Does your relationship with your husband always have to change when a new baby comes in the picture? Before Uriah we were closer than we are now. I think it has to do with a lot of things. Strain on finances, time, and attention. I mean, little guy eat $6 of formula a day, and we were already just making ends meet before he got here. We did pay off my husband's car which was $200 a month, but others things come up. So far having this baby in just 2 months has cost us $4000. We weren't prepared for that much. More like $2500 tops. Then, my husband works 40-52 hours a week. And when he's home, he's always doing other things seems like. Mowing his dad's yard and ours. Visiting his mother. Gardening with his dad. Scouting hunting spots. Fishing. Practicing archery. Coming up with lessons for his youth group on Thursday nights. While I get to stay at home with the baby. Day after day is so similar. It gets really boring being a SAHM to a newborn. I was looking at homeschooling curriculum for 3 year olds & preschool and I just can't wait to interact with him in more ways! I think when I'm happier, my relationship with hubby will be better too.
So, little man has gone 5 plus hours between night feedings for a while now at night, but oh how I wish he would get to at least 8! Our daily schedule looks like this (but it's flexible):
7:30am- Wake up, eat, play until 8:30, nap 10:30am- Eat, play until 12, nap 1:30pm- Eat, play until 3, nap 4:30pm- Eat, play until 6, nap 7:30pm- Eat, play until 9:15, nap 10:30pm- Dreamfeed/Eat, bedtime And that's how I'd like it to look, but there's this 4-4:30am feeding Uriah just doesn't want to let go of. We don't swaddle because out Velcro swaddle blanket is too small now, and the receiving blankets we have are too small for the chunky monkey, and it's too warm for them unless he sleeps in just a diaper I guess anyway. It just seems like all of our friend's have babies younger than him sleeping through the night, but usually they are swaddling, or co-sleeping, or letting them sleep in their bouncer or swing. Uriah sleeps in his crib and has since birth, although I'll admit there have been a handful of nights I took him to bed with me after the 4:30 feeding when he wouldn't go back to sleep. Oh well. 10:30 to 4 is something! I used to be baby name OBSESSED. You could tell me your child's name & more than likely- I knew the meaning. I still retain some of the virtually useless knowledge, but like most things related to my son I researched his name completely & thoroughly. First, we liked Elijah & Eden. Then, Samuel & Alia. Then Addison & Aleksi. Then Uriah & Adelie (our current & probably long lasting favorites. Elijah means My God is Yahweh & Eden means Place of Pleasure. I eventually tired of them because of their increasing popularity. That's when I turned to Samuel, my husband's middle name. I decided it was just not unique enough eventually though, despite the great meaning of God has Heard. Alia I liked because my name & my sister's name starts with A, and it was unique (pronounced Uh-lee-uh). Not to mention the meaning, Heaven, was beautiful. But no one spelled it right or said it right if they read it. If we have another boy his name will be Addison so it's not too fair to say it's not one of our favorites still. It means Son of Adam. Aleksi was so out there yet similar to Alex names we thought we'd found a great tone with it for a little girl. It meant Defender which was great, but the spelling we wanted seemed too out there, and some thought it was too masculine. That didn't bother me, but what did was when everyone said they'd call her Leksi. No go. So, we finally agreed & settled on Uriah & Adelie as our favorite names. Uriah is getting less obscure with people like Urijah Faber & Uriah from the book Divergent, & the meaning is beautiful- The Lord is my Light. Plus, Uriah was a great man in the Bible too. We have gotten a lot of push back on the name from family, but they've gotten used to it. I hope our next little one (years from now) is a girl. I just love Adelie. It's unique but not far fetched, starts with an A, and it easy to read off I think. It means Noble. A little princess already! What baby names did yo
Just thought I'd share what my life looks like on a random day! So last night Uriah didn't want to eat play nap before his 10:30 feeding, and wanted to eat and nap for over 2 hours. Well I was worried he wouldn't want to sleep through the night like he has the last few (YAY!) and when he woke up randomly to look for his paci, I kept him up and tried playing with him until his feeding. Well, that went horribly. Then he was overtired and screaming through his feeding. Usually I have him in bed by 11:15pm, but last night it was 11:35pm because he wouldn't settle down to eat until 11. 11:30 - Hubby came home from work, and said he'd gotten a tick on him apparently earlier in the day when scouting for hunting and hadn't noticed it until at work someone saw it buried in him. So I spent until midnight trying to help him get it out even though I was exhausted. Midnight - Hubby stays up to finish trying to get the tick out (he ends up ripping it in half so it lets go because it's dead) and to eat. I cuddle up in bed for about 15 minutes that I spent praying, when Uriah wakes up (his crib is in our room). I get up about 3 times to stick his paci back in until I start bawling from being tired and just pick him up and hold him. 12:30 - Hubby goes to take a shower in the bathroom connected to the bedroom, and every noise he makes makes Uriah stir. 1am- Finally lay the baby down asleep soundly and crawl into bed. 4:30am- Baby starts to get fussy, snorting and crying while farting. I assume gas pains, give him his paci and go back to bed. 5am- Baby hasn't stopped fussing so I just decide to get up and make him a bottle. He drinks 5oz and goes back to sleep. 7:15am- Uriah is getting fussy again so I get up and start his bottle. I feed him at 7:25 to get a little head start because I have a hair appointment at 8:30. He's fed by 7:40 (only 1.5oz because of his 5am feeding) and I put him in his rock n play since it's inclined and tell my sleeping husband to tend to him while I shower. 8am- Showered and dressed and starting to work on hair and makeup, I'm done by 8:20 and head out the door. 8:25am-I arrive in the pouring rain at the hair salon. No one is there. I had an appointment with a girl there for her to help me cut the lace front of a wig a bought and teach me how to wear a wig. I have psoriasis and decided to self treat with UV lights in a tanning bed by buzzing my hair, and just wearing a wig to cover it, so this appointment was very important to me. 9am- No one has shown up yet and I'm livid. I leave a note saying I came but no one showed, and leave. I get home 5 minutes later and vent to my husband about how I hate this town because everyone is nice to your face but only really cares about themselves. It's his hometown so he says nothing and just understands the woman shouldn't have stood me up. 9:15am- I get a text from the hair stylist saying she'll be there at 10. I don't text back. 9:15-10:30am- I rock the baby in his rock n play to keep him asleep while checking my emails, Baby center, fitnesspal, Facebook, etc. and watching a few youtube videos. I also eat 10 crackers with peanut butter and a glass of orange juice for breakfast. 10:30am- Time to feed the baby. He drinks 4 oz and gets very talkative and happy after his bottle. Hubby gets up hearing all the noise baby is making and I see a good opportunity for little guy's bath. I hand him over to hubby and prep the bath, which involved steaming up the bathroom with hot water from the shower, getting his bathtub temp right using a thermometer, setting up his lotion, Vaseline, new outfit, new diaper, and a towel, and getting 2 washcloths, one to lay on his chest and one to wash him with. 11am- I take baby and get him naked and into his bath, washing him. I invited hubby to watch so he could learn how to give him a bath without the kid screaming, but he watches 10 seconds and walks away. 11:30am- Baby is clean and dressed, wanting his paci. I hold him on the couch and let him fall asleep while hubby puts in Harry Potter: Chamber of Secrets. I put Uriah in his pack n play once he's out to get him used to it instead of the rock n play that he's getting too big for, and watch the movie with hubby. 12pm- I make hubby and myself grilled cheese sandwiches. Hubby's Stepmother texts me asking if I got the hairdresser's message. I snap telling hubby we have to move. He smirks and says sarcastically "You don't like it here?" I say "No everyone is in everyone's business," and tell him about the text, saying it's none of step mother in law's business about my hair appointments. I text back "Yes after 9" She texts back "Can you make it back up there at 12:30?" I resist the temptation to ask her when she started working for the hair dresser and text "No thanks." She doesn't text back. 1pm- I pack hubby's lunch for work, make coffee, and start Uriah's bottle. 1:30pm- I feed the baby who doesn't want to burp for anything but he finishes 4oz. We get 12 cans of formula delivered (only $133!). 2pm- The movie ends and hubby goes to work, leaving me and the baby. 2:15-3pm- The baby and I play on the activity mat, leaving him on his back and trying to get him to follow certain toys with his eyes, making his hand bat the hanging toys, turning him over for tummy time. I hold him while watching an episode of Chopped online but can't finish it before he starts fussing. I walk around the house bouncing him and singing "Part of Your World" from Little Mermaid. He giggles between cries & starts to 'sing' with me. I turn on Wings (we borrowed the DVD set from my mother) and lay down on the couch with him, both on our sides and try to get him to sleep. 5pm- We wake up and I realize I missed his 4:30 feeding time. I quickly make him a bottle, feeling a lot better after a 2 hour nap, and he eats 5oz. 5:30pm- We start more playtime on his back on the activity mat. He turns his front half on his side which he does often, and spits up. I clean it up while he laughs. He then notices the TV is on and watches while trying to roll his butt which he hasn't ever done before. I think the cloth diapers weigh him down. Today he manages to though! He got his butt all the way over but couldn't get his shoulders to turn. Ah well. Half way to rolling from back to front! 6pm- Uriah wants to sleep. I try and keep him up a little longer but lose the battle and hold him til he goes asleep, then put him in his rock n play. Hubby texts & says our realtor wants us to lower our price on the house. We say no, we've lowered it 5 times.
6:30-7:30pm- Uriah is asleep, and I start chores. Laundry, folding diapers, putting away diapers, eating dinner (rolls & cookies), dishes including bottles, cleaning up after his bath from earlier. I check my emails, Facebook, & babycenter again. I realize it's his feeding time again and start this blog post before making his bottle. I also check my voicemails. 1 from the hospital where we owe $980 for a 2 night stay when they were diagnosing Uriah's VUR, and 1 from my endocrinologist in Missouri saying I have an appointment there Thursday (2 hrs away) & I remember I have to have blood work done by tomorrow that I haven't done. 7:40pm- I start feeding the baby and writing this post at the same time while watching Wings, laundry & dishwasher going. Uriah eats 6oz... He normally eats 4 at each feeding, so the extra ounces per feeding makes me wonder if his fussiness is due to a growth spurt or just gas like I thought, and he's just making up for sleeping 6+ hours the last 3 nights. 8:05pm- We practice sitting up on my lap. He spits up quite a bit and I have to change his clothes. We practice gripping with a rattle. He holds onto it really well but doesn't care about it really. It's just something to grab. I try to trim his nails. They're too long to clip, but long enough for him to scratch himself. I can't find his nail file right away so I figure it can wait. I text my mother a pic of Uriah rolling his butt over and she loves it. 8:15pm- Uriah and I interact vocally. The cat walks across the activity mat- mental note to clean it later. We take a few house 'tours' where I let the baby look around. 8:30pm- I hold Uriah while he sucks on his paci & I surf the net again. The cat starts playing with the baby's toys (great, more cleaning) & banging the bathroom cabinet doors by hitting them with her paw to get attention. I change his diaper 3 times in 30 minutes. 9pm- Uriah goes down for his nap & I change the litter box, feed the cat, switch over the laundry, and prep his bottles for the night (fill with distilled water & dry the ones from the dishwasher). Watch tv while picking up the house. Check the crib and our bed for brown recluses. Turn on night light & fan for noise for when Uriah goes to bed at 11. Watch an episode of Masterchef. Wash off my wasted makeup and brush my teeth. Hold Uriah until he falls back asleep again when washing my face wakes him up. 10:30pm- Uriah's feeding time. I give him his daily antibiotic after burps. I also put a liner in his diaper since he should poop in the morning (he poops every other morning like clockwork). 11:15pm- Laying Uriah down for bed in his crib. Hubby would normally be home by 11:35, but he's going to walmart after work. I was going to this morning but my legs were too sore from working out for the first time since childbirth yesterday. Going to bed without him. Here's to hoping little man sleeps through the night well tonight! :) How to make homemade sunscreen for your little one:
http://www.babybulletblog.com/making-homemade-sunscreen/ A printable budget binder: http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2014/01/printable_budget_binder/ Baby safe cleaning products: http://www.cleanhappens.com/collections/products Baby sleeping patterns: http://www.thealphaparent.com/2013/01/timeline-of-baby-and-toddler-sleep.html Top 25 toys for baby to toddler: http://www.mommymiamonologues.com/2013/04/top-25-best-toys-from-baby-to-young.html#.UV6MPRzCaSo Baby bug repellent: http://www.jackbenatural.com/bug-repellent/ Rules of Car Seat Safety: http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/108322/9_lifesaving_car_seat_rules?utm_medium=sm&utm_source=pinterest&utm_content=thestir How to get your baby to sleep through the night: http://www.delightfulmomstuff.com/2012/02/newborn-sleeping-through-night.html Performing CPR on a baby: http://pub-healthtube.blogspot.com/2010/04/cpr-on-child-and-baby.html Baby foods baby's like most: http://parentingpatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-07-19-Healthy-Foods-That-Babies-Like-Most-Infographic.jpg Home remedy for ear infections: http://www.interestdiy.com/doit/80.html Keep bugs out of a pack n play outside: http://littlebabywatson.com/weekend-recap/ Enjoy! Newborn Percentiles:
86% in Weight 68% in Height 64% in Head Circumference 2 Months Percentiles: 90% in Weight 99% in Height 92% in Head Circumference This is a review of every type of cloth diaper I own. I haven't tried MANY different cloth diapers and some are probably better and worse than these. Also, the pros and cons listed are from my personal experience. Some people may have never had a problem with a certain diaper or cover that I wrote several cons on, and vice versa for pros. Econobums- 3 Prefolds & White Cover Pros: - The Prefolds are thick and absorbent - Cheap (about $10) - Only took 1 wash to prep Cons: - Shell isn't waterproof - Shell can get damaged in dryer Neutral: - Prefolds are very long, which means they might stick up out of some covers, but not all Conclusion: The shell is virtually useless, but the prefolds are so nice it's probably worth the $10 for them. Sunbaby One Size, Size One Pocket Diapers Pros: - Various cute patterns you get to pick - Cheap ($51 for 6 diapers & 12 inserts) - Comes in 2 one size options, size one (smaller) and size two (bigger)... I bought size one and didn't have to spend money on a newborn stash that would only last 2 weeks - Good absorbency when doubled - Soft fleece - Only took 1 wash to prep Cons: - Leg holes allow blowouts (in my case, I may just be unlucky) - Fleece isn't the best about wicking away moisture - Have to use 2 inserts per diaper to get good absorbency - Snaps can get damaged in the dryer Neutral: - You have to stuff and unstuff these since they're pocket diapers Conclusion: There are better pocket diapers out there comparable in price, but if you want double inserts and cute patterns these could be a winner for you. Diaper Safari One Size Pocket Diaper Pros: - Vibrant colors - Stay dry fleece - Cheap (Less than $10 a diaper) - Comes with 1 insert, good for day use - Doesn't need to be unstuffed for the washing machine, because there is an opening in the back AND front, inserts will agitate out in the cycle - Easy to stuff because of 2 openings - Only took 1 wash to prep Cons: - No patterns - Needs 2 inserts for overnight use and only comes with 1 - Would probably be too big on a newborn Neutral: - My LO has yet to go #2 in this diaper, so I'm not sure about blow outs - EDIT: Did not contain major poop blowout. Conclusion: Beautiful and cheap, my favorite pocket, especially since there's no unstuffing. But don't stock up on these alone if you want to cloth diaper from the beginning, since your newborn probably won't fit them, and you'll want to buy extra inserts if you want to use some overnight. Bumgenius One Size Pocket Diaper Pros: - Stay dry fleece - Available at various websites and at several retailers - Will fit an average-above average newborn (fit my 8lb baby) - Comes with two incredibly absorbent inserts for overnight or long trip use - Various colors - Great resell value - No blowouts - Only took 1 wash to prep Cons: - More expensive ($18 for solids - $50 for certain prints) Neutral: - Involves stuffing & unstuffing since it's a pocket diaper Conclusion: Worth the price for durability, actually adjusting from newborn to potty training, double absorbent inserts, and resale value. If you can afford it- buy these! Assunta Velour Bamboo One Size Fitteds Pros: - These can fit a tiny newborn - Super soft - Come with extra inserts - Part of your purchase goes to a charity (Little Flower) - No blowouts Cons: - Extra inserts aren't soft like the diaper - Took several washes to prep Neutral: - Average absorbency without extra insert - Not waterproof, requires a cover - $13 a diaper, no free shipping unless you buy $75 worth Conclusion: All around great fitted diaper. Will work from newborn on and super soft- one of my favorites. Motherease One Size Fitteds Pros: - Absorbent - Soft, towel like material - Available in various colors & materials Cons: - It's awkward to get snapped correctly - Big, even on my now 15lb baby - Leaks, b/c of large leg holes - Took more than 1 wash to prep Neutral: - No extra inserts - Requires a cover - Prices start at $12.95 Conclusion: If I had to do it all over again, I would not buy these. Tiny Tush One Size Fitteds Pros: - Snapped small enough for my newborn - Comes with thick snap in insert - Very absorbent - Comes in 2 different fabrics & 4 colors - No blowouts Cons: - Took several washes to prep - Too many snaps, leaving extra material hanging about Neutral: - Requires a cover - Not as soft as other diaper materials - Prices start at $12.75 Conclusion: Incredibly absorbent so that I don't even put a cover on him sometimes when he wears these with an insert. They are bulky with extra material though and not as trim as the Assunta fitteds. Diaper Safari Cover One Size Pros: - Vibrant colors - Stretchy, it will fit over just about any fitted or prefold - Cheap (under $8) - Trim, no blowouts - Pockets in the front & back to stuff inserts or prefolds Cons: - No inside snaps to snap in inserts - No patterns Neutral: Conclusion: My favorite cover because it'll stretch over all my prefolds and fitteds, and for it's pockets in the front and back. When my little one wears this cover people actually remark about it looking fancy. Best Bottoms Cover One Size Pros: - Cute patterns & colors - Extra leg gusset material to prevent leaks/blowouts - Trim, no blowouts - Front snap to snap in insert Cons: - Snaps unsnap too easily - More expensive ($15.50 to $17) - No front or back pocket to hold in inserts Neutral: - Color/Pattern kind of dull - Not as stretchy to fit long prefolds Conclusion: The snap issue is a little frustrating, but the various patterns are great. I don't feel they are worth the price tag though. Bububibi Cover One Size Pros: - Stretchy, will fit long prefolds - Front pocket to hold inserts - Back & front snap to snap in inserts - Extra material/leg gussets - Trim, no blowouts - Cheap (under $6 for solid, $11 for patterns) Cons: - Urine can soak material around the legs- not waterproof there Neutral: - Color is kind of dull Conclusion: Great for the price. If you just want cheap, solid covers these will stretch over all my prefolds and fitteds. However, I don't like that the material around the legs isn't waterproof. I'd buy the diaper safari cover for $2-3 more. Rumparooz Cover One Size
Pros: - Various vibrant colors/designs - Trim, no blowouts, can go very short - Extra material/leg gussets Cons: - Probably won't fit really long prefolds (not that stretchy) - No inside snaps to snap in inserts Neutral: - Sometimes material around the legs tries to roll up - Prices range $10-18 Conclusion: Cute and bright colors with strong snaps. It's a little short though, and will leave my longer prefolds sticking out the back. It's just okay/average to me for the price. |