You know you are a new mommy when…

1. You find yourself unconsciously swaying or rocking when you are not holding your baby.

2. Your purse has now tripled in size and contains things like wipes and spare clothes instead of the usual make up and high-tech gadgets.

3. You look down and notice there is a spreading wet spot on your shirt because you, ahem, forgot to put in a nursing pad this morning.

4. You loath traffic lights. You silently curse them as you slowly pull to a stop at a red, because you know the moment you stop moving the baby in the back seat will sense that she is a) in her carseat(which she hates), and b) no longer vibrating along at 35mph. So she inevitably begins to wail. You find yourself planning your routes to various places not by the shortest distance but by which route has the fewest traffic lights.

5. Your idea of a good time is getting to bed at 8 pm.

6. You try to convince yourself that you will someday fit into your skinny jeans again. You rationalize that if Heidi Klum can lose the baby weight and walk in a Victoria’s Secret runway show just 3 weeks after giving birth than by golly, someday you will find a way to fit those child-bearing hips of yours into your confidence-boosting, perfectly-fitted(well pre-baby anyways), amazing jeans that you can’t bear to get rid of.

7. Wearing make-up and showering becomes a luxury.

8. You find creative methods to use every available hand, finger, shoulder and hip to carry your baby while still proceeding with your everyday activities.

9. (If you are breastfeeding) Your appetite is ravenous. You thought that you ate a lot when you were 8 months pregnant, but that does not even COMPARE to now. You want to eat everything, all the time. Don’t you think it’s time you kicked that chocolate addiction you picked up during pregnancy?

10. You can’t imagine life without your new baby. Any doubts and fears about whether or not you will be a good mother disappear when you see their sweet smile and you hug them close. You know that the most amazing adventure you’ll ever have is motherhood:).

Feel free to add to my list!

Roly-poly

Yesterday was a big day. Reese rolled over from her back to her belly. Not once, but twice! The only problem is, I didn’t actually get to witness the event! Reese was laying on her back on the floor kicking around while I was on the computer. Mark came through on his way to the kitchen and the next time I looked down at Reese, she was on her belly. I thought “Haha, Mark is trying to trick me into thinking that she rolled over. But there is no way she rolled over. She only barely started rolling to her side a week ago”. So I called Mark into the room and asked him if he had put Reese onto her belly while I wasn’t looking. He unconvincingly said that he hadn’t.

I didn’t believe him.

He swore he hadn’t touched her. I still didn’t believe him. If any of you know Mark, you know that guilty grin he gets? Besides, she’s only 3 months old! Maybe I could believe her rolling from belly to back, but not back to belly. I thought that wasn’t supposed to happen til 5 or 6 months!

So for the next 15 minutes I watched her like a hawk, with the video camera ready, hoping to catch her in the act. Nothing.

Then, I was distracted by Cibo for a minute while throwing his ball. When I looked back, Reese was once again on her belly. This time Mark was nowhere near her. And I missed it again! The little booger waited until I wasn’t looking! Bummer.

But I’m thinking it was a fluke because it hasn’t happened again. I’ve tried to prod her into doing it but she doesn’t even get close. I’m not too distraught over it though. She’ll be rolling all over the place in no time. The longer she stays immobile the better.

Today I put Reese in front of the mirror for her tummy-time. She was pulling the funniest faces and I got a few of them on camera for your viewing pleasure. I can’t believe my little newborn is already 3 months old!

To swaddle, or not to swaddle?

I swear by swaddling. I know it’s not right for every baby, but our baby LOVED it. I found that she slept deeper and longer when she was swaddled than not. We even got this amazing swaddling blanket from my sister-in-law that I couldn’t live without.

The problem is, I’m not quite sure when is the right time to stop swaddling. Everyone I’ve talked to seems to have stopped swaddling their babies at different ages. What makes me think that maybe Reese is ready to not be swaddled anymore is that she is strong enough to wriggle out of her swaddling blanket now. She falls asleep still swaddled, but when she wakes up, she manages to get her arms out.

The problem is, it’s not as easy as just putting her into her crib to sleep without being swaddled. I’ve tried that, and it seems she won’t fall asleep without being wrapped up tight. So the last two days I’ve been leaving out one arm, in hopes that we can progress towards no swaddle at all. She seems to do fine with just the one arm out, but if I leave out both arms, no go. Any words of wisdom for how to break the swaddle habit?

I love Saturdays!

Lately my sweet husband has been making a valiant effort to get our small family out of the apartment for a fun activity every Saturday because he knows how much I hate being cooped up inside all day. We don’t like to spend a lot of money, so the options are limited, but as long as we are together we always have fun.

Two Saturdays ago we just went to the mall which, surprise surprise, Mark has NEVER done with me. We strolled around with Reese in the BOB, stopped in various stores to look but not buy, and grabbed some lunch. It was relaxing and fun to just hang out together somewhere other than our couch.

Today we decided Cibo needed to be included in our plans, so we went to a dog park we’ve never visited to let Cibo off leash to play with other doggos, and then a big park for a nice stroll. I’m always reminded when I get to spend time with my husband how much I love him more and more every day:).

I must pose a question though. We are running out of ideas for fun Saturday activities that don’t cost much. Any suggestions?

To Utah and back

Last week I wanted so badly to post about my excitement over my upcoming trip to Utah to visit my family. The only problem was, it would have ruined the big surprise for my Mom-who had no idea we would be showing up. If you know me, you know that it was very hard for me to keep this surprise under wraps. I just didn’t talk to my Mom the week before, for fear I would let the cat out of the bag. My wonderful Dad knew, he and I planned the whole thing carefully so my trip would fall on a weekend that the whole family would be around. I wish I had pictures of the look on my Mom’s face when my Dad waltzed into the kitchen with Reesey in his arms(I was hiding around the corner:). She did a double-take and realized it was her 2nd granddaughter, whom she hadn’t seen since birth. I believe she cried “How do you have Reese?!” and then I came around the corner and gave her a long hug. It was priceless!

Basically my trip was 5 days of just spending time with family and letting them get to know sweet Reesey. I was really scared about traveling alone with an infant. Especially since I still didn’t feel like I completely had a handle on how to calm Reese down when she gets really worked up. Plus, we were going to stay in a new place, with no swings or bouncy chairs(which are my fall backs for when I just can’t handle the situation anymore). So all in all-it was a little frightening.

My Pediatrician told me I could give Reese some Tylenol for the flight if I needed to, so she would sleep through it. However, I didn’t really like the idea of drugging up my infant just so I wouldn’t have to deal with her. It seemed a little extreme. So I brought it in case I absolutely needed it, but I didn’t end up using it at all. Reese was a dream. She slept for most of both flights and the layover in Las Vegas. I think next time I will try to get a direct flight though, or at least one where we don’t have to get off the plane. Hauling a 13 lb infant, a diaper bag, purse and sometimes a car seat on and off the plane multiple times is not fun. I think that is probably my biggest complaint about the whole trip, becoming a human pack-horse. Other than that, and trying to breastfeed on the plane(don’t get me started on that) it was totally a piece of cake! I had many people comment to me how good my baby was on the plane. Whew! Thank goodness I wasn’t one of those moms with a screaming infant the whole time, it’s one of my worst fears.

We spent the week at my parent’s house, where once again I was pleasantly surprised when Reese fell asleep so effortlessly and quietly in a pack-and-play for nearly every nap and bedtime too! Which is weird because since we’ve been back in Cali she seems to have regressed, and cries when put down for a nap in her crib. Figures. I think Utah agreed with Reese. It was like she was a completely different baby! I got in a lot of visiting time with my sisters and Mom, and Reese got held a good deal of the time. She started doing some new things while we were in Utah including;

clasping and playing with her hands in front,

hugging her giraffe luvie to sleep,

making a lot more cooing and happy noises, staring to roll to her side a little, standing up for a second or two when you hold her on your lap, and when on her tummy she holds her legs off the floor.

She got to meet for the first time both sets of great-grandparents, two uncles, two aunts, and one cousin.

When Reese was born the person I thought she looked most like was my Grandpa Walker, and this was the fist time they got to meet.

My brother Jace, sister Aubree, her daughter Rhianna, and my Dad and Mom.

Reese and my grandma Noni.

Isn’t my mom a hot grandma?

We also got to see my parent’s new house that is under construction. The next time we visit it may be finished and have my family already living in it. The piece of land they are building on is gorgeous! It’s completely surrounded by trees, and from the main floor of the house you can see over the treetops down to all of Utah Valley. No matter how much building goes on in that area, I don’t think they will ever feel crowded up there on the side of the mountain. The house itself has so many things I would love in a house of my own. I’m so glad that my Dad and Mom get this chance to build one last house so they can have everything they’ve always wanted in a home. It will be such a fun place for our kids to play at when we come to visit.

I even managed to get in a traditional Chili’s lunch with my best girlfriends, whom I love more and more as we get older.

I feel like Reese and I really bonded on this trip. Before this I totally loved having a baby, and being a mom. But now I am so in love with her little personality, her chubby cheeks, the funny faces she makes, and the way she falls asleep in my arms. I feel like I got to know my baby on a whole new level, and I’m not sure why it took going on a trip with her to see so may things I hadn’t seen before. Most of all I love that she has a little bit of me and a little bit of Mark in her, and she’s ours.

I also feel so powerful now, whereas before I felt so helpless sometimes. Reese has definitely been calling the shots for the past 2 1/2 months. I have just been catering to her whims. Now I feel like I’m more in control, and I know I can handle her. It’s strange how this trip made me feel like such a better mother.

Sitting Pretty

Today I decided to break out the Baby Bumbo chair some good friends gave us for Reesey. She’s been doing such a good job holding her head up the last week, I thought she might be ready for it. Our first test run proved wildly successful. Reese just loved being able to see everything and every time I tried to get her to look at me she would immediately turn away to look at something else. Apparently there are far more interesting things to see when sitting up than boring old mommy:).

Thanks JT and Amanda!!!!

Sometimes….

Sometimes at night I wander into your room. I quietly watch you sleep, mentally cataloging every curve of your face and every dream-induced grin. I never want to forget how peaceful you look at this moment. The fact that I created you is awe-inspiring. I can’t wait for all the days and years to come. And at the same time I dread the passage of time to a day when I can no longer creep into your room and watch you dream. For now I’ll just be content in this moment, when I get to listen to you breathe and fall even deeper in love with my baby girl.