DST Challenge: How to Shift in Our Schedule
28 Oct 2008 2 Comments
in Baby Business, Just life!, rAnDoMnEsS
Well, Daylight Savings Time is coming this weekend. Sunday, November 2nd will mark the end of 2008′s DST and I’m freaking out…sort of. Thanks to a friend’s Facebook comment, I realized that the time difference is approaching and while I’m happy for Eric (who will get an extra hour’s sleep, which is needed due to early KidStuf call times on Sunday), I’m thrown for a loop because my life, and Viv’s too, is so. incredibly. scheduled!
I think I’ll try one of a few approaches:
a) just let that extra 25th hour sneak in there and not adjust for it prior to that day and see if Viv will sleep an extra hour, or
b) spend the few days ahead of time adjusting the start of feeding times, or
c) just wake up earlier on Sunday (our usual 6:30 a.m. feeding time would now be 5:30 a.m.) and then compensate by stretching the feedings out throughout the day(s) following the end of DST.
I’m leaning towards B. It seems like the preparational route is more controlled (yet flexible) and it’s gearing up for the change not reacting/responding to the change after the fact. Perhaps a little more structured and intentional.
Wow! Has motherhood changed me or what?!
Yes, I know this isn’t a true dilemma, but I’m so thankful for the perfect little sleeper and eater that God’s blessed us with. I just want to do it right for ALL our sakes! (And, I have so many friends with newborns that this is probably a good reminder for all of us to have a stategy in mind for DST!)
Here’s a link that I just found that backs up my option B.
Here’s to an extra helping of time and to all the smoke alarm batteries that need changing. Oh, and winterizing your outside water lines…and gutter cleaning…and all the other bi-yearly things we have to do!
A Blogging Crime!
23 Oct 2008 4 Comments
in Adoption, Baby Business, Family, Just life!, Vivi Cakes!
What’s the #1 blogging crime you ask? Answer: having a blog that you post absolutely no activity to beyond an acceptable amount of time *cough* as in 39 days! But who’s counting, right? Oh yeah…all of you–ESPECIALLY my out of town family and friends–who wonder if Vivian is still stuck at being a month old. I’ve felt that sense of nagging to get caught up with blogging much like the many of you who have that nagging sense because you’re guilty of leaving digital pictures on your camera for ages without uploading them. You know who you are!
So, there is definitely much to catch you up on, but I’ll try not too be long-winded…
Our precious Vivian is now 10 weeks old! She’s on target for everything and braved well the four shots at her two-month appointment; she cried less than 30 seconds. Luckily, it was close to her next feeding, so the comfort of a full belly (and a round of tylenol pre-visit) helped too.
Vivi’s 2 Month Stats
23 in. long, 10 lb. and 4 oz.
Sleeping through the night since 4 weeks of age. What a blessing!
Vivi is full of smiles, coos, talking, singing (in her own way of course) and she definitely has a gift for gab! She plays so hard on her floor gym, loves having a mirror to look at “the baby”, bounces in her bouncy, swings in her swing and makes eyes at the mobile of animals spinning above her, enjoys bath time, and LOVES to be outdoors! Can I just say that I love being her mommy?! So much so that it leads me to the next bit of news.
Much has changed fast and excitingly in my world. After returning to work from a six-week maternity leave, I faced some challenging moments and new developments at work. I needed to think long-term and evaluate things that had occurred and how the pieces of being now a full-time working mom would fit together to best align with my priorities in my family and personal ministry. After prayer and long, long discussions, Eric and I felt God leading us to make a decision for me to resign at work. This wasn’t easy given the non-stop media reports of our crumbling economy. But peace has presided in our restful decision and thankfully there are two things we could do to fix the craze the media hopes we marinate in: 1) NO TV! and 2) remain in our faith for our provisional God and not in this economy and our paychecks.
After announcing my resignation, the determined leave date was last Thursday, October 16th. The prior Sunday, October 12th, was my last Sunday on staff with the awesome team of volunteers that God allowed me to work with. I was so sad to say farewell to that being my “home” on Sundays, but I’m also very excited about the new possibilities this gives me…what it gives us…OUR FAMILY! Besides that, I’ll always be a middle schooler at heart!
Also on the twelfth was my 30th birthday! Yes, 3-0! I’m loving it, too! I’ve been praying for my thirties to come…seriously! I’ve got so many great influences in my life that tell me how every year gets better for them, and hence every decade gets better. I knew one thing going into my 30′s this year that I didn’t know when I was turning 29… Lord willing, I was going to celebrate each day of my life and my marriage as a mother! I would see my little girl grow and step into her purpose in life! Amazing!
So as a stay at home mom, this week has been great! I’ve learned the times in which I can accomplish a lot and maximize those nap times. I’ve also learned when to just stop and play! I love greeting Eric after his workday with a happy baby in my arms (or a snoozing one in a crib) and I enjoy it especially this season of the year. And yes, to those of you who really, REALLY know me–I have indeed been playing Christmas music for the last four days. No joking.
Well, forget the “not too long-winded” statement. Might as well add that I am falling in love with baking and cooking all over again. It’s such a challenge now to stage things just right and complete it all while Vivian is playing or sleeping. I’ve baked a sweet potato pie, two batches of pumpkin pie fudge, italian meat loaf, and three soups in the past few days. There’s so much more to do, too!
Eric has been so busy lately, but boy is he cranking out some fun video pieces! He is so stinkin’ talented! KidStuf keeps him very tied up with projects, but he loves the challenge and, in my opinion, exceeds many times over what’s asked of him. KidStuf has really evolved over the past 6 months and the newness of it’s direction keeps Eric hopping, but he’s managing well. He is also into side contract jobs that have proven to be fun and the extra money is great!
Before I close with the big finale (pictures/videos), I’ll say that we also received exciting news that our hearing date has been selected for our petition to adopt Vivian. By that I mean that we aren’t finished yet with the adoption. We are currently recognized legally as Viv’s guardians with intentions to adopt, but the happy, gavel-to-the-desk, hip hip hooray FINAL moment is set for December 1st! We will officially be the parentals!
Thanks for your patience and sticking with me on the blogging updates. I hope these nuggets of cuteness make the wait worthwhile!
Love to all!
Ashley Getting Practice!
Cheese!
Cousins Rock!
Mommy & Vivi
Nap Time Trio
I *LOVE* Natbug!
Cute Shirt and Hair Bow
Where is Vivi?
I See Her Now!
Nanna Bakes Good Cakes!
My KY Shower Cake
Celebrating Nonna Donna
Papa Tony Squeezin at Atlantic Station
Phbbbtbtbt!
Poppy Snuggle Time
Sing To Me, Poppy!
We Are a Pair!
Ready for Bath!
1st Month!
13 Sep 2008 10 Comments
in Baby Business, Vivi Cakes! Tags: Adoption, Baby, New Parents
Yes, it’s true. Our little Vivi is one month old already! She is amazing us each day as we watch her discover the world; she’s developing something new each week!
After Bath Happiness
The fussiness is well under control. Of course, that may be hard to believe if you’re one of the few people that, every time you call, she’s being fussy…each time! Total freak happenstance, trust me! She’s a happy and fun little baby to hang out with!
Vivian and mommy have one last week together before my maternity leave is over. The time has flown by. No, I’m not ready. But will I ever be really ready? No. The great news is that our work offers a preschool-aged Weekday Childcare program. So, as long as Eric or I are on campus, we’re never more than a minute’s walk from checking in on her. All the teachers at Weekday are so ready for Vivian to come; they anxiously await some cuddle time!
Well, here’s her stats from the pediatrician’s visit on Wednesday, Sept. 10…
Lotion Massage After Bath
Miss V weighs 8.0 lbs
(up from weighing 6 lb. 5 oz. at birth) and is
22 in. long (taller by 2 1/2 inches, up from being 19.5 in. at birth) and has
slept through the night the past 5 nights, dropping her mid of night feeding! (Thanks to Cara and the hands that have circulated the recommended schedule [and for that matter, my pastor's wife, Sandra Stanley, for getting this schedule into new mother's hands some time ago] and to Dr. Denmark’s wisdom!)
1 mo. Old; Feeling Snuggly After Getting a Shot
Getting on a schedule has really been more easy than I had thought. Now, I realize there will not always be repeats of these nights due to illness, growth spurts, veering off schedule, etc. but I’m committed! It’s given me so much confidence as a new mom and I can really anticipate Viv’s needs and meet them, per our schedule’s flexibility, too!
Snowman PJs and Pink Hat Party
Here’s a video of her discovering herself in the mirror! Too cute! And YES!, that’s FEE (Steve Fee Band) in the background ’cause we were getting our Praise on!
Fussiness or Colic? Your Advice at Work
30 Aug 2008 2 Comments
in Baby Business, Family, Vivi Cakes! Tags: Colic, Fussy Baby, Motherhood
We’ve been lickin’ the crying periods pretty well and it has brought much relief to our home! First, it’s still a debate on whether Viv’s episodes can be called colic or just the normal crankiness that baby’s have. Regardless, the things that seem to work well for colic are the things Viv is responding very well to. Colic has a rule of three: appears in the 3rd week of life, inconsolable crying for 3 hours a day, and is seen at least 3 days a week for 3 or more weeks.
I can gratefully say that this is not all Vivian’s pattern…at least not yet, hopefully never!
I also don’t know that it’s the case of a gassy baby, but here are the things that have worked wonders:
- Switch from Avent bottles to Dr. Brown bottles (Lots of cleaning, sanitizing, etc. as each bottle has 7 parts, but so, SO, worth it!)
- Mylicon and Gripe Water (Gripe Water kicks hiccup’s butt! No excess air in Viv’s tummy and a little Mylicon before most feedings seems to quieten the war of fragile tummies vs. air. Next week, we’ll try the dissolvable all-natural tablets thanks to Missy’s advice!)
- Swaddle, Shushing, and Side (Swaddling is Viv’s signal to calm herself, laying her against my chest on her right side seems to help, and soft “shhh, shhh” in her ear sends her to zzzz-land almost instantly.)
- Switched formula to a more gentle and easily digested milk. We are now on Nestle Good Start with Natural Cultures.
- Burp, burp, burp! – When in doubt, sit her up, give a few gentle pats, and BWAAAAARRRP! ‘At a girl, Viv! Even if she suddenly wakes from a nap and you were sure you burped her well before, give it another try. Usually, our efforts produce an amusing result and one that puts her back to sleep instantly!
Above anything though, just working off of natural God-given instincts seems to be what helps most. And prayers and patience, too! Listening to your child’s cues (cries) over a short period of time will usually educate you on which cue means what. I can clearly hear the difference in the sleep cry, diapering cry, too cold/too hot cry, and talk-to-me cry. It’s rare that she reaches the point of a hungry cry, but when it has, we definitely know that one, too!
Motherhood is amazing and it is such a gift! I can’t believe I’m living this dream — for REAL! What I love about Vivian is that she’s no text book baby. She’s truly her own snowflake; in her uniqueness, beauty, budding personality, calmness, and mystery.
And what’s a post without pictures, right? Oh, and a post-bath video from when we first came home from the hospital (which the skin rash has since cleared up!)
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- Just the Girls Relaxing in the Sunlight
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- See How My Face is Changing?!
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- What’s That?
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- Big Brudder Abe Likes His Naps, Too
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- After Bath is Even Better!
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- I Know My Mommy’s Voice!
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- Baby Bath Fresh!
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- Lots of Love to Go Around
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- Daddy’s Favorite Picture
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- Showing Off My Monogrammed Goodies
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- I Could Get Used To This
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- Life Is Good
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- Spoiling Each Other
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- Mommy…My Hand Will Grow, Too!
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- Starting Small
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- Happy As Can Be
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- Precious Sleeper
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- You Don’t Say?
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- Content After Feeding
Did You Hear the Cheers?
11 Aug 2008 28 Comments
in Adoption, Baby Business, Family, Vivi Cakes!
Baby is here, baby is here!
Eric and I are proud to give a quick update and get to the goods — pictures! Our baby is here and it’s a . . . GIRL!
Vivian Elizabeth was born today, Sunday, August 10 at 10:02 AM weighing 6 lb, 5 oz, 19.5 inches long, and she has the most gorgeous long, wavy black hair. She is too beautiful for words!
EM did a wonderful, wonderful job! She labored so long and so hard and had great success. However, the progression of labor slowed to a stopping point making a cesarean delivery the only option. EM and I were in the operating room together, holding hands, sharing the experience of new life, and we were SO ready to see Baby! EM is recovering and resting and has seen and held our beautiful daughter; we already see so many of her beautiful, unmistakable features in Vivian. Again, she’s just gorgeous! We’ve also been blessed to have Vivian’s bio-father and many of EM’s friends and family here to celebrate! It’s been too amazing!
We should be in the hospital through Wednesday, but that’s subject to change by a day perhaps. Vivi is eating and sleeping well and loves being swaddled and getting her head stroked. And yes, she smells as sweet as a slice of Heaven Pie! We simply can’t wait for you to meet her!
We appreciate your prayers and we have felt them at work. I would beg of you to continue keeping our family in your prayers though. This is an urgent need! My niece and sister-in-law (brother’s wife and child) had flown to my sister-in-law’s native country of Georgia last Monday and since then, as you have seen and heard on the news, war has broken out and the safety of Americans in that country, as well as the Georgians there, are at a great risk of harm. Many have perished in the bombs the Russians have already dropped. We are awaiting details to see if they can quickly leave that area and get back to the states. Please pray for God’s hand in this and for everyone’s safety. This has been really hard on all of us even during this time of celebration.
With that, we thank you again for your prayers and love. Enjoy the pics of our daughter, Vivian!
