mini update 2 1/2 weeks

We got Owen's social security card in the mail today!! OMG~he is real and even the government knows about him now!

We did a quick run to the pediatrician and he got his weight checked, my big boy is now 9 lbs 9 oz!! They are no longer worried about his weight and they said I don't have to wake him every three hours...not that I was at night!!  I am a little sad that my newborn is getting so big, but so happy and proud that this mommy milk is doing its job and he is growing strong!

PS: Diaper rash is all gone!  What we did work, but thanks ladies for all the tips that we might use next time.

first diaper rash

Well, we have had our first serious diaper rash.  It started about the time we started cloth diapering and I was so worried the CD's were the cause.  We began putting California Babies Rash Cream on it and didn't see any improvement.  I started researched diaper rashes and thinking of other things that  might have caused this rash. 

So, we switched our diaper routine by:

• adding fleece liners to the diapers, keeps the moisture off his bottom
• using angel babies bottom balm
• switching to cloth wipes with just water, if it is good enough for the hospital then it is good enough for at home; we had just run out of one brand of disposable wipes and switched to another (this may have been our culprit!) we are keeping them in the wipe warmer for now
• let his bottom get really dry before putting balm on and then diaper 
• changing diapers as often as we think of it, even if that means 10 minutes later because he pooped in the clean diaper

So far success!!  The rash stopped getting worse by the morning and by the evening we could see major improvement.  He has still been a bit fussy and taking poops still is uncomfortable for him.

Owen: 2 weeks

Owen:

• doing so much better with the breastfeeding they are right when they say it gets easier
• a new friend sent us a breast friend pillow, we used it last night and I think it really helps me sit up straight and hopefully will help the spot in my back
• we tried out laying down nursing this morning and it went great!  I think it might be my new early morning feeding
• we started cloth diapering, so far so good, he really does better at changing time now; though he has a really bad diaper rash right now
• last night we did some naked butt time, added fleece inserts, started using cloth wipes and tried a new diaper rash balm
• this morning it didn't look worse so hopefully we are doing whats right and he will start healing
• he doesn't spit up a lot but from what i have been told it could still be coming after 2 weeks, i hope not!
• our day routine is something like this:
• last night feed then sleep on mommy or daddy's chest; for some reason once it is light out he knows he doesn't want to be in the bassinet.
• Owen eats breakfast, gets diaper change and into swing or vibrating chair
• Mommy eats breakfast, pumps and checks email till time to eat again
• Owen eats, gets diaper change and back to his seats
• Mommy showers, cleans house or does laundry/dishes
• Owen eats, gets diaper change and snuggle time with mommy/we both take a nap
• Daddy gets home!
• Owen eats, gets diaper change, snuggle tome with daddy
• Mommy and Daddy eat dinner
• Owen eats, gets diaper change, and into bassinet and Mommy and Daddy go to sleep
• our night time routine is starting to become a pattern:
• eat, burp, eat more
• fall asleep on the second boob
• change diaper
• eat some more-we are at about an hour at this point
• get swaddled and hat on
• sleep in bassinet
• repeat in 3ish hours

"mom, why am i on the floor?"

Mommy:

• Incision is starting to feel better, still half numb in areas and the tape is still on; still feel soar but thankfully no pain
• Starting to reduce the pain meds, really just need a little at the end of the day
• I actually was able to get some showers in this week and even shave my legs!  
• Doing my best to get a nap in each day, though it is hard with all the things I want to accomplish around the house and for Owen
• Officially, the swelling is gone in my feet and legs!  Hurray!
• My back still aches, we tried a stool, but it was too tall, might have to actually buy a nursing stool.
• I lost 2.5 lbs this week; so a total of 23.5 lbs lost since delivery.
• so 21.5 pounds to pre-Owen weight and 33.5 lbs to my pre-pregnancies weight...got a ways to go still, but i haven't been cleared for exercise and the breastfeeding should help a lot at sucking the weight off so i am very positive about my 2.5 lbs lost this week!

we are officially in full CD mode!

Here is his first fluffy butt!  This was Tuesday.  After a blowout disposable diaper that got on both of us, I decided those newborn diapers were a little big as it leaked out his leg opening.  We were out of all the other newborn diapers and his circumcision is mostly healed, not needing Vaseline anymore and his cord fell off several days prior so I felt we were ready to take the plunge.  It has been a gradual learning curve for us.  We figured him out using the easy disposables, though I felt guilty at all the waste we were throwing away.  Then we have added the cloth diapers and once the disposable wipes run out we will start with cloth wipes.  So far so good with just the CD's.  We started mid day on Tuesday and I had just enough diapers to make it to this morning.  I do have back up prefolds, but the fitted are so much easier and I haven't figured out the prefolds and snappies yet.

The fitted diapers are in the dryer right now!!  

Can't wait to put the fluff away later!  

What we are using right now:

• 18 fitted newborn Kissaluvs:
• they are on the last snap!  He is such a big boy and won't be in these for very long
• 6 thirstie covers: could have done with just 4
• 12 prefolds:
• these are our back ups as most mom's recommend at least 24 diapers to get through 2 days.
• 2 snappies: to hold the prefolds on

Some random thoughts so far:

• Plantwise Wet Bags size medium:  The goal was to use one bag till all the diapers were dirty and have the second bag for while the other is in the wash.  I was a bit nervous about opening the wet bags we were using to keep the diapers in, but they didn't stink at all; though I did put a little diaper pail powder in the bottom of the bags when we started.  I am disappointed at the reviews that suggested the medium sized plantwise bags.  We filled up the first one and I had to use the second one late last night.  I know that one will definitely will not be big enough once we start putting cloth wipes in there too.  Both bags got rinsed out and are hanging dry right now. I am hoping once we move to the Best Bottom diapers and the inserts are smaller than the fitted that this will work out better. If not I might have to purchase one large bag and then use the two mediums ones together. 
• I am having to get used to his big booty.  I loved looking at my tiny baby and this big butt is a change.  It is hard to sit him up sometimes to burp him and his newborn clothes are REALLY not going to fit much longer with this fluffy butt.  Makes me sad that he is already getting close to out growing some of his clothes!
• Newborn clothes:  seems that Owen may have really short arms or a really long body. I am constantly having to roll up his sleeves, but his feet fit perfect in the length.  So much for the mittens!  I never even put them on him because he HAS to have his hands free to put in his face.  He likes to sleep with both arms up at his head.
• A friend of a friend/woman who used to come to my old office (small world) just offered to send us 6-Bum Genius 4.0 Organic AIO cloth diapers!!!  Needless to say I am so excited to try them out and she has already prepped them!! Thanks Haven!!!  I just know my big boy will be fitting in them in no time!!

Well, speaking of that little boy, it is getting time to eat again and then hopefully naptime for us; if this new mommy lets herself.

wordless wednesday: got his thumb!

we are being inducted into parenthood

it is only day 11 and we've been:

• peed on
• pooped on
• spit uped on
• sleep deprived
• blow out diaper (disposable FYI)
• confused by endless crying
• woken up just to check that he is breathing
• cried 
• forgotten when my last shower was
• freaked out by choking noises and gurgling hick-ups
• taken over by baby stuff
• smiled at
• snuggled with
• had his first sponge baths (Owen, not Chris)
• amazed by all the different baby noises
• tears of joy
• giving lots of kisses
• staring at him sleeping 
• loving all his different baby faces

daddy has become a quick expert!

Owen hates diaper change time

our special spot for eating and snuggling!  Milk drunk!

lil spark: 40 w.... nope....Owen: 1 week old!

a little late is better than never!

Owen Updates:

• Owen has had strictly breast milk, mostly from the breast!  I have to say this is an accomplishment, it has been rocky with some damage to my nipples and incorrect latch and some tears.  Some of those tough feedings Owen did get his mommy milk from the bottle.  We had to do what was best for our family, we are not discouraged. 
• We met with a lactation consultant on Wednesday so we have a new plan and it is working so far!  We are loving the new nipple "top hat" or "sombrero" as Chris calls it. I am healing and feeding times are so much more enjoyable.
• Owen is getting WAY more food, feeding longer and Mommy isn't hurting like she was. 
• Owen's Neana was here through Friday and took such good care of her baby, me, so I could care for my baby!  She made some really great food, yummy healthy snacks, did our grocery shopping, laundry and kept the house running smoothly.  We were sad to see her leave today.  I am sure she will be back soon!  We are already realizing how much she did to keep the house running.  She squeezed in some snuggle time too!

• Owen's Birth weight was 8lbs 14.6 oz, he dropped to 8 lbs 5 oz when we left the hospital, at his first dr apt he was 8 lbs 3 oz (we are starting to get a little worried); but at 1 week old he was back up to 8 lbs 7oz!!!  They want another weight check on Tuesday or Wednesday, I am going to have to find someone to drive me.
• He is such a good baby, so snugly and kissable. We love gazing into his eyes when he has some alert moments!  Everyone can't stop talking about his cheeks and let me tell you they get kissed by mommy A LOT!  I personally think they are better than all the cookies (and milk) in the world!

I couldn't wait to get him in this little outfit, I love the navy color with his eyes right now and it doesn't hurt that the little tag says Mommy loves me! Forgive me as I couldn't chose between the 2 pictures we are still figuring out the best way to take these.

So of course the genetic predictions have started and Chris and I are thinking:

• Daddy's ears
• Daddy's nose until about Wednesday and now Chris thinks its my nose, I think it looks like every baby nose.
• Blond Hair, that gets darker in adulthood
• My eye color~gold in the middle fading out to a green/blue color
• Neana thinks he will have her skin color, olive...but Chris and I are both very fair skin so I am seriously doubting it.
• I think he has Daddy's lips
• Daddy's hands and my thumb
• my organized toes (big to small), as for foot size he got daddy's big feet!

I have one picture of him in the hospital and he looks just like his brothers.  It was a sweet moment thinking how my boys would have all looked like each other. 

Over all we are slowly adjusting, it has been so busy with tons of visitors and appointments that I am still feeling overwhelmed.  Seems each day I think the next will be a quiet day and things seem to come up.

Mommy Updates:

• I weighed myself and I lost about 20 lbs after the c-section!! Woot!  Hopefully, the breastfeeding will suck off the rest of them, the only issue is that I am still STARVING all the time to keep up with this growing baby so dieting isn't in the equation yet.
• Good news is that my belly button is back to being an innie!   
• My feet have come back too, they were so swollen and painful but I have feet again and hopefully ankles soon!
• The incision is still really soar, it doesn't hurt, its more like a soar muscle though if I do too much it feels like it is pulling and that isn't fun.
• My back has a permanent knot in it under my right shoulder blade.  I think it is from leaning over to breast feed and sitting in one position for too long. No matter how much I heat or massage it wont ease up.  It is like an ache that feels like it goes through into my lungs.  It is hard to keep my shoulders back with all the new weight in the front. 
• It is nice that my body is returning to "my" body...but we still have a long ways to go!  Or I should say everything but my boobs are mine again those are Owen's for a while still :)

Off to feed my baby!