Thursday, October 7, 2010
Playing with Photoshop
I have always loved photography and so I downloaded Lightroom and editing tool to see if I liked it. It is a bit overwhelming so I am just playing around but I edited the following pictures and think they turned out ok. This is Johnny at 3 months. 
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
3 months already
Where did the time go? My little monkey is already 3 months old and gets bigger by the day. Literally he grows so fast and I am constantly having to change his outfit because the one I put on him doesn't fit. Guess its time to see what we have in 3-6 month size. He is getting a little buddha buddy and his cheeks are sure filling out. The older he gets the more he is looking like Brian even though you can tell he is my son with some of his features.
It is amazing how much more you love them every day and it is so exciting to watch them grow into their own little person. Johnny sure has his own little personality and everything he does makes me smile. Even his sad pouty face when he pushes out his bottom lip makes me smile because it is so darn cute. He has discovered his hands and constantly has them smashed in his mouth or if he has a blanket than he chooses to suck on that. He smiles a ton and trys to talk and I swear he can say hi and dadda.
Two more months we have together before I go back to work and we are staying very busy with play dates, mommy classes, shopping trips, working out and going out to dinner with daddy. Couldn't be having more fun with my little buddy.
3 months
It is amazing how much more you love them every day and it is so exciting to watch them grow into their own little person. Johnny sure has his own little personality and everything he does makes me smile. Even his sad pouty face when he pushes out his bottom lip makes me smile because it is so darn cute. He has discovered his hands and constantly has them smashed in his mouth or if he has a blanket than he chooses to suck on that. He smiles a ton and trys to talk and I swear he can say hi and dadda.
Two more months we have together before I go back to work and we are staying very busy with play dates, mommy classes, shopping trips, working out and going out to dinner with daddy. Couldn't be having more fun with my little buddy.
3 months
2 months
1 month
Little Traveler
In September we took our first family trip down to Southern Cal. I was super nervous thinking about flying with Johnny and making sure I had packed everything and in the end everything went super smooth. I even flew home by myself with Johnny from Palm Springs. I have to say that is the best airport which made it pretty stress free.
We flew into LA and stayed in Redondo Beach to attend EJ's wedding where Brian was the best man. It was a beautiful wedding which was not kid friendly so it was the first time we left Johnny with someone we didn't know. The babysitter who we found from Brian's company was super sweet and nurturing and Johnny did just fine. We then took off for Palm Springs on Sunday and stayed at the JW Marriot before arriving in La Quinta to stay with Aunt Betty and Uncle Rod. It was a different but fun experience to have a baby when staying in hotel rooms. We made sure to get double beds and Johnny and I slept in one and Brian had his own. I brought all of my bottle gear and pump so the bathroom doubled as my little pumping station. Thank goodness for mini fridges.
It was a great way to finish the trip with Betty and Rod and I don't think I spent more 20 minutes at a time with Johnny to nurse him since Betty held him the whole time. It was nice to have Betty snuggle with him all week since they don't get to see him very much. Basically we worked out and laid around in the 108 degree weather. The nice thing is it is so sunny in Palm Springs and dry. I can handle that for sure. The pictures I posted below are from Arnold Palmer's Resturant which is our favorite. We got to hang out there on our last night out on the patio. Great drinks and service there.
Brian had to go back to LA for a sales meeting and so Johnny and I went home without him but it was a great trip and glad we know that Johnny can handle the plane since we leave in 3 weeks for Maui.
We flew into LA and stayed in Redondo Beach to attend EJ's wedding where Brian was the best man. It was a beautiful wedding which was not kid friendly so it was the first time we left Johnny with someone we didn't know. The babysitter who we found from Brian's company was super sweet and nurturing and Johnny did just fine. We then took off for Palm Springs on Sunday and stayed at the JW Marriot before arriving in La Quinta to stay with Aunt Betty and Uncle Rod. It was a different but fun experience to have a baby when staying in hotel rooms. We made sure to get double beds and Johnny and I slept in one and Brian had his own. I brought all of my bottle gear and pump so the bathroom doubled as my little pumping station. Thank goodness for mini fridges.
It was a great way to finish the trip with Betty and Rod and I don't think I spent more 20 minutes at a time with Johnny to nurse him since Betty held him the whole time. It was nice to have Betty snuggle with him all week since they don't get to see him very much. Basically we worked out and laid around in the 108 degree weather. The nice thing is it is so sunny in Palm Springs and dry. I can handle that for sure. The pictures I posted below are from Arnold Palmer's Resturant which is our favorite. We got to hang out there on our last night out on the patio. Great drinks and service there.
Brian had to go back to LA for a sales meeting and so Johnny and I went home without him but it was a great trip and glad we know that Johnny can handle the plane since we leave in 3 weeks for Maui.
Monday, September 13, 2010
25 Things you Don't Know About Me
Each week when I get my USWeekly I read the 25 Things You Don't Know About Me which spotlights a celebrity. Even if I don't like them or know who they are I love reading random facts about people. When I read it I think what I would put down and so I decided to do it:
1. I have subscribed to US Weekly for over 10 years
2. My favorite foods are salad and pasta
3. If I could do something amazing I would want to be Olympic track athlete and win the gold medal in the 800 meters
4. I am scared to death of snakes
5. I am embarrassed for anyone to listen to my iPod because my song list is SO random
6. Completing a marathon is on my bucket list
7. I recently became a major fan of iced tea w/splenda
8. The celebrities that annoy me are Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan
9. I love to travel but end up missing home by the 5th day
10. I feel very fortunate to finally be a mom after 30 years
11. My favorite country besides the US is Italy
12. I would love to visit orphanages and just hold the babies so they could feel loved
13. My celebrity crush is on JFK Jr. (yes he is dead but hey it ain't going to happen anyways)
14. For the longest time I wanted 3 Italian Catholic boys but now I totally want a girl and I am not Catholic
15. I am a major recycler at my house
16. I am the messiest tooth brusher on the planet and my husband makes so much fun of me
17. I guess you could say I have an addiction to good wine
18. I have a desire to learn more about photography but want someone to just show me how to take better pictures
19. My husband and I are both Capricorns and are very much alike
20. I have to watch Wheel of Fortune every night at 7pm
21. I miss having actual buttons on my cell phone and hate typing on a screen
22. I would have loved to be a teenager in the 70's but had hair like people in the 80's
23. I am the biggest day dreamer and always have been since I was little…it really passes time
24. I can't watch the animal abuse commercials or the images stay with my for days and I get depressed
25. Kids who scream for attention make my skin crawl
1. I have subscribed to US Weekly for over 10 years
2. My favorite foods are salad and pasta
3. If I could do something amazing I would want to be Olympic track athlete and win the gold medal in the 800 meters
4. I am scared to death of snakes
5. I am embarrassed for anyone to listen to my iPod because my song list is SO random
6. Completing a marathon is on my bucket list
7. I recently became a major fan of iced tea w/splenda
8. The celebrities that annoy me are Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan
9. I love to travel but end up missing home by the 5th day
10. I feel very fortunate to finally be a mom after 30 years
11. My favorite country besides the US is Italy
12. I would love to visit orphanages and just hold the babies so they could feel loved
13. My celebrity crush is on JFK Jr. (yes he is dead but hey it ain't going to happen anyways)
14. For the longest time I wanted 3 Italian Catholic boys but now I totally want a girl and I am not Catholic
15. I am a major recycler at my house
16. I am the messiest tooth brusher on the planet and my husband makes so much fun of me
17. I guess you could say I have an addiction to good wine
18. I have a desire to learn more about photography but want someone to just show me how to take better pictures
19. My husband and I are both Capricorns and are very much alike
20. I have to watch Wheel of Fortune every night at 7pm
21. I miss having actual buttons on my cell phone and hate typing on a screen
22. I would have loved to be a teenager in the 70's but had hair like people in the 80's
23. I am the biggest day dreamer and always have been since I was little…it really passes time
24. I can't watch the animal abuse commercials or the images stay with my for days and I get depressed
25. Kids who scream for attention make my skin crawl
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Mommy and Me Class
Every Wednesday Johnny and I go to Overlake to hang out with other moms and babies that are his age. It is so good to talk with other people and what they are going through to know that you and your baby are "normal". I have always loved participating in things like this because I am a talker and have to talk about my feelings and it is always good to be surrounded by other people going through the same things as you. That is why I loved being in a sorority because I was an 18 year old girl trying to figure out life on my own with 40 other crazy 18 year old girls. Sometimes I sit and laugh because someone is talking about their week in class and saying I can't figure out what is wrong with my baby and they say "have you guys figured it out" and it is like no way sister. It seems that when you do finally figure it out they have passed that phase and you are on to another issue that you can't figure out. Ah the joys of first time parenthood. You don't have clue what you are doing most of the time but whatever it is your child is doing just fine.
Maelle punching Johnny
Maelle punching Johnny
Johnny getting her back by trying to suck on her hand
Wheel of babies
Mommies and the babies
Monday, September 6, 2010
Finally getting it
Johnny is 2 months (9 weeks today) and I can finally say that I am getting this motherhood thing. When Johnny is fussy I know what he actually wants at least most of the time. I wonder if it takes other moms this long to figure it out. The fact that I know his tired cry vs. hungry cry and get him what he needs is very rewarding. Brian always wants to feed him when he crys and now I can say oh no he is actually just tired so swaddle him up in his green blanket (which I also figured out he loves) and give him a binkie and he will be fine. I feel kinda bad that I have to tell Brian what he needs to do but I think he is okay with it as long as he stops crying.
In our mommy and baby class we all say that it is hard because we feel bad telling our husbands what they should do but in reality we are with them 24 hours a day and just know more. I love watching Brian parent and he is trying to get it but isn't 100% there yet. He typically is sitting down when holding Johnny and when he is crying he doesn't get up to bounce him or walk around and occasionally will lay him on the pillow to talk to him. I just stand there and hold my peace and then after a minute or so I say hey why don't you try bouncing him since that usually works. He will get up and walk around and sing to him and then I find him in the front room sitting on the couch trying to console him. It must be tiring for him to bounce or something. I chuckle a little bit and think oh he will get it some day but for now I will let him figure it out more on his own unless of course the baby is screaming his head off.
In our mommy and baby class we all say that it is hard because we feel bad telling our husbands what they should do but in reality we are with them 24 hours a day and just know more. I love watching Brian parent and he is trying to get it but isn't 100% there yet. He typically is sitting down when holding Johnny and when he is crying he doesn't get up to bounce him or walk around and occasionally will lay him on the pillow to talk to him. I just stand there and hold my peace and then after a minute or so I say hey why don't you try bouncing him since that usually works. He will get up and walk around and sing to him and then I find him in the front room sitting on the couch trying to console him. It must be tiring for him to bounce or something. I chuckle a little bit and think oh he will get it some day but for now I will let him figure it out more on his own unless of course the baby is screaming his head off.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Pregnancy/Baby Advice
Since I have had Johnny I have been talking to all my friends about how things went and how they are going with my pregnancy, delivery and parenting. One friend asked me if I could send her everything in an email and so I thought why not add it to my blog. I love sharing my experiences so here is my list of what I can offer a newly pregnant friend or blog reader to help her get through the 9 months of pregnancy and first two months after birth.
Please note this is all my personal advice and not intended to offend anyone as I know many people have different beliefs on breastfeeding and childbirth.
RESOURCES
Books I would recommend reading
· Nursing your baby by Gayle Pryor
· What to expect when your expecting
· What to expect your child first year
· Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth
· Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
· Girlfriend's guide to pregnancy by Vicki Lovine
Websites or other resources
· Apps for your mobile phone- search pregnancy, parenting, new mom (It really kills time in lines or waiting in doctor's office to play on your phone)
· http://www.babycenter.com/- make sure to get on the weekly email list for milestones
· http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com/- good info for flying with baby
· Childbirth classes- good for husband really so that they can view birth videos and hear about childbirth
FAVORITE BABY ITEMS
· Graco Snap and Go stroller is the best and buys you time to figure out what stroller you really need when the baby is 6 months old or out of their infant car seat (It is so light and convenient for getting around)
· Swing - any kind
· Bouncy seat- this allows for you to take a shower
· Pack and Play with bassinet and changing station
· Muslin blankets-pack of 4 at Target for $29
· Play mat with the toys that dangle so the baby can be stimulated (good dog toy as well)
· Soothie pacifiers- apparently these are the best if you are breastfeeding
· Dr. Browns or Medela bottles
· Lots of burp cloths
BREASTFEEDING
· Pump as much as you can the first few weeks after birth to get your milk supply going and also to freeze some milk for future on the go use or when you are out and have a sitter
· Medela pumps and bottles are my favorite and for the first month I would recommend renting the hospital one but then also get one for yourself to keep like the Medela Pump in Style or Freestyle. I got my Freestyle off of Craigslist for $175 which is normally $380 and I just got new parts
· Pump in the morning if possible to have bottles for the day when you are out and about. Pumping in the morning is the best since that is when your milk supply is the most full.
· Breastfeeding hurts at first and is hard I am not going to lie so try to stick it out for 3 weeks before giving up. I used a nipple shield (hospital made me due to Johnny being a preemie) for the first 7 weeks and it really helped and shielded a lot of the pain. Lactation specialists will be against them however if you are in such pain and just need a little extra help I would recommend getting one. In the end if it keeps you breastfeeding in the long run than by all means I would do it.
ADVICE
· Registering - It is hard and overwhelming because you have no idea what you need or what your baby will like but definitely get some things that you think you will need for the first couple of weeks and then return what you don't need after baby comes. I promise you will be at Babies R US the first month anyways so you have plenty of time to exchange and figure out what you really need.
· Baby station for downstairs- If you have a two story house having a baby station for the downstairs away from the baby room is super helpful and convenient. The pack and play with changing station downstairs is a lifesaver and so is having a bunch of clothes for baby since running up and down the stairs is hard when you are trying to run out of the door. I also couldn't walk up the stairs due to my C-section a lot so it was super helpful for me to have two sets of everything. I still have a toothbrush downstairs.
· Read -Read some of the parenting books BEFORE baby comes. You will be too tired and would have wanted to know a lot of the stuff you are reading. I always read books in the bath or at night but now with baby here I am too tired to read and end up skimming stuff.
· C-section-Don't be afraid of a C-section even though I know it isn't the best way to deliver a baby. I say these because many people don't want one however sometimes your body will not let you deliver naturally and so my advice is for pregnant moms to understand what happens in a C-section and to be open to it. Your delivery will go much better if you are open to it. My recovery was amazing and I was actually really happy my delivery ended up in a C-section after all is said and done. The pros for me was no vaginal issues or healing needed.
· Venturing out- Try to get out of the house with baby for an outing around 3 weeks or sooner not only for your sanity but also to test run being out and about with baby. We went to a winery and it was our first experience dealing with being responsible for a baby outside of the home and it really boosted our confidence that we could do it. We had to quiet the baby when he woke up, feed him and change him in a bathroom without a changing table. That night we felt so much better that we "did it" and now go out all of the time with him.
· Help when baby comes- Let your mother or someone close to your aside from your husband help out when you come home from the hospital. I was super overwhelmed when I came home and having someone to help keep the house organized and help out with the baby saved me.
Please note this is all my personal advice and not intended to offend anyone as I know many people have different beliefs on breastfeeding and childbirth.
RESOURCES
Books I would recommend reading
· Nursing your baby by Gayle Pryor
· What to expect when your expecting
· What to expect your child first year
· Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth
· Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
· Girlfriend's guide to pregnancy by Vicki Lovine
Websites or other resources
· Apps for your mobile phone- search pregnancy, parenting, new mom (It really kills time in lines or waiting in doctor's office to play on your phone)
· http://www.babycenter.com/- make sure to get on the weekly email list for milestones
· http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com/- good info for flying with baby
· Childbirth classes- good for husband really so that they can view birth videos and hear about childbirth
FAVORITE BABY ITEMS
· Graco Snap and Go stroller is the best and buys you time to figure out what stroller you really need when the baby is 6 months old or out of their infant car seat (It is so light and convenient for getting around)
· Swing - any kind
· Bouncy seat- this allows for you to take a shower
· Pack and Play with bassinet and changing station
· Muslin blankets-pack of 4 at Target for $29
· Play mat with the toys that dangle so the baby can be stimulated (good dog toy as well)
· Soothie pacifiers- apparently these are the best if you are breastfeeding
· Dr. Browns or Medela bottles
· Lots of burp cloths
BREASTFEEDING
· Pump as much as you can the first few weeks after birth to get your milk supply going and also to freeze some milk for future on the go use or when you are out and have a sitter
· Medela pumps and bottles are my favorite and for the first month I would recommend renting the hospital one but then also get one for yourself to keep like the Medela Pump in Style or Freestyle. I got my Freestyle off of Craigslist for $175 which is normally $380 and I just got new parts
· Pump in the morning if possible to have bottles for the day when you are out and about. Pumping in the morning is the best since that is when your milk supply is the most full.
· Breastfeeding hurts at first and is hard I am not going to lie so try to stick it out for 3 weeks before giving up. I used a nipple shield (hospital made me due to Johnny being a preemie) for the first 7 weeks and it really helped and shielded a lot of the pain. Lactation specialists will be against them however if you are in such pain and just need a little extra help I would recommend getting one. In the end if it keeps you breastfeeding in the long run than by all means I would do it.
ADVICE
· Registering - It is hard and overwhelming because you have no idea what you need or what your baby will like but definitely get some things that you think you will need for the first couple of weeks and then return what you don't need after baby comes. I promise you will be at Babies R US the first month anyways so you have plenty of time to exchange and figure out what you really need.
· Baby station for downstairs- If you have a two story house having a baby station for the downstairs away from the baby room is super helpful and convenient. The pack and play with changing station downstairs is a lifesaver and so is having a bunch of clothes for baby since running up and down the stairs is hard when you are trying to run out of the door. I also couldn't walk up the stairs due to my C-section a lot so it was super helpful for me to have two sets of everything. I still have a toothbrush downstairs.
· Read -Read some of the parenting books BEFORE baby comes. You will be too tired and would have wanted to know a lot of the stuff you are reading. I always read books in the bath or at night but now with baby here I am too tired to read and end up skimming stuff.
· C-section-Don't be afraid of a C-section even though I know it isn't the best way to deliver a baby. I say these because many people don't want one however sometimes your body will not let you deliver naturally and so my advice is for pregnant moms to understand what happens in a C-section and to be open to it. Your delivery will go much better if you are open to it. My recovery was amazing and I was actually really happy my delivery ended up in a C-section after all is said and done. The pros for me was no vaginal issues or healing needed.
· Venturing out- Try to get out of the house with baby for an outing around 3 weeks or sooner not only for your sanity but also to test run being out and about with baby. We went to a winery and it was our first experience dealing with being responsible for a baby outside of the home and it really boosted our confidence that we could do it. We had to quiet the baby when he woke up, feed him and change him in a bathroom without a changing table. That night we felt so much better that we "did it" and now go out all of the time with him.
· Help when baby comes- Let your mother or someone close to your aside from your husband help out when you come home from the hospital. I was super overwhelmed when I came home and having someone to help keep the house organized and help out with the baby saved me.
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