no new mom can do without...

I have been thinking of my friend Lindsay's list of top useful baby items for months. And now that I am qualified to speak for myself, I thought I would put in my two cents worth too...

• the sling!!! I obtained one inexpensively at a consignment sale. I have also used the baby Bjorn too, but MD was happy in the Bjorn sometimes, not happy at other times. The sling is pretty much always a winner. It is made by a CA organic-type company. I can wear MD in a bunch of different ways and his favorite right now is to be cuddled next to me. It works so well! And it carries toddlers too...Check them out online.
• large flannel waterproof lap pads (18"x27")--we used these all the time for the first 6 weeks of his life --and still occasionally--when his diapers (even the expensive brands) leaked. I even had to go out and purchase more (come in packs of two at Babies 'r' Us--different design); I loved the ones I received as a gift so much.
• disposable paper lap pads-- we still use them on the changing table.
• Baby Einstein DVDs--great for the necessary 20 minutes in the morning to get myself dressed
• scented, disposable diaper bags on a roll--this means that dirty diapers can be thrown out anywhere without stinking up someone's trash!
• kimono style shirts for the first several weeks of his life. Few people think about how complicated it is to put a onesie on over the umbilical cord stump. I have a hot-natured baby so this and a diaper (or some socks, if necessary) served for his only clothes until the umbilical cord fell out.
• the jiggly lion stroller toy--this has proved a lifesaver often as I can drive, lean back and grab it by the tail and shake it when MD gets fussy.
• stroller netting/rain cover--since we take so many walks and this is Houston with mosquitoes galore and unpredictable weather, they have come in handy. I am sure I will be using them more in the future too...
• the bouncy seat--however, I think that the main reason MD likes his at all is because it is old and the aquarium water bubbling part is loud and obnoxious (not the expected soothing experience--which I think he would not take to at all!)
• a pacifier holder--could not find one in the stores for the orthodontic pacifiers so I made my own...very simple and a couple of dollars later can mix and match with his outfits. (Baby not included.)
• the hands-free pumping bandeau--lets you do other things like read, take care of baby etc... while pumping.
• the bumbo (another thing I did not register for but found out I needed afterward)--MD loves sitting up and cannot yet do it on his own. He enjoys the view from this snug little chair.
• and of course, the usual things like a bassinette/pack & play, travel stroller system, swing, etc...

Things I have not used so much:

• the lightweight stroller frame--in fact, while I registered for it and received it, I ended up returning it since I want the heavier duty stroller when we are out walking and find it easy enough to take out of the trunk when I need it for stores too...not too heavy to lift out and we have a large car with a large trunk. Perhaps would have been more useful if I did not have the space for the stroller and groceries in my trunk. Many people love this...
• burp cloths--I registered for some, bought some more and found that I use very few since my baby almost never spits up.

I am sure there will be more "rejects" when MD is older and I have tried out some of the other things.

Features I love:

• a baby monitor with a voice activated setting as well as the usual all-noise setting...keeps me from hearing every single stirring
• Diaper Champ--uses regular kitchen trash bags instead of the expensive diaper Geni bags.
• the breastflow bottles that are designed to mimic nursing--makes it easy to go back and forth from bottle to nursing.

Last, but not least...I registered for many of these items at Babies R Us and received them as gifts, but I have also gotten a few from unusual other sources. Check out Once Upon a Child, a resale shop and apparently a national chain and JBF sales (also national) with their biannual consignment sales. Oh, and even better, freecycle--a national network for free recycling of any goods.

our strongest sense

I mentioned in another blog that we have been taking long walks~ primarily to keep the baby happy.

I wish I could convey the beauty inherent in many of them. I had been told a long time ago that smell is our strongest sense. I do believe that as I have walked by pine needles and floods of memories come rushing back. But, the same thing happens with sounds too. Lots of wonderful sounds...like birds in trees, wind in the palm trees or pines, a far away drowsy sound of cars swishing by. Then again, the sight of all the beautiful flowers and bright blue sky brings a smile to my face.

(as did the Stroller Fit group we saw at the park one day while walking ourselves...they take exercise with the stroller seriously!)

Nothing better than a walk on the perfect day...

The gene pool

MD definitely did not inherit his body temperature from his mother! Nor really from his father. Michael and I moved back to Texas, eager to get back to the heat. MD is constantly burning up! Therefore, he really enjoyed our walk and standing in line outside yesterday to vote. I did bundle him up, less because he would complain and more because it was the proper thing to do. And all the prayers for a quiet baby paid off. He was awake but sweet (almost unheard of) while we stood in line. He just kept staring with his big blue eyes at everyone. Must have been the cold weather... I am convinced he did inherit his dashing good looks from his daddy though. At our doctor's visit this week, MD weighed in at 10 lbs. 12 oz. (only 25th percentile in weight) and 23.5 inches long (75th percentile). His length is why he can wear three month old clothing. Although for those of you who saw him on Sunday, you can see the problem with size 3 mos. The pants fall off of him at the waist! We are still struggling with feedings for him to get enough--this changes from feeding to feeding. But the doctor did prescribe him Zantac for possible acid reflux, and we will see in the next two weeks whether it changes our baby from this to this. MD does not nap during the day except rarely (perhaps this is after realizing how some unnamed people made faces at him while he slept peacefully in his bouncy seat one time), but we have managed to get him to sleep briefly in his swing while watching Baby Einstein...that is, if his pacifier does not fall out first. The photo below is not actually of an arab baby, nor a bandit, but of a baby who manages to keep his pacifier in far better when it is bundled into his mouth by the blanket! These last two photos are just because he is so cute!!! (thanks, Bethany and Chris, for the tigger robe)

oops

irony after a soft cooler got caught in the door of our deep freeze

(in case you can't see...the writing under the frost says, "frost free")

To play catch-up

Our dear son is now 2 months old. So much has happened over these past two months--half of which Hurricane Ike has claimed!

Michael David,

You are now showing your personality more than ever. We have an opinionated and strong-willed child--you are the type of child who will cling firmly to your faith and principles when you are older despite opposition. :) You have discovered your hands and occasionally suck on them when desperate for food...however, they only satisfy for minutes. You no longer cry bloody murder at your baths (although we are far from really enjoying them), but you still scream your head off in the afternoon and evening when I change your diapers. (you are far more patient in the morning) You are a very strong little boy! You have been holding your neck up from day one but now you are in control enough to lie on your playmat or my tummy and raise your head, turn it from side to side, and generally look adorable! You are also quite capable of flipping yourself over from front to back (and once the other way round)--which we discovered as early as two weeks. You now do it as a general rule when you are angry that I put you down to nap (sorry, doctors. I do put you on your tummy--we fought and fought to get you to sleep on your back and gave up for a better rested baby). You also can scoot yourself halfway across your crib or the floor when you desire to. Will you be crawling by three months? :) You have quite a set of lungs! And even more amazingly--you can use them for 1, 2, 3 hours at a time! We have decided with those lungs and the barrel chest/slim legs combination, you are destined to be a swimmer. What a sweet smile you have! You have two high dimples next to your mouth. You have begun smiling in response (particularly to your mommy)--most noticeably in the morning when you are cheerful and well rested. The minute I pull out the camera, however, you get serious and focused on the camera. You are even cooing occasionally. After the Hurricane was over and the power came back on, I put you to sleep again in the study (we all get better sleep). I started putting you to sleep earlier and found that you slept as long as before. From about 6 weeks on you have only been waking (normally) once at night around 2:30 or 3:00. However, you have slept through the night the past 4 nights! 9 weeks and very advanced! I suppose all this sleep at night is the problem we have with getting you to nap during the day. Cat-naps of 30 minutes or less is all we seem to get you to take most days. Or should I call them "power" naps? You do not much care for your baby amusements (bouncy seat, swing, playmat, car seat, etc...) unless you are in a decent mood already. You love to sit upright on people's laps. You love to be carried around in the Baby Bjorn. You are definitely a people person! You are constantly alert and very interested in new sights and sounds. Many of your 0-3 month outfits are now outgrown lengthwise. You are now wearing size 1 diapers (and not leaking either). You are putting on weight but more slowly than before. When I weighed you this morning, you are now 11.4 pounds! You will have one buff Mama when this is all over. You love your walks. We have taken them come rain and shine--normally about 3 miles of new sights several times a week. You love being outside... I can't wait to see what else you love in the upcoming months. You are such a blessing! A true gift from the Lord that has brought so much joy! Love, Us

We still have not come up with a fitting nickname for our son. Any suggestions? (Forms of Michael and David are out)

And the photos? trying to play catch-up with the cutest ones from the last 6 weeks.

I look just like my Daddy! (we both can stick out our tongues) I don't know about Daddy's scratchy beard! Hmm.... I found my thumb (but not in the way you would expect) Stretch those arms (love the little red face while stretching!) All grown up I hold my head up really well! to all the Trekkies--the latest in sci-fi pacifiers Oops...falling asleep on Mommy's chest gives me more than a good rest With Grandma Just chillin' out (in an adorable outfit thanks to Aunt Sarah) So peacefully sleeping... ...after starting on the other side of the crib (where the pacifier is) and an hour of crying at the top of my lungs! Combining two undesirable tasks~ bathtime and diaper changing Showing off my lungs

See...I DO smile!

Extreme Makeover

Have any of you ever done a complete clean-up only to realize that nothing looks any different? I undertook to arrange, throw out, and sort my important papers (several drawers in the kitchen and a cabinet in the study as well as our very large 4 drawer lateral filing cabinet) It took 4 days to go through (true, it was in between feeding a baby), and yet when I was done, I remembered how unrewarding it is...

Here is the study before.

Here is the study after. (oh, yes-- I did move the two photo albums--or did you even notice that?)

Notice: while I am far more organized, I have nothing obvious to show for it. What guest opens drawers and cabinets? How disappointing it feels. Can anyone else relate?

I guess I will have to go rearrange my family room.

...and to those in Sunday school who saw our three prayer requests last week, please keep praying. Michael is still fighting a cold. (he was home sleeping most of today) and now little MD is sick. The power has been off intermittently still (we are going on 4 days with solid power though! Woohoo!) And we are still having some feeding issues with MD. Please pray in this last request that I have wisdom to know how to continue after talking to the pediatrician on the 23rd...that God make it abundantly clear!

Not a single day without complete reliance

I have been mulling over my friend Mary's blog (Pray Without Ceasing) since the subject was fresh on my mind even when she wrote it. I was discussing this with close friends several months ago. The five years Michael and I prayed, cried and sought the Lord for a child were as wonderful as they were difficult. It was a time of spiritual growth like no other in my life. It was a time that I realized my complete reliance on the Lord. This was a circumstance that I could have absolutely no control over. When we discovered we were pregnant last year, along with my overwhelming joy, I felt a bit of a valley experience too. Had I not been living on a mountaintop in my relationship with the Lord over the past 5 years? A place where I had to completely rely on Him from day to day for emotional strength? I was so aware of His faithfulness--and His promise to me of a child one day. When that promise was fulfilled, I struggled to recapture the same feeling of complete dependence on Him. I wanted to know what He was going to do in my life next. My wise friends encouraged me to see the time of my smooth pregnancy as God's gift of rest...

Well, God knows that once again I need a constant reminder of my complete reliance on Him. Ever since little MD was born, there has been one source of stress/uncontrollable circumstance after another. The first week was a struggle to get the nursing down. Then, came the uncontrollable crying of my baby. Next, Hurricane Ike and loss of power for 2+ weeks. Should it be any wonder then that I am now struggling again with MD's feedings? God has brought me to my knees before Him many multiple times a day. Right where I should be. Pray without ceasing--can I do any less? I may not have longed for the stressful circumstances of the past weeks, but I am thankful to be jostled out of any complacency and brought back to that intimate relationship I embrace when times are tough.

Powerless when powerless

Cleaning up, putting away the generator, and generally having A/C does make the "powerless" hour on Monday and the 3 hours of no power today a difficult thing to handle. Somehow, you feel like life is back to "normal" and then a day like today reminds you not to take it for granted and how many other people are still a long way from normal.

It's easy to see the humor now...

After 15 days of life with no power and A/C (and yes, here in Houston it was still in the 90s), we did finally have our power restored. And for those who think you never could have done this, it does get easier over time; a routine is established and emotions settle down to prepare for the long-haul.

I received these humorous tidbits via email during the hurricane...but while they produced a wry smile before, they are far easier to laugh at now.

Procedures Concerning Storm and Office Closings:

• Hurricane Category #1: No excuse for being late. Leave earlier to give extra time to avoid fallen trees and limbs.
• Hurricane Category #2: Due to the horizontal rain, you may wear jeans. Requests for use of sick days will be treated suspiciously.
• Hurricane Category #3: Whereas most of the area will be flooded, we suggest you avoid wearing open toe sandals when coming to work. Canoes will be provided to get to the building safely without getting wet.
• Hurricane Category #4: More than likely there will be no electricity. Given that, we will have manual typewriters available to all staff members. Please take extra caution and wear water-proof make-up if Category 4 or above.
• Hurricane Category #5: Velcro will be provided to keep you attached to your chairs when the windows blow out. For those that survive, we will have chocolate cake at 3 p.m. in the kitchen.

&

Lessons I Learned During and After the Hurricane

• No matter how many times you flick the switch, lights don't work without electricity.
• Vienna sausages only appear on the food pyramid during hurricane season.
• Gas mileage is recalculated based on miles per fume.
• Lovebugs do not disappear in 80mph wind gusts. (I wish I could have tested this one)
• There are/were a lot of really big trees around here!
• People will get into a line that has already formed without having any idea what the line is for.
• Telemarketers function no matter what the weather is doing. New Delhi does not check the weather report in Houston. (I had never thought of this one before!)
• Babies can increase their volume to overcome the sound of 14 generators.
• Dirty clothes in an unsupervised hamper multiply at an exponential rate.
• Coffee, spaghetti and frozen pizzas can be made on a grill.
• If you owned a store that sold only ice, chain saws, gas and generators, you would be rich

&

You know you’re from the Gulf Coast when…

(we are so blessed that many of these do not apply to us, but after this hurricane, I can really understand the dry humor)

• You have FEMA’s number on your speed dialer
• You have more than 300 ‘C’ and ‘D’ batteries in your kitchen drawer
• Your pantry contains more than 20 cans of Spaghetti O’s
• You are thinking of repainting your house to match the plywood covering your windows
• When describing your gutted house to a prospective buyer, you say it has three bedrooms, two baths and an open air feel to it
• You are on a first-name basis with the cashier at Home Depot
• You are delighted to pay $3.50 for a gallon of regular unleaded
• The road leading to your house has been declared a No-Wake Zone
• You decide that your patio furniture looks better on the bottom of the pool
• You own more than three large coolers
• You have 2-liter coke bottles and milk jugs filled with water in your freezer
• Three months ago you couldn’t hang a shower curtain; today you can assemble a portable generator by candlelight
• You can recite from memory whole portions of your homeowner’s insurance policy
• You have had tuna fish more than 5 days in a row
• You can rattle off the names of three or more meteorologists who work at the Weather Channel
• Someone comes to your door to tell you they found your roof
• Ice is a valid topic of conversation
• Your drive-thru meal consists of MRE’s and bottled water
• Relocating to South Dakota does not seem like such a crazy idea
• A battery powered TV is considered a home entertainment center
• You don’t worry about relatives wanting to visit during the summer
• Your child’s first words are hunker down and you didn’t go to Ole Miss!
• Having a tree in your living room does not necessarily mean it’s Christmas
• Your kids start school in August and finish in July
• You go to work early and stay late just to enjoy the air conditioning
• Your garage (and you) smell like gasoline
• You're more concerned about someone stealing your generator then your car
• You get excited when you see a utility truck in your neighborhood
• You can create memorable meals with a can of SPAM and one gas burner