Firsts

As we near the three month mark with Jayson, I can't help but think back on all the "firsts" we've experienced with him.

His First Day

His first ride in a carseat

His first tub

Furry Friday: A Great Big Brother

MAN'S BEST FRIEND

They do not ask for all your love,

But give you all of theirs.

The good and bad times in your life,

They willingly will share.

No friend you have could be as true,

And love you without measure,

Yet bring into your daily life,

Such multitudes of pleasure.

They have a way about them,

That's sure to win your heart,

And then before you know it,

You cannot be apart.

Such a blessing when our Lord above,

Puts the puppy dog on earth,

Man's best friend, he is indeed,

That will always show his worth.

~Albert N. Theel

Two Months

I should have written this post back on the 9th but the time has gotten away from me.  Jayson is officially two months old which  means I only have four more blissful weeks with this little cutie.  So the countdown is in until mommy needs Prozac.  I kid, but the thought of putting my little man in daycare has me so conflicted.  Is he going to get proper care? Will he think I've abandoned him?  God forbid anything happen to him, I'll never forgive myself!  Unfortunately in this economy we can't afford for me to be a stay at home mom so its a necessary evil.  But enough Debbie downer talk.  I need to cherish the remaining one-on-one time I have with him and not dwell on the fact that daycare is four weeks away.

So let's see, what have we learned in two months?  How about Jayson's likes and dislikes?

Operation Binky Drop

The husband and I have coined a new term known as "binky drop."  A "binky drop" by definition is the loss of suction on a pacifier leading to its eventual drop from an infant's mouth.  Much like we hear in a Dyson commercial, this loss of suction can prove to be problematic.  The end result is usually detrimental to the sleep pattern of all who reside in the home.  Commence Operation Binky Drop. 

The goal of this covert operation is to replace the pacifier in such a fashion that sleep resumes for all involved.   However this requires a high degree of stealth and precision timing.  At the first sign of trouble on the monitor we must move out quickly.   Too much time spent passing the baton from mom to dad or vice versa could foil the whole operation.   Please also note that this operation does not come free of external complications.   On occasion there is a soiled diaper at play, a squeaky door hinge, or an ill placed dog toy which wreaks havoc.  Not to mention your target is cute and will try to engage you in playful babble sessions.

This mission, which you have no choice but to accept, will need to be repeated several times over the course of an evening and into the wee hours of the morning.  Welcome to Operation Binky Drop.

Debunking Myths

There are two wives tales I have heard recently regarding breast milk.  Yes, I am going to talk about breast milk today.  It's amazing the things you engage in conversation about once you have an infant.

• Myth #1:  breast milk placed in a baby's eye will clear up eye discharge amd help with clogged tear ducts.
  
• Myth #2:  if you are exclusively breastfeeding you won't need additional contraception.  

I am here to tell you that one of these is false and one of these is true.  Want to take a guess? 

Myth #1 is true.  Breast milk has antibiotic properties and is more gentle to an infant's eye than over-the-counter or prescription products.  Consider it a safe homeopathic treatment to try first before running to the doctor for a script.   It has also been said to help clear up diaper rash and eczema when applied topically. 

Myth #2 is false.  Ever heard of "Irish twins"?  Irish twins are babies born nine months apart.  You can become pregnant while exclusively breast feeding even if you don't have a "cycle" yet.   According to the wives tale, women don't resume their cycle for six months while breast feeding. However some women have experienced their cycle resuming as early as two months postpartum.  Either way, if you aren't ready to travel down the labor-and-delivery route again so soon you'll want to employ additional methods of contraception.  

In case you are wondering,  the answer is "no."  I am not expecting again so soon. I have, however,  tried the homeopathic method for clearing up infant eye discharge and it most certainly worked. 

Any other myths or wives tales to share about breast feeding or breast milk?

Tips & Tricks

For those of you tuning in and not looking for posts about babies, sorry to disappoint.  My life right now revolves around a ten pound peanut and so I find my topics tend to center around him as well.  Any who,  with that impromptu disclaimer out of the way let's continue on to "Tips & Tricks."

★  When getting up to nurse (or bottle feed) at some ungodly hour it's helpful to change the diaper first.   The benefit here is two-fold: I found that Jayson will feed more productively when not concentrating on what's in his pants and if he falls asleep while eating I can put him back into the crib without worry of a dirty diaper leading to diaper rash.

★  If you have a male child it's advisable to keep a small wash cloth handy at the changing table.  My husband and I use it as a "pee-pee teepee."  Essentially a urine deflector.   Your floors,  face, and furniture will thank you.

★  This tip is exclusively for breast feeding mothers (sorry).  Tuck a burp cloth into the drop down portion of your nursing bra to catch his chin dribbles and avoid a saturated midsection or soggy bra when feeding time is over. 

★  Small mesh laundry bags are a must to keep from losing his tiny socks,  mitts,  and anything else miniature in the washer and dryer.

★  If your child has relatively slim legs, go with Pampers diapers.  We found that Huggies should be synonymous with husky so if you want to avoid blowouts Pampers are the way to go.

★  If you are breast feeding you may find a nipple shield makes for better latching and easier transition to a bottle later on.  Having two shields in rotation also limits the number of times you have to visit a sink following late night feedings... those moments add up when you are already sleep deprived and just wanting to crawl back in bed.  Plus your lady bits will be less painful.

★  You can tell your baby is eating enough by the number of dirty diapers you go through each day.

★  Babies cry.  Sounds more like a fact than a tip, but its helpful to remind yourself of this when you are feeling guilty about taking a ten minute shower even though your little bundle of joy won't go down for a nap.  He/she will live and actually its good for the lungs.

★  One of the nurses actually said this to me and it sort of piggy backs off the prior tip: "The safest place for your baby is always the crib."  That goes for sleeping and for any moment you just need a break.  Again, babies cry and it won't hurt them.

★  If you choose to pump don't be discouraged if you get only an ounce from each side in the first few tries.  Pump sessions are better if they are short and frequent  (10 minutes long, whenever you can squirrel away the time). They will become more productive over time.

★  No one tells you this but just about every two weeks your baby will go through a growth spurt where it feels like he is feeding every hour.  If you are nursing your chest will go through that whole engorged state again.  Don't give up on feeding though, the milk is there.  If you need to it is ok to supplement during his every hour feeding stage with formula until your milk production catches up.

★  This last one I will share today I learned the hard way.  Don't hold your baby or allow your baby to be held through every nap,  etc.  Yes, babies are meant to be cuddled and loved but if you ever want to have two hands for a task again he/she has to learn to self soothe at times. Especially true if he/she is going to daycare eventually... the daycare provider won't be able to hold your baby 24/7.

Any tips I've forgotten or that you'd like to share feel free to comment below.