So by "the dance" I mean the last hours (hour [singular] if I'm lucky) before Maizey goes to sleep for the night--and by "night" I mean the period from about 11pm to 4am. The dance begins with the final change for the night, then there is the is-this- a-good-night-or-is-this-a-bad-night five or so minutes. If it's good she falls asleep in minutes, if it's bad, all hell breaks loose. Tonight is a bad night. The dance began around 9:30pm and it continues now at 12:53am. The good news is that we're nearing the end--the part where she appears to be totally passed out, but then all the sudden throws her head back for no apparent reason. If I move too soon and try to conclude the dance, it could be all over and we could have to start over again. I must be able to move Maizey out of the Bjorn or Moby and into her swaddle sack then into her cradle--it's a risky maneuver with even the sleepiest of babies. I've learned that motherhood is just a series of weighing out options--if I move Maizey too soon, then she wakes up and I have to start all over. But, if I risk it and try to move her when it appears that the coast may have cleared then I could, potentially, get those precious extra moments of sleep. You see my dilemma. So, anyway, while you're all asleep, snuggled warmly in bed, dream of me -blogging- and longing for that special moment each night/very early morning, where I get to put my tightly swaddled bambina (I just call her Bambi for short) into her cradle and get to fall into bed and cozy into the warmth of a job well done--for about the next four hours.
I'm happy to report that Ms. Maizey is tuckered out and tucked in for the night/morning.
This is satisfaction/relief.
I'll post some new pics hopefully tomorrow. I would do it now, but that would mean less sleep for poor, old, me.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Great News
The coolest baby on the block. Rockin' her edgy-baby hat from Auntie Erika.
Well, I've got some pretty good news. I got on the scale a couple of days ago and saw that I was only 5lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight. Yay! So, I thought I'd do it...I decided to try on my most expensive jeans that I bought last summer and only got to wear a handful of times before I got pregnant. And, hallelujah, they fit! Now, by "fit" I mean I can get them zipped and buttoned. I did attempt to wear them on Saturday and after a meal and some grocery shopping, I was pretty uncomfortable--I unbuttoned them when I got in the car. So I guess I still have some work to do, but this was a good motivator and should help me get rid of those last little pounds. Breast feeding is not only good for the baby, it's good for the mother--it gets rid of all those "I'm pregnant I can eat it" extra pounds. Here I am in all my glory:
Well, I've got some pretty good news. I got on the scale a couple of days ago and saw that I was only 5lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight. Yay! So, I thought I'd do it...I decided to try on my most expensive jeans that I bought last summer and only got to wear a handful of times before I got pregnant. And, hallelujah, they fit! Now, by "fit" I mean I can get them zipped and buttoned. I did attempt to wear them on Saturday and after a meal and some grocery shopping, I was pretty uncomfortable--I unbuttoned them when I got in the car. So I guess I still have some work to do, but this was a good motivator and should help me get rid of those last little pounds. Breast feeding is not only good for the baby, it's good for the mother--it gets rid of all those "I'm pregnant I can eat it" extra pounds. Here I am in all my glory:
Maizey updates:
Maize had her little surgery last week and she did so well! They put her pacifier in some sugar water (I guess the sugar releases endorphins) and just cried for a few seconds when they zapped her little spot. There isn't any noticeable improvement-yet. The doc said it takes a couple treatments to start noticing a difference. Our next treatment is next week and then another one in 3 weeks.
Maizey girl turned into Maizey little-old-balding-man a couple weeks ago. The only hair she had left was around the sides of her head and a little patch of bangs. In the last few days we've seen a lot of growth back on top. She looks like her daddy right now with just the short stubble.
Her "colic" thing is still going on, but we're managing it a lot better. I don't think that it can be considered colic after all. She cries much less than 3 hours a day--maybe more like 1 hour total. Also, we've learned that all it takes is some time on the exercise ball bouncing up and down or some Moby time.
She graduated out of preemie and into newborn diapers. We're hoping to get into her cloth diapers in the next few weeks. With the way she is gaining weight, that shouldn't be a problem.
PHOTOS!!!!
We'll call this her first AFTER shot.
Maizey playing with Allie.
I know I've got a lot of carseat shots, but they're so cute. Grammy Jan said Maize looked like a peapod in this outfit--so sweet!
The loves of my life.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
God's gift to mothers (besides, of course, the baby)...
I just want to quickly comment on the Moby wrap prior to getting into meatier topics. The Moby wrap is God's gift to moms. I know it's simple, it's just a long piece of fabric, many cultures have been using this same setup to carry their babies for thousands of years, ours was just a little late to get on board. When Maizey is screaming (which seems to be often these days) I put her into the Moby and after some resistance at first, I get a sleepy and happy baby that is cuddled onto my chest for hours. Not to mention it's awfully conducive to hands-free parenting. I can wash dishes, blog, pee, what have you, all while she is wrapped up and asleep.
Meatier topics:
Laser Surgery Tomorrow!
So, little Miss Maizey went and saw the Pediatric Dermatologist yesterday. The good news is that the doctor we saw is really intelligent and aggressive (she's been a vascular anomaly specialist at Children's for 15 years). The bad news is Maizey, the poor little pumpkin, has to have laser surgery treatments--probably 3 or so. The first treatment is tomorrow. There is no sedation or anything like that, which is a relief for me, so she'll be awake for the procedure. She'll have to have her eyes covered with patches and we'll have to hold her head still so I know she'll be screaming at the top of her lungs (what a weird expression?? vs the bottom of her lungs, which are much quieter??). Plus, the procedure hurts, they equate it to being snapped with a rubber band over and over--no thanks. She reassured me that infants tend to forget immediately and that she'll be feeling fine as soon as the procedure is done (it takes about 15 min). The surgeries will help to slow the growth of the hemangioma down, but won't fix it entirely. There will be some sort of steroid regimen (either taken orally or injected at the site) in the future. Steroids are really good at stopping tumor (which technically this is) growth and can even shrink it. It seems like it's all over kill, but the doc informed me that with these types of growths there can be a lot of scarring if there is no intervention. Plus, it's starting to push up on her lower eyelid. It's encouraging to know that we won't have to deal with this beyond about one year of age since these things tend to involute and go away about that time anyway.
Phew, I'm glad I got all that out.
Moving right along. My little bambina is BIG. She weighed in today at a whopping 7lbs 11oz! To think she was only 4lbs 10oz 5 weeks ago is NUTS! She's growing out of her preemie clothes, which makes me so happy that she is growing, but so sad that she won't be able to wear some of my favorite little outfits anymore. I know that my future niece Harper is already set for clothes, but she might be having some more come her way! Anyway, taking Maizey's prematurity into account, she is still only in the 5th percentile...oh except for her HUGE noggin, which puts her into the whopping 25th percentile. She got the big Gebow head. Big head equals big brain.
Here are some recent photos and some from today. I'll post some AFTER shots of her hemagioma tomorrow or the next day.
Here we are just a few minutes ago, getting ready to blog. Maizey is in her Moby wrap...God's gift to mamas.
Maizey's Before shot taken today 6/3.
Maizey is so dang cute. Here we are today after a bottle.
My new favorite way to nap. Maizey seems to like it too!
My second favorite invention after the Moby. It's a sleep sack AND a swaddle blanket in one, and it's made swaddling her for night time SOSOSO much easier!
This is Maize passed out in her car seat with her pacifier hanging out of her mouth and her hands just so. She's very elegant with her little hands. My future ballerina--or woodworker I suppose.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Memorial Day and Milestones...
I know it's been too long since my last post, but this motherhood thing is sort of time consuming, who knew? Maizey has been really busy growing like crazy and hitting all sorts of milestones. Today I got on my drugstore scale (a hint to its reliability) with Maizey and then without and according to the scale she is 8lbs!! Okay okay, I know that is probably not what she weighs, but I'm sure she has to be in the 7s by now. As far as I'm concerned, either the baby IS 8lbs, or my scale is telling ME I weigh more than I actually do--it's a win win situation if you ask me. Anyway, I know she's heavier because my arm starts to ache after I hold her for a while, which is definitely a new sensation. I'll know for sure on Wednesday at her 6 week checkup and I'll pass that info along ASAP.
Other milestones have been hit, whether or not they were intentional on Maizey's part, I'll never know. She rolls over, yes, my 5.5week old rolls over. She can roll from her back to her stomach, or her stomach to her back. It's not like this has happened once or twice, it happens almost anytime I lay her down when she is wide awake. We went to a BBQ at Jon and Georgia's on Saturday night and she must have rolled over 5 or so times. My little over achiever. She is also doing really well at holding up her head. She can hold it up for at least 20 seconds at a time. She is learning that she has a little voice and starting to "talk" and coo. It's the sweetest sound ever. She's still smiling and more and more people are getting to see it. It's the cutest smile I've ever seen and it makes my heart soar (for lack of a less cheeseball expression) every time I see it. She still loves showers and baths, and she even loves the hairdryer.
She took her first journey to Tahuya for Memorial Day weekend. We had a blast! We only intended to stay until Sunday night, but decided to prolong the trip until Monday morning because we were having so much fun and the dogs weren't being total assholes (by dogs I mean Porter--not Louise since she is always pleasant). Maizey did really well too. She slept well and tolerated being held by many new people better than I could have hoped. She even tolerated the long drive in holiday weekend traffic. We went for walks, took the dogs swimming, and pot lucked with the family. I'm looking forward to many weekends with her in Tahuya.
The other milestone (if you can call it that) is the "is-she-just-cranky-or-do-I-have-a-colicky-baby" milestone. From about 5-10pm (aka the Witching Hour) she gets cranky (and by cranky I mean she screams almost inconsolably) almost every night. Last night she went nearly non-stop from 6:30-10pm, she lost her little voice at the end and just sort of whimpered, which was super cute in a really unfortunate way. It's frustrating, but mostly it's just really hard to know she is so upset and there isn't anything we can do. I was a responsible parent and read "Happiest Baby on the Block" before she was born, but even the 5 S's can't help my baby. We manage okay through it and just stay positive, I'm hoping that last night is the worst it will ever be, so far we can't say she has colic. A colic diagnosis requires 3 hours of screaming for 3 days a week for 3 weeks in a row. Before yesterday she had never cried more than about an hour a day. Time will tell...
The last update I will give (and then I gotta run 'cause my baby smells gamey) is about Maizey's appointment that she has with a Pediatric Dermatologist tomorrow morning. She has a red hemangioma birthmark by her right eye that is growing like crazy...it's almost doubled in size in 3 weeks! I think it adds character to her beautiful face, like the beauty marks made famous by Marilyn Monroe and Cindy Crawford, but because it's so close to her eye, it could begin pushing up on her lower lid and obstruct her vision. These birthmarks always go away on their own (usually by 2 years old), but they can increase in size before they go away. There is a good chance that we'll have to have it removed with laser surgery. I don't know what is involved in that (whether it's general anesthesia or what), but I'll have a much better idea after tomorrow. I can't think of anything harder than having to put your little one "under."
Okay Maizey is now awake and free time is officially over.
At the cabin after Maizey's lunch.
Maizey in the Moby on her first walk in Tahuya.
This is what Ryan and Jim did all weekend, this and drink.
Maizey in bloom!
Taking her morning nap in Uncle Brion's sleeping bag. This sounds like a SIDS what-not-to-do, but we were there with her the whole time.
Enjoying the weather while daddy enjoys technology in Tahuya.
Taking a nap on Grandma.
Just plain cute.
The only proof I have that she rolls over, this is a split second before she did it!
Mama and crazy eyes Maizey.
Trying to cool off from a hot day in Tahuya.
An up close shot of Maizey in the Moby.
Other milestones have been hit, whether or not they were intentional on Maizey's part, I'll never know. She rolls over, yes, my 5.5week old rolls over. She can roll from her back to her stomach, or her stomach to her back. It's not like this has happened once or twice, it happens almost anytime I lay her down when she is wide awake. We went to a BBQ at Jon and Georgia's on Saturday night and she must have rolled over 5 or so times. My little over achiever. She is also doing really well at holding up her head. She can hold it up for at least 20 seconds at a time. She is learning that she has a little voice and starting to "talk" and coo. It's the sweetest sound ever. She's still smiling and more and more people are getting to see it. It's the cutest smile I've ever seen and it makes my heart soar (for lack of a less cheeseball expression) every time I see it. She still loves showers and baths, and she even loves the hairdryer.
She took her first journey to Tahuya for Memorial Day weekend. We had a blast! We only intended to stay until Sunday night, but decided to prolong the trip until Monday morning because we were having so much fun and the dogs weren't being total assholes (by dogs I mean Porter--not Louise since she is always pleasant). Maizey did really well too. She slept well and tolerated being held by many new people better than I could have hoped. She even tolerated the long drive in holiday weekend traffic. We went for walks, took the dogs swimming, and pot lucked with the family. I'm looking forward to many weekends with her in Tahuya.
The other milestone (if you can call it that) is the "is-she-just-cranky-or-do-I-have-a-colicky-baby" milestone. From about 5-10pm (aka the Witching Hour) she gets cranky (and by cranky I mean she screams almost inconsolably) almost every night. Last night she went nearly non-stop from 6:30-10pm, she lost her little voice at the end and just sort of whimpered, which was super cute in a really unfortunate way. It's frustrating, but mostly it's just really hard to know she is so upset and there isn't anything we can do. I was a responsible parent and read "Happiest Baby on the Block" before she was born, but even the 5 S's can't help my baby. We manage okay through it and just stay positive, I'm hoping that last night is the worst it will ever be, so far we can't say she has colic. A colic diagnosis requires 3 hours of screaming for 3 days a week for 3 weeks in a row. Before yesterday she had never cried more than about an hour a day. Time will tell...
The last update I will give (and then I gotta run 'cause my baby smells gamey) is about Maizey's appointment that she has with a Pediatric Dermatologist tomorrow morning. She has a red hemangioma birthmark by her right eye that is growing like crazy...it's almost doubled in size in 3 weeks! I think it adds character to her beautiful face, like the beauty marks made famous by Marilyn Monroe and Cindy Crawford, but because it's so close to her eye, it could begin pushing up on her lower lid and obstruct her vision. These birthmarks always go away on their own (usually by 2 years old), but they can increase in size before they go away. There is a good chance that we'll have to have it removed with laser surgery. I don't know what is involved in that (whether it's general anesthesia or what), but I'll have a much better idea after tomorrow. I can't think of anything harder than having to put your little one "under."
Okay Maizey is now awake and free time is officially over.
At the cabin after Maizey's lunch.
Maizey in the Moby on her first walk in Tahuya.
This is what Ryan and Jim did all weekend, this and drink.
Maizey in bloom!
Taking her morning nap in Uncle Brion's sleeping bag. This sounds like a SIDS what-not-to-do, but we were there with her the whole time.
Enjoying the weather while daddy enjoys technology in Tahuya. Taking a nap on Grandma.
Just plain cute.
The only proof I have that she rolls over, this is a split second before she did it!
Mama and crazy eyes Maizey.
Trying to cool off from a hot day in Tahuya.
An up close shot of Maizey in the Moby.Tuesday, May 20, 2008
First Sleepless-ish Night
So, it's finally happening. Everyone told me it would. They said once Maizey got older she'd stop sleeping so well. Last night she was up twice, which never happens, but she went back to bed easily. Tonight she went to bed at 10pm and was up at 2:30am, not too bad. The trouble is she was WIRED and cranky! I was feeling frustrated for the first time since she has been born. Ryan woke up twice to try to help--and let me put that remarkable fact into context for you: Ryan NEVER wakes up, even when tree branches were falling on our roof he stayed asleep!
So, feeling frustrated and tired and engorged (I only pump at night, usually once the baby falls back asleep), in desperation I remembered the swing--a toy that I thought was gimmicky and over-the-top once Maizey was born, my baby didn't need a swing just some old fashioned rocking by her mama...um, I was wrong-o.
I set the baby in, turned on the cheezy music with birds chirping in the background, and for the first moment in many she was quiet. Now, she's sleeping, yes sleeping. I'm blogging to kill the time until she is in deep deep sleep. I don't want to risk moving her even a second before. The trouble is I think the batteries are running out and there isn't a C battery for miles (okay maybe only one mile).
Here is Maizey as the grogginess sets in:
Monday, May 19, 2008
So this is what they mean when they say "time flies"...
I've learned that when you have a baby the days run into each other. I thought last Friday was Tuesday. I can't believe that Maizey is going to be one month old this week, how is that even possible? It literally seems like we just got home from the hospital yesterday. Not only does time seem to fly by, but my baby seems to be growing bigger each second. Here are the vital stats: Maizey went from 5lbs3oz down to 4lbs10oz, now she is up to 6lbs 6oz--just 3.5 weeks later!!! She was 18.75in and today measured just over 20inches! You know you're a parent when this is the most exciting news you can think of to deliver to your friends and family.
Yesterday the best thing happened: Maizey smiled at me...twice! This is technically too soon for a smile, according to books, but I know this was not a "gas" smile, this was my baby smiling at her silly mama. She did it again this morning. All I had to do was flash her a big smile and talk silly to her and she smiled, and it's the cutest smile I've ever seen.
We also took Maizey to her first movie last week, unfortunately it was Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Kirkland Parkplace offers movies every other Friday morning that you can bring your babies to. They turn the volume down a bit and everyone accepts that babies will probably cry during the movie. But our exceptional baby didn't make a peep. We had a lot of fun, even though the movie was subpar with gratuitous male full-frontal, we plan to go every other Friday through the end of the summer. Ryan's Google calendar is packed full.
We're taking the baby to the cabin this weekend, it will be her first visit to Tahuya. I'm hoping that I can manage away from home. I'm nervous about forgetting something of vital importance--like my hooter hider/nursing apron. But mostly I'm really excited for Maizey to get to experience the most important place in the world to me. I can't wait to sit around a bonfire with her, or to take her on long walks alongside the canal.
As for the rest of us (the dogs and Ryan and me), we stink. It's hard to find the time to shower. And, Louise needs a bath like nobodies business, she's beyond even smelling like dog--what comes after a dog? A monkey? Okay she smells like a monkey. I'm mourning the loss of my waistline, and the loss of a closet full of cute clothes that all I can do now is look at. I'm becoming an everymom who wears stretchy fabrics and rotates the 2 or 3 outfits that actually fit, so that every time you see me there is a 1 in 3 chance you've already seen this outfit and then the chances rise with each subsequent visit. My hair has become more of an obligation than an accessory, and the pedicure I got the week before Maizey came is crumbling away faster than you can say "I'm due for a pedicure." Ryan is doing significantly better than me, he showers more often than I do, and he finally managed to mow the lawn and weed the beds this weekend. I think that our neighbors were getting concerned that if they came to the front door they may have to call the police to report a suspicious, foul odor--now they know we're alive and kickin-ish.
Life is good.
Here are more photos of the worlds cutest baby:
Yesterday the best thing happened: Maizey smiled at me...twice! This is technically too soon for a smile, according to books, but I know this was not a "gas" smile, this was my baby smiling at her silly mama. She did it again this morning. All I had to do was flash her a big smile and talk silly to her and she smiled, and it's the cutest smile I've ever seen.
We also took Maizey to her first movie last week, unfortunately it was Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Kirkland Parkplace offers movies every other Friday morning that you can bring your babies to. They turn the volume down a bit and everyone accepts that babies will probably cry during the movie. But our exceptional baby didn't make a peep. We had a lot of fun, even though the movie was subpar with gratuitous male full-frontal, we plan to go every other Friday through the end of the summer. Ryan's Google calendar is packed full.
We're taking the baby to the cabin this weekend, it will be her first visit to Tahuya. I'm hoping that I can manage away from home. I'm nervous about forgetting something of vital importance--like my hooter hider/nursing apron. But mostly I'm really excited for Maizey to get to experience the most important place in the world to me. I can't wait to sit around a bonfire with her, or to take her on long walks alongside the canal.
As for the rest of us (the dogs and Ryan and me), we stink. It's hard to find the time to shower. And, Louise needs a bath like nobodies business, she's beyond even smelling like dog--what comes after a dog? A monkey? Okay she smells like a monkey. I'm mourning the loss of my waistline, and the loss of a closet full of cute clothes that all I can do now is look at. I'm becoming an everymom who wears stretchy fabrics and rotates the 2 or 3 outfits that actually fit, so that every time you see me there is a 1 in 3 chance you've already seen this outfit and then the chances rise with each subsequent visit. My hair has become more of an obligation than an accessory, and the pedicure I got the week before Maizey came is crumbling away faster than you can say "I'm due for a pedicure." Ryan is doing significantly better than me, he showers more often than I do, and he finally managed to mow the lawn and weed the beds this weekend. I think that our neighbors were getting concerned that if they came to the front door they may have to call the police to report a suspicious, foul odor--now they know we're alive and kickin-ish.
Life is good.
Here are more photos of the worlds cutest baby:
Mama and Maizey
Daddy and Maizey takin' a nap
Rockin' yet another cute outfit from Auntie Ricki
First trip to the park. It was a little chillier than anticipated!
Nappin--again
Nappin' in her crib
Daddy and Maizey takin' a napRockin' yet another cute outfit from Auntie RickiFirst trip to the park. It was a little chillier than anticipated!Nappin--againNappin' in her cribGetting ready for her first trip to Home Depot
Recovering from her first trip to the Depot...
Being the cutest baby in the world. Ready for our trip to the doctor this morning.
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