Three Months and it's Golden!

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I tell you it’s like a whole new life.  Naomi is out of the”wah-wah phase” and into the smiles and almost giggles phase.  She is starting to go to bed earlier (8pm–6am on Sunday night.  Can we please make this a habit?) and will usually take a nap after she eats in the morning so I can sleep a little longer too.  She is more aware of her surroundings and loves to watch TV and is now starting to notice toys. 

Naturally, we had to go out and buy her a little play gym to celebrate!  She finally gets her own pink pony! :)

Just the $19.00 version from WalMart will do, thank you very much.

But then see how she chooses basketball over her play gym. :o)

 

Last week, she watched almost an entire episode of Full House while we ate dinner with Hylan’s parents. (Um, trying to relive my childhood, anyone? She'll either grow up to be just like me or despise me for it all!  Ha ha!!)

A few weeks ago Naomi discovered her hands.  She likes to stuff a whole fist in her mouth, or sometimes just lick it like a lollipop, but the cutest of all is when I caught her sucking her thumb.

 (around 10 weeks)

Hooray for self-soothing!

Another funny Naomi-ism is when she's in her swing she prefers to discover her binky on her own.  If you try to shove it in her mouth she resists and fusses, but if you put it just below her mouth she lowers her head and slurps it in. This has happened so many times it's just comical and it's cute game to watch.  I'm all for her first signs of independence.  You go girl!

I had started to write an update on Naomi last week, but I feel like she has changed so much since then that it no longer applies.  She seems to be right on par with the developmental milestones, and I’m just grateful and feel more and more blessed every time she flashes a smile.

I don’t feel resentful, depressed, and moody as much anymore and really am starting to enjoy this thing called motherhood.  Yesterday, I’d say, was basically the perfect day.  I was able to eat a decent breakfast, lunch, and dinner, did resistance mat work, strolled Naomi around the park in the morning, fed her, got her good naps, even clipped her nails without incident, showered, brushed my teeth and even got dressed and put on makeup all  by 1:00 pm (I may or may not have the habit of staying in my house in my house clothes a lot of the time, especially on tired days), went to the grocery store (alone with her for the first time which is huge for me because the thought of that overwhelmed me so much before), unloaded the groceries, went for an evening stroll with Naomi and Hylan, and even tested Pillsbury recipes for the Bake-off, not to mention, read a little, wrote a little, and watched TV a little!  Wow, I’d say that’s exceptionally normal and awesome.  Feeling well-rested is invigorating.      

It wasn’t too long ago when brushing my teeth and even going to the bathroom were accomplishments, to say the least.

I am definitely a fan of the “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” book by Dr. Matt Weissbluth.  Two of the most important things I've learned are sleep begets sleep and babies will become overtired after more than 2 hours of wakefulness. 

With that said, sometimes our nap timing is just off.  This is how I learned what Naomi’s overtired cry sounds like.  It is the loudest most piercing cherry red tomato-faced cry you ever did hear.  I certainly can empathize with tiredness because it makes me sad too!

Naomi’s hungry cry is a much more tolerable “wah, wah.”  Rarely is she over-hungry but sometimes she gets hungry and tired which can produce the piercing cherry red tomato-faced cry.       

Oh, and the aforementioned agony cry also applies to the torture of immunizations—gosh, I feel your pain little one, no one loves being pricked by needles. 

Also, there may or may not have been an injury to her finger that Hylan has sworn me to secrecy about that caused her poor voice to go hoarse from so much crying.  That was a very sad night last week, but don’t worry she’s all healed up—finger and voice!

Anyway, church has been quite a struggle for the past several weeks (but not last week because we only had Sacrament Meeting and she was an angel: observing, eating, sleeping, and not crying the whole way through!)   

Previously, (and maybe futuristically but let’s hope it’s better now) Naomi hated church because she didn't sleep well in her car seat.  Too hot, uncomfortable, or not enough movement, I guess, but she wouldn't stay asleep, which obviously produced the overtired cry and consequently me traipsing around the chapel in some of my not so Mommy-friendly heals.  I never knew how active the foyer and church hallways were during meetings because I've almost never had any reason not to be in the chapel or a classroom during meetings.  Hmm...    

It kind of stressed me out.  Especially a week ago Sunday when I had to teach Relief Society and Hylan had to pretend to be Joseph Smith for the Primary (we were sure the beard would confuse the kids, but they got over it).  That took quite a bit of help and coordination but it worked out just fine.  

 

 You can't see it, but he folded his collar and tied up his tie in a bow to look more authentic like this:

And while I'm on book recommendations, the other book my sister gave me to read was Dr. Harvey Karp's, "The Happiest Baby on the Block."  I read this when I was pregnant and thought his methods made sense.  

Now, after having put the 5 S's into practice, I have definitely found swaddling to be absolutely critical, along with sucking, shushing (or white noise), and swinging.  The "side or stomach" position I haven't found particularly helpful or unhelpful with soothing, but tummy time sure has improved her spinal flexibility and neck/back strength!

I tell you, it was only a few months ago that I had no idea what people were talking about when they said "tummy time."  You sure do learn a lot in a short amount of time.  And some days, you feel like a pro, but a lot of days you may feel like you know nothing, or at least that's how I've felt.  

So mommies, have there been particular baby phases that you've loved more than others?  Because for now, I am loving being out of that newborn phase (or, the 4th trimester as Dr. Karp calls it)!  I'm also loving feeling a little more normal, though, if I'm being honest, I don't think I'm totally healed from pregnancy and delivery, but it's sooo much better than it was and I feel much more capable of dealing with it.  

It's hard work, but I'm making fitness progress too, particularly with core strength.  And that feels good!  So, now it's time to ramp it up with the cardio!

pensive Naomi

happy baby

Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do

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I have theme songs for my children.  

Naomi’s goes like this: (set to the “My Little Pony Tales” theme song)

My Little Nomie, my little Nomie.  My little Nomie girl! 

Kingo’s goes like this: (set to “Hava Nagila”—allegro or presto!)*

                

          Bubba, bubba ba Kingo, bubba ba Kingo, bubba ba Kingo Kat!

    (2)  Bubba, bubba ba Kingo, bubba ba Kingo, bubba ba Kingo Kingo Kat!

*Don’t ask me why I had this melody in my head because I have no idea how it got there, but I must have heard it in a movie, TV show, or commercial.  

FYI, if you ever have some tune in your head and you have no idea what it’s called, you can play it on a virtual piano on Musipedia.  It's genius!  I couldn't believe it figured out the song...that I played on my smart phone, notwithstanding my weak piano skills. 

I’m currently working on a ditty that involves both of my children in the same song.  It’s a work in progress but goes a little something like this: (set to “My Buddy and Kid Sister”)

         My kitty, my kitty, wherever I go, Kingggg-goes. My kitty, my kitty. 

         My Kingo and me.

  (2)  Kid Nomie, kid Nomie. Wherever I go, she’s gonna go. 

         Kid Nomie, kid Nomie. Naomi and me!  

 I never had one of these dolls, by the way, did you?

Yup, my brain is an endless repository of jingles, theme songs, and random music that I can't name.  

By the way, does anyone else remember "David the Gnome."  I loved this show, but Hylan is not familiar with it.  Someone else out there must have watched it too! 

Good ole reliable Swift!

I think having a kid has brought out my inner kid out and suddenly I'm making up songs for any and everything we do during the course of a day.  That, or the tiredness just makes me plum loopy.

Anniversary, chapter 7

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You know, I used to think being sick was annoying.  It is.  But now I'm more inclined to think that being sick and child-less was a luxury!  

When I left full-time employment at BYU, I also left several weeks worth of sick days on the table.  Too bad there are no sick days for the moms.  

So, that's been my week so far, sick and tired and hauled up indoors.

Last Saturday, however, was pretty much our first real outing as a family (not counting grocery store trips or visits to my sister's).  It was our 7th wedding anniversary, so we made a small trip up to City Creek in SLC.      

It was a grey, overcast sort of day, so we bought Naomi two hats at Gymboree to protect her from the elements.  Here she is with Hylan in the baby bjorn, our little pink smurf!

This was the outfit she was wearing and I think it just became my new favorite. Pink corduroy overalls?!  I die, I die!

Also, we splurged on some Godiva chocolates.  Hylan got a key lime pie bon bon and I had a dark chocolate covered strawberry.  I thought it was a mistake when the lady said, "that will be $9.31."  What?  I mean, it was good chocolate, but not nine dollars good.  Lesson learned.  Ha ha.

We didn't spend too much time walking around, but we did enjoy spending the most time at the Disney store and randomly met up with some friends there, just proving that great minds think alike!  

After City Creek, we hit up IKEA and had a romantic dinner of Swedish Meatballs and Lingonberry Juice.  It was free dinner with purchase day, and we just happened to pick up some bookshelves that would work perfectly as benches for our basement.  Later, I saw this blog (via IKEA on twitter, via pinterest), and was like, hey we totally had that idea too.  We are geniuses.  

from the link above

As you can see pictured below, our basement is still a work in progress, but the idea is that this space will be for dining and entertaining and this bench seating will reduce the need for extra chairs.  Maybe I'll take better pictures as it gets more finished.  We do plan on adding cushioned seating like from the pic above.

Maybe next time I'll turn on a light to take a picture too.

Anyway, I get a pass on poor photography because I'm still sick and frankly, I don't want to go back downstairs to take another picture.  But then again, it's not like I try to take awesome pictures anyway, because I just use my phone so I can quickly upload them.  And besides, my window of free time is getting shorter and shorter as right now my baby is sleeping.  I should probably use this time to shower, but oh well, I'm blogging, and who cares?

So, that was pretty much our super fantastic awesome 7th wedding anniversary day.  Oh, I did forget the best part was that Hylan took over baby duties in the morning and made french toast for breakfast all before I left for a massage at Massage Envy to work out some tension in my neck.  That was a really nice way to start the day.  I love Hylan.  I wish he didn't have to be gone so much working!  He's a great daddy. 

Here are some more cute baby pics, bath time and smiles.  

Naomi loves bath time but not the part when she is taken out and it's cold and then I shmear lotion all over her, which she likes, except the part about it making her feel more cold.  Clean, sweet-smelling babies are so yummy!

I just love her Easter dress so much, that she got to wear it again this past Sunday.  She was all smiles at first, but only made it halfway through Sunday School, and then she was done.  Poor baby has some acid reflux issues, and is super cranky when she doesn't get her sleep, so I brought her home to settle her down.  Gosh, what would I do if we hadn't found an awesome swing at Kid to Kid for cheap!  Puts her right to sleep!

And here is a random pic from two weeks ago during General Conference. Bubba Kingo (yup, he has his own theme song too--I made it up) decided to sun himself in the window, all whilst guarding the Ensign!  Ha ha.  He's so funny.  And his fur sparkles like diamonds.  He might be a vampire cat.  Have you seen the teeth on cats?  Total vampires.  Except, I think he's just a milk drinking vampire (not that we ever feed him milk or ice cream, because it's not good for him, but he just might like licking our bowls if we let him).

I'm just hoping I feel better soon so I can get back on track exercising (I was doing so well keeping up the habit, alternating yoga and strength days, grr. Stupid sick germs derailed me the past four days.)  

And now that we finally have a proper stroller, I can start walking strolling outside if the weather cooperates.   

Such a great deal at Target and fits/matches her car seat, but there were none in any Utah store...until a shipment arrived on Monday and Orem got a few in. Good luck finding this guy because they are never in stock in Utah, but you can order one online in Cocoa brown.

The End.

2 Months

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More self-indulgent Naomi pics.

After I wrote the date on her sign I realized that she was 2 months on 4/7/13 and I was a day late.  Then the whole day went by before I was able to take her picture, so she got to take a picture in the nightgown daddy picked out.

Naomi is smiley pants when she's not crying pants!  She gives me the most smiles on her changing table, but these smiles occurred just after a feeding.  I didn't quite capture her whole-faced smile, but she stops smiling when a phone is in front of her face instead of my face in front of her face.  I guess she likes me a little bit.  :)

And this is Naomi, the chameleon.

or caption it: 

"Disappearing Naomi" 

or 

"Polka dot on Polka Dot."

This was her Easter dress from Grandma.  Gosh, little girls dresses are A-dor-a-ble!

And yes, I am aware that she doesn't look a thing like me.  She is all Hylan and Hylan's mom!    

Balding Beauty

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Ah, nothing sweeter than sleeping babies, am I right Mommas?

Little Naomi was born with a fair amount of dark hair.  This is what is left of it now.

Notice the few little long strands that give her a mullet.

But sadly her hair has rubbed off on top and is thinning and falling out in the back.  It's gotten even worse in the few days since these pictures were taken.

See?  She looks so bald.  But it will grow back, I'm sure of it and I wonder what color it will be. Based on her eyebrows, I think it might come in lighter and more golden like mine (I was born with thick dark hair and Hylan had white blonde hair as a tyke, so we traded).

On the bright side, her eyelashes grow a little more each day and I love them! Baby eyelashes are so precious.  

She is our life right now.  Well, she and a little bit of March Madness.  :)

Happy 6 1/2 weeks mark.  It really is getting a little bit better each day (especially on the ones that I get more sleep--4 times sleeping about 6 hours = glorious!)  And I've absolutely loved teaching classes again.  I think we're going to make it, folks, I think I just might make it!!  Goodbye baby blues, you were too cruel.

Post Baby Fitness

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So, I'm back at it today.  I have to sub for Pilates and Yoga classes this week and next week at UVU.  In some ways, I can't wait to do it and in other ways, I'm terrified.  Everything seems so different now.

I want to do it because I know it will help my frazzled mental state, but I'm scared to do it because I'm not physically healed yet, nor am I in good shape.

I realize this means I'll likely be doing more coaching than demonstrating, which is fine, but I'm hoping that I haven't forgotten everything (how to teach) in these last 3 months I've been off.

Two weeks ago I started to try to prepare for this.  Last week I did 3 days of Tracy Anderson Method: Post Pregnancy Workout  based on a recommendation by Katie!  It was hard.  My core is definitely not as strong as it used to be.  I had to modify some of it because my body was not ready for too much rigor, but I think it's a decent workout and had some different dance-y elements/exercises that I wasn't completely familiar with (I love variety and learning new things!).  I also interspersed that with some yoga throughout the week, as per usual because my body is just not happy without yoga!  :)

This past week I did yoga on Monday, treadmill on Tuesday (oh my gosh, that was horrible!), yoga on Wednesday, treadmill on Thursday (still horrible), a 10 minute Ballet Blast legs workout on Friday (oh my gosh, I'm still sore from that!), and very light yoga on Saturday.  

It may or may not sound like a lot but I am terribly inactive during the day and I really am trying to let my body heal and not do too much, but I am so anxious to regain my muscle tone and feel strong again.  Plus, I just need the psychological benefits--those endorphins--for my mental health.

I really don't know how some women are running miles and miles right before delivery and then a few days after, or, insert whatever crazy thing women are doing a few days after having a baby.  Now, I don't have any other pregnancy to compare my recent one with, but this one felt traumatic for me.  The physical healing is one thing, the mental adjustment another, and the emotional stress another.  So, I'm still trying to take life one day at a time and be better at asking for help.

Anyway, during the last two weeks, I've literally only been out of the house to walk to the mailbox once and Hylan drove us to Arby's on Friday.  It's a shame because I missed that nice spring-like weather we had in Utah, but oh well.  Taking care of Naomi, sleeping, eating, and exercising seem to be my highest priorities (in that order), so anything else that gets done, like making dinner, is gravy!  I did manage to clean the house in its entirety on Friday (including mopping the floors) which was a great accomplishment and sacrifice, but it feels so much nicer to know it's clean, and it's the first time I've done it in over 5 weeks!  I might add, that's not the first time my home as been cleaned, just the first time I've done it.  

This baby stuff is so hard. I'm glad that a lot of you are posting so many positive things about motherhood out there, because I have found it difficult not to be cynical about everything.  I know I'll get better with time, and I knew at least intellectually that it would be difficult, but I really had no idea that it wasn't going to feel as blissful and divine as it seems it should be.  

Enough of that though.  Here's to another week!  Bring it on March Madness.  I love this time of year so much.  I am so wishing I had tickets to the first round games in Salt Lake, but baby isn't old enough for b-ball games yet anyway, so I guess I'm glad I don't.

And now, here's a never before posted funny pic of the baby from several weeks ago.