I love it! 

Other Nursery Necessities

We put up a black-out shade for his window and I think that helps him nap better.  We also use a humidifier all the time for him - good for when they have a cold but also acts as a nice white noise maker.  LOTS-O-Baskets! We use LOTS of baskets/bins for storing clothes, toys, extra diapers and wipes, shoes, etc...

For more information about our nursery design and organization click here and here. 

- Baby Care Items -

 

Grooming items

-We decided on traditional diapers.  We started out using pampers but now have switched to the Sam’s club brand because they are about 10 cents cheaper per diaper.

-Lots of Desitin cream because it's awesome stuff! At the first sign of redness we put it on and it clears his skin right up.  We always apply it at night too and he's never had a significant diaper rash. Note: we were disappointed in the CVS generic brand - very runny and not very good. Other generic brands may be ok, but be careful. After we tried the CVS brand, we just stuck with the name brand stuff.

-I love hooded towels for bath time … Some small and some larger ones for when they are bigger. 

-This toothbrush.  We use it to brush his teeth and he also loves it as a teether too.

-You gotta have a baby tub and I would recommend one that has a sling insert for when they are newborns.

-Also, this is the BEST smelling bedtime lotion.  We use it every night! It's momma crack!  I could sniff it all day.

Nose Care

FACT! Babies have runny noses all. the. time.  But as a mom, it's hard to look at those runny noses all day long.  For a while we used a nasal aspirator.  (We also got one from the hospital but the store bought one works better.) He would scream and it would be a whole thing.  It worked... but it was pretty exhausting for him and me.

One day we thought we lost our nasal aspirator, so I went to the store for a new one, but curiosity got me and I bought the nose frida. Have you heard of it?  The snot sucker?  Here's a video of it. Basically you suck through a small hose/tube to create suction through a tube placed up to your baby's nose.  This tube collects the snot but prevents any of it from getting to you by way of a filter.  At first, I was skeptical.  (Snot sucking? Ew! Gross!) But then I tried it! And it works SUPER well! And he doesn't scream NEARLY as much.  And it's much easier to clean than the nasal aspirator! Win win win! Now $15 does seem pretty outrageous for a plastic tub and tiny filter but, if it works, it works! Well worth the cost, in my opinion.  We also really love these boogie wipes.  They help clean off crusty noses in a more gentle and soothing way compared to just using kleenexs or wipes.

Diaper Bag

I watched a lot of youtube video reviews on diaper bags and this one was very popular, so that’s the one I went with.  I like that it has a long strap so I can wear it cross body.  I also like the side bottle pockets.  I like that it has front pockets, and a shallow top pocket for my wallet.  The only thing I don’t really like is that it is a little lacking in inside storage.  There is not much room for an extra pair of clothes, wipes, the diaper changing pad, toys, blankets, etc.. literally all things that are nice to carry around.  It’s a hard balance between wanting all the storage and not wanting to tote around a huge bag.  I also know that Michael appreciates that the design is not overly feminine for the times where he has to carry it. 

Travel Diaper Changing Pad

This is the one we have.  We use this all. the. time.  We keep it in the diaper bag and take it wherever we go.  I use it on bathroom changing tables in public restrooms….when they are available….. and when they aren’t available, it’s great to have so that you don’t have to lay your baby on the dirty floor.  :-( gahhhh!

Blankets

Aden + Anais blankets were our favorite for swaddling.  I absolutely love the designs they offer.  The material is guazy which puts a momma's heart at ease knowing that baby can breath through them if they should happen to get a blanket over their face. They are a bit pricey for what they are but momma likes what momma likes.

Babysitter Bag

 We bought a big tote from Lands End that we use for the babysitter's.  It’s huge, but we can leave a pack of diapers, a big thing of wipes, clothes, bottles, blankets, burp clothes, his lovey and more.  It’s great because we just fill it up at the start of the week and then take it home to refill at the end of the week.  Sometimes, if we are going somewhere for the whole day, we’ll bring it too since we know it's stocked with everything we'll need.

 

 

Some things we didn’t get but maybe will get for next time: 

Bottle warmer
Extra pump connectors and shields
A hand pump to have in case of emergency

Some things we got but either returned or didn’t use:

Wipe warmer -I don’t get to wipe with something warm, why should my baby?!
Play mat -see above
Pacifiers -we got so many and he didn’t take any of them!
Teething rings -another thing we got tons of!
Bibs -We have 4 favorites that we rotate through, but we were gifted probably close to 20!
This type of car seat cover -we HATED it because it was constantly blowing around in the wind or sliding down the handles! So we returned it and bought one like this


Hopefully, for all those moms-to-be, you find this information helpful.  I'd love to hear from other momma's about what they have found to be their favorites and their not-so-favorites.  What do you swear by or what wouldn't you wish on your worst enemy?

Happy Registering Momma!

Ode to the Orchard

This time of year my heart swells to 5 times it's normal size with family pride.  And now that we have a little one, I think it's even bigger.

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It's harvest season for my and many other families across the country.  Which means, long days full of hard work and skipped meals so that your family may have a farm fresh meal.

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My family?  We grow mainly apples and sweet corn but we also grow peaches, pumpkins, squash, gourds, cauliflower, peppers, cabbage, zucchini, and more.  We've been in business for over 90 years.  Isn't that incredible!? I'm 5th generation which makes Abram and his cousins 6th generation.

So this time of year, my family is hard at work.  Working 12+ hour days, 7 days a week.  My dad and brother, doing what needs to be done to get the apples picked and in stores.  My mom, running our farm market and educating hundreds of local young children about the ins and outs of an apple orchard.  They work incredibly hard and sometimes I wonder if it's worth it.  Then I see all the smiling faces making lifetime fall memories by spending a day at Kercher's.  Or someone will tell me how much fun they had on their school tour with their kid and how GREAT Mrs Apple is.  (she is pretty great!...{She's my mom})

And that's why this time of year is so special.  Not only is this farm an incredibly special part of my life, it is special to many in our community who make it a point to come and visit.  My family allows others to come into our farm life and share in the special memories that can be made there.  I just love that! So if you are local, come on by and get some apples, cider, pumpkins and more.  If you aren't, find your own family-owned farm to support.  Memories are waiting to be made.

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Want to come to our farm? Check us out on facebook to learn more. 

*Photo credit to my forever photographer and friend Beth Wilson

Reflections From a New Mom

One year ago today, we got some pretty big news.
One year ago today, I found out that I was pregnant. 

In the bathroom, with a little bit of pee on my hand, I repeated over and over again "oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh" as I stared at two little blue lines.

I feel like I should have some very profound and well worded summary on what this past year has meant to me.  But, still, all I can say is, "oh my gosh!".  People say you can never be fully prepared for having children... and from my experience, I totally agree.  You can read all the blogs, all the books, talk to all the parents, and do all the things to prepare but you will still be taken off guard and stretched daily... in some of the best and hardest ways ever.

Now in direct contradiction of what I just wrote, I wanted to share some of my own experiences maybe in order to help an expecting mom prepare or let a new mom know she's not alone.  Because lets face it, just because you can't possibly fully prepare, doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

I also want to give a little disclaimer.  In order to be an encouragement to other moms, I felt like I needed to be pretty open about my experiences.  So some of the details about my experiences postpartum are a bit more graphic than my typical, light hearted, G rated blog posts.  

On Pregnancy

Most of my insight has come from the post postpartum period because, in all honesty, I had a fantastic pregnancy.  Minimal nausea, no complications, minimal aches and pains.  I am so thankful for it.  Pregnancy can be rough for sure, and each pregnancy very different from the next (I'm told).  So my insight is simply this: be thankful for your pregnancy! Because there's no guarantees.   It is a gift to hold and protect a little one on the inside, and no one is ever promised this gift.  So be thankful in spite of any discomfort, because there are always those who would give anything to bare it. 

On Finding Out the Gender

Finding out the gender was an easy decision for us.  We LOVED finding out but next time I think I'll do it a little differently.  I thought, "I don't want to wait any longer than I have to! I want to find out during the ultrasound!!!"  Well, and there is no way I could have known this, turns out it was not the best experience.  The ultrasound tech, although VERY professional and good at what she does, was all business.  Ok, business is fine if you are taking a look at my gallbladder! I was just hoping for a little more enthusiasm.  You know, feel the room.

She asked us if we'd like to find out the gender...we said "yes".  When it came time to assess that area, we were very flatly introduced to our son by -and I quote-: "Here are the testicles..."

(Flat line face emoji)

Of course we were excited to hear the news, I just think next time we'll have her write it down (hopefully as "boy/girl", not "testicle/ovaries"). Then, Michael and I can go out to eat afterward and find out together.  Plus, there are all the conversations you are dying to have after you hear the news (baby names!!!!) that you can't have because you are trapped at the doctor's office for at least another half hour!

Finding out what we were having was a super important step for me in bonding with Abram.  While I was pregnant, especially early on, I had a hard time feeling connected emotionally with the idea that what was growing inside me was a person who would be joining our family.  It was just all too crazy for me to be able to fully understand.  But finding out that it was a little boy helped bring me closer to the idea that this is a baby.  But not just any baby, it was our baby.  But not just our baby, our son! I can already tell though, next time I would bet it will be easier for me to bond.  Because now that I know the immense love and connection with my child, I will be able to get to that point more quickly. 

On Getting Ready

It shouldn't come as a shock to anyone that we LOVED getting ready for Abram.  Working on the nursery (see here and here) was our way of preparing our hearts for the love that we were about to lavish on this little guy.  It was our way of saying, you are wanted, and you have a place.  So whatever that is that you need to do to send that message (to yourself, maybe, even more than to a baby), do it.   Maybe it is prepping food.  Maybe it is cleaning every last nook of your house.  Maybe it is going to every garage sale that has a hint of baby items.  I wholeheartedly believe that it is as important of a step emotionally as it is practically. 

And because we knew we were going in to be induced, Michael and I went out for one last no-kid dinner together.  We decided a little walk and picnic at our favorite spot seemed super fitting.

And we even have talked about making it a tradition and taking Abram back every year before his birthday!

On Labor & Delivery

Not 12 hours after Abram was born, I looked at Michael and said, "I can't imagine never doing that again... that was SO cool!" 

I was induced at 41 weeks, which is not ideal, but it got the job done.  The epidural was my absolute favorite thing in the whole world.  I told Michael every hour after I got it that it was the best decision I have ever made.  Not saying everyone should do it, just saying I was happy (VERY happy) with my decision.  I was about 12 hours into my induction and probably somewhere around 5cm dilated.  I opted to try Nubain (which is a pain medication injected through an IV) before the epidural and I wish I would have skipped that and just gone straight to the epidural.  It made me pretty groggy and it provided very little, if any, pain relief.  The epidural was great but it did make it difficult when it came time to push.  I pushed for 2.5hrs and we ended up having to use the vacuum.  His heart rate was decelerating every time I pushed and they wanted to deliver him quickly.  So it was either the vacuum or a C Section.  And at the time a vacuum seemed like the less invasive, quicker and best choice.  And with one more push he was born.  He had had the cord wrapped around his neck twice but he thankfully recovered very quickly.

I couldn't believe all that hair! <3

It was a Friday which worked out super well for visitors to come see us on the weekend.  But what was unfortunate was that the lactation consultants left Friday without watching me nurse him.  I feel like that was a huge mistake on our part.  The nurses are very well trained and very helpful, I just always wondered if the lactation consultant would have had anything else to add that might have been helpful.  So next time around I will make sure to see the LC before being discharged.  I did go later to see them and it was nice to get their perspective.. but I will talk more about that in a bit.

On Breastfeeding

So I expected breastfeeding to be difficult, I was just hoping that I'd be wrong.  Right away we had issues with latching and keeping our little guy awake long enough to nurse.  I'm not convinced Abram got much at all those first couple of days.  Looking back I'm pretty sure he was dehydrated until my milk came in.  And once it did, oh boy, watch out.  He, all of a sudden, became a ferocious beast!  Nursing sometimes as often as every hour and a half.  It's exhausting in those early days.  Feeling like you have maybe an hour between feedings.  Plus, even though I was using a nipple shield, I got very sore and cracked.  And that was certainly the hardest part.  The soreness lasted about 5 weeks (5 long weeks) and I used a combination of hydro-cortisone cream and antibiotic ointment to heal the damaged areas. 

We also offered him a bottle pretty early,  at 2 weeks old.  The recommendation we were given was to wait at least 6 weeks before offering a bottle.  The reason we introduced it so early was because I was in my sister in law's wedding three weeks after he was born and there was no way I was going to be able to nurse him on the wedding day.   But, honestly, the ability to give him a bottle and give me a break in those early weeks did wonders on my mood.  I felt a HUGE weight lift off my shoulders just knowing there was another option for feeding my baby.  We didn't do it often (once a day at most for the first month) but it was just nice to know we could use it if we needed to.   

I continued to use the nipple shield with great results for 3 months.  Supply was good, nursing wasn't really painful anymore, he was gaining weight.  Momma was feeling good.  I thought, "sure, lets try to go off this nipple shield".  Well.... after a day and a half without it, it was like I was back to square one with soreness.  Enough was enough.  I was back to work now, pumping sometimes exclusively on days I worked.  So about two weeks ago Michael and I decided to just try out pumping exclusively.  And you know what?.. I love it! It is a little bit extra work but I'm not sore, I know exactly what I'm producing, I know exactly how much he is eating, I can pump whenever it is convenient for me, and anybody can feed Abram.  When we were trialing it, I thought I might miss the closeness of nursing or the convenience.  But honestly, I feel even closer to him because I can hold him away from me and see him a little better when he's eating.  And I think it is almost more convenient because I don't have to disrobe every time I want to feed my child.

So that's where we are at with this whole breastfeeding thing.  I'm sure some lactation consultants would scold me for going off the boob but you know what?!.. he's still getting the good stuff I'm making!  And overall, I think, when it comes to breastfeeding, that's what you have to keep in mind.  I always told myself, "What's the worst case scenario when it comes to breastfeeding? I have to switch to formula and my baby continues to eat and grow?"  That doesn't sound like a very bad worst case scenario to me!

(Note: if you are thinking about pumping exclusively, I would recommend reading up on how to maintain your supply, especially if your baby is 12 weeks and younger)

On Postpartum Healing

If I were going to choose two words to describe the first three weeks postpartum, they would be pain and anxiety.

Pain.
So Abram was born with a very large head.  After he was born, the docotor told us, "If head size is any indication of intelligence then you have the smartest baby in Michiana."  At the time, we laughed and smiled proudly at our little genius baby.  But when the pain meds wore off, I found myself wishing for a slightly less smart, smaller headed baby. 

We had been forewarned.  In our ultrasound leading up to our induction, his head size was off the charts... she couldn't even give an estimation.  "Yikes!," I thought, "I'm in for a good time."  But then, true to myself, I thought "Eh....It'll be fine"... well, overall, it was fine.  He was born with a 15 inch head circumference.... and not through a C Section, which meant I had some pretty significant tearing.  Third degree.  Not the worst but certainly not the best.  And it, by all accounts was the worst thing about the postpartum period.  Up until this, I have never really had any significant injury.  No surgeries, no broken bones.  So having pain for weeks on end was something very new to me.  The pain lasted well past the 6 week follow up.  It was rough, ya'll.  I won't lie.  The lack of sleep, the anxiety over being a new mom, the physical pain from boobs to butt, made the first 3 weeks postpartum very trying.  I know I could have dealt with it all better had I not been in so much pain.  And, of course, I worried about infection too! Between the two of us, we certainly had some areas that were susceptible to infection.  Luckily both him and I made it through infection free but I certainly worried about it enough!

Anxiety. 
This too was not something I typically deal with.  I am generally a pretty joyful person, optimistic, happy go lucky.  That all changed, at least temporarily, postpartum.  And the hardest two weeks of my life started at Abram's two week check up.  The doctor told us that the newborn screening that they send out on every baby came back positive for Cystic Fibrosis.  What did that mean? In reality it meant that we had to take him in for further testing in order to diagnose him.  It meant the only thing we knew for sure was that he was at least a carrier for the recessive gene that carries the disease.  But in my head, that meant he certainly probably had CF which meant that this little perfect baby I was falling more in love with daily had a terrible chronic disease that would probably take his life.  I cried and prayed and cried and prayed.  We waited two weeks before we could take him in for the test and another couple days until we received the results.  It was negative.  Abram was a carrier for the CF gene but did not have CF.  He would not be affected by the disease and would only need genetic counseling when he wanted to have his own children someday.  Relieved and thankful do not even begin to describe how I felt.  I can only imagine what life would be like had the results been different.  My heart aches for parents of kids with chronic diseases or cancer or developmental problems.  That could still be us someday, there are no guarantees. But for now, we will thank God for a healthy child and hold him a little tighter. 

On Help From Others

We are certainly blessed by family and friends.  That was very clear to me postpartum.  The amount of food we received allowed us to not even have to think about putting a meal together for a whole month.  It was awesome and SO helpful at a time where you struggle to find the energy to do the very basic things.  For those of you who brought us meals, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You did a very wonderful thing that did not go unappreciated. 

The other way people helped was by just listening.  Every time I connected with another mom and she said things like "Oh I know."  or "Yes, that happened to me too." or "I've been there."  And she shared her experiences with me, it was like a little more weight was lifted off my shoulders and my heart.  So I think that's why I felt compelled to write this blog post.  Even though its long and even though I'm sharing more than maybe I initially felt comfortable with, I felt like I needed to do it.  So hopefully you hear me saying, "girl, I've been there.  You aren't alone."  Because a week after the baby is born and you are up at 3am nursing your baby and biting you lip from the pain, you just need to know that you are doing ok.  And it will get better. 

 

On Loving Your Baby

So I've shared a lot about the hardships of new motherhood.  But it is completely unfair to leave it at that! Because there is a whole other side of this story that keeps getting better and better.  His name is Abram.

He is sweet and snuggly.  Loves to "talk" and smile.  He rolls over like nobody's business.  And he likes to wake up to let us know he's still here at 3am.  Isn't that sweet? He is without a doubt our greatest adventure and worth every twinge of pain and wiped-away tear.

The thing about loving a baby is that there are always new things to love... and you better love them fast because soon they'll be gone. 

His hair, for instance, used to stick straight up like Albert Einstein... couldn't get it to lay down.  Now I can't get it to stand up.  What will be the next thing to change over night?  I can't allow myself to wonder, I'd rather just enjoy it while it lasts. 

I hope that this post allows some new mom out there to feel like she's not alone.  That somebody else has been there.  That there is an end to the rough patch that is the postpartum period. 

There is so much more I could probably say but I will end it here.  I am open to talking more about my experiences if you need someone to talk to.  Please feel free to message me, email me, comment below.
  
You are doing so great momma, you can do this. 

Love,
Laura

Our First New-Parent DIY

Things are a wee bit different around our house these days.  And when I say a wee bit, I am referring to our wee little one.  He's a game changer.

But what a cute game changer!?

After 6 weeks of nighttime feedings, sitz baths, afternoon naps, spit-up stained shirts, and the like, I got up enough energy and motivation to start thinking about another project.  I thought we'd start off easy... with some crown molding in our bedroom. 

But, as I soon found out, putting up crown molding and DIYing with a 6 week old in the house is a new kind of challenging for us. 

Here & here are the two tutorials that we used that helped us work through the difficulties of installing crown molding.  I won't be including a tutorial in this post since I barely understand the process still.  

The thing about crown molding (and DIYing with a newborn in the house for that matter) is that it takes a lot longer than you think.  Apparently, crown molding is a bit complicated to cut if you've never done it before.  But the more you do it the easier it gets.  We started on Saturday afternoon and were able to unsuccessfully install one piece and successfully uninstall that same piece.

Poor Michael, he was more than a little frustrated... all in 90+ degree heat and 100% humidity.

Yuck.

And I was helping on and off, whenever I could coax our little one into sleeping long enough for me to be a second set of hands.

But a day later and with a handy new little tool (seriously, if you installing crown for the first time, you need it), we were able to install the whole room.

A close up of our (Michael's) handiwork.

I feel like we have overcome a huge hurtle getting our first DIY done post baby.

It IS possible to accomplish something when you have a little one at home.  You just have to be flexible, patient, and allow for extra time.

Right around the time we were finishing up the crown and putting the room back together, I found a new headboard for...get this, $15. 

Now it's a bit more than we spent on our last headboard ($5) but we felt like it was time for an upgrade.  #treatyoself

Originally I wanted an iron headboard, similar to our old one, but hey, for $15, a girl can change her plan.  Unfortunately now our bedroom is feeling very heavy in wood stained finishes.  Dresser, desk, chest, nightstand, headboard.  I need some painted furniture in here, STAT!
 

I'm thinking two white matching nightstands.  And I've been looking for some, but apparently it is very hard to find two decent matching nightstands on craigslist.  This one I found on Wayfair caught my eye.  I like the wicker mixed with the white paint finish.  But it's over my cheapo budget. 

And I'd love to paint Michael's desk a linen/grey color. 

 

This dresser will stay the same, it was my grandma's and I love the color of the wood with the color of the wall.

I stumbled upon RugsUSA, who was having a HUGE 70% off sale.  I decided to buy this rug when I read all the positive reviews.  Hopefully it will work out!

And then finally I have some family pictures to hang on the wall as soon as they come in the mail.  Gotta see that cute little baby face all. the. time.

So after months of being preoccupied with decorating the nursery, it's nice to focus our attention to another room and continue making this fixer-upper into our dream home.  Slowly but surely!

Don't miss a beat.  

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A Little Introduction

There's a little man that I want to introduce you all to.

This here is Abraham Mark.  We call him Abram.

He was born June 5th at 5:52am.

A Little About Abram:

Name: We wanted to choose a strong, biblical name for our little guy.  We really liked the name Abram but decided to go with the full "Abraham" as his formal name.  Abraham of the Bible was a great man of God that proved his faith and willingness to live sacrificially.  He was chosen by God to be the father of His people.  We have some family ties to the name as well.  Abraham was also the name of my Great Great Great Grandfather who settled into the area we now call home.  My family is still running the family farm that has been around for over 90 years.

We chose Mark as the middle name in honor of Michael's dad who passed away when he was 7 years old.  Abram's name definitely has a theme of fatherhood and establishment which I think is very fitting for our first born son.

Birth Weight: 8 lbs 9 oz

Length: 21.5 inches long

Head Circumference: 15 inches

Hair: He was born with lots of it! Brown and wavy and showing hints of red and gold highlights depending on the light.

Eye Color: Like most babies, blue grey. We'll see what sticks.

Sleeps: 2-3 hours at a time at night for the first couple weeks. Now that we are a month old, he's sleeping 3-5 hours at a time.  During the day he is a bit of a catnapper.  But he sleeps best during the day when snuggling with somebody.

At a Month: He's already over 10lbs and wearing some of his 3 month clothes.  His arms and legs are filling out and getting chunkier. It does a momma's heart good to see that! Can you believe he's already a month old?! We had fun with a little Month Old/4th of July photo shoot last week. 

A little bit about how I'm doing.

Boy.  Motherhood is no joke people.  It is not for the faint of heart, that is for sure.

I was not quite prepared for the amount of pain and recovery that I was going to experience postpartum.  Not to go into too many details... things hurt.  And when you hurt, are not getting sleep, and are overwhelmed by this new role you are taking on... it can certainly take its toll.  I won't lie, there were plenty of tears in the first couple weeks.  But now as the pain is subsiding and I'm figuring out our new normal, I am happy to say goodbye to those pesky ol' baby blues.

But you know what has helped?
Kissin' on this face.

Other things that help: An awesome husband.  Having someone else feed him with a bottle.  Sharing cute pictures with friends and family.  Naps. Taking a bath.  Prayer.  Having people come over to visit.  Knowing when to say no to visitors.  Getting out of the house. Crying. Laughing.  Netflix bingeing. Allowing others to help.  Baby swing.  Taking advice and recommendations with a grain of salt and finding what works for us.  

Obviously things have been super busy around here - moving from a Nurse & a Nerd..to a Nurse, a Nerd, & a Baby.  There hasn't been much time for DIY or decorating (let alone blogging about such topics).  However, we are gearing up for a huge home project this fall and I hope to keep you all update on that when things progress a little more. 

On that note... I think I hear a baby waking from his nap! Let me at those chubby cheeks!

Thanks again goes out to my friend Beth Wilson for the newborn photos. 

Laura Lately: Overdue Edition

I realized that one of the last times I did one of these was what I called  "Laura Lately: Golden Week Edition."  It was when I turned 27 years old on my 27th week of pregnancy.  That was all the way back in the first week of March! So it seems fitting to end this pregnancy with a final Laura Lately... an Overdue Edition.

Lately I've Been Feeling:

Great! Everybody is doing well and staying healthy.  I think people keep expecting me to say, now that I'm overdue, that I'm miserable... but I really am not! Other than some mild aches and being hot all. the. time.,  I am still feeling surprisingly good! 

I'm not to this point quite yet.  (Poor Rachel).

Lately I've Been Asked:

"You're still here?!"  This week at work, I probably heard this at least 5200 times.  But this weekend, I worked my last scheduled days.  And now it's nice to know that next time I show up at the hospital, I'll be leaving with a baby... and much less swollen ankles (hopefully). 

Lately I've Been Advised To:

Walk
Sleep as much as I can
Stock up on easy meals
Enjoy grocery shopping solo
Eat spicy food
Eat out with Michael
Take a ride down a bumpy country road
Jump on a trampoline
Enjoy time with just the two of us
Walk, walk, and walk some more

 

Lately I've Been Worried About:

Labor, it's kind of a scary deal.  Especially when you're a nurse and you know too much.  But I'm confident in my OB and about the care I'll receive.  And not to mention the amount of prayer that we are receiving.  Thanks so much everyone!!

Lately I've Been Excited About:

Um... meeting our little baby boy!! I am excited to see who this little guy is! I am excited to know his ins and outs.  Make memories with him. Comfort him. Teach him. Snuggle him. And be his first love.  I'm also excited to introduce him to all of you!!!

Not sure when I'll be back to the blog, but rest assured I will update you and introduce you guys to our little man once he has arrived! Thanks so much to everyone for your excitement and encouragement through this time.  Having you all to share in our joy has made it that much sweeter.  You're all the best!

Love,
Laura, Michael, & Baby Blough

***Thanks to my super talented friend Beth Wilson for our maternity pictures! It was so special to have her be a part of this.  We love the fact that you were there to capture this moment in time for us.  (We also love that all the pics were taken in and around our home!! Super special!!)  Here's a link to her website to see all her talents.  

Don't miss a beat.  

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