Say it ain't so.....

I had a major scare today with the baby.....

Each day I try to put aside at least an hour to truly educate myself on current events, worldly matters and the economic/political crisis going on in this country.  This one hour period is commonly known around my house as The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  Seriously.....is there any better way to spend an hour each morning?  No.  There is not.

Today, as I was catching up on worldly matters Josie was getting upset.  I started to notice a pattern in her crankiness and the pattern was terribly alarming.  It seemed as though Josie was calm and easily soothed during each and every commercial break, but crying dramatically each time the show came back on.  Oh Lord, please say it ain't so?!  Is it possible my child may not like Ellen?  This may not even be my child.  Could she have gotten switched at the hospital with another newborn with more personality?? 

This is a picture of Josie during a commercial break.  Somewhat content.  I know what you are thinking, a baby with this kind of hair already has tons of personality.  You are correct.....she truly does.

And here she is once Ellen was back on.  Although she was not crying when this picture was taken (it's hard to take a photo of her when she cries as she tends to squirm) you can see the furrow of the brow, which leads quickly to tears.

We had a scare very similar to this about a month ago when we were in the car.  She cried through an entire Journey song and I nearly turned the car around and headed straight to the hospital to demand my "true" daughter. 

A daughter who doesn't like Ellen or Journey?  How will we ever share interests or conduct conversations?  Is this even possible?  Do we even share the same DNA?  I have a lot of work ahead of me to teach her the fine things in life.  We will start tomorrow with an hour of current events and hot topics, followed by an hour of musical education.

Who knows.....maybe it was just gas.

Hair today, gone tomorrow....

One of the little talked about secrets of being pregnant is the amazing effect it has on a woman's hair.  I don't know if its the prenatal vitamins or the pregnant body itself, but being pregnant can do wonders for the hair.  I realize this may not be a big deal to you thick haired women (hmph), but for us stringy, straggly, thinned hair individuals, being pregnant is like 9 months of living the life of a stranger.  A stranger with salon worthy hair!

During the pregnancy I don't think I shed a single hair, seriously.  To my husband's delight he wasn't constantly picking my long hairs off his clothing or wiping it from the bathroom sink.  I am pretty sure that all of the hairs that were saved from the bristles of my hairbrush somehow graced the scalp of my child, too.  Like some sort of hair club for fetuses.....a regenerating hair club type of thing.   

Considering the fact that I was born bald, I find this hilarious (for so many reason, really).  But, seriously, there are kindergartners with less hair than this.  She was born with a head full of hair and it seems to be the fastest growing thing on her body.  She's two months old and still a peanut, but if you count the length/weight of her hair she might actually bust through to the upper 25th percentile for her age (which she has yet to do....seriously...she's a peanut).  With this hair she often gets mistaken for a child of a much older age, 10 or even 12 weeks!

Obviously I don't have any solid proof to back up this "fetus regenerating hair" theory....I am not a scientist for crying out loud.  Which, by the way, the only reason I am not a scientist, one of several reasons why I am not a scientist, just the tip of the iceberg of why I am not a scientist or business major, is because I could never pass Statistics (dang stats). 

So...now that the baby is here (and flaunting her fabulous hair) my hair is falling out faster than I can say Rogaine for Women.  It's looks like my privileged life of a thick mane has passed.  How quickly I forgot how annoying it was to have my long hairs following me around everywhere.  Hanging off my clothing and clogging the sink of my bathroom.  Gone are the days of pretending I am in a Suave Commercial (because my thicker hair looked both practical AND affordable, not like those fancy salon shampoo commercials).  Gone are the days of running my fingers through my hair without feeling like I could weave a sweater with what was left on my hand. 

Just so we are clear.....this is not me.  I have hazel eyes.

Returning back to the ranks of those with thin, stringy hair has been hard.  It's time to reinvest in shampoos that promise to thicken my locks.  It's time to start practicing the phrase "I am not just a spokesperson, I am also a client"!  If nothing else, when Josie grows up, she will probably have plenty of hair to make a wig for her poor Mama.  It's either that or prolonged pregnancy for the rest of my life (and I am pretty sure Brandon isn't on board for that)!

So live it up pregnant ladies and those with naturally thick hair.  For now, you have the spotlight (back)....but one of these days I will return to your special world.  Thick, full, beautiful, shed-free scalp and all!

Sharing pictures

I am certain my facebook friends are sick of seeing picture after picture of Miss Josie.  So...I have decided to post some pictures on the blog.  This way I get to satisfy my addiction of showing her off to the world, without jeopardizing facebook friends' sanity! 

My best friend JoElla made the cutest Santa suit for Josie.  Here are some photos of Josie in her outfit!  Seriously....I dare anyone to not say "aweee" while looking at these pictures. 

Cute little feet!

Our sweet little lady turned two months old today!  I took a few pictures in the cute onesies with month by month stickers given to her by her Aunt Tiffany!  Here is a picture from her one month birthday and a couple more from her second month birthday. 

You can see her baby acne here.  So glad that cleared up!

The bear is for size reference.

She looks less than thrilled!

She looks so much like her daddy here!

Hopefully posting these pictures on the blog will salvage some friendships!  I guess when you stay at home all day long and only have the little peanut to interact with, it is hard to not go overboard with the photos.  And....like most moms, I naturally think my kiddo is super cute and everyone should see be subjected to her royal cuteness!

Living large......

A couple of days ago I had to go through Josie's closest and box up approximately 95% of her newborn outfits.  It was kind of a sad milestone.  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't like we were sending her off to college sad, but it still bring to my attention the fact that our little peanut is growing every day.  Although, I will say, it was pretty nice to get nearly 7 weeks of wear out of our newborn clothing. 

Going through Josie's closest had me making other sad observations in my own closest....I am still fat.  Okay, maybe fat isn't the most accurate word, but I am still a little chubby.  I can only fit into one pair of pre-pregnancy jeans and when I button them (which I am pretty proud of the fact that I can actually get them buttoned).....I have a VERY attractive muffin top...yuck.  I had been getting extended wear out of my maternity jeans, but I am in a weird transitional size.  My maternity jeans have built in full size belly bands and since there isn't a giant belly to hold them up.....they fall down and I spend most of my time while wearing them pulling them up.  It's fun....and terribly sexy.  So...maternity pants are too big, pre-preggo pants too small.....which means only one thing....wear sweatpants, pajamas, and yoga pants all the time. ..........go buy new pants.  Yep...as much as I hated to do it, I broke down and bought two new pair of pants to wear until I can get back in my old clothing.  It was sort of my only choice, considering I was about two seconds away from having a mental breakdown if I had to deal with the muffin top or sexy saggy pants another day. 

Having said all of that, please enjoy this picture of the reason for my crazy shaped body.  How cute is she with her little receding hairline?  Love this kid!!!  She certainly makes every pound and muffin top totally worth it!

Josie- 6 1/2 weeks old

Like most new moms

As a new mom, I have spent lots of time thinking about the subject I am sure most new moms think about.......how can I possibly work it out so that I don't have to go back to work or put my lil peanut in daycare.

I have been thinking about this quite a bit and have yet to come up with a brilliant solution, although I have managed to come up with several ideas that are improbable and impractical (so I am not making much progress).

Option 1:
Make arts and crafts and sell them. 
Problem- Who would buy these arts and crafts?  I doubt there are many people wishing to purchase macaroni jewelry or scrap booking paper collages. 

Option 2:
Marry a billionaire.  Crap. (Kidding, Brandon)

Option 3:
Win the lottery.
Problem- I must play the lottery to win the lottery.

Option 4:
Sell all my personal items to earn extra cash.
Problem- Refer to the problem in Option 1.  Yeah, most of my jewelry is edible, so what?

As you can see I have had limited opportunities to really think about this.  Needless to say my maternity leave is about half over and although I spend most of my time trying to take care of a newborn, I may need to focus less on that and more on trying to figure out how I can avoid going
back to work.  (Kidding...this baby is well taken care of, trust me)

The thought of going back to work breaks my heart, but I know right now we don't have any other options.  Josie will be like most children I know these days and attend day care.  I grew up a day care child and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, other than it breaks my heart to think of someone else getting to spend the day with my munchkin.....and not me.  It's crazy.....40 years ago it was nearly unheard of for women to work, especially after having children.  These days, it seems as though most women are returning to the workplace after welcoming babies.  In fact, out of all my friends, I only have a rare few who are stay at home moms.  Oh how times have changed.  I just wish it was my choice and not necessity.  I wish I had the chance to choose to return to work because I wanted to, not because I had to.  Some day I may get to choose, but for now......I will enjoy these next few weeks and continue to think of solutions to my new mom dilemma.  If you have any ideas that are more logical than the ones I stated above, please share! 

Don't ask my advice....at least not yet

Yeah...I am a bad blogger lately, I know.  I can't seem to find time to go to the bathroom these days, so writing blogs is definitely not on the top of my list.  But....Daddy has Miss Josie, so this may be a good time to get some words on paper.

The only thing I am worse at than blogging is Christmas shopping.  I have every intention to start (and finish) my Christmas shopping tomorrow, December 20th.  What?  Better late than never, right?

I have been a mother now for nearly 5 weeks, so obviously I am a wealth of Mommy-Knowledge.  In reality I have learned quite a bit in the short amount of time Josie has been here, but unfortunately, most of it is about myself and not about mothering.  I love how everyone has some piece of advice to offer new moms.  Honestly, I have appreciated most of the advice I have received, but I find it funny that so many people want to throw out their two cents.  I am sure it will be no time at all that I will be telling other new moms to sleep when the baby sleeps.

I don't like this piece of advice (which everyone already knows).  For most functioning adults sleeping throughout the day is hard.  Yes, at first the baby sleeps during the day quite a bit, but after only a couple of weeks they start to stay awake for longer periods of time.  Also.....my only "me free time"  is when this child is sleeping.  So if I want to shower (ha...right) or eat or fold clothes or WHATEVER it needs to be done while she is in a milk coma.  Sleeping during the day has become kind of a joke for me (although I won't lie, the occasional nap is totally necessary, for prolonged sanity).

A lot of women suffer from postpartum syndrome after giving birth.  Thankfully I did not have any baby blues.  I did, however, suffer from a new syndrome that I created all on my own, it was called "post-pissed-tum syndrome".  Basically everything my sweet husband did annoyed me and I would get pissed at him.  I think it was honestly because I was bitter that he was getting to sleep at night.  Nothing flared post-pissed-tum more than a 3am feeding while listening to my husband snore in his blissful slumber.  I also believe it was a bi-product of me not getting enough sleep (should have listened to all those people who told me to sleep when the baby was sleeping...humph).  Although my condition is not completely cured, I will say it has gotten better and I think I have stopped taking everything out on Brandon, because no matter how I try to spin it, it's not his fault that the Thursday night shows were re-runs last week (poor guy). 

People always say to be careful that boy babies don't pee on you.  No one warns the parents of baby girls.  I wish someone had warned me.  This child pees on me at least once a day.  I think it has become a game for her.  Just yesterday she came within millimeters of getting urine in my eye.  She may be trying to blind me....I am not sure yet.  All I know is I will be keeping a close eye on her from now on. 

Speaking of pee.....It's amazes me how quickly women can go from the pregnant lady crazy-urgent need to pee to this new mom pee phase where I swear you can go all day long with a full bladder, but no urgency to go and absolutely no likelihood of peeing on yourself (and yes, I realize this blog talks a lot about pee.  I don't know why, but I may start looking into this).  People always say they are fascinated by the human brain, not me....I am truly fascinated by the female bladder. 

Everything in my life now revolves around a 3-4 hour time schedule (Josie's feeding schedule).  If I want to go to Target, I have to plan my outing around when the last time Josie ate was and when she will eat again.  It's amazing how quickly a day can pass when working in 3 hour increments.  There are some days where I swear I can't tell you anything productive that I did, yet I hadn't stopped all day long.  I sooo look forward to Josie's feeding schedule extending, even slightly, and then maybe I can have more than one destination during outings. 

I joke around a lot, but truth be told....being a new mom is freaking amazing!  Josie is the coolest little baby and I am constantly in awe of her.  She is mellow and happy and incredible!  Every day is something new and exciting.  Don't get me wrong, there are some nights where all I want her to do is sleep an extra 45 minutes (and I am not above begging a 4 1/2 week old to go back to sleep), but most of the time...I just want to be near her...she's that awesome!  And she's all ours...and we know how blessed we are already!

And now....a couple of new photos.....

One of our first captured smiles!

Little lady in a big crib! 

 Daddy's first time getting to feed Josie

Maybe never

This isn't a real blog....just a quick note to make note that I may never have time to write another blog again.  Maybe when I go back to work....and have some free time (Haha..just kidding).

Josie is amazing and it's hard to believe that on Thursday she will be 4 weeks old!  We will post some cute pictures soon.........as soon as I find the time!