The Apple Farmer Mom

A few days ago we took our Little Lovebug apple picking.  We went to Lewin Farms on Long Island and the weather was perfect as was the apples we put into our barrel.  I highly recommend this apple orchard, especially to those with children, for the apple trees are nice and low and also because you pay per pound.  Some apple farms charge by the half or full bushel.  We found a nice little pizzeria for lunch and that's where Benny decided he would have the mother of all screaming fits.  Not enjoyable, rather exhausting, but eventually ended...thank goodness!!!

On another note, it's been two nights since the big move from cradle to crib and it's going... it's going... I think it makes him nervous waking up and finding no one there... hopefully, time will change this...

The "Mom of a Two Month Old" Mom

My boy is a big 2 months old today!!  While he continues being absolutely adorable - it's only enhanced by his smiles and coos.  I on the other hand have had a miserable cold for the last few days, making it difficult to talk and play with my Little Lovebug.  What makes it worse is that I am entering my final week of maternity leave and I want to spend it having fun with my Little Lovebug, not in bed drinking tea... 


Other happenings recently:
* Similac had a huge recall two days ago on many batches of their dry formula due to beetle larva found inside. Fortunately - the one we have been using during the middle of the night was not!  However, we did just purchase a large canister, which we did not open - but yes - it was recalled!  I'm just so glad we didn't give him any from that batch!  
* Big Daddy Lovebug's car was hit while sitting in the parking lot of his job.  Not sure if there's any internal damage, but a body shop man offered to fix it for $100, which the woman who hit him paid.  She also gave us $200 to not tell her insurance company, which won't really do us any good if there IS any internal damage.  Unfortunately we won't be able to buy a new car for another year and a half (when my car is paid off...)
* We booked a place for my Little Lovebug's baptism.  It will be the first week on November and the planning has commenced!
* Last night is our Little Lovebug's last night in the cradle in our room :(  I will miss having him so close to us, but since I return to work in about a week and since he's been sleeping almost the whole night, I'd love to try to get him into the crib from 11-6.  That would be ideal for me going to work.  It'd be better at 10 PM, but I think that may be a little bit of a stretch for right now!!!  We'll have to make tonight count!!!
*Tomorrow, I start a post pregnancy diet...I am still on vacation mode and now that my doctor has given me the "ok" I can start exercising again...


In honor of my boy's second month on this planet:

 

Firsts Accomplished

First real smile - yea!!!

First coo and goo
First visit to Amusement Park (Advertureland)
First birthday party
First trip to Library
First Mets Game
First Immunization shot
First baby class
First time meeting cousins
First trip to NJ
First time in church
First bank account opened
First walk with dog
First labor day

First (and only) time being two months old!!! 

Favorite Momma Lovebug Moment

"My favorite moments are when he's lying on the bed, looking right at me making silly faces and noises, and he laughs and coos like he knows exactly who I am!!"

Favorite Big Daddy Lovebug Moment

"When him and I connect with each other - I talk to him and he smiles back!"

Little Lovebug Discoveries

Discovery of feet

Begin to vocalize

Response to loud, different noises

What to Look For During his Third Month
Reach and grab an object
Roll over one way
Laugh out loud
Bring both hands together
Hold head steady when upright
Turn when he hears his parents voice

Good Bye Cradle - We'll miss you!!!

Our Pio Pio Dinner in honor of our boy!

The "Go Away" Mom

"He's crying - he must be hungry..." - When you say this you are implying that I'm a neglectful parent who is starving her child.  There are countless reasons why babies cry and if I fed mine every time he did - he'd be as big as a hippopotamus.  I, like most parents who actually care about their children monitor how often my baby eats based upon what my pediatrician has told me.  End of story - good night!

"You should enjoy him - time goes by so quickly..." - duh...and I'd like to savor every moment without people reminding me every time I'm out that he is now one moment older than the last moment.  Thanks for your advice!

"How's he sleeping at night?" - I admit I have previously fallen into this category when my friends have given birth.  This seems to be the #1 question I am asked, like you can tell oh so much from my 2 month old's sleeping habits.  Perhaps you want to feel good about the fact that you had 5 more hours than me last night, so unless your volunteering to do night feedings, please don't ask!  He sleeps like a 2 month old!  It's fantastic if your week old sleeps through the night - mine doesn't - so stop asking!!!

"How was your C-Section?" - Let's see - it was as if someone slipped me a roofie, cut open my stomach, ripped my child from it, sewed me back up...then expected me to walk around and go back to my normal routine the next day...yes...it was just like that... let's just say it was so traumatizing I wouldn't mind that part of my memory erased.  Up until they showed me my little boy of course!

*Authors Note - in no way is this blog meant to be petty!  Just saying!

The Light Packing Mom

This is my checklist for the bare minimum items to pack in my Diaper Bag.  Either way, I feel like I'm always missing something anyway.  Also - everyone also says "Oh my - it's so heavy - you have too many things!  That is a negative...

Diapers

Wipes

Diaper Rash Cream

Changing Pad

Several Changes of Clothes

Bottles in Cooler

2 Blankets

3-4 Toys/Books

The Bippy!!! (Pacifier)



My gorgeous Coach diaper bag - a git from Big Daddy Lovebug on Valentine's Day!



The Nervous Mom

On the 9th Anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11 - it has always scared me to raise a child in a world where there is so much hatred towards those who are different.   Though I can't promise he'll grow up in aw world free from that, I do vow to teach my son kindness, compassion and understanding. 

Today, we took a free class for babies at a local center.Adorable, and it gave me many ideas to use and modify for my own "Babies Have Class!"  Songs, games, tummy time...of course Benny fell right asleep in the middle!!! 

My Little Lovebug had THE most ridiculous tantrum today.  He ate, was changed and we were snuggled together in bed ready for a little nap and all of a sudden he went ballistic!!  Absolutely crazy, screaming his head off.  I tried everything - the pacifier, rocking, bouncing, lotion, soothing noises...you know what worked and put him out in about 4 seconds?  More breastfeeding!  He wasn't hungry, he just wanted an "edible pacifier!!!!!" 

We took a trip to Party City two days ago to pick up some baptism supplies.  Bought some really neat stuff - banners, table clothes, decorations...I spent so much money it was ridiculous.  My Little Lovebug is worth it!!  Now if only our pastor could confirm the date... hoping for a early November baptism - I really want it before the weather gets cold, where I can still work with an autumn theme  and it'll be a month before his baby cousin's... On our way from the party store Benny started screaming again.  Music, singing, rocking, nothing was working until I got him home and just held him!  My boys a "crier"!!!  I wish he knew how much we loved him and how safe he was with us.  There is never a need to be so stressed out with us!!!

Speaking of Little Lovebug's cousin - he's one month old today!  Going out to celebrate at a delicious Chinese restaurant.  How time flies!!!

The Delighted Mom

I'm so excited when...


He has a bowel movement after being "clogged up"

He attempts to roll over on his Tummy Time Mat

He gives a good burp after drinking a portion of his bottle

He smiles...even if it's gas-induced

He ceases his crying immediately when I pick him up

He only wakes up one time in the middle of the night

He falls asleep in my arms

He tries to grab a toy

The Ambitious Mom

In the midst of taking upon too many things at one time, this one takes the cake!!!

I have been looking since the middle of my pregnancy for a class that specializes in infants.  My search led me to a disgust, for every class I found was either:

          Not in Queens, NY

          Too Expensive

          Inconvenient Times

Along with my mother, who runs a Mommy and Me Playgroup in our local church for ages starting at 18 months, we decided to host our own program, tailored specifically for babies 0-1 year old.  It will be called "Babies Have Class" and feature Tummy Time, Stroller Walks, Infant Massaging and many games geared to boost their little brains! 

I am doing this for my son (and the community) and hopefully to network myself and create other local "Mommy Friends"

Prayerfully it will take off...

The Cringing Mom

No one told me that my child's first shot would be as traumatic for me as it was for them.  The difference is I'll remember it tomorrow and he won't!!  My Little Lovebug got his Hepatitis B shot at the doctors, which went into his upper right thigh.  It was awful!  He was so calm and content as the doctor took his height (22 1/4 inches), weight (a whopping 9.2 pounds - 2 pounds more than his birth weight!) and temperature, but the moment that needle struck his leg he let go of the more piercing scream I'd ever heard!  It was absolutely heartbreaking!!!  Luckily this particular shot didn't lead to him having any reactions.  My little trooper!

Besides the traumatic doctors visit, I also visited my school today to make sure my paperwork was in order.  I am thrilled to say that I will not be returning to work until the beginning of October.  That gives me a whole extra month to snuggle and bond with my Little Lovebug! 

The Wishful Thinking Mom

There are billions of baby products on the market - when we registered for my Little Lovebug I was completely overwhelmed.  I'm taking this blog to thank the inventors of the following items.  You have made my life a lot easier (I just wish I thought of it first!)

1. The Boppy

What a concept!  Instead of having your child awkwardly between your bony arms while feeding, you slip the Boppy around your waist, lay your child on it and let him nestle.  It's a dream for breastfeeding (and those like me with a C-Section), convenient for bottle feeding and just plain great when he wants to be close to you, but your arms are about to break from holding him!  It's exactly like putting an adorable, soft pillow around your waist!

2. Lullaby CDs of Rock Artists

As a teacher, I love children's songs and have a nice collection of nursery rhyme CDs at my disposal.  However, there are probably only so many times I can listen to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" before I'd want to have myself committed.  The time for that is coming...and it should...Nursery Rhyme and Sing-a-Long Songs are a vital part of growing up, one that is often overlooked by parents today.  However, for car rides at the present, nothing beats listening to "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Dream On" set to twinkling tones to lull my baby to sleep.  Genius.  

3. The Diaper Genie

It's a garbage pail - for diapers!! It "magically" compresses baby's used diapers, diminishes odors and can be discreetly placed anywhere.  The best part is the laugh you'll have with your significant other when the genie gets full: "Did he really use that many diapers?" and "It's like a diaper sausage!"

4. Angel Care Monitor/ The Sleep Positioner

Yes, it's true we had a horrible scare the first night, when our boy rolled off the Angel Care Monitor pad and set off the obnoxious alarm signaling that our child had stopped breathing.  The next day we went to Babies R Us and bought us the sleep positioner.  Since I don't have to wake up every other minute to make sure my child is breathing - we too sleep like babies (until our baby wakes us because he's hungry!)  Though it's true the Sleep Positioner (which expands to our child's size) hasn't been tested fully for the reduction of SIDS, it definitely keeps our little boy from rolling onto his stomach, which itself poses a greater risk for him to stop breathing.  Although I can't imagine hearing that alarm again, I'd rather be awoken on a false alarm than not awoken at all!  

5. Pack and Play

Are you kidding me?  This thing is fantastic!  It fits in a corner of our living room, has a changing table, mobile, infant sleeper, playpen, folds up into nearly nothing AND comes in like a billion different patterns/colors/sizes/styles!  We probably use this product more than any other one we have.  It saves me from going upstairs every time he falls asleep or needs to be changed.  We take it with us to the babysitters.  Great advice we've received is - get your kid used to the playpen while he's young!  That way he doesn't flip out when he's a toddler and you want to make dinner and knows that this is HIS spot for playing!  The playpen has really come a long way!!!  

6. Pee-Pee TeePee

I'll admit it - I haven't tried this yet, but I will pick up a pack next time I'm in Babies R Us just because...well...I like the name!  Made specifically for boys (duh), you simply place the Pee-Pee TeePee over his privates while changing to avoid getting an unwanted shower.  Necessary?  No.  Adorable?  Yes.  Practical?  Who cares? Just try to say "Pee-Pee TeePee" and not smile.  Just try!