6 Weeks Postpartum

It has been six weeks since we were blessed with our little man. I love being a new mommy and each day is better than the last. 

I had my 6 week postpartum check up today and I have lost 26lbs!  That's only 10lbs away from my pre-baby weight! Since it took me 9 months to gain this weight I'm not in a hurry to loose it.  Without really watching what I eat, I think that's pretty darn good.  I have been walking once or twice a week but, I'm ready to get toned and back in shape. 

Ryder gave us his first smile last week! Justin was the lucky one to get the first and I was given one the next day. We were both ecstatic and are excited to experience all of these milestones!  

Time has really flown by!

I only have 6 weeks left for maternity leave and I am trying to get as much snuggle time with this little man as possible.

He LOVES bath time.

If you ladies have any mommy advice, I'm all ears!

Baby Essentials & Update

We are getting the hang of this parenting business and here are a few most used items in our house. 

1.  Britax Agile Stroller - We absolutely love this stroller!  A lot of the other strollers we tested were really heavy and not easily broken down.  With the one button breakdown I can go shopping with ease. 

2.  Receiving Blankets - I use these blankets for everything (burp cloths, car seat sun covers, swaddling...)!

3.  Nursing Cover - This cover is really helpful when we are away from home for feeding time.

4.  Humidifier - We run the humidifier for half the day and it seems to help all of us breath easier.

5.  Baby Bee by Burt's Bees Multipurpose Ointment -I love this ointment for our little man. I can use this for anything and is great to have in the diaper bag.

6.  Diaper Genie - I am so happy we have this diaper pail! It is very easy to empty and eliminates the dirty diaper smell. 

7.  Nosefrida - Ryder had a stuffy nose a few nights and this was a life saver! This is much more sanitary than the bulb nasal sucker.  

8.  Avent Breast Pump - I am going back to work in March and am planning to breastfeed for at least 6 months. This pump is really comfortable and I have quite the supply for him already.  

9.  Moby Wrap Baby Carrier - The Moby Wrap along with the sling wrap are great for getting stuff done around the house when he is fussy.  I can do the dishes and work on the blog hands free but, still be close to my little man.

Tummy Time 
We are doing tummy time almost every afternoon. He seems to enjoy it for about 10 minutes, then gets frustrated. His neck and arms are getting so strong!

Ryder is 5 weeks old!  He is growing and gaining weight perfectly! His next appointment is in February and I am excited to see how much he has grown.

We recently picked up a few baby sign language books and cannot wait to start communicating with him! 

4 Week Update

I cannot believe our little man is already month old! Ryder is sleeping for 4 - 5 hour stretched at night now and it really helps me keep my sanity. He is such a good baby that makes it easy for us to understand his needs.  Our lives have changed so much in these last few weeks and have really put things into perspective. 

Here are a few pictures from last week. 

 

"Milk Drunk" smile

Sometimes in the morning he sleeps in mom & dads bed

Ryder Hayden has arrived!

He was born December 16th at 1:46 pm and weighing 7 lbs 6 oz.  He is the most precious and beautiful boy I have ever seen. We are very excited to start this new chapter in our lives with this little man.  

First off I wanted to say that this is a crazy kind of love! I thought I would have a strong connection with my little man but it's really mind blowing how much I love him.  

The first two weeks were rough, trying to adjust and handle the "baby blues".  I was an emotional crying mess. The combination of not knowing what to do, hormones, anxiety and exhausted was really weighing down on me.  Everyday gets easier and I have kicked the blues.  I am so thankful that my fantastic husband took three weeks off and also my mom who took a week to help me figure motherhood out! They both were amazing! 

Sleeping:  I am no longer a zombie. Ryder sleeps for 3 hour stretches during the day and gives us one or two 4.5 hour stretches at night. He is sleeping in his crib and lets us know right away when he is in need of something. 

Breastfeeding:  Ryder latched right away after birth and is eating like a champ!  I ate a cabbage salad and didn't realize I was making a bad decision for my little man.  Poor guy had gas and an upset tummy.  Gripe Water has been really helpful lately and I know to eat foods that are a little more bland.  Breastfeeding has really helped my tummy shrink!  I lost 15 lbs in a little over a week!   

Thank you family and friends for all of the love and support on Facebook and Instagram.  I will try and update the blog as often as I can.