A Mother's Day Gift

Yes, I got mine already! My husband was too excited about it to hold off giving it for me for a couple more weeks! He was so proud - and with good reason, it turned out great and I love it!

He took one of my favorite pictures of Grayson as of late, he photoshopped it like mad, changed it so it looks like a painting instead of a picture. And he had it put on canvas! I took a picture and it is below... I can't wait to find a place to hang it in the house. I think we may have found a spot. We will see how it works.

So, today I have kept going on trying to get Grayson to sleep in his crib. After 20 minutes he woke up and was in the worst mood the rest of the morning and beginning of the afternoon. I just put him down for another nap at 3pm, back in his basinet because he needs to get some real sleep in, otherwise tonight is going to suck!

Now I'm going to get some exercise in. Though, I should start doing it at night like I'm going to be doing it when I go back to work next week - but his nap times are perfect because otherwise I will be cleaning, and that isn't really any fun. I know you are going to find this silly - but I have pulled out my DDR mat and games and have been doing that for a couple of weeks now. It's obviously working, as you can see my ticker - I have lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks! It's going great.

We have decided we are going to get some professional pictures done of the 3 of us soon, so I have something to work towards with my working out. We need a family picture for daycare, and I just want a really good picture of all of us because I think we are going to have it put on canvas like my Mother's Day gift!

Oh no - it's only been 15 minutes but Grayson is fussing already! I guess I need to go check on him...

And the Countdown Begins

One week from today I will be back at work. I can't believe it. 3 months of being out of work

has just flown by. I am starting to come to terms with it, even though it is still killing me inside.

I know all the good things that are going to come out of this, and am still dreading all the bad as

well. But, getting a paycheck again, and being able to get a new car for the husband, and being

able to wear something other than sweats on a daily bases is going to be nice.

Tomorrow we are going to the daycare to drop off all the things the baby is going to need there

and to hang out for a little bit to get a feel for a day in the life there. Then, on Thursday I am

going to be take Grayson to the daycare in the morning & leave him there for 1/2 a day. I think

that is going to be more for me than him really, but we are going to do it all the same!

What is weird for me right now is that I am filling out all this paperwork for the daycare, telling them Grayson's likes/dislikes/schedules/etc. But, soon enough they are going to be telling ME

about his likes/dislikes/schedules/etc. And it just bugs me to know they are going to know

more about my kid on any given day then I am.

I just keep telling myself, he is going to school - not daycare. And just like in a few short years, when he is in school every day, this is suppose to happen. And as I sit here, just watching him nap

in his swing, I hope I am doing the best thing that I can for him and my family.

2 Month Doctor Appointment

Today was Grayson's 2 month doctor appointment.

It went well over all! He weighs 12 lb. 13 oz, and

23 inches long. We were told he is well advanced in

holding his head up and he did so for about 2 minutes at the office today! It was so great to see him do that in front of someone that wasn't me! Especially the doctor. I was so proud.

But his eczema is really bad, and just moisturizing

2-3 times a day like we are are isn't working. So

he is going on a steroid lotion for 5 days. Hopefully

that will help, we will see! He also has cradle cap.

Which I had suspected, and we have been using a

cradle cap shampoo for a week now, but the doctor

is having us use a grown-up dandruff shampoo,

Selsun Blue. So we are going to give that a shot - very carefully. We also have to use a toothbrush on his head to try to work on the dry scaly parts.

I feel kinda horrible that he has all these problems. I know, none of them are exactly my fault,

but still.

Then the shots - they went okay, better than I thought they would, but they still sucked. He now

is screaming like crazy, a horrible "I'm in pain!" scream, and he isn't really sleeping like I heard a

lot of other babies do, but he is napping on and off. We wont be doing much today, no going out

or tummy time or anything.

I am hoping he will be more like himself tomorrow, because we have to go out shopping and get

the things we are going to need for the family/daycare to have to take care of my little man

when I go back to work in a week and 2 days...

A Sick Baby

So, as I expected, Grayson got my stomach bug yesterday. He wasn't eating well, he was spitting

up (even more than he normally does with the reflux), he was so fussy nothing could calm

him down and he had a fever. My poor little man. Because of this, he slept horrible through the night. Even swaddled, he was up at 11pm (went down at 8pm), 4am & around 8am. He

seems to be feeling better this morning, thank goodness!

Now, the reason I say around 8am, is because I heard him making noise through the monitor

around 7:15-7:30am. I checked the monitor every time he made some noise, but he never was

crying. So I didn't get up. Finally by 8am I couldn't take it anymore, I wasn't sleeping anyway,

and I went into check on him.

I looked over the edge of the basinet, and just watch him, he was happy and smiling and cooing

at the ceiling fan! This went on for another 3-4 minutes before he finally looked at me, and gave

me the biggest smile ever. I wish I could have taken a picture, it was awesome. So, now I'm

wondering if we are getting to a new stage where he doesn't have to wake up screaming. I

guess only time will tell!

I finally un-swaddled him, changed him, made a bottle and brought him back to my bed. Where

he just sat on me and stared at my ceiling fan and smiled and laughed. I find this so funny and cute.

I am going to work on photos.

Missing My Baby...

So, an e-friend of mine got me thinking yesterday - about how much I already miss Grayson,

even when he is still around me all the time! Yes, after a long day with him, when the husband

gets home, I am very willing to hand over the baby for some non-baby time. Even if it's just to

cook dinner, or put the laundry away. But, then 8pm rolls around, Grayson is going to bed or is in

bed, and before I know it, it's 9-10pm and I miss him. Like physically have pains that I wish I could

go into his room at that moment, wake him up, and spend some time with him.

Of course I do not do this, what kind of crazy mom would. But that doesn't change the fact that

I want to.

Now, in a week and a few days I'm going to have to give my child up, 5 days a week, to either

family or strangers, to take care of him. For 8+ hours a day. Then, I will get him home, and have

all of 2 hours with him, most likely 2 crabby hours, and then off to bed he will go. Thinking about

this makes me feel so bad for wanting to give him up at all, even after a long hard day with him.

Apparently I am having a much harder time with this going back to work thing then I ever

imagined I would. Seriously, how can I leave this cutie for someone else to take care of???

A Little Under the Weather

I have some type of stomach bug. I started feeling crappy yesterday, and woke up today feeling

just as bad. Grayson, of course, was up at 6am and wouldn't go back to sleep, so I brought him

downstairs, so he wouldn't wake my husband, and we ended up falling asleep on the couch together

for a little bit.

But, then he went down for his 10am nap like a good boy and slept for 2.5 hours. I slept for an hour

and a half myself! It was nice.

Today the daycare lady called to set up our coming in for some trials next week. It's so sad that this

is my last full week home alone with Grayson. We are going in Tuesday, as a family, to drop off all

his stuff and to hang out for a bit. Then Thursday morning I'm going to take him in and leave him

for 1/2 the day, as a trial run. I'm so sad.

Though, I did email the accounting department to tell them that I'm going back to work on Monday

April 26th (I'm off next week using vacation time), and it was kind of nice knowing that people cared

that I was coming back, and that I'm going into the real world soon. Though, I am nervous as heck

about it. And the fact that I will start getting my full paycheck again starting Monday is nice too!

Once I go back on May 3rd, I will have been out 3 months to the date pretty much. I was put on

bedrest February 2nd, and I went in 1/2 day to clean things up before going home until after the

baby was here - I can't believe it will have been 3 months since all of that happened.

Well, Grayson is taking his afternoon nap in his swing (with the hairdryer on too) - so I should go

do some chores or something. Yes I don't feel good, but my house isn't going to clean itself!

2 Months and Counting

I can't believe that my baby is 2 months old today! These

2 months have just flown on by, and I have to go back to work

in 2 weeks. That sucks, but Grayson is doing great and over

all is a very happy baby!

For a gift to mommy, Grayson is currently napping - in his

own room - and has been sleeping for 1.5 hours now. I'm

sure he will be up soon, but I have enjoyed this time. After

his nap, I think we are going to go run some errands. I

have to run to the liquor store, Target, and to VS for some

new undies! (I know, you really care).

But first, I have gotten some chore done around the house,

and I'm going to do a little work out before he gets up - I

hope anyway. So, I should get a move on and do all that now.

A Moment alone...

My husband took Grayson with my MIL to visit his grandmother, she is dying & he wanted her

to meet her great-grandchild before that happens. I don't know her, so I had no reason to go - but

that just means that I get a couple of hours to me!

Sadly all I want to do is clean the house! But, I'm not going to. I had some chili for dinner,

and now I'm going to do something that I can't do during the day while I have the baby that doesn't

want to nap unless he is laying on you! I just don't know what that is yet....

So, I bought a pair of sneakers. This is a big deal because I hate sneakers. So much so, I don't even

know the last time I bought a pair. I also dropped $100 on these sneakers. Which, in theory isn't

a big deal, because I spend a lot more than that all the time on shoes, but since I hate sneakers, it's

a big deal! I got the new easytone reebok. I am in love with them! I can actually feel them working.

You should get a pair. They are amazing.

Okay, I think I'm going to play some DDR before my husband and child get home!

Date Night!

Straight No Chaser Website, Check them out!

So, we had a great time at the Straight No Chaser concert last night! And I was really

excited to hear they will be doing a show in Atlantic City in July/August this summer! We

are looking into tickets now! It's going to be a little road trip date. :)

Date night was so fun. We had dinner at this awesome little restaurant 'Cork'. Great

food and drinks were had. And a little jazz band was there too, it was nice to have some live

music while enjoying some drinks. Good times. Then off to the show... they had some technical difficulties, but they worked through them and still put on a wonderful show!

My sister watched Grayson for us for the night - she did well, and made a very important

comment to me before she left. She said "your kid is hard work" --- well, to all those people

that think being a stay-at-home parent isn't actual work, I give you that comment, from a

person who was alone with a baby for only 6 hours. She did well though, my kid was in one

piece and happily sleeping when we got home.

Today we hace to hit up Babies R Us. Grayson has eczema, and it's only getting worse and spreading to the top of his head! I'm going to get this shampoo I saw and hopefully it will help. We shall see!

The baby belly...

Well, I guess at this point it is more like the "mommy pouch" than anything else.

I hate it. And I can't seem to find anything to do that even remotely makes it go away. What

the heck!

While pregnant I gained 34lbs total. It took all of 2 weeks to get down to the point where

I was 3lbs from pre-pregnancy weight. I have gone back and forth since then from it being gone

and coming back. Not a big deal, but what about this stupid tummy thing! Putting on my jeans

just makes me cry, because yes now I can completely get them on, and even get them buttoned,

though it isn't completely comfortable - but then I have this huge ugly muffin top that just makes

me want to cry.

I'm going back to work in a couple of weeks, and I wear jeans on a daily bases - what am I suppose

to do now? Go out and drop lots of money on new jeans? That just makes me so sad - will I ever get to wear my own jeans again?

I work out 5 days a week, sometimes 6, why isn't it going away???

On a totally different topic, today Grayson and I helped a friend do her wedding registry. It

was so much fun! Doing it brought back memories of doing my own registry - and how wrong

we were when doing it. I am so happy I was able to tell her what we use, and don't use, and

I didn't let those sales people bully her into just putting everything in the store on there either. I

hope I get to help someone do a baby registry soon!! :)

Good Night, But A Rough Day

So, last night went awesome! Grayson fell asleep a little before 9pm. He

woke up at 4:30am! I couldn't believe it, it was great. Then after a change

and a feeding he was back to sleep by 5am and then slept until 7am.

Our mornings always go great - but by 12-1pm he will not stop crying. The main

problem being that he just doesn't want to nap at all. If he falls asleep it's for no more then 20 minutes.

As you can see we found the perfect outfit for these times.

This Saturday my husband and I are going on a date! It's the second one since

Grayson was born. My sister is going to be watching the baby for the night.

I'm so excited because we are going out to dinner & to see Straight No

Chaser! This amazing a cappella group, go ahead - look them up and listen!

I love my kid, but you need to get away every once in a while for the sanity.

Though, it's going to suck when I am back at work and wanting to do things

without the baby too. Because, I wont be with him day and night anymore and

I will just feel guilty trying to get away. I guess I will cross that bridge when I

get to it.

We started the Zantac

So, I didn't want to wait until Friday to start the medicine for Grayson's tummy

issues. I can't stand seeing my 7 week old in so much pain! So, the doctor called in the

Zantac. He doesn't seem to like taking it, but I try to explain to him (to no avail) that it

is going to help!

Grayson is in his Flyers outfit that his Aunt Colleen & Uncle Jay got him! Tonight is

game one of the Flyers/Devils play-off series. LET'S GO FLYERS!

Grayson also held his head up pretty high and for a long bit of time during tummy time

today! I am so proud of him!

Last night, we swaddled again, but it didn't go as well as the night before. We got a 3 hour

stretch, then only 2 hours, then 4. So, it wasn't the worst night we have had, but it wasn't

the best either! Can't wait to see what tonight brings.

I have to go back to work soon. I hate that. I go back May 3rd. It's coming so fast. I

never thought in a million years I would ever be one of those mom's that wanted to stay

home. And I don't even know that I would want to be home full time - maybe just work

part-time. But that isn't an option. Grayson will be with my mother-in-law on Monday's,

in daycare Tuesday-Thursday, and with my father on Friday's. I don't care about the

daycare TOO much (of course I do to some extent) but I am beyond jealous that my

mother-in-law is going to have my kid one day a week. My dad having him only bugs

me a little, not as much though. I hope I get over it, and soon. I don't want it

to eat me alive.

I've started a blog

Welcome to a small corner of my world! I've started a blog to kind

of keep track of my newly crazy life! I'm married - have been since November 28, 2008.

I have a new baby boy with my wonderful husband - Grayson Peter -

who was born on February 20, 2010 at 4:14pm.

He is amazing! Though, I will admit, this motherhood thing is much harder

than I thought it would be.

My poor little boy was diagnosed with reflux.

I know, not the worst thing in the world, but it sucks to see him in so much pain.

We have been on a "rice cereal in the formula" trial since Friday.

It seems to have made things a little better, but I think we will end up having Grayson on

some medicine by the end of the week. Which sucks, but anything to help the pain he

is so obviously in!

Grayson reached a new milestone as of yesterday though!

He slept through the night! For a child that is 7 weeks old, the 6 hours that we got

from his counts as sleeping through the night. And he would have most likely slept longer,

but I had to wake him up to eat - I imagined he was starving and felt so guilty.

Before last night he was waking up pretty much every 2 hours. Sometimes 3 if we were lucky.

We weren't most nights.

What changed you ask? We swaddled him! Well, we started swaddling him again.

We stopped at maybe 3-4 weeks because he wasn't sleeping through the night,

or even more than 1.5 hours at that point, and we assumed that he didn't like it.

Boy were we ever wrong!

It's 10:50pm on night two of swaddling again, and he has been down since about 9:30pm.

Hoping for another great night here! Another awesome milestone for Grayson is that he is sleeping

in his crib for the first time tonight! We have tried to get him to do so before, but he always

screamed and would never actually sleep. He was in the basinet part of him Pack N Play

up until now. It's just great to see him growing in so many ways!