How to Swaddle a Baby

You will need:

• two large blankets
• a roll of string
• duct tape (optional)

Directions:

Step 1: Wrap the blankets around the baby like wrapping a burrito
Step 2: Tie the string to hold down the little Houdini's arms
Step 3: Use the duct tape to lock down any weakness in steps 1 & 2

We really wanted do this just once for a funny picture, but figured if we did and put it online someone would call CPS on us.  Just to be clear, we don't actually do this, although at 3am, I did think about it.  We do use two blankets- she is a super strong squirmer, plus it's cold! There's an 80% chance of snow tomorrow, no foolin'!

A couple questions for the experienced parents out there-
My What to Expect book says to stop swaddling at a month- thoughts?
When does the random flailing end?

Just Cause She's Super Cute

Why does this 0-3 month outfit fit in the body
and not in the pants?  Hammer time anyone?



Showing off her non-umbilical cord belly button.



We called this "Snuggle Fist."  She gets it from Daddy.



This is her Richard Simmons look alike outfit.

Our snuggly little kitten.




Big yawn!



This is the face she makes before she poops.



Family photo before Mommy and Daddy's date night. 

First bottle. 



With Grandma Sue who has been super helpful during her stay.  Thanks Grandma for taking care of our family!







Tony's Reenlistment

Yesterday Tony reenlisted in the United States Navy.  When reenlisting, at least amoung Navy nukes, there is a tradition of hosting a party of sorts because the reenlisting sailor will be receiving a bonus.  So we hosted a party at a local bowling alley and other sailors and their families came.  It was Monica's first big outing and she did so well!  She started out asleep, but then woke up and was wide eyed for the next couple hours.  She took in all the sights and sounds and did great being passed around.  She didn't fuss once.  It was fun to get out of the house, bowl and be social again post birth. 

I often feel guilty claiming to be a military wife because I'm not sending my husband off into life threatening situations, but today, I'm going to proudly blow my military wife horn.  Each part of the military plays an important role in the overall protection of the rights and liberties of our country.  And where as I may not send my husband off into life threatening situations, we still sacrifice for our country- we are across the country from our family and friends with a newborn baby for heaven's sake!  I am very grateful to the miltary because without it, I may not have met my wonderful husband or been gifted with my beautiful daughter.  I am so proud of my husband for the work he does and sacrifices he makes.  He has given up certain freedoms for the freedom of others.  I am grateful to all military families for the sacrifices they make.  Our prayers and gratitute are always with you!

Yea, didn't realize that my daughter had flopped over.  So much for a good family photo.

Daddy's Girl

I love watching Tony and Monica together.  Tony, while previously not baby experienced, sure looks natural holding and cuddling our daughter.  And I know he'll get to using less baby wipes when he changes diapers. :o)  I know how much I love my dad and the special relationship we have and I just love observing the beginning of their special relationship.  Tony went back to work this week which means he is working a ten hour day on little sleep.  Thank you so much, my love, for making me a mom and serving our family so selflessly!

Musings of a Sleep Deprived Mommy

Something I ate probably caused Monica to have an upset stomach and turn into a fuss monster a couple days ago.  She is feeling better now, hence the time to blog again.  Here's some conversations that came out of sleep deprivation.

-----------------

Me to Husband at 3ish am:  Since Mary didn't have original sin does that mean she was spared labor pains?

Husband:  It is permissible to believe either way, but it is traditionally thought that she was spared the pain of childbirth.

Me:  Good, I choose to believe Mary had no pain because laboring or recovering . . . on a donkey?! I don't think so!

(Don't try to theologically explain that one to me, just take it as a delusional thought)

-----------------------------------

I was having a hormonal/ tired break down full of negative talk, enter mid-conversation. . .

My Mom: You are a great a mom!

Me:  I'm a horrible mother, I can't even console my own child!

Mom: When have I ever lied to you?

Me:  Santa Claus

Hysterical laughing commenced between Mom and me, Tony reentered the room from the kitchen looking concerned about the quick transition between tears and laughter.

Go double chin!

Thanks Uncle Dave and Dora for the flowers and balloons!

Aaaawwwwe.

My wise pediatric nurse Aunt Kathy said, "Having a newborn is like having a new baby everyday."  Monica is back to her cheery self today.  I wonder what child will be here tomorrow?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here's our little leprechaun!  My mom is making us corned beef.  We went for a walk outside in the SUN with our stroller.  Life can't get much better than this!  Sorry about the sideways video, we're new at this tech stuff. :o)

In other news, Monica gained a pound this week!  At this rate, we'll have one of those Guiness Book of World Record babies on our hands.

A Week In Pictures

Monica turned one week old today!  Time truly flies.  Here are pictures from the second half of the week.

On the way to 1st doctors visit



With Nana Pam





With Grandma Sue



Yea for diaper changes!



Best cross eyed baby picture ever

Super baby!  And wearing an outfit that mommy wore when she was a baby.

Family picture

We love you Monica Marie!  Happy 1st week birthday!

The Seven Dwarf names of Monica's current skill set

Gassy
Cutie
Fussy
Floppy
Stinky
Sleepy
Sweet Pea

Monica's birth story

*Warning- contains information some might consider to much information*


After convincing myself that I'd be pregnant for another week, at 3 am on Tuesday, March 8th, I felt my first contraction.  Tony was working the night shift so after I was SURE it was labor, I called and rescued him from work.  I labored in the tub for a while and Tony gathered our things and loaded the car; he switched the laundry, did some dishes and my favorite part- baked cookie bars for the nurses.  Yeah, you read that right.

Our intention was to labor at home as long as possible.  I had no indication of how far along I was because I had not been dilated at all previous to labor.  By 7:30 am my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and 45-75 seconds long.  I was definitely feeling the pain and Tony's jokes weren't funny anymore.  So we went to the hospital, got all checked in and ready for the long haul.  I was only one centimeter at that point and was so encouraged (insert heavy sarcasm) to hear from the doctor and nurse that it was going to be a long time still and I could go back home if I wanted.  Knowing how I was feeling, we decided to stay. 

Just in case people didn't know- labor is HARD!  I have had lots of friends with babies, talked and read about labor, but I still had a rose colored view.  Maybe moms don't tell you the full truth so as to not scare people off, but I'm here to tell you- NOT an experience I am eager to repeat soon.  Apparently the mothers' memory fades (and now writing this three days later, it is true, my memory has already begun to fade . . . a little).  Don't get me wrong, I would definitely do it again to have our little gorgeous, sweet blessing in our lives.  I guess this new insight to the world of labor pains just proves how sacrificial and loving parenthood is.

Our goal was to have me birth naturally, but after 6 hours of labor and three total times vomitting (sorry if that's TMI), I was really having a hard time relaxing and was being told I had a long time to go.  I was surprised how quickly I wanted something to curb the pain.  Tony was the best coach in the world and our nurse that was with us the whole day was very supportive in our wishes, but after a strong order from me mid morning, I took a narcotic of some sort (Tony will tell you it was cocaine) that would take the edge off for a couple hours, but it would allow me to continue "naturally" after that.  The drugs made me very loopy, you can ask Tony for details about crazy stuff I said, but it did allow me to manage the pain. 

After the narcotics wore off, I was able to get into the zone for several hours, stopped making noise and got into the appearance of sleep that the Bradley method is famous for.  The nurse thought my labor was regressing, but the next time I was checked at about 2:00 pm, I was four centimeters dilated and she was in the zero position.  Yippee- progress!  The rest went very quickly and by 4:00 pm I was 9 cms!  We went to labor in the tub for a short time and then it was time to push.  Bowling ball through the butt is an adequate description. 

Monica came out at 5:32 pm.  She'd had a perfect heart rate the whole labor, but there was meconium (baby poop) and she came out with the chord wrapped a little around her neck and for whatever reason her heart rate dropped really low.  They ended up calling "code pink" and doing CPR and giving her oxygen.  It was the scariest ten minutes of our lives.  Praise God, she soon perked up and was wailing away.  Every check up after that has been perfect: great lungs, good hearing, good eater, maintaining a good weight after birth, and no jaundice despite having a different blood type then mommy (something that increases the chances).  She has been really agreeable, happy and low maintenance.  We are unbelievability blessed. 

My mom was able to get a last minute flight and was here by 10 pm on the 8th (my dad is in New Zealand), Tony's folks arrived on the 10th and we are enjoying this precious addition to our family.  I promise to return phone calls and texts just as soon as I can. 

A question for the experienced parents out there: does the desire to take a picture of your child in every outfit they wear ever go away?

She's Here!

Labor started at 3:00 am and a short 14 hours later, Monica Marie Souza entered the post womb world at 5:32 pm.  I'm not being sarcastic about the 14 hours, that's right in the average and actually short compared with most people I talked to.  I will post the whole labor and delivery story later, but for now here are some pictures.

We texted out once it got to be a reasonable hour and then again after delivery, but for whatever reason only some of the texts went through.  So if you had the thought, "Hey, why didn't I hear from them," you probably did, but it just didn't work.  Gotta love technology.  We are so grateful for all the love and prayers you sent our way.  I really did think about them during labor and sent prayer/ pain offerings back your way!

Monica was born on March 8h, is 21 inches long, and was 7lbs, 11 oz at birth.  We are expecting to receive lots of Slurpee's (if you don't get it, look at her weight again)!  She is super sweet, calm and SO BEAUTIFUL.  She has lots of noticeable hair, all ready for cute bows and Mohawk hair styles.  And in the third picture, no, we didn't not clean her, it's Ash Wednesday.

Look a distraction!

So the answer to your question is still not yet.  I go to the doctor tomorrow to be monitored (scary word).  Our doctors' office wants me to be scheduled for induction as soon as we'll let them, but we are going to wait as long as possible.  Monica has been so active throughout this pregnancy and she is still really active so I'll be able to tell if something feels different.  And first time babies on average come late so hopefully she'll show up before the 16th so we don't have to battle with the docs. 

As a distraction for the fact that we don't have any cute pics of our daughter to show off, here is a video of me singing. :o)  This was on our honeymoon in Jamaica.  They had a guest and staff talent show and both Tony and I participated.  I could critique my performance to death, but I'll spare you.  The audience is mainly vacationing honeymooners hence the never ending drunken cheering.  Hope you enjoy and are distracted!

Due Date Pictures

Two realities of pregnancy (WARNING: the emotion/feeling can change by the moment):

Happy, energetic, feelin' good- I would say I feel this way most of the time

Cranky, emotional, uncomfortable- Tony would say I am this way most of the time :o)

Not Yet

So here we are, due date has arrived, and no Monica.  Still working on that patience thing. I still think it's going to be a bit and we would love any prayers people can send our way.  We are really hoping to go natural with the birth (been practicing the Bradley Method- basically focused relaxation) and the later she is the more pressure there will be to induce.  We are making the most of our time though, still going out to trivia nights and movies.  I'm really proud that I've gone to the gym 2-3 times a week throughout my pregnancy (you should see the looks I get at this point).  Hopefully, I can continue my getting healthy journey with stepped up excercise, good eating and the breast feeding diet post baby. :o)

If anyone has skype, and I don't already have your name, send me an email so we can chat and you can actually see Monica in live action when she comes. 

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!