To all my prego friends...Things I have learned thus far.......

Spring is always Baby and Wedding time (even if that order for some...). Usually the two go hand in hand.  ALthough I cannot give anyone advice on the Wedding world, I can offer my worldly Maternal advice I have gathered in my past 6 months as a mommy.  Chalk full of experience it is NOT, but fresh in my mind and blunt it IS!
As many of you know My experiences with my little bundle of bliss in the past six months have (at times) been anything but....Sir Isaac has been QUITE a handful since Day 1! First he did not eat well, then he refused to poop, all the while NEVER sleeping and crying as if it  were an Olympic sport. Well, we have conquered 2 of the 4, but  I have a feeling Little man will be spending many a night curled up in Mommy and Daddy's bed and not his own and if the the Olympics do ever have a crying event..well lets just say Phelps and Ohno will lose their records in a heartbeat!
I can go on and on with little useless tips of the trade, such as YES!! you can hold the baby too much (GUILTY!), no Bed-sharing(I wish someone would sleep in his crib!) and scheduled feedings and naps (for the baby not you!) But I will limit my world of advice for all my Mommy- to- be- friends to some main pointers...(for now)
#1. As the nurse hands you your little bundle of joy your head will be spinning. Yes YOU created this little blessing - the most beautiful baby in the world, but what the heck are you going to do with it now??

The first thing you will learn in a hurry is that EVERYONE has the best Mommy advice and EVERYONE knows exactly what you are feeling. Bull shit. Most people have decent advice, but no one knows just how you feel. Luckily parenting is not a religion. You CAN have a cafeteria plan and pick and chose what methods work for you. My basic rule is to follow the advice of the parent with the least screwed up kids...or your mom's  advice, even if her track record may be a little shaky. :)
#2. If someone offers their help TAKE IT!!! As new moms we are all on a mission to be SuperMom.  Why? In reality most of us have just undergone the most physical experience of our lives and seconds later we are expected to take on the most challenging experience of our lives. Our minds and bodies are certainly not ready for the task of recouping physically and being in charge of the survival of our newborn child! Listen ladies, I was the first to try to squeeze into my post- labor- Supermom- tights, but thankfully they didnt fit! Take the Help! Even if it is just for a 5 minute bathroom break when you can actually shut the door! Trust me, supermoms are tired moms are cranky moms...and in the battle of cranky mom versus cranky baby - Baby ALWAYS wins!
#3.  Relationships. Before 'I' was born JT and I read every article on 'post-baby-relationships' and laughed! There was no way our Little Miracle could do anything but enhance our giddy lovestruck romance. My   pregnancy was a dream, JT was the ever-loving Daddy-to-be, and our relationship was more stable than ever! Then our little Colic Monster was born and the tables turned! Now instead of  cuddling up to my sweetheart at night I was contemplating murder plots as I could hear him snoring away as the baby wailed away in his crib in the wee hours of the night. What happened to us?? We seemed to forget everything we had read and ironically become the "what not to do" profiles in the magazines. Allow me to clarify, I became the profiles! Jt became the "What just happened to my fun loving Girl??" guy!  Poor Guy!
If you think a baby won't alter your relationship your are completely wrong! From Sleeping, to eating, to trying to take a shower every once in a while - EVERYTHING changes! The main thing you have to keep in mind is you are both in this together - and staying together should be the long term goal for all of you. Alternately,  as was the case of the cranky Baby versus cranky mom, in the case of cranky Mom versus cranky Dad - no one wins. So plan ahead! Get yourself ready for the sleepless nights and come up with a sleep schedule where you both get some quality ZZZ time!

#4. Finally, Give yourself some slack. You have just put in 9 months of planning and preparation for your Bundle of Joy. The Nurse hands you the baby and POOF! Everything you have just spent the past 9 months learning goes out the window! Nothing can prepare you for the moment when you realize YOU ARE THE PARENTS of this helpless little human! It is inevitable(for most of us at least!). We read the books, we took the classes, we came up with our child-rearing plans, we were ready - or so we thought. I was going to be the best Mom EVER! Earth friendly diapers, chemical free products, organic everything, baby schedules, charts, you name it - we had planned for it! Then Baby I, the Colic Monster, came out  with different plans for us! My Earth-friendly-organic-scheduled-pie-charts became useless as our bassinet and I resorted to survival mode to keep up with him! The greatest thing I have learned so far is to be able to adjust myself and expectations to reality and to be okay with that. Do not think of it as 'losing the game.' Think of it as choosing a better game to play. Not everything will go according to plan (or in our case not ANYTHING!), but learning to sanely deal with that has saved Jt and I from killing each other many a time! And in the end NOT killing each other is KEY for a happy family!!

So there it is my friends - some (hopefully) helpful hints on the crazy world of motherhood from a very UNSEASONED veteran of the game! I can go on and on...but not right now... as you can guess, someone is crying for me!

Half Year of Fun!

Dear I,

I cant believe you are 6 months old!! I cant believe Daddy and I lasted this long! It seems like just yesterday the doctor handed you over and said "here you go...he should stop crying soon..."
HA! Every day you are changing..but the crying hasn't stopped! Maybe we can get a refund on that! It seems like everday you are growing out of another outfit! Thank goodness you still fit in the bjorn....but it is getting tight! What will we do then???
Still no crawling, but we are pretty sure you are going to go straight to walking! You hate tummy time at all costs! Except for bedtime. YOu now LOVE to sleep on your tummy! Which is great... now in the off chance you DO sleep, I stay awake watching you like a hawk! GReat! Thanks for taking it easy on me!

Needless to say What a half year it has been! I have slept less than I ever thought possible!(ugh!) Cried more than I (or Daddy) can handle!(Ick!) I have gone from washing the house down in disinfectant to letting the dog lick food off your face!(Oops!) I have pretty much compromised EVERY plan I had for you to this point! Oh what a great mother I was BEFORE you were born! Heck, I have even slept on the floor at night because you finally fell asleep - in my bed!!
You have definitely changed Daddy and my lives forever... and for the best! Watching you grow everyday reminds me how lucky we are - and how people can have more than 1!!??? But I love you little Sir with all my heart...and all the amazing greatness you have brought to our lives!
Unfortunately we had to celebrate you Big day with another round of shots at the Doctors. Silly vaccines. But you did great. Mommy still cried (oops)! The dr said you were a perfectly healthy beautiful baby boy...and (in not so many words) Mommy and Daddy are big wusses for not being able to handle your lack of sleeping!

He also said we need to up the ante on the solid foods! YEAH!!! You are definitely ready for that too! YOu would put EVERYTHING in your mouth if I let you! So far we have dabbled in Sweet potatoes, apples, carrots, bananas, and rice. I have had so much fun making your food too! I love to see you eat good for you food! In no time at all youll be wanting a happy meal (UGH!!!...which, by the way, you will NEVER do in my presence!)
This weekend we will be busy getting ready for daddy's birthday! His first daddy bday!!! He is off to Tahoe this morning...Our first time without him here! boohoo! We shall see how Mommy does as a single mom!!I have a feeling we wont be letting him do this again for a long time!!
Well its off to mush some bananas!! Happy 1/2 bday my monkey boy!! Mama loves you!

My Little Monkey!

Dear I,
I think I may start to call you my little koala rather than my little boy! YOU are always haning around my neck these days! YOU are defintely a little Mama's Boy in the making!! Daddy says I have the "mommy hips". Mommy told Daddy the couch gets awfully cold!
I guess I should enjoy it while I can..that is "they" tell me! BEofre I know it you wont want antyhing to do with me! I will just be your lame mom who 'doesnt know anything!' Funny, your noni was just like that too!

We have had a long week of good nite bad nite...at least htere was a few good nites huh? OK, let me rephrase the "good nite". Good NItes are when you are jsut fussy enough to make it into Mommy and Daddy's bed and then you sleep the rest of the night curled up under my chin, grasping my necklace for dear life and sucking on my chin. That is a ""GOOD NIGHT" these days.
Although that is WAY better than your bad nights of sleeping until 11pm and staying awake crying until 5:30 AM!! THat is HELL NIGHT!!! But now I am armed with all my "Baby Sleep" books...( plus a few extras) so I am sure once you finish reading them we will be all set! Get Cracking kiddo!

Well are currently visiting Gramma Berta and boy is she happy to see you!! I told you she wouldnt believe how big you got! We survived another "Midnite Run" Drive and 8 hours later...POOF! Elko!  Its a big change from the rip roarin Super Bowl party from last nite (I hope everyone can hear the sarcasm in that one!!) I bet Uncle Ronnie is enjoying his quiet nights again!
Well its time to go catch the stirring little monster I hear! I hope you had a good nap...I hate when you wake up on he wrong side of the blankie!!!

You are lucky you are cute!

Dear I,
Someday you will learn just how FUN and WONDERFUL sleeping is! I realize right now you may think it is a little scary or, in your case, completely torturous, but believe me someday you will EMBRACE it as much as Mommy and Daddy (would like to) do!
It seems in the past few weeks you have developed an odd sense of complete dismay with sleeping. Waking every 30 to 45 minutes to remind me how much you completely hate it! I get the point kiddo!! But you still have to do it or mommy is going to be VERY cranky... or (according to Daddy) Crankier!!
Lately the hard part is not getting you to sleep ( I am actually getting better at that - knock on wood!) - it is putting you down! It seems every time I lay you down you react as if I accidentally put you in a bed of crocodiles! YOu scream as though I dropped you into your crib from the 45th floor of a highrise building! I dont know where this new game came from but I cant wait til its over!!
It makes for a very long nite....and an even longer next day!
I know many people ...MANY people...like to offer their advice when it comes to sleeping..mostly let him cry it out...but I just cant do that...I know someday (soon) I will regret it...but you are SO fickle I can't let you cry all night. Because you will CRY ALL NIGHT! "They" say the  cry-it-out/Ferber method is harder on the parents. "they" are right. Mommy isnt strong enough to listen to you wail for hours and not throw herself over the balcony! Hopefully I am not screwing you up too much! ALthough part of me thinks at this rate I will be dancing you to sleep in high school!
I must say you have been better throughout the day though! Thank GOD!! Except for the fact that I hold you ALL day! I guess that makes up for my lack of gym attendance... maybe you are trying to tell me to get back to the gym?? Smart Baby Boy! Don't worry baby, Mommy is very aware that she needs to hit the treadmill again! Apparently my sweatpants look is getting old even for you!
The one thing that you do seem to love is music! All types and very loud! I have a feeling I will see many a drum set and such in our future! We dance to sleep every night. I cant wait until you are old enough to know what "only one song" means! Apparently now it means we dance until you are so sound asleep drool is coming out of your mouth!

You do love to be out and about though! YOu are going to be one active, inquisitive little Man! We went to story book hour last week at Barnes and Noble and you loved looking at all the other kids and books! Taking you out is my saving grace for keeping you calm! I just wish there were more places to walk around here other than a grocery store or Target...(your walks get awfully expensive :) And thank heavens for the Bjorn! Dont tell Daddy but Mommy secretly hates your stroller...so the Bjorn is my best friend! Maybe we can try the treadmill together! (just kidding everyone) You also love you some Elmo and Barney! I dont know what kind of subliminal messages they put in those shows but keep it coming I say! And if I make daddy watch the Kids' stations any longer you are surely going to own "Your Baby Can Read!" any day now!
Well Apparently naptime is over.  Here I can come little Man! I hope everybody out there knows how much we miss them and can't wait to see them all again soon!!
love you, mommy

Baby Gaga!

Dear Baby I,
5 days back in Las Vegas...Ho Hum... Back to reality! Where is all my help!? My cooks? My laundry fairy? My magical Midnite relief?? I thought Santa may have left a set of you here....but nope. Good thing you are cute kid! Or Zam Boom to the Moon you would go!

Little Man, you are having a heck of a time getting re-adjusted to West coast time. Up at 3! Bed at 6! Ugh.. You are all screwed up! And so am I!! I guess we will figure it out sooner or later! The puppies were so excited to see us back!!! I have never seen Zorro so excited. He nearly licked my face raw! Who says dogs do not remember!!! Zorro does!!
FOr those of you who havent heard of our lovely trip back to Vegas...let me just say an Oceanic flight to the LOST island was better! Sir I cried and cried...and cried...oh rite, then he puked EVERYWHERE!!! I felt so bad for those around us! It must have been because he didnt want to come back to Vegas either! My poor baby! But we do love being back with Uncle Ronnie! HE loves to make you cry! :) It is the best to see him carrying you around in the bjorn! What a fabulous Uncle! Just dont let him teach you anything...especially about girls!

Since we have been back he has been "talking" up a storm! Babble Babble Babble!! He is getting adjusted to his new jumpy...and my little guy is HOOKED on Sesame Street! (bad mommy lets him watch TV already!) Sweet Potatos have also entered the scene! What A mess!!! But I think you liked them! You hate the Zantac though...I hope it is working but I have to jump thru hoops to keep it in your mouth! You nearly outgrown your tubby and your feet ar the tastiest most fascinating things you have ever seen!
BEing back also makes me miss all my helpers!! HINT HINT.....come visit Noni, aunties Krissy, Gina, and Emily!! SOON! Little man is like my new appendage! I cant put him down for a second! The facial recognition does melt my heart...but the constant holding breaks my back!!

Last but not least I wanted to give my little bratty patty a happy birthday shout out!! I cant believe my brat is 15!!! I bet in a blink of an eye I will be saying the same thing about Little I!! Enjoy your big day Bratty! BE good....and be careful - remember you are just finding out who you are supposed to be...and you will do better things than dating the boy on the football (or hockey!) team!! I love you! ( yippeee! a whole year of singing that song to you!!!)

See you soon!

Dear Isaac,

Back to Las Vegas today. :(
We had a great time here at Noni's house, but time to get back to 'work'. It has been a long time since we last seen those puppies of ours! I bet they miss us dearly! I know we miss them!
Mommy is surely going to miss all the babysitters we have here though! Now what are we going to do when Mommy needs a nap or when you won't stop screaming? Back to the grocery store I guess!
You got awfully bug since we got here! You barely fit in any of the clothes we brought! I guess that is a blessing in disguise since we dont have to lug them back to Vegas! Although believe me, we have PLENTY to take back. Just wait until Uncle Ronnie sees all  the stuff we have to take back! I just hope he remembers to pick us up at the airport WITH the carseat in the car!
   As much as I miss the pups, Leaving is still awfully sad. I know I will be back soon, especially since you fly for free! But still its no fun saying goodbye...even if it is just "see you soon". I am sure everyone is going to miss you oodles! Aunt Krissy has gotten so good at having a baby IN the stroller...maybe she will just have to push an empty one around to pretend like you are still here! Aunt Gina finally got you to laugh and giggle....now who will she buy all those loud musical toys for? Nona will have so much extra holy oil and now Em will have TWO hands free for texting!! Zizi has no more blanket to sew! Nono will finally get his bed back and I bet your Noni is going to miss you more than ever too! How will she ever sleep thru the nite without your constant screaming that she pretended not to hear??? Maybe she can keep her second shift over the phone for a bit?!?!?!
  Well thats it for now. Mommy's not one for emotional blah blah...so we will just say See you soon! and thanks for everything...we love you all very much!

5 months in!!

Dear Isaac!

    Can you believe you are almost 5 months old (Sunday)??? Crazy! 22 weeks and you STILL have not figured out how to sleep through the night!!! Oh my!! You have your good nites ( 2 to 3 hours of sleep at a time) and your Hell Nites (up every 20 minutes!) "They" keep telling me you will figure it out sooner or later...I am pretty sure it will be later! ruh-roh :( Oh well, at least we can use you for soup!
    Last week you had your first fever. Boy is that sad to see! I never thought I would miss your constant crabbiness until seeing you so blase'. We went to the doctor for a simple well visit on monday for a second opinion on your constant crying and the next day you spiked a fever! Wednesday we were back at the Dr but thankfully she said you were ok and just had a virus. I thought I would be  secretly relieved to have you sleep so much, but oddly I was not. You just didnt seem like yourself. By Thursday the fever was gone and crazy diarrhea set in.... that was AWFUL!  It has been a never ending carnival ride!
So now it is Friday and you have not got your appetite back! IF you dont hurry up and get back to "normal"soon you are going to drive your Noni...and me crazy!

    Of course after you got sick then Mommy got sick. Fortunately the bathrooms were close by at both Kohl's and Wegmans when I decided to "un-lunch" myself!  Luckily my bout with the flu was short-lived. But during my afternoon in bed (which was not nearly the afternoon of rest I had hoped for) I had my first real MOMMY A-HA! moment!! I cold hear my little man screaming downstairs as I lay up in quarantine and I did all I could to stay upstairs and not re-infect him! Finally, however,  I gave in when the wails turned to screams. With a scarf around my mouth I went downstairs and picked up my little screaming monster and at that very moment he let out the hugest sigh and fell asleep! My breath and body wreaked, my stomach was turning and every muscle ached but it was the greatest mommy moment ever! Knowing that My little Sir was crying for ME and wanting ME made me feel like a million bucks!! Now he just better get over this Mama's boy thing!

   When not sick, Daddy And I did have lots of fun traveling around PA exploring new areas! I cant believe I lived here for so long and havent seen so much! Monday we went to NYC with Uncle Ralphie. I love it there but Daddy was not as easily impressed! It is a little too congested for him....I guess you can take the boy out of the country but you cant take the country out of the boy! Hopefully Little man will get an appreciation of both the city and country from both of us!
    Next week we head back to Las Vegas. I say that with bittersweet emotions. I know your daddy is going a little stir crazy being in PA for so long and we both miss the dogs so much, but I do love being here, no matter how crazy your Nono may make me! I know I will be a mess when we leave - but not nearly as bad as Noni will be :) I know we will be back!

    Uncle Ronnie will be so surprised by how big you got when we get back! And I can't wait until he hears your new high pitched scream that you do so well! Good bye to his peaceful nights! Maybe Prada will help me with the late shift!

PS...Back off ladies....Sir Isaac scored himself an older woman! Sofia has claimed him all for her own! Way to go Isaac, what a hottie!!!