Life Archives - Page 23 of 26

nine weeks

September 13, 2011

Levi is nine weeks old today! There’s no denying that he’s officially outgrown the newborn stage. Look at the little rolls of chub starting to develop on his arms and legs. Aren’t they delish?

The bandages on his sweet lil’ thighs are from the vaccinations he received at his 2-month exam this morning. He was such a trooper…until it was time for the shots. I’ve never heard that particular type of shriek from him before. He even screeched when he was given the rotavirus vaccination by mouth. The nurse said Levi was the first baby to not like the sugary sweet drink. *Sigh*

Oh! And it turns out our bathroom scale did give us an accurate measurement of his weight last week – he is officially 12lbs!

Also, I took his monthly portrait yesterday, September 12th, but haven’t had time to edit it yet. It’ll be up this week, though. I have to say, it’s absolutely insane how much bigger he looks in it compared to his one month picture. Just wait til you see it!

View past weeks here:

8 weeks
7 weeks
6 weeks
4 weeks

{blabla doll from Layla Grayce}

six weeks

August 23, 2011

Levi was born six weeks ago today! I’m not sure I’ll ever fully be able to wrap my head around the fact that I gave birth to him. I wonder if it will ever not feel surreal.

See Levi at one month and four weeks.

{iPhone photo}

guest post: surviving baby’s first year

August 17, 2011

While I take some time to bond with my little man, please enjoy guest posts written by moms and moms-to-be from some of my favorite blogs. Today, I’m happy to introduce one of my besties, Jessica, who doesn’t have a blog…yet!

Hello, I’m Jessica. PJ and I have been friends for 13 years. I can’t believe it has been that long – seems like yesterday, I chose PJ as my little sister in our sorority. Well, maybe not yesterday. Life has certainly changed since those carefree days in Boston. I am now a wife and mother of a 1-year old son (Mr. A) and 2-year old golden retriever (Mia Girl). We live in the suburbs about an hour outside of New York City.

While PJ is getting acquainted with her new little man, I volunteered to share some of my motherhood experiences – the good, bad, ugly and just downright crazy!

A few weeks ago, we celebrated my son’s first birthday. My husband and I spent each hour replaying the events of the year before. Yes, the memory of my 27 hours of labor is still quite vivid.

We took Mr. A to his favorite restaurant for blueberry pancakes. It was a great day. The weather was perfect and thankfully he took his morning nap and was in a great mood for his birthday lunch. I had a smile on my face all day. However, I have to admit that my celebratory mood was a bit more about me than him.

I did it! I successfully survived his first year – and it felt real good.

I was not even close to being prepared for how challenging the first year of motherhood turned out to be. At every turn, I doubted my own capabilities and patience. Was I really cut out to be up all night with a crying baby, have spit up and poop fly at me at 3am, sit in our living room day-after-day playing with the same toys? These questions still haunt me.

Every night before I go to bed, I check on Mr. A sleeping soundly in his crib (it was a LONG 8 months before he slept through the night…we’ll save that experience for another post!). Watching his sweet face for just a few minutes often gives me the fuel I need to recharge. During those moments, I simply get to enjoy him.

I loved Mr. A the moment he was born but I have to admit that it has taken me his entire first year to really appreciate him and enjoy his presence in my life.

As I finally climb into bed and get comfortable, Mia Girl (all 65lbs of her) jumps in and snuggles up as if to say “my turn now” … a mother’s job is never done!

{image of Mr. A’s first birthday party courtesy of Jessica}

four weeks

August 9, 2011

I can’t believe that Levi was born four weeks ago and that in three days he will be one month old. While I am still adjusting to the dramatic change in our lifestyle, it’s getting harder and harder to picture our lives without him.

{my photo taken today}

this week in photos

August 5, 2011

Little Levi turned 3 weeks old this past Tuesday. An easy-going baby, I think he’s going through a growth spurt because he’s been unusually fussy these past couple of days. It also seems as though he’s starting to really look around and check out his surroundings. He’s definitely more alert than he was last week! Unfortunately, he often chooses to be alert and awake when we want him to be sleeping (nap time and night time), and when he’s overtired it’s that much harder for him to fall asleep.

It’s hard to believe that on Monday I transition from “new mom” to “working mom.” Thankfully, I get to ease back into it with two weeks of part-time employment. Since I work from home I’ll still get to be with Levi, although I hope to find a nanny who will come to the house and help out. JB and I briefly considered bringing him to nearby daycare center, but I just can’t stand the thought of being apart from him so soon. I’m addicted to that face!

When did you go back to work after having a baby?

guest post: nostalgia

July 26, 2011

While I take some time to bond with my little man, please enjoy guest posts written by moms and moms-to-be from some of my favorite blogs. Today, I’m happy to introduce Ashley from BabyMine!

I was browsing the new toy section of Barnes & Noble the other day and spotted Chatter the Telephone atop a shelf. It turns out that Fisher Price has reissued many of their classic toys from the ’60s and ’70s! Somehow bright, rainbow plastic seems far more appealing when it conjures up one’s own youth. After all, who didn’t have the doughnut-like Rock-a-Stack?

Seeing them made me think about my own favorite toys. From Fisher-Price, I loved my phonograph (a little orange and brown record-player with its very own handle) and the Little People barn (a playset that made a moo sound when the barn doors opened). But it’s hard to say what I loved most. Now, of course, I’m looking forward to seeing what captivates our little boy.

What were your favorite toys growing up?

Congratulations to PJ and JB! Can’t wait to see the baby (lucky fella that he is)! –Ashley, babymine.net

And a big congratulations to Ashley and her husband, Aron, who welcomed a son, Hudson Paxtyn, on July 17th!

Basic Fun Two Tone Television Fisher Price Classic Pull Toy: Chatter Telephone Basic Fun Fisher Price Change a Tune Piano Basic Fun Fisher Price Record Player

guest post: a letter to your expectant-mom self

July 19, 2011

While I take some time to bond with my little man, please enjoy guest posts written by moms and moms-to-be from some of my favorite blogs. Today, I’m happy to introduce Jen from Parcel + Paper and The Stationery Boutique!

Hi! My name is Jen, and I’m so happy to be contributing to Bunny & Dolly. I am an Air Force wife with three (very active) little boys. I am a mom by day, by night, by always… but I try to squeeze in some time to exercise and operate a small stationery and creative packaging business from home.

Being a mom is by far the best job I’ve ever had. Also the hardest. All of the books on what to expect are all well and good, but I think the best advice and preparation for being a mom would have come from, well, me. Six years later, that is. If I could go back in time I would like to leave a letter to my 28-year-old expecting self. It would probably go something like this…

Dear Expectant Mom,

You are about to be a mom! You’ve read all the books on what to expect for delivery. Are you ready for what happens next? You will have your share of advice from others, but you and your husband get to decide what works best for you and your family. Decisions, decisions… Breastfeed, or not. Stay-at-home, or go back to work. Let him cry it out, or rock him to sleep.

One thing is for sure, those first few days at home with baby will be haaard! No one will sleep, your boobs will hurt, you’ll wonder if having a baby was a really a good idea. Did I mention your BOOBS WILL HURT? Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask a friend or sister or grandma or neighbor (someone you trust, obviously) to come over for an hour so you can shower. Accept meals from friends or family. Sleep when baby sleeps (this will not work when you have older kids, however). You’ll be tempted to do some laundry or dishes when the baby sleeps, but get over it and get some sleep. The mess will be there later, sleep may not.

Make sure to pack plenty of extra clothes if you head out of the house with baby. He WILL have a diaper related explosion and potentially ruin that adorable outfit from Baby Gap. Bring something for you, too, because do you really think you won’t be covered in baby barf at some point during the day? Burp rags are good, but he’ll get’cha when you least expect it.

You will feel frustration, you will feel guilt. You will wish you could go back in time, when you could sleep in on weekends and go out to dinner with your husband. Adult interaction will plummet to a near halt and you might feel alone. I am only telling you these things because I want you to know that these feelings are NORMAL!

But, despite all this, there will be a defining moment when you look at your child. In this moment you will see his life flash before your eyes. You will vow to protect him. You will fall in love.

One more thing… The days will seem so long, but the years will go by so fast. Cherish every moment, the good, the bad and the ugly. You are going to love being a mom. Trust me, I know.

Love,
Mom of Three

If you could write a letter to your expectant-mom self, what would you say?

sitting, waiting, wishing

July 9, 2011

Today, July 9th, is my due date. Forty weeks ago I thought it might be cool to have a baby born on 7/9/11 because his birthday would be on consecutive odd numbers. But today I’m just scared, and all I can wonder is if my life going to completely change in less than 24 hours.

Over the last couple of weeks, JB and I have been talking about whether we’re “ready.” According to my husband, it doesn’t really matter; the baby is going to come when the baby wants to come. And when our little guy arrives, we’ll be as “ready” as we can be. JB doesn’t think that sitting and waiting in anticipation will make us any more prepared. All it does, he thinks, is make us feel more anxious.

For the most part, I agree. I think I’m done waiting. I’m certainly over not knowing when this is going to happen (and of people asking about it), and I’m tired of feeling uncomfortable in my own body. But I also don’t feel ready for the next step… and the step after that… and the one after that. I’m nervous for the delivery and for taking care of a newborn and for successfully raising a happy and healthy son.

Since Wednesday I’ve been experiencing new sensations — lower pelvic and back cramping, brief bouts of nausea — and I worry that I’m not taking these symptoms seriously. Am I in labor? At my doctor’s appointment on Tuesday I was already 4cm. What if I don’t realize I’m in labor until the very last second and then I give birth on the way to the hospital? (By the way, having a baby in the car is NOT an option. It’s a lease.) When do we start timing my contractions? What if I’m having cramping but no contractions? Everybody has been reassuring me that I will absolutely know when I am in labor, but I have convinced myself that I won’t. I am completely paranoid.

JB suggested we run some errands and treat the day as if it were any other instead of sitting at home and waiting for something to happen. But in the back of my mind, I will continue to wonder if our little man will be one of the elite 5% of babies who makes his entry into this world on his due date.

To be continued…

{self-portrait taken outside my house}

more pregnancy pet peeves

July 8, 2011

As we get closer to the due date, I’m finding myself feeling more and more frustrated with these sorts of remarks… especially when they come from family members:

“Requesting” that I have the baby on a certain day so that it will be more convenient for them to travel to Omaha. Not possible, sorry.

Calling to ask if I’ve had the baby yet. Um, we will tell you before we tell anybody else, don’t worry!

Asking if we can schedule the bris at a certain time so that it will be more convenient for them to attend. No.

So not only am I overwhelmed with fear about giving birth and caring for a newborn, I now have to worry about other people’s schedules.

What comments annoyed you the most as you endured the final days of your pregnancy?

For other things to not say to a pregnant woman, click here and here.