6th Annual Shafer Pumpkin Carving

Lastnight, we headed over to Jodi and Mark's for the 6th Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest...although we never have any winners :)

More to come...crying baby :)

Tummy Time Pictures

Not a happy baby! This is what he did for the first several minutes.

Then I put a plug in...and he calmed down pretty quickly.

Then I pulled the plug out because he was in his "zone".

Then he just slept...and looked like he was swimming on his blanket.

All that crying and moving around really tuckered him out.

Holy Hef-A-Lump!!!

Today was Danny's One Month Appointment. I have been anxiously awaiting this as I've been dying to know how much he weighs. Well, my assumptions were accurate...his new nickname is PIGLET! He officially weighs 10 lbs 10 oz, which is a weight gain of exactly 2.5 lbs since he was born.

For an explanation on this phenomenon...please read the "Happy Cows Come From Lyndhurst" post. Even better is that it seems as he gains weight, I'm losing weight! I got on the scale last Saturday after a two-week hiatus, and I had lost just over 3 lbs. I am fascinated by this because not only does piglet eat like a champ, his mother has an insatiable appetite. I mean, it is RIDICULOUS how hungry I get because of breastfeeding! And I am not always making the healthiest decisions. I have almost single handedly eaten a bag of Oreos in a week. Sometimes 4-6 cookies a day! It's crazy.

I will not deny that I am damn proud of my piglet. He is nursing like a champ. He takes a bottle like a champ. He loves his pacifier. And today, he had a shot, and cried for *maybe* 30-seconds. I am definitely a proud mama.

I am hoping that his weight gain will give me "Bridget" arms. If anyone knows my coworker Bridget, she has the best toned arms, and she attributes it to lifting her children. I like to refer to mine as "bat wings" and last week they were pretty sore...one step closer to my arm idols.

Now that Danny is one month old, we have to start something called "Tummy Time". Four times a day for 15-minutes each time, he has to lay on his belly. This is supposed to help strengthen his upper body and neck. When I put him down, he didn't like it. Not one bit. He screamed for the first 7-9 minutes. Then calmed down a bit. Then fell a sleep. I have a series of pictures that I'll post to reflect his mood. It did seem to work though. He managed to switch his head from side to side twice, and he used his arms (while flailing) to lift his head. We'll see how round two goes after his nap. While he was having a fit, he worked out some gas and took a nice big poop. Another proud moment.

My pregnant friend Anmarie is due tomorrow. Please send her some *labor dust* and prayers for a safe and healthy delivery. So far, she's not feeling anything...We are hoping that changes soon. She is anxiously waiting to meet her little boy, and so are we!

Happy One Month Birthday!

Happy Cows Come From Lyndhurst!

Every time I see the commercials that say "Happy Cows Come From California" I always laugh and think that they come from Lyndhurst!

Thankfully, breastfeeding is working out...but this kid is a chow hound! If I'm not feeding him, I'm pumping. It's insane. I feel like a milk maid!

I am completely fascinated by the fact that this kid over 3-weeks old and is living and breathing solely from getting all of his food from ME!

No pressure, right?

It really is the best. Years ago, I wasn't sure this would be the option for me. I always laughed and said that I did not want anything "attached" to me. Of course, I matured a bit, and have the benefit of sisters that have nursed. From their experiences, I learned a lot of the pros/cons and what to be aware of. I know that breastfeeding one child doesn't guarantee that it will work for the next one. Or vice versa. Gradually, the concept became more interesting to me.

I took a class over the summer to learn even more about it. And I really have to attribute a lot of my success to that class, and of course the great nurses at UH. The class was a bit overwhelming in that it really stressed how much work it is. That it will hurt in the beginning. That I will get frustrated. But that if I stick it out, the benefits will be incredibly rewarding. This could not be more true. The class was also taught by a really nice nurse. Not a lactation Nazi that I feared. My mentality was always that if it works, awesome. But that you can not walk into a room and identify people by whether they had been breastfed or not. There is not badge or stamp on their forehead.

The only con with this feeding method is that I am on call 24/7. In the middle of the night, only I can go in and feed the little guy. Trust me, if David could, he would. I am not at a point where I can pump and feed him enough to plan for more then one bottle a day. Of course, we have a few emergency reserves....and some premixed formula on hand just in case, but it is a lot of work.

I never thought I would enjoy this so much. He makes the best faces. He falls asleep and looks completely drunk, and has my boob hanging out of his mouth. Too much information, maybe, but it really is very sweet. He also does what I like to call "Bobbing for Boobies" (BFB). He will open his mouth, and with this very drunk expression "bob" towards my chest in search for the great treasure. What's funny is that he will be nursing like a champ, take a quick break and then start BFB again! David gets a kick out of this too.

I never thought that I would have the ability to breastfeed and multi-task. Last week, I managed to fold a load of laundry at the same time!

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You...

For some reason, I've had this song in my head all weekend. Friday night, Dave and I were sitting on the couch catching up on the day, when it occurred to me that Saturday was Sweetest Day. I remembered this all week because of the commercials...but I opted not to do anything for it, assuming Dave wouldn't remember. So I told him that Saturday was Sweetest Day, and that I purposely didn't do anything, etc. He seemed genuinely relieved. So I said "Deal" and he said "Deal" back. This locked in the fact that we would not be celebrating Sweetest Day.

In years past, Dave and I did this stuff...or more I did, so Dave stayed on his A-Game and reciprocated. But lately, it seems silly. We do so much for each other and together all year, that we've kind of moved away from celebrating Valentine's Day, Sweetest Day and our Anniversary with gifts and cards. We've become that couple that uses a new household purchase to qualify as the gift that will keep giving all year...ie, no Christmas gifts this year because we bought a wicked camera.

Anyhow, I woke up Saturday morning, and Dave had already left to run errands. There on the kitchen counter was a note with some gifts that said "Happy Sweetest Day Mom! - Danny". One gift was a picture frame that says "My Heart Belongs to Mommy" and a beautiful locket necklace. My husband is the best. Of course, I felt like a slouch. He tricked me!

I know I've mentioned this in previous posts, but Dave is a natural father. He has been the best. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. I expected it all along. It still melts my heart to see it in action though. He loves giving Danny his last feeding every night. This task requires me to pump enough for the little piglet to eat. And even though pumping isn't really "fun", I don't mind because I look forward to watching Dave give him the bottle. He's the best burper too. I don't know how he does it, but he always manages a good one!

Being loved, feeling loved and seeing that love everyday is honestly the best. It might sound sappy, but we are so lucky to have each other.

Danny's First Bottle

10/06/2008

The kid took it like a champ!

What A Difference A Year Makes

Today is October 15th. And a before our loss, I would never have known the significance of the day. But today I know.

October 15th is the National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
http://www.october15th.com/

Tonight, we will light a candle and say a prayer and miss our little girl. Last year, for as much as I remembered the day, it was David who remembered to light the candle. I remember realizing why he had done it and just having been so deeply touched.

What a difference a year makes.

This year, we hold onto this perfect little baby boy who amazes me every day. I literally stare at him in awe. I am completely fascinated by his perfect little ears, and his adorable mouth. I love to just watch him while he's nursing. He makes the sweetest little faces and expressions. I adore watching him sleep, especially when he scrunches his face all angry and then in the next breath opens his mouth and laughs.

I think about how "perfect" he is. And while this brings me so much joy, the word perfect also hurts my heart. His older sister, while as beautiful as she was, was lost to a disease that uses the word "imperfect" to describe it. What a horrible irony.

But today we will remember Angela and we will hold on to Danny, and we will thank our lucky stars for both our babies. We know that Angela is Danny's angel, and that because of her, he is absolutely perfect.