The Official New Mom Thread

[daisy_77]

Hi, ladies! Mind if I join in? My little girl Madelyn, is 7 months old. I love being a mom! She is my first and I am starting to get the hang of it! Congratulations to all the other new mommies!

 

[tkyes]

congrats to all the new mommies!!! welcome!

joats - it will get easier. my days go by much more smoothly when i get up early and shower right away. if i let the showering go, i feel frantic and might not get one in. i try and shower while dh is still home in the morning so he can grab the baby if need be. if for some reason it doesn't happen tyler has sat in his bouncy seat while i showered and that worked pretty well too. the shower is soothing to him i guess.

strawberry lemonade - no great words of wisdom as i'm just getting the hang of things myself. we have found swaddling very helpful. tyler works his arms out most of the time, but when he does stay swaddled he sleeps longer as his flailing arms don't wake him up.


lol robin!

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Welcome joats and daisy!!!

Joats~ I know what you mean about not having time for yourself. Kylie is 7 weeks old and is just now letting us put her in her bouncer seat (without crying or screaming) so we can eat dinner! For a while there she would have a tantrum if neither dh nor myself was holding her! She hated to be put down. Every day is getting a little better, a little easier though. She gives us just enough time to eat now before she cries anyway. Unfortunately I have trouble letting her cry so I hold her most of the day while dh is at work (like I am right now and I hate typing w/1 hand but am starting to get pretty used to it!) and rarely get any cleaning done as a result. My house is a mess! I plan to have dh and Kylie go visit his mom for a little while tomorrow just so I can clean! Kylie's a very good baby and usually happy but loves to be held. But we're adjusting and like I said it is getting easier.

Oh and I agree w/DisneyPhD--don't ask for too much advice! Not such a big deal on this thread as we're all pretty much in the same boat, but IRL it gets bad! Dh's grandmother tried to tell me you shouldn't change your baby when they are wet, only when they are dirty! Needless to say, everything she says goes in 1 ear and out the other! And she keeps trying to tell me I should go back to work and let her raise Kylie for me! Um, that will never happen! We may be new parents but we are making it just fine, thank you! Anyway now you see what I mean about advice. And I never even asked for it!

J & D~ That's great that you will get to be a SAHM! I love being one and can't imagine going back to work right now. I would be miserable separated from Kylie at this point!

 

[Alice28]

YAY! Welcome to the new group of Mommies! It's like a reunion!

A few pages back I mentioned the new Gymboree line I saw a preview of & then you all couldn't get the page up. Well it's back up for "real" at www.Gymbohaven.com. Look on the left for the girl/boy/layette lines. The boys' cowboy up is soooo cute.

 

[MommyPoppins]

Hello everyone! Mind if I join in?? Our baby Lucas was born on Monday weighing in at 6 lbs, 5 oz.

He is our first so any advice anyone has, I'm more than willing to hear! So far, DH and I are just marveling over him and the fact that we are now parents. We're not having too many problems yet, except for his weight. Before we left the hospital, he lost 9% of his body weight and I've been attempting to BF, so we now have to supplement with formula, hopefully just until my milk comes in (which it hasn't yet - from what I understand, it should be any time now).

I'm looking forward to hearing your stories and expertise. You all have such adorable babies! What a good-looking group!

Here are a few pics of our little guy.

And his Mommy too! Glad your little one is finally here! Your milk should be coming in any minute now. Things should pick up for him after that. It's normal for babies to loose weight in the hospital don't get too worried yet. My best advice for you is rest! Try and rest as much as you can. Recovering from first babies can be hard so just rest as much as you can. Sleep as much as you can during the day so you aren't overwelmed at night and my #1 word of advice(This is what I always tell myself after having a baby), don't look to tomorrow or the next day. You are going to be SO tired sometimes, don't think about later, just get through one minute at a time. I used to wake up in the morning and think about the next night I would have to get through and get so depressed, I had to stop that. Don't be afraid to ask us anything, pretty much anything goes here.

 

[DisKim]

Congrats and welcome to all the new moms! To those that asked for advice, my biggest piece is to enjoy every moment with your baby. They grow so fast! I've just been savoring every moment with Aidan because I know he is my last one.

I finally got to see the pictures the photographer took of Aidan when he was 5 weeks old. I used one of those photographers that comes to your home. They hooked me with a free sitting and a free 8 by 10. Well, the pictures were gorgeous. Some of the black and white ones looked like ads for baby Gap. I spent a shameful amount of money on them but I had to buy the big package. I'll post them as soon as I get them back. Alice 28 - you'll be proud to know that Aidan was wearing a Gymboree outfit in his pictures!

 

[Alice28]

Congrats and welcome to all the new moms! To those that asked for advice, my biggest piece is to enjoy every moment with your baby. They grow so fast! I've just been savoring every moment with Aidan because I know he is my last one.

I finally got to see the pictures the photographer took of Aidan when he was 5 weeks old. I used one of those photographers that comes to your home. They hooked me with a free sitting and a free 8 by 10. Well, the pictures were gorgeous. Some of the black and white ones looked like ads for baby Gap. I spent a shameful amount of money on them but I had to buy the big package. I'll post them as soon as I get them back. Alice 28 - you'll be proud to know that Aidan was wearing a Gymboree outfit in his pictures!

You're too funny.

I'm a sucker for pictures too. I got my kids' pics done at this new place called flash portraits. They're online if you guys want to see them...although now that I think about it, you have to put in my last name and a p/w so never mind I guess. I don't feel comfortable putting my last name up here on the boards. I guess you can PM me if you *really* wanna see them. I thought they did a wonderful job and are a chain- if you see them around in your area, I thought they were great. (she says $230 later!).

I am soooo tired today and I don't know why. I had a CT scan done on my kidneys this morning, to make sure this last pregnancy didn't do any further damage. My MIL is visiting and she took the boys for me this morning and took them on a boat excursion on the Willamette River. She took us out to eat last night and tonight so that's really nice. I think just every once in awhile I get VERY tired and really get sad about DH being away.

Plus I am stressing a bit cause I need very much to find a handyman and I don't know where to look. I emailed our Family Coordinator for the Nat'l Guard to see if they have anyone with a good reputation that is willing to do honest work for deployed families for a decent price. We have a 107 year old home and I am noticed a ton of hairline cracks in the plaster work on the ceilings. I've done some research and it's perfectly normal, and nothing structural, I just need someone to come in who knows how to patch plaster quickly and the right way. This is the type of thing DH would handle, or would know a "Friend of a friend" who could do it, etc. I can see these cracks have been there a long time, were repaired and are now showing through again (normal). It's just ugly.

Josh's 4th bday party is on Sunday. I hope it goes smoothly. We are bbqing Costco hot dogs, I'm making a macaroni salad, getting a watermelon and chips and stuff. Easy.

Anyway, hope everyone gets a good night's sleep! I need it!

 

[justhat]

Have fun with Josh's birthday party! Our next baby has to have a summer birthday cause it's just too hard to have a winter birthday in a cold climate when you live in a tiny condo with no room to invite people over. Of course, we'll be moving to a larger home next June anyway, but still, summer is easier I think.

I went to Gymboree today to get price adjustments on some stuff I bought last Saturday (well, my mom bought it really since I was visiting her-I went to show her the cute stuff I plan to get with my Gymbucks and there was some sale stuff (Little Keiki and Sweet Watermelon) that was too cute so she got it!!). I ended up getting over $12 back, which went below the $50 so I'd lose my Gymbuck so the cashier suggested that I check out the $1 bins. Thanks to her I got $10.51 back, kept my Gymbuck, plus got a cute hat that matches this little Easter egg dress (and PJs) I got Madison about a month ago.

We're headed to Myrtle Beach tomorrow-today was my husband's last day as a 3rd year medical student!! He's got a week off before he starts his last year-a very exciting one for us since we find out what job he gets and where we get to live! Of course, we have to wait 9 months for that info, but still, at least we start the application/interview process pretty soon. So we're taking advantage of his 1 week off and heading to the beach with my mom and BIL. It should be a fun week, since I'll have my mom to shop with (they have lots of fun outlet stores there) and do baby stuff with, my husband will have his little brother (he's 17) to do their own stuff with, plus my mom can babysit when I want some time away, which I am getting to a point that I need it.

I have to give you lots of credit, Alice28, cause it's really hard to be a single parent and you seem to do it so well. My husband luckily does live here, but is gone so much during the day, and then has nights where he's on call and sleeping at the hospital, that I really feel like I'm Madison's only parent sometimes. Days when he's on call, he'll leave as early as 4am, not return till 10pm the next night (so after Madison is in bed), then leave by 6am the next day (so before she wakes up) so he sometimes won't see her for days at a time. I have gotten used to doing everything with Madison, but after awhile you need a break, and I am now at that point. I think if I got more sleep at night I'd feel a little better, but like tonight, it took Madison about an hour and a half to go to sleep, only to wake up again by 1am I'm sure. Plus I still have to finish her laundry and packing her bag. It will be so nice to just have a week with other people to help me, and even better to be able to enjoy some time at the beach!

Okay, enough complaining-have a good week everyone and a Happy 4th!

 

[Alice28]

Here I am, still awake. It's hard in the summer to go to bed early...it stays light here sooo long since we're far north. Sun doesn't set til after 9.

I'm glad you got to keep your GymBuck- those $1 bins are nice! I was so excited with my bargains the other day. I went back and got 3 more things today and plan on getting a price adjustment if they are marked any further down next weekend for the 4th sales. I got Molly the Little Keiki dress and swimsuit as we are going to Oahu next March to celebrate DH's homecoming. I was so tired and bummed today, I didn't care that I spent *another* $25. Whatever.

My oldest son's birthday is a late Nov. bday so I hear you on the sucky indoor birthday parties for winter weather babies. Summer bdays are def. easier. I have a feeling Molly's will be hard too; early March isn't exactly nice weather here. But you know, I was telling my MIL that I think now with 3 kids, bday parties are going to be limited to cake and ice cream and a handful of people. I always feel like I have to go all out with the food; none of my other friends do- they all just do cake and ice cream, but I feel like I need to to a meal. And with 25+ people, that gets spendy, even if it's just hotdogs! I just hope Joshie has fun and gets lots of the Star Wars toys he's dreaming of.

 

[Gwene65]

Alright, I finally figured out to put a picture in my signature so I now have a pic of Meadow up. I'm not sure how to post the others but I'm a work in progress.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Meadow is adorable! Is Mason your son? How old is he? He's a cutie too!

 

[Alice28]

Meadow is DARLING! As is your other little one!

I need to get a clue and learn how to post a picture.

 

[Alice28]

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WON A $100 g.c TO GYMBOREE!!!!!!!! :thewave: :thewave:

Gymbohaven had a raffle & I thought what the heck, I'll enter...AND I WON!!!!!!!!!

OMG!!!!!!!! Watch out Gymboree- crazy woman on the loose!

 

[Gwene65]

Mason is mine too. He just turned four last Saturday. He seems so grown up too. It seems like just yesterday......


Alice, don't you own everything that Gymboree has? From reading your posts it seems like you are always going there. Any clothes you don't use or need, I'll take. LOL. I guess they have to get new stock sometime right?


I took Mason to a Mommy & Me Cooking Class today. It was ok, not what I expected but nice to get away from the house for a few hours. At least I don't need to worry about what to eat for lunch. I put my babies in front of Pooh's Huffalump movie and both of them are watching it. Too cute for words. Especially Meadow. She is the exact opposite of what Mason was. I was just so lucky with him in that respect. She is a handfull, and from what everyone around me says, little girls are like that and will always be that way.

 

[Alice28]

Alice, don't you own everything that Gymboree has? From reading your posts it seems like you are always going there. Any clothes you don't use or need, I'll take. LOL. I guess they have to get new stock sometime right?


/

Of course I don't have everything! With 3 kids, a Gymboree visit doesn't go very far...I'm going to wait til the back to school stuff it out anyway.

 

[becka]

I hate to be a downer in this thread but I wanted to post my own little version of a public service announcement to all of us new Moms. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not ignore any possible signs of post-partum depression. It is not just crying jags and/or not taking care of your baby. You can love your baby and take care of her and even juggle other responsibilities (work, family, etc.) and still be headed to a very dark place.

I posted this on another thread (related to the Tom Cruise diatribe against anti-depressants, etc.) but I thought I might share it here in hopes that if any of you are having similiar issues that you might seek help before you get to the same point I let myself get into. I recognized the problems months ago but I just ignored them and that decision could have been tragic:

I have not really shared much of this info with those on the boards but after having my DD about 5 months ago I started to have some problems. I thought I could deal with them on my own and tried to just tell myself that what I was feeling was normal and just a reaction to the stress of suddenly being the mother of two. When I hurt my back so badly it just added more stress so I wrote off the bigger behavioral issues I started having. People under a lot of stress often have issues, right? I always thought that depression meant I could not function or would be crying all the time so I couldn't possibly be depressed. Well I continued to ignore my feelings and tried to just make myself feel better. That ended last Tuesday night when I was driving home from work with my two kids in the car and I thought about just driving my car off the road. I obviously didn't do it but I spent the evening locked up in my room away from my family thinking about what I almost did and trying to think of a way to "disappear" without hurting anyone. I didn't want to go on anymore and I just felt hopeless. I knew at this point that I needed help badly and my DH begged me to call my doctor.

As a first course my doctor has decided to put me on anti-depressants in addition to counseling. In the long run I am sure that the counseling will be the most effective treatment for my depression but in the short-term the anti-depressant will make sure that I am around to receive that counseling. Post-partum depression is VERY real and it made me madder that you can imagine to hear TC blabbing all about how chemical imbalances don't exist and that I should just take a vitamin.

I now very personally understand the horror of PPD and if taking a pill will help me get the help I need to make sure my kids still have a mother and that my husband still has a wife then more power to the drug companies. They may not be perfect but they perhaps may save my life. The thought that TC and his diatribe may prevent people from getting the help they desperately need just makes me sick.

 

[Alice28]

Becka

Thank you for sharing what you are going through. How incredibly scary. I am so glad you went to your doctor and are getting help.

FWIW I think Tom Cruise is an idiot.

 

[KirstenB]

Becka, I'm so glad you're getting some help. I thought about you just the other day, since I hadn't seen you on the boards in a while. I had minor PPD with our first child, and have vowed to get meds if I have it with this 2nd baby, due in 9 weeks. It takes a VERY strong person to ask for help, please bear that in mind. Take care.

 

[lulu71]

Becka - Thanks for sharing your story. You are so strong to get the help you need. I wish you the best. Please keep us posted.

Thanks for all the pumping advice. I wish I could get 4-5oz., but hopefully with the medicine I will get there.

Alice or any other Gymboree people - how do Gymboree clothes run? I got a cute dress off ebay for Mia's first July 4th that is Janie and Jack, a division of Gymboree. It's a 0-3 months and was wondering if they tend to run big.

 

[vald1977]

Thanks for sharing, Becka. I agree with you that TC just makes my blood boil. Once he has given birth to a child maybe I'll listen to what he has to say on the subject . Please take care. You will be in my prayers.