{White Noise}

White noise has proven to help babies, children, and even adults sleep better. It gives your mind something to listen to and helps you to relax and fall asleep.

We have a Sleep Sheep for H and she loves it. It has 4 different sounds - heart beat, rain, ocean and whales. When she was just a wee one, we used the heartbeat all the time. Then when we moved her to her crib we started using the rain however lately, the rain isn't helping. I tried the ocean, no luck either. As a last resort, it came down to the whales - she went straight to sleep.

Currently there are whales mating in my daughters crib... and she is sleeping ever so soundly beside them.
Awesome.

{Friday Night Leftovers}

• I just ordered "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and "Jillian Michaels: 30 Day Shred" of Chapters Online. The sleep book has been recommended to me by so many people and I thought I would try it out. H sleeps fantastic if she's in our bed, but I really want her in her crib. She will go to sleep in her crib if I let her cry but she wakes up every 20 minutes crying. The 30 Day Shred is for me, clearly. Bikini season is fast approaching and though I've lost the weight, I need to tone. I'm hoping that because it's only 30 minutes I can actually get it done each day.. wish me luck.

• My babygirl is 9 weeks old, today!

• H had her shots yesterday... it was terrible. Gramma Shelly and Auntie Megan came with us for support. I had tears in my eyes, and she was screaming bloody murder. I didn't enjoy seeing her in pain like that. We kept her topped up with Tylenol all day and she slept a lot. She was fussy and whimpery when she was awake and was running a bit of a fever off and on all day. Today she seems to be back to her smiley self though :)

• As I posted last week, my brother was missing, and he did end up coming home. Thanks for your concern. 

• We begin house sitting at my in-laws tomorrow. They're going to Mexico so we will be there for 2 weeks looking after their saltwater fishtanks. I swear to god it's more of a responsibility than our own baby... hopefully we don't kill any [Right, Lance?]. 

• After almost a year of not having a period I never realized how much I DIDN'T miss it - until it came back. FML

• I was supposed to go to Vancouver this weekend with a besties - to see more besties - but we decided to wait a couple weeks instead. I'm super excited to go and can't wait until we actually pick a date. 

• I'm blogging because H is sleeping. I should be cleaning, and packing... Oh well!

• H hasn't scratched her face since we left the hospital. I keep her nails short and we haven't had a problem. Tuesday night she went to sleep and Wednesday morning she had like 5 different scratch marks on her face that actually bled.. wtf! Bad dream?? haha

• It's cold and flu season and it seems to be going around everyone I know. I have my fingers crossed that it misses us. Both C and I got the flu shot because my doctor recommended it. Neither of us had ever gotten one before and were both pretty skeptical about it but it seemed like a good idea due to having a baby at this time a year. I'm really hoping it pays off. 

• Yesterday I treated myself to 2 new hoodies. It was buy one, get one for $1. I probably didn't need them but it has been a long time since I bought something new for myself. I'm kind of going through shopping withdrawl. 

• Get rid of your left overs here!

{2 Months Old}

[I forgot to do a 1 month post and I totally regret that... I wrote a bunch of stuff down so I'll add it for my own reference but I won't be posting it as I will be for the months to come...]

2 Months Old

likes:
*baths (finally!!)
*massages with lotion (unless it's after her bath, then she screams)
*laying on her change table "talking" and giggling
*cuddles with anyone who wants to cuddle her - but mostly mom
*walks in the fresh air
*eating!
*her sucky
*story time
*visiting with anyone - she's very nosey
*sitting/being carried facing outwards. Again, she's nosey and likes to see what's going on
*her Moby Wrap
*white noise
*being talked to
*being sang to - terribly, I must add, because I can't sing at all and the songs I sing her are made up songs about what we're doing... Soon I'm sure she will not enjoy this so much but I will take advantage of it while I can.

dislikes:
*getting dressed after bathtime
*waiting for her food - when she's hungry, she's hungry NOW
*the car
*gripe water and ovol
*the bassinet
*having her boogies sucked out

could take it or leave it:
*the vibrating bounce chair
*the swing
*her crib
*tummy time - she deals with it but with a rather unimpressed look upon her face

What happened this month:
*At her 2 month doctor's appointment she weighed in at 10lbs 14oz and 22.5 inches long. She is up to the 50th percentile from the 6th percentile at 3 weeks old so she's doing fabulous.

*She has rolls on top of rolls. Her belly is so pudgy and her cheeks are so chubby - She seriously gets cuter by the day. I can't get over how much she has changed this month.

*She loves to be held, a lot, and therefore we have resulted to the "cry it out" technique so many people are terribly against. We don't do it to the full extent and I guarantee it's harder on us than it is on her. We only let her cry for a max of 5 minutes and if she's reeeally worked up then we won't even let her go that long. I find usually after 2 minutes she stops and then she goes to sleep. It's helping C and I to have our bed back and get a good sleep without worrying about rolling over her, or suffocating her.

*She sleeps through the night (90% of the time). Anywhere between 7-10 hours at a time, then she wakes to feed, and sleeps usually another 2-4 hours. I have no complaints about that at all but I will admit that when she has a bad night, I am completely exhausted the next day. She's spoiling me!

*She smiles tonnes now! Pretty much every time you talk to her you can get a smile - unless she's screaming, of course. It melts my heart and I seriously cannot get enough.

*She chews on her hands.. sometimes she sucks her thumb, too.

*She giggled for her first time on Jan 19th. C and I were both talking to her and out it came. We both looked at one another and were like "did she just giggle?!!!". I'm so happy that we were both around to hear it. She's still working on her sounds and so she doesn't laugh regularly, though it looks like she tries, but every once in awhile a little one escapes. I can't wait until it happens all the time - She's already got me hooked with the smiles, when she's full on laughing I'm pretty sure she'll be able to get herself out of being in trouble any time she likes.

*She "talks" constantly. Her coo's and ahh's and ooh's are hilarious and they make me laugh. She tells us stories all the time and then she smiles while we laugh at her.

*She has a slightly blocked tear duct but it doesn't seem to be bad. It makes her eye a little bit goopy but nothing a warm washcloth can't fix!

*She went on her first ferry ride and trip away from daddy - it was only a day trip, though. We went shopping in Naniamo with Auntie Renee and Cousin Jill. She was so well behaved but I was happy to get home too C!

I can't believe that 2 months have already passed. I feel like it was only yesterday that I was pacing the halls of the hospital in hopes of dilating further. I honestly don't remember what my life was like before her, or what I did with my time.

Happy 2 Months, H! Your Mumma loves you xo

{It's A Good Month To Be Born... Apparently}

The past few days have been pretty busy. Thursday night was not a good night in our house. Bedtime came and H had different plans. She was screaming for hours and fiiiiinally fell asleep at about 330am. The little sleep I got absolutely killed me because I'm so used to her sleeping through the night. We got up Friday morning to babysit the twins and then H went to gramma's for a visit while I had a nap, and a shower [THANK YOU, GRAMMA!]

Friday night we had a progressive dinner for my mom's birthday. We started off at one house for appies, went to the next for dinner, and the last house for dessert. The food, and company, was great and it was nice to do something a little different. H was excellent. So well behaved, no fussing, no crying.. just sleeping and visiting. I think we all had a good time - and I even had a few drinks [but not enough that I felt gross in the morning]!

Saturday we took Grampa Foster for lunch for his Birthday [I didn't get around to doing a Birthday post and I apologize, Grampa]. Lunch was really good. After lunch we did some running around.. got some formula and some bins for a new recycling station at the house.. we came home and C had a quick nap while I got ready, then got H ready. We then headed off to some friends' house for N's Birthday.
N's mom cooked us a fabulous spaghetti dinner and a super delicious dessert. We watched UFC and the Canucks game, and then we played "Apples to Apples". What a fun game, I would totally recommend it! H did pretty good the entire night but started to get fussy during our game so we packed up and headed home. All in all, it was a good weekend and today is a lazy day [for H and I anyways, C has to work].

{Friday Night Leftovers}

• H is at her gramma's house right now so I can have a nap... [I'm not napping, why?].

• My babygirl is 8 weeks old, today!!

• I babysat a friend's twin girls this morning and they were really good. I wasn't sure what I'd gotten myself into because H was a terror last night but it turned out well and they were really well behaved. They just love H.

Grace, Hadley & Madelyn

• I had a bit of a meltdown last night when H wouldn't stop crying - luckily I have a fabulous Husband who took over for 20 minutes while I got myself together. <3 

• I'm tired of winter. 

• H giggled!! C was off work on Wednesday and we were hanging out trying to get her to smile at us. She gave us a couple little smirks and then this huuuuge smile accompanied by what sounded like her very first giggle. If C hadn't of heard it too I probably wouldn't have believed it. SO CUTE.

• So far, signing isn't going well. I keep forgetting! Then again, I think at this stage it's more about getting yourself into the habit of doing it, rather than them actually learning it. 

• My little brother is missing... we think he may be in Vancouver but we're not actually sure and I hate that. He's not like, kidnapped or anything, he ran away on his own but it sucks regardless. [If you read this, buddy, please call me. xoxo]

• I'm going for a nap. Now.

• Anyone who hates leftovers is crazy. Wanna share yours? Click here.

{Tid Bits}

Today was beautiful! It was so crisp and fresh outside that we decided to take H for her first walk. I have been dying to try out her stroller but the weather hasn't really been cooperating so when C suggested we head out for a stroll, I was super excited.

I put her jjcole bundle me in the stroller, dressed H in her snowsuit, put gloves on her hands (actually, I put socks on her hands), a hat on her head and off we went! She looked awfully comfy in their and she must have been because she slept the entire time.

I've been meaning to get out and exercise. I've lost the baby weight, and then some, but I need to lose the jiggle tone and restore some muscle. It was nice to be out walking and it felt good to know that it was one step towards a new bikini - except that we walked to the store and stocked up on junk food... does it still count?

When we got home I put sleeping beauty in her crib. She proceeded to nap for another 2 hours (give or take)... I guess the fresh air really tuckered her out.

On a different note, we attempted tummy time again tonight. H usually hates it, and fusses or screams the entire time. We made a little progress this evening and tummy time lasted a good 6 minutes. No crying, no fussing, just this sad, sad look on her face. Poor babygirl.. forced to lay on her tummy. What a mean mommy she has!

And also, C and I have decided we're going to teach H baby sign language. I've heard a lot about it and I think it's pretty cool that your baby can learn to communicate with you before they can actually vocalize what they have to say.

I don't think we're going to go too crazy with it, just 10-20 words that we regularly use (mom, dad, milk, more, please, thank you, etc.) and see how it goes. I don't know much about it so if you have any tricks, or suggestions on the easiest way to teach a baby sign, feel free to comment. Help is welcome!

I'm pretty excited about it!

{Happy Birthday, Gramma - A Message From H}

Me and Gramma on MY Birthday

(I'm 52 minutes late, I know..) Mom & I spent the day with Gramma Shelly because it was her Birthday. I got lots of snuggles and I hope she enjoyed her special day... 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRAMMA!

{Fuck The Crib}

We're anti-crib, again.
We're also anti-beingputdown, again.

I had a week of being able to get things done during nap time.  Time to shower, do the dishes, laundry or vacuum... a week of freedom, in a sense, where I didn't have a baby in my arms at all times.
Well, that week has come to an end, and it's ended with a vengeance. H seems to be demanding backpay of bounces, pats, rocks and snuggles. My cling on has come back to me (though I'm not sure I missed her?).

I can't seem to get anything done because I can't put her down. I don't get any "me" time, or "husband" time. She hates the evenings and screams off and on from about 7pm until 1130 or so. She's taken to spitting up and refusing to eat her entire bottle but instead drinks an ounce at a time, every 15-45 minutes. In the day it's not bad, but come evening, she hates everybody but me. Awesome.

I have heated up my tea 5 times since I made it... one cup of tea has lasted me 4 hours - and it's STILL not gone... I may pull my hair out.

{Friday Night Leftovers}

• My babygirl is 7 weeks old today, 7 WEEKS! Where has the time gone? I guess when EVERYONE tells you to "enjoy them while they're young because before you know it they'll be off to college." - they actually mean it! 

• My scale hit an all time low this morning - at least for the past 4 years... 7 weeks postpartum and 134lbs - that's 14lbs less than pre-prego weight (and 35lbs less than the day I went into labor). Thanks, Mom, for your genes! 

• Formula poop makes me gag. Yuck!

• Sleep "training" sucks. It's so hard to stick with it. H sleeps so well in our bed.. and so terribly in her crib. It becomes exhausting getting up 3-4 times a night when you know that if she was just beside you, you wouldn't even have to get up once... and sometimes exhaustion wins - last night from 3am on, she was cuddled snug in her ma'ma's arms. 

• Friday Night Leftovers is an idea stolen from a blog I read regularly - which you can check out here. Stealing ideas is common in blogger land... as it appears, she stole the idea from a blog she reads regularly, which can be found here. 

• I LOVE getting comments on my blog. It makes it seem more worth while. Lots of people tell me they love reading it but it's nice to see the evidence that people have been here.. [if that wasn't a hint, I don't know what is!]

• I fed H a bottle this evening. No big deal, right? WRONG. I fed her a bottle of UNdiluted formula. You are supposed to mix it 50/50 with water but I fucked up and forgot that the one bottle had extra that hadn't been mixed yet. Everything I've read has told me that the worst case scenario is a tummy ache and constipation - all things we've been dealing with for the past 4 weeks already - but that doesn't mean I don't feel like a TERRIBLE MOTHER. I hope she keeps me up all night in pain, just as punishment. 

• If I had infinite money, I would buy out playstation and destroy all PS3s.. and then I'd buy out any other video game company that sells "call of duty" and destroy them as well. Bedrooms are suppose to be romantic and tranquil, not sound like you're on the set of Saving Private Ryan. 

• Last one for tonight: I really have no idea if I did this right. haha.. 

{Take 3}

All of H's naps take place in her crib now unless I don't want to do anything but lay in bed and have sleeping baby snuggles and she sleeps so good! I put her down when she's nearly asleep and she snuggles in for her snooze. She sleeps on her tummy - yes, I'm aware it's "frowned upon", but it's the only way she sleeps and so, such is life. We have an Angel Care monitor which has an alarm if she stops breathing and so I sleep well knowing I'll be woken if anything should go wrong [though I'm quite confident she will be just fine - I used to sleep on MY tummy and I survived!].

The night before last was her first night in her crib. She slept 5 hours straight, then woke for a feed and slept another 3 1/2 - success! Last night, however, was not so good. We were up 3 times between 11pm and 6am. I know that even that isn't bad because she is only 6 weeks old.. I was just getting really used to our 7-9 hour nights. I am glad she's out of OUR bed though, because now I can sleep without worrying that I'm going to smother - and alone time with C doesn't hurt, either].

Tonight is Take 3 and I have high hopes - wish us luck!

Sleeping Beauty <3 

{LOVE}

How is it even possible to love somebody you only just met a few weeks ago, this much? 

{Nom, Nom, Nom}

I nose you're hungry, babygirl!

{Playdates}

Hadley has had two "playdates" this week. This is her with her friend M (if these girls had been born on their duedates, H would be 3 days older than M - but they were both early and so H is about 2 weeks older instead). M's parents came over on Saturday night and we had pizza, beer, and DQ. We watched the hockey game and enjoyed comparing labor and baby stories some adult conversation. Hopefully H and M will become great friends as they grow!

This is L. Today we went to his gramma's house and had a playdate with him and his mommy. L is the son of good family friends of ours and we are pleased to announce the arranged marriage of him and Miss H. L is almost 6 months old and he wasn't really too sure about his photoshoot with his future wife. Isn't he just precious!?

{I'm A Big Girl Now - Maybe?}

Sleepin' in my crib like a big girl!

Hadley has been sleeping in our bed for the past 3 weeks. It's not something I ever wanted, and something I wasn't happy about, but it was the only way we got any rest at all. Once we put her on formula and all her tummy problems started she refused to be put down and therefore, would not sleep anywhere but in my arms. In the past few days I think she's adjusted to the formula. She is far more content, she doesn't fuss nearly as much, and she's actually happy! When she's awake she's fine to hang out without being held, and she doesn't wake up when I lay her down if she's sleeping - it's fabulous!

I decided that it's now time for her to be back in her own bed. Yesterday we put her in her bassinet when we got home from my mom's place. She slept in there from 8pm until 230 in the morning!! I fed her and she went back to sleep from 3 until 6.

Today, H has had 2 naps in her crib and they have both gone well. Tonight this will be where she sleeps.

I'm hopeful... wish us luck!

ps. Isn't the blankie her Auntie Robbi made adorable!?

{The Solution}

The solution to all my problems rests in these hands:

That is all.

{Supermom?}

Sleeping so soundly after her 1st morning feed (at 830!)

H isn't on a schedule yet. She eats when she wants to eat, sleeps when she wants to sleep and fills the rest of the day with diaper changes, fussing, smiling, and being as cute as can be. 

I'm not really in a hurry to get her into something concrete. I mean, it would be nice if she did things I wanted her to do, when I wanted her to do them, but that's just setting myself up for disappointment. For now, we're doing things her way - and it's working!

For the past couple weeks she has been feeding at about 830-sleeping until 1230-feeding-sleeping until 630-feeding-sleeping until about 10 or 11. I thought this was good. Last night we had friends over and we were up a bit late. She was really good. She napped a bit and then hung out, wide awake, listening and watching. I got her fed and to sleep at 1130 and we woke up this morning at 815. Now, I'm not saying this is going to be an everyday thing, because that would be unrealistic, but I could definitely get used to it! A night like that can replenish a mommy for the entire week, to be honest. 

I think perhaps we're like Superheros.... all we need is a good sleep here and there and we're good to go for 3 bad nights - having said that, even Superheros don't want 3 bad nights so keep it up, Babygirl!

{Happy [belated] Anniversary!}

January 5th marked the 1 year anniversary of my blog. 1 year [and 4 days ago] I posted about naps. 

naps?

I don't even remember what a nap is anymore. I was complaining about how I took a nap every day and how it was messing up my sleep schedule because at night I wouldn't be tired and I'd be up late which would result in a nap the next day. I think I called it a "vicious cycle". 

Today, this would not be a "vicious cycle", it would be a friggin' miracle. I could have a daily nap and it would most definitely NOT mess with any sleep schedule. Speaking of, I have no sleep schedule. I run on babytime - and schedule and babytime don't run hand in hand. 

I'd like to slap that girl who complained about naps... 

{Keep on Smilin', Babygirl}

Do they come any cuter? 

She learned to smile on her 1 month Birthday... they just keep gettin' better and better. I can't possibly stay grumpy at her for fussing and screaming all day if she gives me one of these. Lil' bugger probably knows it because she seems to flash those gums at just the right time. If I'm getting frustrated, BAM, that smile can brighten my day in a second. One look at it and I melt.

Keep on smilin', baby girl, and the whole world will smile with you - how could they not!? 

{Take Them While I Can Get Them}

So as you all know when I was pregnant we referred to H as "Baby Dragon". When she was born we quickly realized that this perfect little princess was not a dragon at all! She was such a good baby.. sleeping great [minus a few mixed up days and night], eating great, gaining weight like a champ! She loved everyone. She was happy and content to sleep in her bassinet, to hang out in her swing, or to just chill in the crib while mom tidied up.

This is our precious little princess 

They say colic sets in at 4-5 weeks. That your baby can be a perfect little angel and then over night turns into this fussy, crabby, gassy, SCREAMING child. Now, I don't know if H is colicky, per say, but she is a very high needs baby. We hit 4 weeks and it was like somebody flicked a switch - my perfect little princess transformed into the dragon we knew and loved so much in my belly.

In the past couple weeks H has decided she doesn't like anything except being held. And by held, I mean rocked, bounced, walked, swayed, at patted. She hates her carseat, unless you swing it constantly, she hates her swing - which I don't understand because IT SWINGS!, and she hates her bounce chair. She refuses to sleep anywhere but in our bed, in my arms or on my chest. If she's awake, she's fussing, and if she wants something, she's screaming. 

This is our darling dragon

I know her tummy bothers her and so we have switched her formula to a Lactose-Free formula and it's helping but she's still uncomfortable a lot of the time and I'm sure that is the main cause of her fussiness.. unfortunately we cannot find anything to fix it. Luckily, she sleeps like a dream at night - if she didn't I think I would have a lot harder time dealing with her fussiness in the day. Because I get a good sleep [most of the time] I just try and breathe and get through it one screaming fit at a time.

Sometimes I get exhausted holding her 24/7 and doing everything one-handed but then I think about how in a year I'm going to be looking at my baby, who is so big and trying her hardest to be independent, and I'm going to miss this baby and the snuggles I used to get - I may as well take them well I can get them, regardless of the reasoning. 

{Happy Birthday, Gramma - A Message from H}

Gramma & I on MY Birthday

It's my gramma's Birthday today and I just wanted to tell her I miss her and I love her and I hope she has a wonderful day. My mom wishes we could be there with her like she was here with us on my birthday but she said the roads are just too bad to drive all that way with precious cargo me in the car. I guess we'll just have to settle for Skype in the meantime. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRAMMA!

{2010 - recapped}

Well it's January 1st, 2011. Where did last year go!? Here's a quick recap of 2010 with with The Fosters:

• We survived our 1st year of marriage - they say it's the hardest year but I don't know how much I believe that as it really wasn't hard to get through <3 
• I graduated school with a diploma as a Medical Lab Assistant. Being 6 months prego at graduation means I've yet to work - but that will come before I know it, I'm sure.
• We moved back to our home town - finally. I miss the city from time to time (mostly when shopping or missing my besties) but I'm so happy to be HOME. 
• In April I found out I was pregnant so much of our year consisted of me growing larger and grumpier by the day.. not so fun.
• November 26th, nearly 3 weeks early, Hadley Grace Foster was brought into this world via my vajayjay. What I thought was the worst day of my life quickly turned into the best. You don't know love at first sight until you have a baby... 
• We celebrated our first Christmas and New Year as a family of 3. 

Best wishes to you and your families as you enter a brand new year, make the best of the "fresh start".

2010 was a year we will never forget - 2011 will be the funnest yet!