I was looking back at the date of the last post and realized how much has happened since then (it really hasn't been that long)...

FUN EVENTS

Vida was baptized on July 13th: It was the Baptism that almost didn't happen because the crazy lady who gave us the class didn't register us for the date (we took the class back in May).  About 20 minutes before the ceremony began Vida decided to have an explosive poo!  My mom and sister had to go to the car to change her.  It took a while, when she got back her bloomers were missing because they were ruined.  Ay! 

It was all good, oh wait, then the catering was late, even though the restaurant is WALKING distance from my mom's house.  Seriously, God works in mysterious ways.  What's really special though is that it's the same church Pablo and I were married in as well as the church that I made my First Communion at and my baptism!  The last picture in the baptism sequence on the left is very special: the woman holding Vida is my godmother, my mother is next to her, she's Lisa's godmother (the red head), and Lisa is Vida's godmother.  The godfather is a fraternity brother of Pablo's.  The funny thing is that him and Lisa walked together at our wedding!
It all comes full circle!

She's had her second set of immunizations and the pediatrician checked her over.  She said Vida was 'perfect'.  She used the word 3 times.  Awww!  I was such a proud mama.  She did so well on the shots, the first one didn't phase her the second one amounted to a small yelp.  The pediatrician strongly encouraged more tummy time, she said the 3-6 month range is important to get them to like it.  Those babies that don't get enough practice tend to avoid crawling and choose to scooch (spelling?) on their butts (her youngest did that).

We had our second get-away-weekend last weekend (it was my birthday surprise from my husband).  We went to San Diego for Comi-Con.  Pablo and my best friend from childhood, Ian coordinated my entrance to Comi-Con and got me a pass to have TORI AMOS sign the graphic-novel inspired by her songs, Comic Book Tattoo!  OMG! OMG!  As I stood in line I kept trying to think of what to ask her.  I thought of, 'What's your favorite children's book?  (Tori has one daughter, Natasha)  She spent about 3 minutes with me, talking about Hans Christian Anderson tales, they mythology in them as opposed to modern day fairy tales.  Her daughter likes Harry Potter.  I remember smiling ear to ear the whole time she spoke to me.  She was so awesome! You feel as if you are the only person in the room. 
I walked away from the signing table with goosebumps! 

Pablo is an awesome husband!  Check out my commentary on the event on her fan site Undented.

Also, my sister took me to see Wicked!  the day before, that was a surprise too!  I was super spoiled for my first birthday as a mommy.  Who knew the 27th could be so special?!?!?!

BABY DEVELOPMENTS

Vida really demonstrated her strength this evening.  She was doing tummy time and had lots of gas which I think was a good thing because it distracted her.  She kept her eye on the pacifier as I dangled it in front of her.  Next thing I know she turned directions, like if she was going to go in a circle.

She also laughs more, my mom is really good at making her giggle.  It's sounds so cute because it's pure joy.

Vida hardly fits in her 3 month clothes (all the 3 month jammies are snug).  She now wears the awkward 3-6 months size.  A few 6 month and 9 month items fit too (mostly dresses).

Her finger nails grow super fast, those razor sharp claws combined with her deep grip cause some significant pain/discomfort on mommy and daddy's chest and neck.

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In my breastfeeding goal.  3 months is 1/6 of 18 months.  Sigh...such a small chunk.  At least 6 months will mark 1/3 of the way there.  I should celebrate these incremental benchmarks.  I am grateful for the gift of breastfeeding but it's such a mental competition.  It takes tremendous commitment: pumping at work, engorgement in the middle of the night, washing/sanitizing supplies, and storage.

It's so worth it at the moment that you're breastfeeding, automatically the rest of your world stops.  I used to get frustrated that Vida was a gourmet nurser (takes her time at the breast).  Now, she gets down to business, and it seems to be over so quickly.

It's now a grand task to maintain my supply, she consumes 12-15 oz between 8 am and 4 pm.  Just today, I started to feed her formula at every other feeding.  I want to make sure my freezer stash doesn't diminish and I don't want the stress of not having enough or running out.  If she continues to nap for 4 of those 8 hours, there will be sufficient milk.  We're getting (2) 2-hour naps!  Grateful for that.

I must increase my water intake and continue to make baked oatmeal and/or have oatmeal 1/day.  Any other suggestions?

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July 5th marks 3 months, wow!  It seems so long ago when she was born.  It's a whrilwind, someone referred to it as the baby vortex.  You lose sense of time, you forget to eat or go to the bathroom.  Today, I attempted an outing with a friend, a 5 hour adventure with travel time. 

Never again, not on my own.

Baby clock is about 3 hours maximum.  Poor thing was exhausted from yesterday's fun and feeling a little under the weather.  We managed a great outing but getting home was another story.  She screamed her lungs out for 25 minutes.  I drove as fast as I could to get home and feed her.  She looked so miserable when I unpacked her from the car seat.

Ugh, the guilt.

Moving on... 3 month old milestones:

1. Engaged in 'conversations'
2. Smiles back at you.
3. Begins to grab things with one hand
4. Uses her core to sit up
5. Learning to laugh
6. Beginning to squeal and shriek
7. Kicks in the bath tub, loving it!
8. Sleeps through the night, it's getting a little longer each week, we're averaging 8 hours.  There is a diaper change and snack.

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It's so sad to watch Vida work through her first cold.  I think she's clearing out most of the symptoms.  We purchased a cool mis humidifier yesterday.  We ran it all night and she had lots of nasal drip this morning.  Later in the day her sneezes had subsided.  I think she got sick due to last week's activities.

She had a hectic week, last week:

* Went to work with mommy for 2 days, probably contracted a host of germs from the kiddos

* Got her first shots on Friday, my DH and MIL accompanied her.  Her poor leg swelled up and was red.  She was so fussy, definitely not her normal self.

* In-laws arrived and met the baby for the first time, she was in and out most of the weekend

Some positive notes:

* She demonstrates great head control, we're currently scouring craigslist to get a bumbo or bebe pod seat for her.  Those things are INSANELY priced at the store.  Any moms out there have a preference for one?

* She's exploring new textures with her hands, she grasps at her car seat straps to feel the ridges in them.

* Vida loves to hold discussions- she babbles, coos, and mutters various things.  I wish I could understand her, they say babies comprehend more than we think they do.

* She has begun a pattern of 6 hours of sleep, she does wake up to eat but goes back to sleep.  I want to start the 4 Bs every night: Bath, Book, Breast (or bottle), and Bed.  I read this parenting advice on CNN from a mother of twins.  She started at 3 months and credits the routine to saving her sanity.

* She weighs 11 lbs, 8 oz, she almost 23 inches long, and she's a strong, healthy baby.

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Haven't updated the blog in some weeks now.  Just finished my first full week back at work.  I am looking forward to moving on with a better CMO (charter management organization).  Vida grows and develops in various ways all week long.

photo 1: baby legs               photo 2: Mommy & me                 photo 3: Filling out the swing

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Yesterday, I had a pumping session in the women’s lounge at Nordstrom’s.  I love Nordstrom’s for equipping their restroom space with a lounge for breastfeeding. There was already a mama there with her 21 month old son breastfeeding.  It’s such a confidence booster to see a woman breastfeeding beyond 1 year.  Her native language was Spanish and we were exchanging first time motherhood stories.  In the meantime, her son finished nursing and began to explore her purse.

It was difficult to contain my surprise when he pulled out a pack of Marlboro lights to play with.  She took them away and he was upset he couldn’t play with them.  She ‘tried’ to tell him, ‘no’. But he thought it was a game.  

So many concerns flew through my mind…

Doesn’t the nicotine reach him via the breastmilk?

Is he addicted already?

Cigarettes aren’t toys.

I was so disillusioned because we had just finished a conversation about the importance of breastmilk.  She mentioned that when he was an infant she pumped a supply and stored it in her freezer.  Unfortunately, he refused the bottle and after 3 months she had to through it away.  She later learned that she could’ve drank it because it benefits adults too.

It made me wonder about the screenings done at breast milk banks.  Can they check for smoking?  At $3 per ounce, I would hope that milk was pure of pollutants.

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they really do grow up fast.  I was so sad when I put NB size pajamas on Vida and her feet were at the tip and the top button wouldn't close.  I was so stubborn about it too.  I thought, "Maybe it's just the Gerber brand, let's try some Carter's jammies."  It wasn't that much better.

My mom was laughing at me because I was trying to convince myself otherwise.  Pablo reminds me that they grow.  I know, I know.  All I kept saying is, "But she's not even six weeks yet."  OK, she was just 3 days shy of it, still I shed some tears.

On the flip side, with rapid growth spurts come milestones, she started to purposefully smile around the same time.  We see a couple more each day.  She entertains herself well too.  Mustela has helped so much with her baby acne, it's dminishing every day.  For the cradle cap we do an olive oil treatment at night and wash her off.

Today is daddy's birthday!  We're going to celebrate.  Daddy had a special request: that she wear her cowgirl outfit.  The picture below was taken about 1.5 weeks ago.

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Trial and Error

If I had to sum up the challenges of the last 6 weeks that's what I would say.

It's been a learning experience filled with highs and lows.

So what 'parenting' things do we do...

1. Swaddle along with the other Happiest Baby on the Block strategies, such a savior at midnight.

2. Pacifier only for transition to sleep and 'emergencies' (aka car ride fussiness)

3. Fisher-Price Cradle Swing, another great transition tool ($60 deal on Craigslist).  She doesn't sleep in it but she does fall asleep in it. 

4. Sleepy wrap...I hadn't touched this in about 3 weeks and I used it yesterday to walk to Staples and Long's Drug store.  She slept so soundly and it's a work out for me.

5. Use olive oil for cradle cap, working like a charm

6. Calendula for baby acne and the scalies that creep onto the forehead, eyebrows, nose, and ear lobes.  Our pediatrician is traditional and homeopathic.  Her first shots won't be until mid-June, hooray!

7. Co-sleeping at night and crib for naps

8. Nail file for those thin but razor sharp nails, I can't use the clipper, makes me so nervous.

9. Exclusively breast feed, use Medela bottles with breast milk when I am away for more than 2 hours.

What does mama feel like?

1. I have learned how to slow down, I don't rush processes like running errands.

2. I have 12 lbs of baby weight lingering but that's really 37 lbs because I have bigger weight loss goals.  Should I achieve it within 6 months, I will have a renewed sense of strength.  I know it can only happen with diet and exercise which requires a ton of discipline!

3.  A love-hate relationship with breastfeeding.  It is great bonding but it's a messy business.  I am also beginning the work of building a milk supply with pumping, ugh, washing and sterilizing all of those parts!

4. Searching for a happy balance between attachment parenting and traditional American (aka container) parenting

5. A strong urge to 'schedule' my life.  When I held a demanding, time-sensitive summer position with Teach For America, my entire day (Monday-Thursday) was planned out from 5:30 am to 11 pm.  I never felt so efficient or accomplished, I maximized each moment of the day.  I need a sense of order, I would love to consult with Kate from John and Kate Plus 8.  She is the queen of organization!

More later...baby Vida is calling me.

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1. My stretch marks would itch even more post partum.  I swear, I have acquired more too!  I don’t get it, my body is actually ‘shrinking’ and the stretch marks are creeping ?!?!?

1. Recovery from natural childbirth has its own time line.  I was naïve and thought the pain would subside within hours.  Not so much, it took days.

1. My wrists would need their own workouts to assist with breastfeeding and cradling.  I swear carpal tunnel syndrome could be a side effect of handling a newborn.

1. I would become talented at doing daily tasks with one hand: feeding myself, prepping food, organizing household items, etc.

1. Mommy brain would set in even more when staying at home with a newborn.

1. I knew I would go through diapers like they’re going out of style but I had no idea that the same rings true for large Costco-size quantities of baby wipes.

1. I would find myself swaying automatically even if I am not holding Vida.

1. Finally, on a positive note, post partum massage is a true gift that every mother needs to receive.  I just had the best this afternoon with Leah Miller.  All I can say is, ‘Wow!’  In my 3^rd trimester I had 2 massages one at Burke Williams (super pricey, I had a gift certificate) and one at Brook’s but Leah is the best.  She provided just the right amount of pressure in all the right places.

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Wow!  There are so many *new* experiences in the last 14 days...let me kick my Type A personality and break them down:

The Baby
1. Vida increases her alert time a little more each day.

2. She has her own breastfeeding technique mastered.

3. She has christened many objects and (Daddy) already with your liquidy poo.

4. It's a lot of fun to watch her sleep and interact with her on her play mat during alert time

Breastfeeding

I can see how many new moms give up on the process in the first week.  Thankfully, I have the support of my cousin Chris.  She's a LDR/NICU nurse and lactation consultant.  She was the one who gave me the Brest Friend pillow and the Nursing Mother's Companion book.  It was an emotional roller coaster to develop the breast feeding relationship.  All is well now.  I just need to figure out how to maintain my supply for as long as possible.  My audacious goal is to breastfeed/pump to 18 months, at the very least 1 year.

Mommy

All was going relatively smoothly until we had plumbing problems.  With no working bathroom, Vida and I had to go to Nana's for the day.  No biggie, right?  Well, I had a very strong tension headache and also did not anticipate the temporary relocation.  Vida and I coped well until the very end of the day.  The drive back to apartment was miserable with traffic and a super upset baby.  As soon as I came home, I let all out, tears of frustration.  I call it my first "mommy meltdown', I was so proud that I made it through the day on my own but had failed with such an upsetting car ride.

Since then I have gained confidence in my parenting skills, especially after I learned some 'tricks' to the sleepy wrap, courtesy of Becky's post partum visit.

Daddy

What a trooper!  He has maintained the apartment, kept up with baby laundry, soothed baby, given lots of love to mommy and has even hit the gym about every 2 days.  Unfortunately, there is a price to pay when you are Super Husband-Dad.  He's napping right now because he's sick and worn out.  Daddy never goes to the doctor and he drove himself to urgent care today.  Prescription?  Mucinex, lots of fluids, and lots of rest.  Poor daddy has to go back to work tomorrow too!

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