We're Doing Disney Again Someday...Plus One! ~ Come Read my Trip Report!!!

[cindianne320]

In tears! What a beautiful story! Congrats, Mama!

 

[AprilRenee]

I was fighting tears the whole time too! I'm so glad things went the way you were hoping! She's beautiful!

I was just thinking about you today. I'm really glad you updated!

Yes. I think Caden started the earlier bedtime around 3 months. And yes. It was wonderful!

Troublesometots.com has some great info about baby sleep. You don't really need it right now but in a month or so its helpful to know what can be expected and what to help your baby to move toward.

Ooh! Another thing that was great was watching this YouTube video about "Dunstan baby cries" this woman has identified 5 specific cries that babies have and tells you how to identify them. One means hungry, one is tired, etc. it helped me SOOO much early on. I could be in the other room and I'd call to Andrew "he's tired. Try to get him to sleep!" I think this is part of why Caden isn't much of a crier now. I was able to respond almost immediately and he learned that mommy will help right away so he doesn't have to get hysterical.

How's she sleeping these days? Are you getting any sleep?

I'm so glad the nursing is getting better! You're almost out of the woods!

 

[reelmom]

What a wonderful story. So glad you shared it with us. And once again, you brought tears to my eyes. When I read that Dug sang "You are my Sunshine", I lost it.

 

[jc040404]

What an incredible story! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I was in tears a couple of times, but Dug singing really did it. Wow. She is one lucky little girl!

I'm so glad you got the experience you were hoping for. It really sounds like everything went extremely well. I admit I'm even a bit jealous. My body didn't handle pregnancy well at the end so drugs weren't avoidable, but I'd have loved to experience this just once. When I was given pitocin with Blake, I actually handled things extremely well, but did cave to the epidural eventually. I really wanted to avoid it that time. With Andrew, I was one of the "lucky" types that had absolutely no feeling and couldn't even push. They had to cut it, and the pain was unlike anything I could've imagined. Glad you were able to skip all of that! You definitely made all the right choices!

LOVED reading your story!! Hope all is well for your little family!

 

[Dugette]

What a great birth story, it sounds like you had a really great support system at your hospital.

We really did. They made it a great experience.

I think it is great that Dug had that time to bond with Dug baby, so often the dad gets to stand in the corner, cut the cord and then stand in the corner some more! Poor guys. I had my son by scheduled c-section because of some health problems that made a ******l birth dangerous for my son. Because of that once they took me off to recover from the c-section my husband got to go with my son and spend some great bonding time with him. The nurses were wonderful with my husband and had him bathe our son, put ointment in his eyes, put medicine on his umbilical stump, let him listen to his heart and lungs - my hubby and son got the royal treatment from the nurses. Then he held our son and sang to him the whole time I was gone. When I was finally released out of recovery my husband and son were fully bonded and I had to talk my husband into letting me hold my own baby! He kept saying "I'm afraid you're going to drop him!" I was lying down Though I wish I hadn't had to have a c-section I don't regret that time my guys had with each other. It made things special for my husband. Hope you, Dug and Dug baby are all doing well. Thank you for sharing your story, it was very special.

That's great that your husband had a chance to bond with your son like that! They also did a lot to make sure that happened for us, like walking Dug through giving her first bath. He got to be equally involved, which was great.

When I first posted this I noticed that one of my words was turned into asterisks... I thought oh my goodness I didn't cuss! You can probably figure out pretty easily what word it is.... being a nurse I would never have thought of it as a bad word! LOL

Totally understand! I think I've seen that happen on the pregnancy threads on here before!

In tears! What a beautiful story! Congrats, Mama!

Thanks so much! Congrats again on your new little one too!

I was fighting tears the whole time too! I'm so glad things went the way you were hoping! She's beautiful!

I was just thinking about you today. I'm really glad you updated!

Thanks! I didn't realize the birth story would be so emotional for everyone...I was thinking very matter-of-factly when I wrote it, I guess.

Yes. I think Caden started the earlier bedtime around 3 months. And yes. It was wonderful!

That sounds wonderful. She's fussy and hanging with Dug right now (9pm). Will probably need another feeding soon. She has been going to "bed" a bit earlier lately, though.

Troublesometots.com has some great info about baby sleep. You don't really need it right now but in a month or so its helpful to know what can be expected and what to help your baby to move toward.

I will check that out, thanks!

Ooh! Another thing that was great was watching this YouTube video about "Dunstan baby cries" this woman has identified 5 specific cries that babies have and tells you how to identify them. One means hungry, one is tired, etc. it helped me SOOO much early on. I could be in the other room and I'd call to Andrew "he's tired. Try to get him to sleep!" I think this is part of why Caden isn't much of a crier now. I was able to respond almost immediately and he learned that mommy will help right away so he doesn't have to get hysterical.

I watched this after seeing your post. Although I do think Dug Baby is using some additional words (like "laaaaa"), it seems very helpful. Overnight, she let out a couple of half-awake "neh"s, so I fed her. Very cool!

How's she sleeping these days? Are you getting any sleep?

She had a 7 hour stretch a few nights ago! More common is a 4 hour stretch, eating, then a 3 hour stretch, eating, and another 1-3 hours. But it varies. Not too bad for still being under a month old.

I'm so glad the nursing is getting better! You're almost out of the woods!

Thanks! It is getting better, but I'm hoping it keeps improving a bit more.

What a wonderful story. So glad you shared it with us. And once again, you brought tears to my eyes. When I read that Dug sang "You are my Sunshine", I lost it.

Aw, thanks! Dug's dad used to sing that song to him when he was little.

What an incredible story! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I was in tears a couple of times, but Dug singing really did it. Wow. She is one lucky little girl!

Thanks! I didn't anticipate Dug's singing being such a tear-jerker!

I'm so glad you got the experience you were hoping for. It really sounds like everything went extremely well. I admit I'm even a bit jealous. My body didn't handle pregnancy well at the end so drugs weren't avoidable, but I'd have loved to experience this just once. When I was given pitocin with Blake, I actually handled things extremely well, but did cave to the epidural eventually. I really wanted to avoid it that time. With Andrew, I was one of the "lucky" types that had absolutely no feeling and couldn't even push. They had to cut it, and the pain was unlike anything I could've imagined. Glad you were able to skip all of that! You definitely made all the right choices!

LOVED reading your story!! Hope all is well for your little family!

Yes, I was really lucky that pregnancy went so well and that we were able to have the birth we wanted...even though it looked unlikely at some points during labor. That's awesome that you were able to handle the pitocin for awhile with Blake...I think that would be extremely hard!

And thanks, our little family is doing well!

 

[Dugette]

These are from Dug Baby's newborn photo shoot when she was 10 days old. Some are better than others (she woke up and started crying halfway through), but thought I'd share them all.

On a pillow, sleeping:

With her fairy wings:

In her cute hat:

Attempt at a "sisters" shot :

(Her feet were not actually purple; must be color correction).

Bailey wanted attention too:

Mom and Dug Baby:

Dad and Dug Baby (thanks for the shirt idea, April!):

Family of three:

With Mom & Dad's childhood stuffed animals:

Hope you enjoyed!

 

[Mom&RN]

Beautiful pictures! I love the "sisters" picture with baby crying and dog howling - so sweet and funny! I mentioned to you the schoolhouse rock "3 is a magic number" - here is a link to it on youtube. Thought you might enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU4pyiB-kq0

 

[AprilRenee]

Thanks! I didn't realize the birth story would be so emotional for everyone...I was thinking very matter-of-factly when I wrote it, I guess.

That sounds wonderful. She's fussy and hanging with Dug right now (9pm). Will probably need another feeding soon. She has been going to "bed" a bit earlier lately, though.

I will check that out, thanks!

I watched this after seeing your post. Although I do think Dug Baby is using some additional words (like "laaaaa"), it seems very helpful. Overnight, she let out a couple of half-awake "neh"s, so I fed her. Very cool!

She had a 7 hour stretch a few nights ago! More common is a 4 hour stretch, eating, then a 3 hour stretch, eating, and another 1-3 hours. But it varies. Not too bad for still being under a month old.

Thanks! It is getting better, but I'm hoping it keeps improving a bit more.

Just give it another month or two, you'll start crying reading birth stories and just about anything with kids in a movie or tv will make you cry too. It's ridiculous! Lol
In fact, I had a not so great birth story, and when Caden was about 4.5 months I just was thinking about the day he was born and I suddenly started crying and thinking how it was just the best day of my life. Then I stopped and thought "wait a minute. That was actually like in the top 5 WORST days of my life really." It's so funny how your perception can change the more you get to know and love your baby.

Yay!! I'm glad the baby cries video helped a little. I loved it and it helped me so much!

That is pretty good sleep! Yay!! Do you guys have a miracle blanket? Best invention ever. Sounds hokey and like a "as seen on tv" thing. But the thing works! Caden slept 8 hrs every night once we used that silly thing.

Love love love the pics (and Dugs shirt! ) so sweet.

 

[Imagineer5]

Beautiful birth story and GORGEOUS pictures! She's a beauty! I am so glad to see things going so well. Her feet did look purple LOL!!

 

[reelmom]

That is one proud Daddy.

I love the picture of Bailey trying to "sing" her baby sister back to sleep.

She is a beautiful baby. The pictures with the fairy wings are adorable. You got some really great pictures.

 

[Nermel9]

Love the pictures, what a beautiful baby! I especially love the "sisters" shot!

 

[jc040404]

Awww! Love these pics. She is so beautiful. When I briefly checked the DIS last night, John said she looks like a perfect china doll in that second picture. She's a gorgeous baby girl for sure! The wings shots are too adorable and your "sisters" pic is great. Loved it!

 

[Dugette]

Beautiful pictures! I love the "sisters" picture with baby crying and dog howling - so sweet and funny! I mentioned to you the schoolhouse rock "3 is a magic number" - here is a link to it on youtube. Thought you might enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU4pyiB-kq0

Yeah, that "sisters" picture ended up being something totally different than planned! Oh, forgot to mention, Kitty got in on it too (in the doorway). I'll check out the youtube link, thanks!

Just give it another month or two, you'll start crying reading birth stories and just about anything with kids in a movie or tv will make you cry too. It's ridiculous! Lol

I believe it. I do get overly emotional about a lot of things these days.

In fact, I had a not so great birth story, and when Caden was about 4.5 months I just was thinking about the day he was born and I suddenly started crying and thinking how it was just the best day of my life. Then I stopped and thought "wait a minute. That was actually like in the top 5 WORST days of my life really." It's so funny how your perception can change the more you get to know and love your baby.

That's funny. I can see that happening, though.

Yay!! I'm glad the baby cries video helped a little. I loved it and it helped me so much!

I think the most helpful thing so far has been "neh". She says that very clearly at times. I usually offer to feed her when she cries anyway, but it's cute to hear her ask for it.

That is pretty good sleep! Yay!! Do you guys have a miracle blanket? Best invention ever. Sounds hokey and like a "as seen on tv" thing. But the thing works! Caden slept 8 hrs every night once we used that silly thing.

I think she is generally a pretty good sleeper, but there is a lot of variation from night to night. Two nights ago, she slept 1-7:15am, got up for a diaper change and feeding, then slept from 8-11am. That was great. Last night, not so much: 3 hour stretch followed by a 2.5 hour stretch, then up for the day (we did get a couple naps in, though). We use the Halo Sleep Sacks at night usually, but I may need to acquire a Miracle Blanket too...when did you start using that? 8 hours a night would be awesome!

Love love love the pics (and Dugs shirt! ) so sweet.

Thank you!

Beautiful birth story and GORGEOUS pictures! She's a beauty! I am so glad to see things going so well. Her feet did look purple LOL!!

Thank you! Things are going pretty well...getting more used to everything each day. Those purple feet freaked me out at first...until I verified they were not purple in any other pictures (just a bit pink, which is normal for a newborn), so it was just a color correction thing going on.

That is one proud Daddy.

Very much so!

I love the picture of Bailey trying to "sing" her baby sister back to sleep.

That's a positive way to look at it!

She is a beautiful baby. The pictures with the fairy wings are adorable. You got some really great pictures.

Thanks! We were really impressed, as we had one of Dug's co-workers (who just does photos as a hobby on the side) do our pictures and they far exceeded our expectations. Well worth it!

Love the pictures, what a beautiful baby! I especially love the "sisters" shot!

Thank you! That picture is so fun! (Of course, at the time it wasn't...baby crying and dog endlessly barking).

Awww! Love these pics. She is so beautiful. When I briefly checked the DIS last night, John said she looks like a perfect china doll in that second picture. She's a gorgeous baby girl for sure! The wings shots are too adorable and your "sisters" pic is great. Loved it!

Thanks to you and John! I really love those fairy wing shots. Those wings were worth the 99 cents for sure! And she was so nice and sleepy!

 

[Dugette]

Hi, all. Dug Baby's asleep on Dug right now, so I have a few minutes to type! Woo hoo! I've got some random Disney things on my mind:

1.) Dug Baby was gazing at her Minnie Mouse changing pad cover yesterday, so I explained to her that she could meet the real Minnie Mouse when we take her to Disney World in about 14 months. She looked thrilled! I also explained that we would be staying at the Poly and that it was the best. She seemed pleased with this also! Obviously, just coincidence that she seemed to like this news, but still fun.

2.) I'm pretty sure that when Dug Baby is over 40 inches and can actually ride Soarin', she will immediately fall asleep when the music starts! Dug plays that on his iPhone and it puts her to sleep (sometimes after a few repeats). He started playing it last night and she immediately smiled when it started! (then accidentally hit his iPhone with her hand and shut it off! )

3.) Is the Boo to You soundtrack only sold in the parks? Anyone know? Dug mentioned yesterday that he really regretted not having purchased that on our last trip, as he loves the music.

4.) Dug's sister is going to WDW with her husband's family. 12 people total and 4 are very young kids. Dug's sister and her husband have never been to WDW, but are big Disneyland fans. We're excited that they finally get to go to WDW, as we've been telling them for awhile how much they'll love it. However, they are going to be there the WORST week of the year...Christmas to New Years! I've heard the horror stories about crowds this week and I'm worried that they are going to hate WDW because of it. They are receptive to our advice and touring plans, but with a party that big, I'm not sure if everyone will be on board. Does anyone know of any Trip Reports about a trip during this crazy week? I searched a little, but haven't come up with anything. If there is a report that shows someone handling that week well, I'd really like to send it to Dug's sister, so she can get an idea of what to expect. So, if you know of one, let me know.

That's about all I've got right now. I've just had my hands full with Dug Baby lately, as I'm sure you can imagine. It's amazing how fast they grow. She is showing more and more personality and holding her head up quite a bit now. I've been working on running errands and taking walks alone with her and that has gone well. We took her out for one meal and plan to go to another in a couple days (with Dug's sister and her DH). I think we're finally getting to a point where we feel a little more "normal", but with a new little cutie tagging along. I really felt like the first few weeks post-partum were far more challenging than I'd anticipated, but now (at 4.5 weeks), things are getting better and better each day. Can't wait for the social smiles and laughs to start!

Oh, also, Dug Baby turned 1 Month on Saturday:

 

[AprilRenee]

I think she is generally a pretty good sleeper, but there is a lot of variation from night to night. Two nights ago, she slept 1-7:15am, got up for a diaper change and feeding, then slept from 8-11am. That was great. Last night, not so much: 3 hour stretch followed by a 2.5 hour stretch, then up for the day (we did get a couple naps in, though). We use the Halo Sleep Sacks at night usually, but I may need to acquire a Miracle Blanket too...when did you start using that? 8 hours a night would be awesome!

We had a horrible night our first night home. The next morning I called my mom and said "please go to babies r us and buy a miracle blanket and bring it to my house!!" She did...the first night we used it (2nd night home) we were afraid to wrap it super tight and it was another horrible night until at like 3 am when Andrew swaddled him with the miracle blanket AND a receiving blanket in the burrito wrap like at the hospital. The next night we moved him to his own room, double wrapped him like we figured out the night before and I didn't hear from him once from midnight til 8 am. It was AMAZING and then he did that almost every night from then until 3 months when he had a growth spurt and it all went to "heck" in an handbasket.
yeah...I used the halo blankets for naps but they only worked for me for 2-3 hr stretches. But that miracle blanket...it works...it's a miracle. I now give it to every new mom I know.

 

[AprilRenee]

Awwwwww!!!! Cute photos!!! She's getting so big! I'm glad things are getting easier and easier. Oh man, when the smiles start you're just going to love her even more than you do now! It's the BEST!!

 

[Mom&RN]

3.) Is the Boo to You soundtrack only sold in the parks? Anyone know? Dug mentioned yesterday that he really regretted not having purchased that on our last trip, as he loves the music.

Not sure but I am going to WDW in January, 2013 (counting down the days!) so I'll check with you before I go and if you haven't found it yet I'll look for it for you in the parks.

Oh, also, Dug Baby turned 1 Month on Saturday

Can't believe she's a month already! Time flies

We had a horrible night our first night home. The next morning I called my mom and said "please go to babies r us and buy a miracle blanket and bring it to my house!!" She did...the first night we used it (2nd night home) we were afraid to wrap it super tight and it was another horrible night until at like 3 am when Andrew swaddled him with the miracle blanket AND a receiving blanket in the burrito wrap like at the hospital. The next night we moved him to his own room, double wrapped him like we figured out the night before and I didn't hear from him once from midnight til 8 am. It was AMAZING and then he did that almost every night from then until 3 months when he had a growth spurt and it all went to "heck" in an handbasket.
yeah...I used the halo blankets for naps but they only worked for me for 2-3 hr stretches. But that miracle blanket...it works...it's a miracle. I now give it to every new mom I know.

AprilRenee - you are lucky!! Dug Baby has a much more normal sleep pattern for a newborn. As I shared with Dugette earlier I am just finishing my Masters Degree in Nursing to become a Nurse Practitioner and am doing clinicals with a doctor right now that sees a lot of babies in practice. She tells her patient's parents that the goal should be to get one stretch of 5-7 hrs a night by 3 months old. So the fact that you got your baby to sleep that much right away is super lucky. Most babies that are only 1 month can't eat enough to sleep that long, it is truly hunger that wakes them up!

 

[Imagineer5]

I'm glad you are already feeling like things are getting easier! I think it was about 8-9 weeks for me! Before then it really wasn't all that much fun. I've decided I am NOT a newborn person. Once the smiles and laughs came it was all over! Then rolling over, crawling, everything is just getting more and more fun. First 2 months though? Thought of them makes me not want to have another...

Will she do tummy time? Aria wouldn't for quite a while but I got her a fisher price piano tummy time mat thing and from that point on she loved it! I swear that is what got her to turn over at 3 months old, and we JUST put it away with her itty bitty stuff but she still liked playing with the hanging things.

No idea about the holiday stuff. I oculdn't imagine going for my first trip WITH a huge family group during that time. I could see going now, and just having very low expectations of actually doing anything. But for first timers, EEK I would be afraid (like you) that it will scare them away from ever going again.

 

[AprilRenee]

AprilRenee - you are lucky!! Dug Baby has a much more normal sleep pattern for a newborn. As I shared with Dugette earlier I am just finishing my Masters Degree in Nursing to become a Nurse Practitioner and am doing clinicals with a doctor right now that sees a lot of babies in practice. She tells her patient's parents that the goal should be to get one stretch of 5-7 hrs a night by 3 months old. So the fact that you got your baby to sleep that much right away is super lucky. Most babies that are only 1 month can't eat enough to sleep that long, it is truly hunger that wakes them up!

Yes. I know I got lucky with him. He was also 10lbs at birth and 2 weeks late. So he was a little ahead of the game there.
He stopped sleeping as well once he hit his 3 month growth spurt/4 month sleep regression/5 month bad habits from the 2 months before. so I've paid my dues these last 3 months

 

[cindianne320]

Happy 1 Month, Baby Girl!

This trip report has some great tips about traveling at that time- though it was just a family of 4- her Holidays tips (in the 3rd post) are awesome!