All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel
So yesterday I figured out Autumn would be 100 days old today. OMG
That’s what some random messing around on the internets during lunch will reveal.
So that warranted a dress and some pictures this morning.
I love this picture. I wish it wasn’t blurry. But I think that is part of why I like it.
She’s a good sport about all the pictures I take but her attention will only hold on for so long when there are ruffles.
And a shiny bow.
And done.
February 2014
Dear Autumn-
You turned 3 months old this week. I still can’t believe it. It’s crazy to think that you are already 3 months old. I know I will think that every month, every year.
You’ve really started to grow so much this past month. At least it seems that way. You have been eating more at each feeding (4 oz) so you have been putting on weight pretty steadily at this point. Most of the 0-3 outfits are still pretty big on you but it’s amazing to feel the difference carrying you around.
I love to watch you with Daddy. You light up so much when he gets close to your face and talks to you. You smile and kick around so much. It’s fun to see how excited you get to see him. You guys hang out watching ‘Cuse basketball games. You sit on him and lean back just relaxing on him while you suck on your hands.
Speaking of hands… you discovered your hand one day and there has been no going back. At first it was just the side of one hand, then it became about getting your whole hand in your mouth, and now you have figured out 2 is much better than one. And of course this makes you super drooly but very happy.
The biggest change this month is that I’ve gone back to work after my 12 weeks off with you. So you are going to the family daycare on the next street, which works out well for dropping you off and picking you up. The hours are a little tough as we need to get you by 5pm but so far so good as I can make up time by taking home a laptop to work on. Thankfully you have been doing well there so when I get you at the end of the day you are happy. I pick you up bring you home and typically I get to give a bottle right away as you are just waking up before I arrive.
I love to give you this bottle as it’s often the first bottle of the day that I get to give you (dad does the middle of the night and morning bottle as I’m pumping then). I get to talk to you and look right at you as you drink down the bottle. I hope you are enjoying the little one sided conversation I am having with you. I then get to you burp you and soak you all in. I hate to say but it’s bittersweet as I love having you so close but it’s sad that you no longer smell like me or dad. Instead you smell like the super sweet woman that now gets to hold you all day. I enjoy the days when we give you a bath so it’s a little reset so you smell like lavender soap and lotion.
I am just looking forward to the spring’s approach so that we can hang out outside as a family with Kemper as we go on long walks at the beach or around Boston. As well, you’ll be getting old and with that be growing bigger and developing more. I’m sure that you’ll be much more active – hopefully without that brace on!- and learning more things. I can’t wait for you taking in the world around you and enjoying it all.
I love you.
Love,
Mom
 
 
 
Happy Valentine’s Day!!
This week for Pie Day Friday I’m serving up this Cutie Pie!!
This Cutie Pie is a rather sweet dish. I say if you’re going to indulge on something sweet then you should just go all out.
And I think that you need something super sweet and adorable on Valentine’s Day. It’s a day to shower your favorite people in the world with extra love.
Makes 2 servings (for mommy and daddy)
Ingredients
Process
The “I just ate 5oz and I’m in a food coma” look
So I went back to work on Monday.
It honestly was not as bad as I thought it might be. Mainly because Autumn was asleep when we were dropping her off. She fell alseep in Price’s arms in our minute walk from our house to the house around the block where she attends a family daycare. So we just transfered our sleepy Bean and there were no tears from her or me.
Well, Tuesday and today were no different since she would typically go down for a nap about 1 1/2- 2 hours after getting up and since she is now getting up at 6 instead of 7.30 when we drop her off she is conked out.
We tucked her into her crib yesterday and today since we had a bit more time as we were a bit more organized. Things just keep getting better. 🙂
Our mornings are hectic with us getting up, feeding & changing her, pumping, getting ready, getting the dog out, feeding the dog, packing up her bag and my stuff for work (dang that pump is already a pain to lug around!), getting out the door to drop her off, and then catching the bus to get on the train to get to work. But really all the extra work involved with our darling Bean is so worth it.
And while I wish I could snuggle with The Bean all day, at least I get some good snuggles in at night. 🙂
Tuesday night snuggles
Every day I am in awe of how much she has grown. She is so active and is getting to be so verbal as she babbles. She really likes to chat with Dad and they go back and forth chatting a bit. Adorable!! As well she so happy and smiling more and more. I just love it!
Anyway, without further ado, here are my favorite baby related things at this current stage!
While I loved the SwaddleMe’s that I wrote about before, we had to change up how we swaddle Autumn because of her hip brace. My mom had sent these at Christmas and they were great to use while cuddling with her or tucking her in when we put her down to sleep. And then… it was hip brace time! So we could no longer use the SwaddleMe’s because she couldn’t fit into the bottom portion wearing the brace. These swaddle blankets from Carter’s are perfect because of their size and how stretchy they are. I highly recommend these for anyone to use, hip brace or not!
Autumn has always been very difficult to burp. The NICU nurses even noted this during her week there. It looks like we are beating her trying to get a burp out of her as we have to be pretty agressive to knock it out of her. And then when she got the hip brace things got even worse as it limited how well we could ‘swoop’ our hands over her back to help work a burp up. So I grabbed a box of MYLICON drops and presto… burps! BIG HUGE BURPS!! I know it doesn’t work for every infant but if you are having some burping or gas issues I suggest you give it a try (with your pediatricians approval first, of course).
Comfort & Harmony Cradling Bouncer- Cozy Kingdom
My sister gave this to us at our baby shower. It has been great to put Autumn in when I need to pump or have to sneak in a shower when she is awake. In the beginning it was great that it was just a safe place for her to sit but now she likes the vibration and music it plays. She swats at the lion and elephant and enjoys hanging out in there while I pump.
The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep: Simple Solutions for Kids from Birth to 5 Years
A friend suggested this book because she was having great success with it with her own daughter who is just a bit older than Autumn. I immediately bought it and flew through reading it. It was really helpful to go through and identify things that were helping and preventing Autumn from sleeping well. Thankfully, she was always a good sleeper so there wasn’t too much to change. But it did help change things up with how I let her sleep and feed her during the day. Those changes have helped her put on more weight and have stretched out her sleeping from 3 hour blocks to 4 to 4.5 hour blocks. yippee!!
Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months
When Autumn was in the NICU she was given the hospital version of the Soothie Pacifier. Some parents don’t like their child having a pacifier but we didn’t mind since we figure it’s easier to break that habit than having her suck her thumb since we can actually remove the pacifier… ha! As well, it was helpful to have her have the pacifier to help her develop/enforce sucking as she was not fed for several days because of her surgery. Anyway, she gets a pacifier only when she is really, really struggling to relax and since these help with that we are a big fan.
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I’ll do a Favorites post every month as Autumn grows, changes, and develops.
What are some of your favorite things for 2 month olds?
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Post contains affiliate links
January 2014
Dear Autumn-
You were 2 months old yesterday. And it was my 29th birthday. We spent the day relaxing at home with Daddy and Kemper. It was snowy out and we didn’t feel like going out  in the cold so we just stayed in and were extra cuddly with you. Such a simple, nice way to spend my birthday.
I can’t believe all that has happened this past month!
Your first Christmas! Your first New Year’s!
It’s amazing to look back at how you have changed in the past month. It’s just amazing to see you grow and grow!
You’re sleeping at night has been getting better and better- with the exception of last night, what was up with that?!?! You have consistently been sleeping in 3-4 hours blocks, The biggest obstacle for us is the time that you go to bed and how long it can take you to feed between the sleep blocks. It would be lovely to cut down nights that takes you 1 1/2 hours down to 45 minutes – 1 hour. But we remind ourselves that you are just 2 months old and things will continually get better as you grown.Right, little miss?
Speaking of growing! You have been doing a good job of growing out of the Newborn clothes. It’s crazy to see them getting tighter and tighter. You have grown about 2 inches since you were born. So crazy long now!!
I was sick all last week and I was so stressed that you would get sick. Thankfully you escaped the cold that whooped my butt. But I hope for future you that you when you have a baby you can avoid getting sick with a newborn. It really sucks!
You got a brace on Thursday afternoon to correct the positioning of your hips because you were breech. Oh my breechy baby I cried so much for you. I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable and have to deal with yet another thing so early on. And yet you were pretty much un-phased by the fitting. And even now a few days later you are all set with it. It makes feeding you harder for us as it makes it ever harder to burp you. Oh man, you’re so extra hard to burp now. dang it!
At least you continue to be a happy and healthy baby. You are smiling more and more at us, especially when Daddy is changing your diaper. As well, you are doing a great job of tracking the toy keys that we hang in front of you. When I put you down on your tummy for some tummy time you like to look into the mirror that I put down next to you. It’s still not your favorite thing to do but it has made your neck pretty strong so you are developing more control over keeping your head up. You pick your head up a lot when Daddy is holding you and you look right at his face to check out what is going on.
I’ve been giving you massages now which you really like. We take a few minutes when you are getting an outfit change to chat with each other while I massage your little legs and arms and milky filled belly with some lotion.
Daddy and I look forward to seeing you continue to grow and watch your personality develop over the new month. What new things will you learn? What will make you coo? What will be a whole knew thing that you will learn?
I love you!
Love,
Mommy
 
 
So Autumn was 7 weeks old yesterday, and has been home with us just over 6 weeks. I was looking around this weekend at her room (to be finished and posted one of these days) and around the house at all the stuff we’ve accumulated for her- oh man, so much stuffs!!
There are so many great products for her and us that are making things enjoyable for her and as a result our lives easier. Slightly easier? I dunno about that some times, like when we think we are getting into a rhythm and then BAM! she decides to spend all night up. ALL NIGHT. Anyway… here are some of my favorite things right now.
Summer Infant SwaddleMe 2 PK Cotton Knit
We’ve gotten really good at swaddling Autumn with swaddling blankets but these SwaddleMe’s really do make things even easier! The velcro holds her snuggly in place which is great since she can sometimes Houdini her arms out of the blanket swaddles. While she sometimes freaks out when we first swaddle her we know it’s best for her so that she ultimately calms down as being swaddled mimics being tight and cosy (translation= constricted) in the womb. Plus is prevents her from moving around while sleeping and wacking herself in the face and waking herself up.
In addition to the swaddlers in get Autumn to sleep well, this has been a life saver for us. Autumn sleeps really well when the Sleep Sheep is playing 1 of the 4 sounds it has (Mother’s Heartbeat, Spring Showers, Ocean Surf and Whale Songs). There are several versions, including travel, of the Sleep Sheep products but I think this is the best one because it has more options and is just a few more bucks compared to the others. This version has a sound sensor that is triggered when the baby wakes in the middle of the night and starts to make some noise again prompting the Sleep Sheep to start the last song it had played. As well, it has 2 options for the length of time the music plays- 23 or 45 minutes.
Diaper Genie Elite Diaper Disposal Pail with Refill, 270-Count
We did A LOT of research for which diaper pail we would select. Ultimately we picked the Diaper Genie Elite because of it’s capacity, is hands free, and seals in odors by closing off the diapers with 2 lids. We use this A LOT.
Boudreaux’s Butt Paste 16 oz. Jar
We use this combo all thanks to the really nice visiting nurse who was noticing that no matter how often we were changing Autumn she was getting a diaper rash. She was noticing that the wee one’s bum was a little sensitive to just using the Butt Paste. The Butt Paste is really thick so it required us to use some effort/force to get it completely off after every diaper change. So she suggested we mix some up of the Butt Paste with some Vaseline to cut the thickness. This works well for us because we are using getting the active ingredients in the Butt Paste but thinned it out so it’s easy to get on and off.
Water bottles are a must for me any time, baby or no baby. But now that I am pumping I can’t get enough water. Seriously, can’t get enough. Every time I pump I drink a full water bottle (24 ounces) and then I down more through out the day. Well, this is my favorite water bottle because it Autoseals- which means it’s closed until you open it when you go to drink it. This is awesome for me since I’m tired and extra klutzy and drop or knock over these babies all the time and if I had to clean up spilled water all the time I’d lose my mind!
The First Years Spinning Drying Rack, White
Price did a big Amazon order one day and picked this out for me to use with the pumping stuffs that are constantly getting washed and washed and washed. I really like this drying rack because it has 2 levels so it can hold a lot without taking up much room, it rotates so it’s easy to get something on one of the levels, and excess water drains into the sink or into trough that comes with it.
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I’ll do a Favorites post every month as Autumn grows, changes, and develops.
What are some of your favorite things for newborns?
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Post contains affiliate links
  
December 2013
Dear Autumn-
You are 1 month old today. I still can’t believe you are here, let alone you’ve been here for a month. The month has just flown by.
I look at you and I am overcome with happiness. It’s a joy that comes from you making me a mom, a moment I’ll never forget. Your dad announced to me that you were a girl and right then we knew our little Autumn Olivia had arrived. This was a moment we happily waited for as it would change our lives in the most amazing ways.
When we found out you had an omphalocele it was like a punch to the gut. It was impossible to think of you being sick and having to struggle when you were first born. We just had to take things one day at a time learning more and more about what was going as you grew inside of me. Thankfully, as time went on we learned that you were healthy and that you would just need to face one surgery to correct the omphalocele. Still, that just seemed impossible to me. How could you just be born and need surgery so soon after? But that is what we were facing so we just trudged on waiting for the day to meet you and figure out more about the omphalocele.
Thankfully, when you arrived the Dr’s said the surgery was going to be ‘a piece of cake’ and you would do really well because you were so healthy. Every day when you were in the NICU you would reach another milestone and amaze us. You really shocked us as we were able to take you home just 7 days after you were born, instead of the month that we were warned about. So incredible!
And since then you have been delighting us with your growth, healthy appetite, strength, and beauty. You have been steadily been putting on weight (7 lbs 0oz at this mornings appointment!), much to my delight since it makes all the work related to pumping all worth it. Â You have been eating more and more each week and are now around 3- 3 1/2 ounces each feeding. Oh man, you can be so hard to burp though! Your dad will have better luck getting you to burp at times. We are just happy to see that your cheeks and belly are filling out. Oh those cheeks, I just love to kiss them. And every now and then I love to sneak a kiss on your mouth which you open in response.
You definitely have my mouth, ears, and toes. While you have your daddy’s eyes, long lashes, and chin. We love your brown hair and how soft it is. We are hoping that it will grow in with a bit of a wave like your dad’s when his hair is long. We shall just have to wait and see that, as well as what color your eyes end up being as they are a striking dark blue now with a lighter blue ring right around your pupil.
You don’t really like tummy time but do well with holding your head up when we have you perched up on our chests and shoulder. You have become more and more observant to the world around you as you look around at Kemper or family who has visited. You’ve had some fussy days and nights but for the most part are pretty mellow. But when you are unhappy or hungry you really do let us know. You will wail and wail until the bottle is in your mouth and then, just like that, are happily gobbling it down. You actually do more yelling at us than crying, as you scream ‘ahhh’ vs ‘wahh’. You are a noisy sleeper and eater as you grunt and click all the time. Daddy jokes that you sound like a dolphin.
This month has been filled with so much joy that we can’t wait to see what the next month brings as you grow bigger and bigger each day and develop into a beautiful little girl.
I love you so much.
Love,
Mom
So I approached my hospital bag how I approach packing in general…
wait until the last minute and if I forget something it’s no big deal since I can improvise, wear something again, or buy it nearby (unless on a cruise).
Thankfully, this approach worked pretty well and I used most everything I packed and didn’t need to have Price run out for much.
I had a scheduled C-section so I had to consider some things prior to heading off to the hospital, such as what clothes would be most comfortable to wear related to the incision and how long I would be staying.  As you are in the hospital longer for a C-section than for a vaginal birth, so you might want some additional things as you are away from home longer. So here is my ultimate list of what to bring to the hospital bag.
Clothes
Toiletries
Electronics
Nursing
Extras
For the baby
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We knew that Autumn would be in the NICU and not being going home when I was so that impacted some of the things I packed, like I didn’t pack a going home outfit. Similarly, you can adjust what you pack based upon the time of year you have your baby or what you see around the hospital during your tour.
The one thing that I suggest you don’t bring is a breast pump. Sure, you see pumps at Target but you don’t need one before you go to the hospital since they have them there. As well, you should discuss with your doctor about getting a prescription for a pump so that your insurance covers it.
The biggest thing is that you can’t go wrong if you over pack or even forget something. The hospital where I had Autumn even had a vending machine of nursing/pumping supplies. So don’t sweat it and just enjoy your new baby!!!
 Autumn Olivia TaggartOur little Miss was born last Monday night via C-section at 4.59pm weighing in at 5 lbs 9 oz and measuring 19 inches in length.
Price was given the honor of getting to announce to me if we had a boy or girl…. GIRL!!
We are both doing well and excited to have her join our family.Â
More updates and lots of pictures to come.
I’ll do a weekly bump update so I can look back and see how things progress and what was happening at various points along the way.
7Â days to go!
Holy crap! Just 1 week to go!!
It’s been a busy past week with Dr’s appointments and stuff in general. I’ve been trying to get to bed early but it just doesn’t seem to be enough. Hmm… I wonder why I’m tired?!?! I passed out on the sofa just after 8.30 on Sat night.
We also picked up the stroller this week! We picked out the Baby Jogger City Select because we liked how it handled as well as it’s features and adaptability. We know we won’t really be using it soon since The Bean will be in the NICU for some time and since it will be cold as hell once The Bean gets home but it was nice just to get it. Hell, maybe I’ll go stir crazy and need to get out to walk around the mall or something just to get out of the house and put it to good use. ha!
Getting antsy to meet this babe and find out if its a boy or girl!
Current Due Date: 12/1/13- BUT I’m scheduled for my C-section on 11/25! Thanksgiving in the hospital!
Weight Gain: per 11.14 Dr’s I’ve gained 12.6 lbs total so far
Stretch Marks: none 🙂
Belly Button: even more shallow but still in!
Clothing: looking forward to getting home every night so I can wear PJ’s and sweats. I think it’s the cosy nesting + cold weather + pregnancy
Cravings/Aversions:Â can’t stop thinking about Shake Shake burgers and Oreos
Sleep: never enough but having trouble sleeping at the same time. good times…
Mood: good, just trying not to think about The Bean’s surgery and its NICU stay
Movement: our mellow baby is just relaxing in there for the most part, plus it’s pretty cramped at this point.
Milestones: a week to go!!!
What I miss: not having pain in my hips
What I am looking forward to: getting through this week to get to the 25th!!!
Comparable Fruit/Veggie Size: Pumpkin (Average size: 18.9 – 20.2 inches head to toe, 6.2 – 9.2 lbs) via The Bump
I’ll do a weekly bump update so I can look back and see how things progress and what was happening at various points along the way.
14Â days to go!
Is it the 25th yet? Is it? IS IT?!
I guess I should feel lucky that I known the day our Bean will be here (unless the Dr’s move it up or it decides to make make its appearance earlier). As well, the 25th is 6 days before my actual due date, which helps speed things along. I’m just feeling impatient.
We have the room in pretty good shape with it being painted, the rug is down, crib assembled, and I’ve been organizing and reorganizing the stuff in the dresser and the things on the bookcase. As well, we’re working on some craft projects at this point for the room, like Price is making a mobile and I’m doing some travel themed crafts to put on the walls.
I’ve been sorting things out this week related to maternity leave. There was a bit, brief misunderstanding about a policy at work, but as the state statuate MMLA trumps the federal FMLA I am all set. I am just thankful that it’s all sorted out and I have all instructions and joyful paperwork to do to have everything going smoothly. Plus, I’ve been clearing up all the crap I’ve accumulated on/under my desk… books, shoes, paperwork, jackets, etc. Kinda nice to purge it all out, but hate bringing it home as it’s just more stuff there to deal with.
Another Ultrasound tomorrow morning and then again Non-stress Test on Thursday. I think I am approaching 20 ultrasounds now, maybe even surpassed that! At least it never gets tiring seeing The Bean. 🙂
Current Due Date: 12/1/13- BUT I’m scheduled for my C-section on 11/25! Thanksgiving in the hospital!
Weight Gain: didn’t get weighed this week but I’m sure the halloween candy I’ve eaten recently is not gonna help with the next weigh in…
Stretch Marks: none 🙂
Belly Button: even more shallow but still in!
Clothing: looking forward to getting home every night so I can wear PJ’s and sweats. I think it’s the cosy nesting + cold weather + pregnancy
Cravings/Aversions: I want to eat all the Shake Shack. ALL OF IT.
Sleep: I can’t get enough some days doing to bed at 8.30Â and then other days I will stay up until Price scolds me to go to bed at 11. Still get quite ticked off every time I wake up in the middle of the night.
Mood: Fine. I feel really impatient having to repeat the same stuff over and over again to different people weather it’s family, friends, or doctors at my multiple appointments each week. I know they are just being nice checking in but I just want a do not disturb button like on my phone at work. This is all too much talking for this ‘observer’.
Emily reminded me of this from How I Met Your Mother…
I just feel that I don’t have to update unless it’s an 8 or higher. So if I’m not in labor, I’m all good.
Movement: our mellow baby is just relaxing in there for the most part, plus it’s pretty cramped at this point.
Milestones: offically full term
What I miss: sleeping on my stomach since I am getting uncomfortable always sleeping on my left side.
What I am looking forward to: getting through this week
Comparable Fruit/Veggie Size: Winter Melon (Average size: 18.9 – 20.2 inches head to toe, 6.2 – 9.2 lbs) via The Bump
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