I love our pediatrician's office. There, I said it. I don't know how many people are completely happy with their child's doctor but I am. And I'm usually a really tough person to please when it comes to my baby. When I was still pregnant I shopped for pediatricians like you would shop for the perfect wedding dress.
Number 1 Reason? They listen to me! I'm the mother of my child and I know my child best; they respect this. If I tell them that something isn't going to work (for example the way a nurse wanted to give her her shots) then they'll take the time to listen to my suggestions and find a way that will work for everyone. I know my daughter will attempt to wiggle and squirm away from you, so are cruel as this sounds, you need to dang near pin her legs down to the table, not just hold her still by her ankles.
Number 2- while my area doesn't have many breast feeding moms, actually I'm the only one they have that currently visits their practice, they are breastfeeding friendly and supportive. When I want to comfort nurse Vera after her shots, they are totally fine with me pulling my breast out right then and there for my child. They also have yet to push weaning or anything formula related at me as I've heard other moms talk about in their pediatric experiences! I'm actually commended on it each time we go in that we are still breastfeeding!
Number 3- they are open to new ideas and don't condemn me for our family practices (at least to my face! :) We bed share quite often (even though we are currently breaking that habit but that's another blog post!) and I've never felt judged, just reminded on how I can do it safely. We've even discussed Baby Led Weaning. And even though they have never done it before or even heard of it, I asked to nurse Vera WHILE she is administered her shots and they were more than willing to give it a try to see if it would work. It didn't work as planned but they didn't shoot down the idea simply because, "that's just not how we do things around here!"
Number 4- I just do! Everyone seems really easy going yet professional. They are all friendly, they talk to you not at you, and when Vera had jaundice when she was a newborn, the pediatrician called from her own personal phone a few times just to check up on my baby and how she was doing. They care. You can't fake that level of care.
So tell me, do you like your child's pediatrician? Why or why not?
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Friday, April 27, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
4 Months Old
Wow! I can't believe that Vera is already 4 months old, I guess this officially marks the end of her newborn stage? Or was that at 3 months old? I don't know but it's hard to believe, personally, that my sweet girl is already so big!
So, some new things:
We have a rolling baby! She can roll both from front to back and from back to front. Yesterday, she practiced rolling from back to front to back!
I also think we heard her first little laugh :)
Vera is now grabbing and holding onto things, especially her favorite toys.
I also got to see her discover her toes yesterday in the pediatrician's office.
There is a bedtime routine you now expect around the same time every night and God help us all if we are just 10 minutes off schedule...all hell breaks loose!
At the office yesterday, you weighed 15.1 lbs (91st percentile) and you're a tall girl at 26 inches long (99th percentile) and while you're still not a big fan of shots (and who is, really?) you only cried a little bit, I'm so proud of you!
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So, some new things:
We have a rolling baby! She can roll both from front to back and from back to front. Yesterday, she practiced rolling from back to front to back!
I also think we heard her first little laugh :)
Vera is now grabbing and holding onto things, especially her favorite toys.
I also got to see her discover her toes yesterday in the pediatrician's office.
There is a bedtime routine you now expect around the same time every night and God help us all if we are just 10 minutes off schedule...all hell breaks loose!
At the office yesterday, you weighed 15.1 lbs (91st percentile) and you're a tall girl at 26 inches long (99th percentile) and while you're still not a big fan of shots (and who is, really?) you only cried a little bit, I'm so proud of you!
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A Letter To My Daughter at 4 Months Old
Dear Vera,
I've wrote to you before, before I ever met you. And now I'm writing to you again. Already, in 4 short months, you've busted my heart wide open time and time again and over filled my life with so much joy and love.
I remember the very moment after you were born and they laid you on my stomach... I cried hot, joyful tears of triumph and love. In that instant, you changed my life forever. I had never seen such a perfect, beautiful sight in my entire life and I'll never forget how I felt in that moment for as long as I'll live. I still, to this day, can't believe I did something so amazing. You fill me up, kid.
Sometimes I get so stressed and wound up tight that I forget to let it go and to enjoy the here and now that you've given me. Sometimes I kiss you way too much and hug you way too tight and you want to squirm away from me. Other times, all I have to do is look at you and you have the biggest smile on your face just for me. I couldn't imagine my life without you. Late at night when you're sleeping, I'll kiss your head and smell your hair. I love it when you put your face into my neck and the smell of your milky breath as your tiny body relaxes in my arms and I can feel that you're asleep. Your long eyelashes rest on your soft, squishy cheeks and your perfect lips gape open just enough to let your pacifier slip and it's a done deal. I'm holding perfection cradled in my arms as I gently rock. These are the things I want to remember forever, the memories I will always keep.
I pray every night for your safety, health, and upbringing. For the strength to remember that every storm shall pass, to take in all these little moments of perfection, and to accept all the faults I have as a mother so that I may improve myself for you. I pray that you'll always know and feel my love for you, that I love you so hard with every breath in my body, from the moment I knew you were to be, even if I didn't realize it. That I'd give myself for you. I pray to God that you grow to be a kind, grace-filled, and loving soul full of forgiveness and strength. There is good in this world. There is also a lot of bad. I say a prayer every night that you are surrounded by the first and mercifully spared the second. I thank God for you and the chance He has given me. One day, you'll understand and do the same with your babies.
You're the very best thing that's happened to me. Before you, I believed in the possibility of miracles. Because of you, I know they are real.
I love you.
Mom
I've wrote to you before, before I ever met you. And now I'm writing to you again. Already, in 4 short months, you've busted my heart wide open time and time again and over filled my life with so much joy and love.
I remember the very moment after you were born and they laid you on my stomach... I cried hot, joyful tears of triumph and love. In that instant, you changed my life forever. I had never seen such a perfect, beautiful sight in my entire life and I'll never forget how I felt in that moment for as long as I'll live. I still, to this day, can't believe I did something so amazing. You fill me up, kid.
Sometimes I get so stressed and wound up tight that I forget to let it go and to enjoy the here and now that you've given me. Sometimes I kiss you way too much and hug you way too tight and you want to squirm away from me. Other times, all I have to do is look at you and you have the biggest smile on your face just for me. I couldn't imagine my life without you. Late at night when you're sleeping, I'll kiss your head and smell your hair. I love it when you put your face into my neck and the smell of your milky breath as your tiny body relaxes in my arms and I can feel that you're asleep. Your long eyelashes rest on your soft, squishy cheeks and your perfect lips gape open just enough to let your pacifier slip and it's a done deal. I'm holding perfection cradled in my arms as I gently rock. These are the things I want to remember forever, the memories I will always keep.
I pray every night for your safety, health, and upbringing. For the strength to remember that every storm shall pass, to take in all these little moments of perfection, and to accept all the faults I have as a mother so that I may improve myself for you. I pray that you'll always know and feel my love for you, that I love you so hard with every breath in my body, from the moment I knew you were to be, even if I didn't realize it. That I'd give myself for you. I pray to God that you grow to be a kind, grace-filled, and loving soul full of forgiveness and strength. There is good in this world. There is also a lot of bad. I say a prayer every night that you are surrounded by the first and mercifully spared the second. I thank God for you and the chance He has given me. One day, you'll understand and do the same with your babies.
You're the very best thing that's happened to me. Before you, I believed in the possibility of miracles. Because of you, I know they are real.
I love you.
Mom
Thursday, April 12, 2012
At The End of The Day
I want the baby to go to sleep because...
...it's been a long day with bodily excretions and screams. And crying from both of us.
...I'm so ready for a shower.
...I want to eat a snack in peace.
...I want to read another chapter.
...I want to get at least 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep without a baby in my bed.
...I want silence.
...I want a margarita.
...And...
...I want life to slow down during my down time.
...I don't want to think about what tomorrow is going to be like.
...I want to snuggle up with my husband without any interruptions.
But when I do get those things because Vera is finally sleeping soundly, all I want to do is go in her nursery, pick her up in my arms and rock and kiss her sweet face until she wakes up and smiles at me.
Quite the conundrum at the end of the day :)
...it's been a long day with bodily excretions and screams. And crying from both of us.
...I'm so ready for a shower.
...I want to eat a snack in peace.
...I want to read another chapter.
...I want to get at least 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep without a baby in my bed.
...I want silence.
...I want a margarita.
...And...
...I want life to slow down during my down time.
...I don't want to think about what tomorrow is going to be like.
...I want to snuggle up with my husband without any interruptions.
But when I do get those things because Vera is finally sleeping soundly, all I want to do is go in her nursery, pick her up in my arms and rock and kiss her sweet face until she wakes up and smiles at me.
Quite the conundrum at the end of the day :)
Such A Vain Little Thing
Every day, my sweet girl grows more and more curious about the world around her. Just the other day as we were walking out of the bathroom, she finally noticed the mirror...
this is what happened for the next 15 minutes (don't worry, the video isn't that long ;) please excuse my dirty bathroom mirror
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this is what happened for the next 15 minutes (don't worry, the video isn't that long ;) please excuse my dirty bathroom mirror
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
My Water Baby
please don't mind the chips in the bathtub porcelain, it's on the to-do list when we renovate that bathroom...also, she started out on that beige towel but "swam" off of it a million times...it's a loosing battle with that baby
I think we're going to have to buy her a little splash pool this summer :)
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I think we're going to have to buy her a little splash pool this summer :)
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Friday, April 6, 2012
Bedtime Routines
They say to get the baby on a schedule, establish a bedtime routine, and she'll go to bed about the same time every night.
What they don't tell you is that while they may go to bed at the same time every night, it may not be the exact hour YOU want it to happen at...We aim for 8:30-9pm to have a sleeping baby in the house.
Our routine goes a little something like this:
7:30: Bath time.
By 8:15: the girl has been dried and aired out nakey as well. She's been lotions up and dressed for bed in her jammies. She's also been fed.
Good nights to Daddy and rocked, she has been fed again, cuddled, and bed time prayer is going on by 8:30. Make sure the fan is on for white noise, the ceiling fan is on for circulation, baby video monitor is ready to go, night light on, and extra soothers strewn about the place for easy finding in the dark/middle of the night when she cries out for it.
Anytime between 8:30 and 8:45: She falls asleep.
Sike! It was only a nap! Up at 9:45 to play! Yay!!!!
Mommy rocks and feeds the baby again in hopes she will go to sleep soon. It's now 9:50.
Still not sleepy by 10:05
Going strong at 10:20
By 10:30? Vera is peacefully sleeping in mommy's arms.
Then mommy waits til 10:45 so the girl deeply sleeping to put her in the crib and tip toe out. Vera will either sleep til 4am or 8am. It's a crapshoot, really with no rhyme or reason.
Some would argue a multitude of things like put her to bed even earlier. Doesn't work. She won't truly crash out until 10:30pm. And the opposite argument, start your routine later so it doesn't take so long. And what? Chance prolonging her not going to sleep til later?
Ha. Ha. Ha. You're so cute.
What's the bedtime routine for your little ones?
Vera, wide awake.
What they don't tell you is that while they may go to bed at the same time every night, it may not be the exact hour YOU want it to happen at...We aim for 8:30-9pm to have a sleeping baby in the house.
Our routine goes a little something like this:
7:30: Bath time.
By 8:15: the girl has been dried and aired out nakey as well. She's been lotions up and dressed for bed in her jammies. She's also been fed.
Good nights to Daddy and rocked, she has been fed again, cuddled, and bed time prayer is going on by 8:30. Make sure the fan is on for white noise, the ceiling fan is on for circulation, baby video monitor is ready to go, night light on, and extra soothers strewn about the place for easy finding in the dark/middle of the night when she cries out for it.
Anytime between 8:30 and 8:45: She falls asleep.
Sike! It was only a nap! Up at 9:45 to play! Yay!!!!
Mommy rocks and feeds the baby again in hopes she will go to sleep soon. It's now 9:50.
Still not sleepy by 10:05
Going strong at 10:20
By 10:30? Vera is peacefully sleeping in mommy's arms.
Then mommy waits til 10:45 so the girl deeply sleeping to put her in the crib and tip toe out. Vera will either sleep til 4am or 8am. It's a crapshoot, really with no rhyme or reason.
Some would argue a multitude of things like put her to bed even earlier. Doesn't work. She won't truly crash out until 10:30pm. And the opposite argument, start your routine later so it doesn't take so long. And what? Chance prolonging her not going to sleep til later?
Ha. Ha. Ha. You're so cute.
What's the bedtime routine for your little ones?
Vera, wide awake.
Monday, April 2, 2012
The Love Dare
The next 40 days are going to be trying. They are going to be tough, challenging, and often difficult. But, the next 40 days will also be incredibly fulfilling.
S and I are going to take the Love Dare.
We've now been married a year as of March 23 and while we are still doing great, some would call it marital bliss or even still call us "newlyweds," we have had our share of ups and downs. Times where we raised our voices, said hurtful things, and done equally harmful and stupid things but our marriage isn't truly hurting yet...
That's the thing, you can't go to marriage counseling when it's already gone to hell in a handbasket because the harm has already been done and is often irreparable. You go when things are still good, maybe things need to be tweaked here and adjusted there but not when things are already broken and frayed. So we are doing just that. We are going to take the Love Dare while things are still going great so that we may further strengthen our bond and understanding of each other so that hopefully we will never come to a place in our marriage where we feel broken and displaced.
The Love Dare is a 40 day journey, teaching ourselves to think differently, to lead our hearts instead of following them. To learn and dare to live a life fulled with loving relationships starting with your spouse so that you may love others as well. It's not a process of trying to change the other person but rather a journey of exploring and demonstrating genuine love, even when our desire is dry and our motives are love. To make love more than a feeling but a decision to be selfless, sacrificial, and transformational. We are going to try to demonstrate to each other how love was intended to be and hopefully, our relationship will change for the better and be strengthened.
There are three important elements to each day of the journey (and I'm just going to take these straight out of the book for the most part):
First, a unique aspect of love will be discussed. We will read each of these carefully together and be open to a new understanding of what it means to genuinely love someone. Our plan is to read the dare the night before and incorporate it with our nightly bible study.
Second, we will be given a specific dare to do for each other. Some will be easy and some very challenging. But we are to take each dare seriously, and be creative and courageous enough to attempt it. We are not to be discouraged if outside situations prevent us from accomplishing a specific dare, just pick back up as soon as we are able to and to proceed with the journey.
Last, in the book we are given journal space to log what we are learning and dong and how our spouse is responding. It is important that we take advantage of this to capture what is happening to both of us along the way. These notes will record our progress and should become priceless to us in our future. This is where my blog comes in, I plan on sharing with you my side of the journey from time to time. I won't update every.single.day because it's an extremely personal journey but I will keep the blog updated on my journey and hopefully have S guest post a few times with his journey.
Hopefully, not only will our marriage and personal life benefit but also someone may stumble across this or even be a regular reader of the blog and be inspired or encouraged to do the same and take the Love Dare.
Tonight, we read Day 1 and start it off tomorrow. I am both excited and nervous...
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S and I are going to take the Love Dare.
We've now been married a year as of March 23 and while we are still doing great, some would call it marital bliss or even still call us "newlyweds," we have had our share of ups and downs. Times where we raised our voices, said hurtful things, and done equally harmful and stupid things but our marriage isn't truly hurting yet...
That's the thing, you can't go to marriage counseling when it's already gone to hell in a handbasket because the harm has already been done and is often irreparable. You go when things are still good, maybe things need to be tweaked here and adjusted there but not when things are already broken and frayed. So we are doing just that. We are going to take the Love Dare while things are still going great so that we may further strengthen our bond and understanding of each other so that hopefully we will never come to a place in our marriage where we feel broken and displaced.
The Love Dare is a 40 day journey, teaching ourselves to think differently, to lead our hearts instead of following them. To learn and dare to live a life fulled with loving relationships starting with your spouse so that you may love others as well. It's not a process of trying to change the other person but rather a journey of exploring and demonstrating genuine love, even when our desire is dry and our motives are love. To make love more than a feeling but a decision to be selfless, sacrificial, and transformational. We are going to try to demonstrate to each other how love was intended to be and hopefully, our relationship will change for the better and be strengthened.
There are three important elements to each day of the journey (and I'm just going to take these straight out of the book for the most part):
First, a unique aspect of love will be discussed. We will read each of these carefully together and be open to a new understanding of what it means to genuinely love someone. Our plan is to read the dare the night before and incorporate it with our nightly bible study.
Second, we will be given a specific dare to do for each other. Some will be easy and some very challenging. But we are to take each dare seriously, and be creative and courageous enough to attempt it. We are not to be discouraged if outside situations prevent us from accomplishing a specific dare, just pick back up as soon as we are able to and to proceed with the journey.
Last, in the book we are given journal space to log what we are learning and dong and how our spouse is responding. It is important that we take advantage of this to capture what is happening to both of us along the way. These notes will record our progress and should become priceless to us in our future. This is where my blog comes in, I plan on sharing with you my side of the journey from time to time. I won't update every.single.day because it's an extremely personal journey but I will keep the blog updated on my journey and hopefully have S guest post a few times with his journey.
Hopefully, not only will our marriage and personal life benefit but also someone may stumble across this or even be a regular reader of the blog and be inspired or encouraged to do the same and take the Love Dare.
Tonight, we read Day 1 and start it off tomorrow. I am both excited and nervous...
I want these pictures to remain as special as possible, for them to continue to make me smile and my heart to flutter, remembering the excitement and meaningfulness of that day.
I do not want them to just become photographic proof that we were in love but to be a reminder of the love we DO have.
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