The art of laying down a newborn!

If your a parent to a newborn you'll already know where I am going with this post. There is a fine art to laying a newborn down in a crib. I'm talking about those times when you rock a newborn to sleep and make the judgment call that the baby is sleeping soundly enough that he/she can be moved to the crib without waking.

Some of you may think it sounds easy enough, but I am definite when I say... hundreds of thousands of Mommies out there will share stories of attempted transfers gone wrong, resulting in more rocking and a second, third, or even fourth attempt at a successful transfer.

It's not easy. It requires skill, determination, and a bit of luck too.

I had forgotten about this in just two short years... but now that H is getting into a fairly predictable routine there are three or four times a day when I try to transfer him from my arms into his crib or onto the couch so that he can nap peacefully and I can accomplish my 'things that require two hands' to-do list.

To begin... when baby is showing signs of being tired, we start out rocking or bouncing around the living room in my arms. I give this phase anywhere from 3 to 13 minutes depending on his level of fussiness.  Once I consider him to be in a deep enough sleep, which is usually when his head tips back a bit and his soother is half out of his mouth, then I shift him on me into what I consider to be his best sleeping position (his stomach).  I get him into position and then I rock or bounce for another 2 to 3 minutes to ensure he's adjusted to the optimal position and has resumed his deep sleep.

Once we've gotten this far, I approach the crib slowly and ensure there are no blankets or objects in the way of my descent path. Then, I place one hand on his bum, one of the side of his head and I slowly lower him into the crib, while at the same time praying the soother does not fall out of his mouth and that no one 1. rings the doorbell, 2. slams cupboard door, 3. starts playing Melissa & Doug's Pound and Roll toy, or 4. runs into the room yelling 'Baby up Baby up' or 'Mommy WATCH Mommy WATCH'.  If none of these things happen, then I feel I am 99% home free, as I slowly remove my hand from under his face and silently do an NFL touch-down dance as I tuck a blanket over him.

I tip toe out of the room... and move slowly away from the door praying that such a smooth transfer has bought me a good hour to myself to get things done.

Of course... this tale of a successful transfer happens probably 33.3% of the time ... while the other 66.6% of the time I am cursing under my breath as the baby starts his 'not so fast Mommy' cry. It's hit and miss, but I do find the more I do it, the more successful I am becoming at the transfer, and the better I am becoming, the longer H is actually napping. 

Take for example today, he had a 2.5 hour nap this morning, followed by another 2 hour nap before supper. I was in HEAVEN with my two hands free for over four hours today.  Talk about a way to cap off the weekend!

Are you familiar with the fine art of laying down a newborn, do you have any special techniques or tips to share?

On being 'the baby' of the family...

It's no secret that I was the baby of my family... not only was I the youngest sibling, I was also the youngest cousin of the Bellerose side. The baby of all the babies.

Being 'the baby' definitely has its advantages... there is no doubt about that. My sister had to test the waters and break in my parents, she basically paved the way for allowing me to do things bigger, better, and earlier.

As the baby of the family, you always got a little more attention, after all, you were 'the baby' so like most parents, my parents wanted me to stay young and innocent as long as possible, and so in a sense, they babied me just a little bit longer to see that happen.

I always remember how upset my sister and her friend would get when I would try to interfere with whatever they were doing (mailing out magazine subscriptions on behalf of the entire town!) - and I would go crying to my Mom and her friend about how they wouldn't let me in... so, in order to avoid complete disappointment, my Mom's friend would offer me a popsicle as a mediation tool. Being 'the baby' always had it perks!

But, while the perks were good perks, the drawbacks are still present in my memory. Let's talk hand me downs... as much as I enjoyed getting bags of clothes from older friends, it also meant I got less new things - unlike my sister, who was rolling the new duds all. the. time. And the hand me downs were not just in the form of clothes, were talking bikes, skates, skis... the list goes on. I remember the one year I was actually allowed to get a new bike... what a year that was - a purple Toys R Us special... it was such a kick-ass bike, and it was my very own - brand new, all mine! A focal point of my childhood as you can tell!

Aside from that one time, being the second owner of everything definitely shaped my personality for my adulthood - I like new things, and I am pretty sure that's because I didn't get a ton of new things as a child (I know, my mother is reading this thinking I had plenty of new things and wasn't deprived the least bit - and being realistic, I had it pretty good, but the second hand stuff is still present in my 30 year-old memory!).

Now, that I am faced with having a first born and 'the baby' of my own family... I am conscious of making sure my 'baby' of the family does have new things - but at the same time I can see how 'the baby' becomes the queen/king of hand me downs. Finding out I was having a second boy was exciting because I didn't want all the good clothes I had bought E to go to waste! So naturally this baby will inherit a lot of E's clothes - but if I may toot my own horn - they are very decent clothes! However, in terms of other things, I am going to do my best to ensure that 'the baby' of the family has his special moments, and his special things - different from his brother's and new and special to him and only him.

Yes, it will be a challenge, and I am sure I will get in caught up in the 'but, its still in good shape' mentality, but being the baby of the family myself I think it will be top of mind to make sure there are new things for him... starting with his baby room! Although it would be easy to move E into a new room and leave the current nursery as is, all set-up for The Sequel, I don't want to do that. I feel like so much effort went into planning E's room and this baby deserves just as much thought and planning. E will still get a new room, but The Sequel will also get a new nursery... maybe not a complete makeover, but new bedding, new wall decals and new things to call his own.

Of course, PC, being a first-born in his family does not see the point... he thinks its a lot of work and money for something The Sequel will probably not remember, but this is where the 'happy wife equals happy life' theory comes into play. I won't back down on this one, because as 'the baby' of my family, I know starting things off on the right, non-hand me down foot, is crucial!

All this say, I get to go baby bedding shopping again... YAY!

What do you think... are you the baby of the family, or a first-born? Did you feel one way or another about your siblings getting new things, or getting hand me downs?

Bring on the next cold (although I say that lightly, yet with confidence!)

Disclaimer: I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central and received a Mom Central gift pack to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Back in February, E had a cold. It wasn't his first cold and definitely won't be his last, but as a new parent, I have been constantly searching for cold-aids that are safe for babies, and will provide some relief for them, and some peace of mind for me.

I've tried a few products on the market, but the first one that actually made a difference was the hydraSense Ultra-Gentle Mist Nasal Spray. I spotted this product in the cold and flu aisle of Shopper's Drug Mart, and picked it up on whim, but was actually pretty pleased with the purchase. The first time I used the product, I (and E) noticed the difference. The nasal spray actually provided almost instant relief for him. The spray is powerful enough to have an effect, yet gentle enough that he didn't choke or cough from the force of it. I used this product about 5 times during his cold and was relieved to have found a product that actually does something for infants who are so helpless when it comes to cold and flu season.

Coincidentally a few weeks ago, a Blog Tour opportunity came along from Mom Central for HydraSense products. I immediately signed-up for this tour because I wanted to share my experience with other new Moms out there and let them know that this product is worth the money. As part of the Blog Tour, I received a box of hydraSense products for review, including the hydraSense Nasal Aspirator - and honestly I love the concept of the this product. I have not had a chance to try it on E during a cold, but I really love the product because A. you can see what is coming out their noses, so you know its works, and B. it has a disposable filter to ensure its clean and safe to use every time, and on multiple children (if necessary).

When E was born, the hospital sent us home with a nasal aspirator bulb, and I have used it a few times, but I hate that you can't really see what your sucking out their noses, and I always feel that I don't get it clean enough, because it doesn't open up, there is only one tiny hole for the snot to go in and out of. The fact that the nasal aspirator is clear and comes apart to clean and wash makes me feel so good about the product.

If your interested in seeing how the hyraSense Nasal Aspirator works, watch this how-to video - although keep in mind if your baby is like mine, he or she won't be all smiles when using the product like the baby in the video is - but the end result will be the same. If you think its something that will work for your baby you can download a coupon for $8 off the purchase of the product by signing up for the hydraSense Dolphins Club and entering the code MC2010.

I am not excited about E's next cold, but I am excited to try out the new aspirator when the times comes, and we all know the time will come.

Random Rants... among other things!

Today's a day for random rants.... and other stuff, so here we go!

• Reusable bags... is it just me or is every store now have their own reusable bags... so much to the point that I have about 30 reusable bags from 30 different stores that are piled high in my closet. I actually have more reusable bags than I do plastic bags. I don't want to throw these bags out, but seriously what do you do with them... ? And let's be honest, as much as I would like to always carry some sort of reusable bag with me, its just not possible... which then leads me to get more of these bags when I go shopping. I know PC's advice would be 'cut down on the shopping', but that's not gonna happen... so I am still left with the dilemma of what to do with so many reusable bags?

• Smokers... okay, I don't have it out for people who smoke, but I just get so disgusted when I see people smoking in cars while others are riding in that car. I know there is a law that prevents people from smoking in cars with children (thank the lord for that), but I think in general it should be illegal to smoke in cars, period. For instances, I saw a women with a king size smoke lit up as she was driving in her mini-van with her husband and what looked to be her elderly parents/grandparents. Yes she had the window open a crack but I wanted to choke in my own car as I know that every person in that car was inhaling this women's second hand smoke. To me this is just rude... if you want to smoke on your own time by yourself and away from others that is fine with me, but why are people so inconsiderate to smoke in a confined space while others are around? Even if people say they don't mind if you smoke, you should rephrase the question 'Do you mind if I give you cancer?' I doubt their reaction would be the same.

• I only decorate my house for Christmas... and maybe now that E is in the picture I will start to decorate for other occasions, but for now, I still am only a Christmas decorator. I was driving past a place the other day, and these people are all decked out for Easter as if it was the new Christmas... blown up lawn ornament, lights, egg garland hung in the trees, a flag, baskets in the yard - the whole works. Apparently, I didn't get the memo that Easter was a big deal... apparently bigger than Christmas as I don't remember this place being all decked out for Christmas. Last time I checked ... Easter (a religious holiday like Christmas) was about mourning the death of Christ, such like a funeral... which if I recall, the last funeral I was at didn't have blown up lawn ornaments. Christmas... is a celebration of the birth of a baby... Easter... well I guess everyone is entitled to their interpretation, but mine clearly doesn't involve lights and lawn ornaments - sorry!
  

• I think I have officially gone through chocolate detox ... for the last few weeks I have really laid off the chocolate... and I find I am not craving it at all lately. I have had a few slip ups with DQ here and there... but overall I seem to not go into a chocolate convulsion around 3 PM every day. Its funny how the body and mind work... the less you have of it, the less you want it - I like this combination.

• I may be off the chocolate but I am in LOVE with Tim Horton's trail mix cookie...seriously, so good. I am always fairly impressed with the creations Timmy's comes up with, and this trail mix cookie is very tasty and gives off a fair bit of energy when you need something on the run. I highly recommend it... if you like trail mix, you'll love the cookie!

• We are getting to set to make our FIRST looooooong road trip with E back home to my parents house. I have mentally been thinking of what we need to pack since last week. Today I am starting to assemble all the items. There is just no 'packing light' when a baby is involved and I have come to accept that... but nonetheless, its still a daunting task trying to decide if I have everything we need for the trip. I guess we'll see Friday when we get there!

• In addition to the car trip, I am also mentally packing for Florida... as we leave in two weeks TODAY! I am so looking forward to this vacation, but again not looking forward to the packing. It a whole different ball game when you are flying... again the term 'packing lightly' doesn't apply, but I still need to pack smart... so I will be trying to do this over the next week or so. Wish me luck (and thanks to K. Broom for the packing for a baby list!)

Well... that's all for today folks! For everyone in the working world, Happy Thursday, since tomorrow is your Friday! For everyone else at home like me... its still Wednesday, but the weather forecast for most areas is looking lovely for the coming weekend, so get outside and enjoy it!

Bigger does not always mean better!

As a blogger, you really have to love your bloggy friends. Bex over at Brown Eyed Girl Bex sent me a 'personal' email (bonus marks for that!), with a link to a story about how infants who gain weight rapidily from birth to six months are more likely to be obese toddlers by the age of 3.

Whether this is true or not, is besides the point, but she's been reading along about E's weigh gain journey and saw the story and thought it would make me feel better! And it definitely did... finally some reserach to back up what I have been thinking for the last 6 months - thanks Bex!

I love when there is some good medical evidence (from one of my fave schools, Harvard), that basically throws a shoe in the face of the medical professionals who believe that bigger babies are healthier babies... when I personally think this is not always the case.

The research study followed 559 babies ... and measured length and weight at birth, six months, and three years. They looked beyond how much weight babies gained, and focused on how quickly they gained it. Results of their study concluded that babies who gained weight more rapidly from 0-6 months were more likely (by 40%) to be obese by his/her third birthday (and the results were no different for boys or girls).

Now obviously this will not be the case for all babies... but the underlying message of the story was that 'bigger' babies, are not neccessarily 'healthier' babies... and obesity aside, I like what this story is saying.

As a new mom to a 'smaller' baby (who was not premature), I get a lot of remarks about just how 'small' E is, and after a while you start to wonder if you've done something wrong in the size department. Its sometimes to the point that I wonder if our society expectations of a baby is to be that chubby, rolly-polly, baby that's fat jiggles when he/she smiles and laughs, and if he/she isn't ... then people start to ask questions of concern.

This leads me to the question... what is wrong with slender babies?

I realize that mothers of 'big' babies probably get sick of hearing 'oh she's sooooo big' the same way I get sick of hearing 'oh he's sooooooo small', but I think bigger babies are more accepted in our society than the small/petit babies who take a bit long to gain that baby fat everyone is looking for.

My hope is that no matter what weight a baby is that it is healthy ... whether he/she is a door stopper or a feather in the wind. What's your take on the story... and society's idea of a healthy looking baby?

Here's a tip!

Here's a tip for those of you are planning to have kids, but are not yet pregnant - FIND OUT THE SEX OF THE BABY.

In the beginning I really didn't want to know what I was having... the fact that so few things in life a really ever a surprise was the part that sold me on waiting until the baby is actually born to know the sex. I have always made the analogy that finding out the sex before its born would be like knowing what people are getting you for Christmas, before Christmas morning - what is there to be all that excited about on Christmas morning if you already know what every gift under the tree is?

However... me and all my analogies haven't gotten me anywhere in my hunt for crib bedding for this baby to be. Honestly, if I knew the sex of the baby I think I would be at home on weekends maxin' and relaxin' with my feet up and an ice-cold (non-alcoholic, but wishing it was alcoholic) beverage - it would have been easy to select some fashionable bedding for a boy or a girl by now. BUT, the fact that I don't know the sex has had me running from store to store to store to website to website to freaking insanely mad that I can't find something I love.

I am waiting to make any decisions on paint for the baby's room until I find some crib bedding I like. I think once I find the bedding, it will be easier to choose the paint than the other way around. Every time I run into a dead end I say to myself (in a rather annoying voice) 'if I knew the sex of the baby I wouldn't be having this problem'!

Last weekend, when my sister was in town we headed across the border to the US of A as I had saw so many bedding/nursery sets online that I really liked. I thought... we would hit Watertown where there is a Target, 2 Walmarts, KMart, Sears, JC Penny, Kohl's... but the selection at all of these stores was complete CRAP, if you didn't know the gender of the baby.

One of my big things is that I don't want to come anywhere near any animal or character themes... I just want something modern with cool stripes, polka dots or argyle prints... but that apparently is not what is out there in the stores. While in Watertown I did discover a few polka dot prints but not in the right colours as I felt everything was too boyish or girlish... hence allowing me to conclude: KNOWING THE SEX OF A BABY PRIOR TO BIRTH IS A GOOD THING!

I have to admit I was pretty deflated when we returned from Watertown empty handed (although we did find some cute/cheap Carter's baby outfits), but I regained my composure and went back to the websites, discovering this set from Walmart Online:

I really really liked it... and so between my sister and I, we put our heads together and figured out a way to get it ordered to the states, as its not available in Canada and they won't deliver it to Canada either.

I went all out, ordering pretty much every piece you see in the second picture... and its suppose to arrive sometime in the next 2 weeks, so I am pretty pumped about that. I got the whole she-bang for just over $250 dollars... curtains, extra crib sheets, pillows, the rug, the mobile, wall decals, etc - you name it I ordered it!

So... provided that I like the set in person, I think the search for non-gendered crib bedding may be officially over! But take it from me, don't put yourself through this - find out the sex of the baby and your life will be so much easier!

Throwing Caution to the Wind

Editor's Note: This is a post that I wrote several months ago just documenting some thoughts I had at the time about getting in the frame of mind of starting a family. I knew I wouldn't post it the day I wrote it, but now that we are expecting our first child, I thought it might be neat to share it.

Written October 3, 2007

This is a post I have been wanting to write for a while, one that I have been thinking about pretty regularly over the past few weeks, but yet one that I know I will not post for a while.

For the record, I am not pregnant, but I believe I am in that state of pre-pregnancy that I refer to as 'throwing caution to the wind'. As I like to say, we are now being 'cautiously uncautious'.

PC and I have actively stopped using any form of birth control (please Mom and Dad, stick with me here!), which means that we are somewhat comfortable with the fact that if I was to get pregnant we wouldn't be shocked or upset, but as I said, comfortable with the thought of becoming parents.

It's a time in my life that is exciting... mentally. I feel really content to think that, although scared of the thought of child birth, I want to be a Mom to a baby conceived out of love and commitment and all those sappy things that come along with a good marriage. The fact that I can nurture a baby in my own body is something that is exciting and many of my thoughts these days drift towards what our baby would be like - what type of parents we would be - what type of relationship we would have as parents.

My excitement is of course much different from PC's, because with this decision, his sex life just got a whole better - which is pretty much every man's dream. We are both excited, but I can see his excitement is different from mine.

It's scary to think that in my life I have reached this point of maturity where I actually think I can be a parent. Of course, I often second guess myself when I see a kid in our neighbourhood walk past the house with jet black hair, shaved up into a mohawk, leather coat with studs all over it, and a smoke hanging out of his mouth at the tender age of 15... all the while I am thinking: what is stopping my kid from turning out like that?

Parenting, and becoming parents isn't a cake walk, but beyond seeing those kids that you wonder: who are their parents? - I think we are ready for this challenge, and this is a type of excitement that exceeds any other in my lifetime.

It's scary to think of the heartache and misfortunes that are very possible with pregnancy, but I am from the belief system that says: everything that happens, happens for a reason. I believe the saying goes 'it's by taking chances that we learn to brave' - and I would hate to close off this option in my life for fear of the unknown. In this situation, if misfortunes arise, I know that PC and I will get through it together - because we are brave individuals, and together we are even stronger.

Yes... as we now actively throw caution to the wind - I am giddy, the wondering and the guessing of if/when I will become pregnant is a whole new chapter in my life - the first of very long book that I have yet to write, or a few thousands post that I have yet to compose.

I know today, no one will read this, but I really wanted to put my thoughts together in a post for me, just for me now, but hopefully for all of you later - to support the announcement of a baby on the way! Yay!

I need a t-shirt that says...

I am quickly finding out that when you tell people you are pregnant you get some standard questions... so I think I need a t-shirt that says:

1. I am feeling great - no morning sickness at all.

2. We aren't going to find out the sex.

3. My exact due date is September 29th.

4. Both sets of parents were very excited to hear the news.

I laugh because these are the answers to questions I always ask people when I hear they are expecting, but it doesn't register with me that they already been asked the same questions by 150 other people who also just found out!

I am not complaining though... all the warm wishes from friends and family has been overwhelming, we are super excited, and all of the emails, comments, and facebook messages are very sweet!

Now that the news is out in the open you can expect many posts to come on pregnancy, kids, and how clueless I am about the very big world of all things baby.

Stay tuned.... and thanks again for all of the nice comments!