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!
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.
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!
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
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.
How far along: 39 Weeks with only 7 days left!
Total weight Gain: 36 lbs
Maternity Clothes: I haven't purchased anything new in hopes I will be back to be my old self soon.
Sleep: I am having a bit of trouble sleeping these days, just can't seem to get comfortable. So, I am napping as often as I can.
Food cravings: Cereal (any kind)... I'll have a bowl for breakfast and a bowl when I get home from work =)
Miss anything: I'm really missing my pre-baby body. =(
Gender: Still a BOY!
Movement: He is still kicking around like crazy!
Labor signs: No labor signs yet. Mood: Happy knowing we don't have much longer until we meet out little man! Dr. said he is still in the downward facing position and I am dilated to 1.5cm. He also thinks we will have a 7.5-8 lb and I'm happy to hear we don't have a 10 pound-er in there!
Belly Button in or out: It's poking out a little bit!
Looking forward to: Ryder's debut and holding him for the first time.
The Bump: Sorry for the exhausted look in this picture...
To Do List: Frozen meals... Chili Verde Enchiladas Blue Cheese Butternut Squash Pasta Crock pot roast Teriyaki Chicken Baked Potatoes
The Nursery
I have been neglecting the blog lately... sleeping and nesting have overtaken me these days. Here's what's been going on....
How far along: 38 weeks 1 day
Total Weight Gain: 33 lbs... I can't believe the scale these days. I hope we have a little chunker =)
Maternity Clothes: Using all maternity pants and can still mix in regular tops.
Stretch Marks: Still good - fingers crossed!
Sleep: Sleeping through the night with the occasional lower back pain.
Best moment(s) of this week: I finally am caught up on removing all tags, washing and organizing all baby clothes!
My co-workers also threw me a baby shower and it was wonderful!
Also, I wanted to say congratulations to my sister-in-law on her new baby girl!
Brooklyn Isabella
Miss Anything: I am really missing cuddles with the hubby lately.
Movement: He is still moving like crazy! Distinguishing body parts now - I think we felt his heel the other night across my side.
Food Cravings: Nothing out of the ordinary but, I did recently buy Trader Joe's Cookie Butter and that was a big mistake. I am pretty sure this will be gone by the weekend.
Gender: Boy, Boy, Boy!
Labor Signs: No labor signs yet.
Belly Button (in/out): It is coming out slowly... still pretty flush.
Wedding ring (on/off): On!
Looking forward to: Our maternity shoot this weekend!
Doctors Appointment: Dr. said he is still head down and he thinks we will have a 7 1/2 lb baby! Woo! He also told us to call when we think labor has begun if we are in the 5-1-1 Labor Rule. 5-1-1 means having contractions 5 minutes apart lasting for 1 minute for one full hour. I would like to labor at home for as long as possible, so I hope the pain is tolerable and this is doable.
My current To Do list:
- Find a pediatrician
- Pick a middle name
- Decide on a bookshelf or shelving
- Install car seat
- Complete birth plan
- Test run to the hospital
- Pack hospital bag
- Pack Ryder's Bag
- Frozen Meal Prep
Last shopping trip for essentials:
My mom (3 days before delivering my sister) & I
I hope to keep you updated these last few weeks. =)
A special thanks to my mom, sister and aunt for putting together such a wonderful shower for me. I couldn't have asked for anything more. I love you all!
Games
My sister created the games for the party, which included guessing Ryder's middle name, estimating my circumference with yarn and the chocolate diaper game that everyone loved.
My grandma playing the diaper game...
Food
My lovely aunt customized a menu for the party and there was a great selection for everyone.
Cupcakes by Megan
We had beautiful cupcakes made by my cousin Megan. She is quite the baker! She had custom labels made for the cupcakes and they were adorable. The cupcakes were pumpkin with a creamy frosting - delish!
Guests
There was such a great turn out for the party! We had around 30 guests.
Thank you all for celebrating with me and I hope you had a wonderful time.
Gifts
I was literally showered with gifts, much more than I ever expected! Thank you all so very much!
We are very anxious to meet our little man. These last few weeks have flown by - he will be here in no time.
We decided to name him
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