Cutest Picture Ever

Hehehe... I just couldn't help myself. I HAD to buy this onesie at Walgreens. I couldn't resist. Yes, Walgreens got me to spend $$$ in their store... but it was so worth it!  (Marketers are so good at making moms buy things sometimes... One of my majors in college was Marketing, and I still got suckered. Oh well.)

Found it at Amazon.com, too. Lol:  Lock Up Your Daughters Baby / Infant Onesie

BJ made 7 weeks yesterday and he's becoming more alert and making the cutest faces ever. Makes for good pictures. :-)

Growth Spurts and Clothes

Okay, I'm back to blogging. HJ went back to work for good today so I have an even tougher time balancing baby, housework, and "fun" things like blogging... but I'll try. :-) I always wonder how people find the time to do things... I'm so envious of people who can find the time to craft, sew, blog, and do all sorts of creative things I'm interested in trying but can't find the time to do.  I feel overwhelmed by the amount of things on my to-do list and I'm not even at work right now!   (Yes, Hailey, my to-do list software that I use is made by google... :-) ) Well, yesterday, HJ and I decided to make goals for ourselves, and one of my goals is to make time for fun things.  We'll see if I follow through with it.  I think I just have to make time!  Not as easy as I say:

Speaking of time, BJ makes 7 weeks tomorrow and I have to wonder:  Where did the time go?  I feel like I just had him but he's already almost two months old.  And he keeps growing and growing.  He was such a cranky pants yesterday and I think the reason is because he had a growth spurt that is supposed to come at 6 weeks. (According to the books, there are growth spurts at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.)  It didn't help that it was extremely hot, either, but that's another story. So anyway, the bad thing about growth spurts is that BJ is outgrowing his clothes like crazy.  A few weeks ago, he outgrew his newborn pajamas and now, he fits his 3 month pajamas just right! It feels like one more inch of growth and BJ will outgrow his 0-3 month clothes. Here's BJ's most recent picture:

Much bigger than the newborn pictures, right?  The only thing that makes me sad about BJ outgrowing his clothes is that I'm so frugal when it comes to clothing. HJ and I will wear out our clothes before throwing it away (or donating it).  BJ's clothes, however, are like brand new.  I just think it's such a waste... but it's okay.  Believe me, I am extremely thankful that BJ is a growing boy! :-D

Balance

Balancing baby, housework, and school work (for credits I'm taking to get higher pay) is tough. Will have to postpone entries for a SHORT while...

Be back soon, baby readers :-/

Tackled a First!

Wow... I did it!  I gave BJ a bath by myself for the first time today.  This may not seem like a big deal, but I have been shying away from being the bath parent because I was nervous about him slipping in my arms.  Well... HJ went out for a little while during bath time and instead of waiting for him to come home, I decided to be brave.  I put warm water into the baby tub, took off BJ's onesie, scrub, scrub, scrub, riiiiinse, and we end up with a comfy baby and a happy mommy:

This gives me hope that I can do things by myself and BJ will be okay....

Going Out With Baby

Last week, HJ went back to work because he had a deadline, and I stayed home semi-alone and took care of BJ!  (I say "semi-alone" because technically, BJ and I are at home together.)  I thought I would have a hard time, but it actually wasn't too bad.  The only thing that I had a difficult time with was taking care of BJ while balancing housework.  Needless to say, I did not get a lot of chores or work done... but I had to tell myself that this was okay as long as BJ got cared for.  And it is okay. I just have do get a lot more done when either my mom or HJ are here... Speaking of which, HJ is staying home for another two weeks starting today, so I need to finish all of my chores before he goes back to work.  I'll be a little sad when HJ goes back to work for good in two weeks, and I'm sure he will be too, but we have to have $$$ to survive, as I'm already taking a leave without pay.  *Sigh*

BJ in his car seat (from Amazon.com)... this was his car ride home from the hospital.  He hasn't ridden in it much since... read why:

Since HJ will be going to work starting next week, I'm sure I'll have to run errands by myself.  Problem is, I still have not tackled the challenge of going out with BJ alone.  Even if HJ, BJ, and I go out, we only stay out for, at the most, an hour.  Our longest time out was a trip to Wal-Mart and the local supermarket.

The problem is that I have seen the way strangers look at us when BJ is crying in his stroller, and their evil glares make me feel like I am a terrible parent and it scares me to go out alone.  At least right now, they can stare at both me and HJ, and I don't feel like it's entirely my fault.  It's not like BJ is loud when he screams, but those glares can be pretty brutal.  What makes me feel worse is that I used to look at parents and wonder why they couldn't control their screaming kid.  Now, I know that sometimes, babies just cry... For example, BJ started crying in Wal-Mart once because he pooped in his diaper.  The entire walk to the car to change his diaper, BJ was crying, and we got evil looks the entire way.  It felt like I was a criminal.

I'm sure that I will get used to going out with BJ, but that first trip frightens me. Any advice, baby readers???

BJ's One Month Yesterday & Breastfeeding

BJ made one month old yesterday.  Wow... where does the time go?  Seriously.  A part of me feels happy that he is growing and getting older... still, a part of me feels sad that one month has gone by so quickly.  Does that make sense?  I want him to grow up... but at the same time, I don't!  Before I know it, BJ will be taking his first step, going to kindergarten, going to prom, graduating high school... aaah I'm giving myself a headache. I guess I just have to keep looking forward, remembering the past, and embracing the present.  Happy One Month Birthday BJ!  Mommy and Daddy love you very much.

Today's topic:  Breastfeeding. (Did that stop all men from reading? haha.  Men, you may want to stop reading this entry, that's up to you, but it's not all that bad. :-)  )

In an earlier post, I talked about going to a baby care class.  What I forgot to mention was that HJ and I also went to a breastfeeding class, where we learned about various holds for breastfeeding and how to make sure baby latches on.  Going to the class made breastfeeding seem simple and easy!  I assumed that he would drink milk for 10-15 minutes, and all done... you go on with your day.  WRONG... at least for me, anyway.  BJ has mastered the art of latching on and drinking from one side, but he HATES the other and refuses to drink from it... so what I have been having to do is pump the hated side and feed it to him in a bottle.  Feedings can last up to an hour... which is fine at 2 p.m., but DREADFUL at 2 a.m.  I'm very lucky, though, because HJ has been so supportive.  Sometimes, he'll get up and change BJ's diaper before handing him to me for his feeding, which makes a big difference because I can catch five more minutes of sleep.  I have a very helpful hubby!

Anyway, back to breastfeeding :-).  The odd thing about the waking-up-part is that I've gotten used to this way of feeding, but when I first started, I thought about giving up breastfeeding all together.  I was tired all the time, and felt like a failure for BJ not latching on.  It seems a lot easier now but I still need my catch-up naps every once in a while. I just need to keep trying and not give up.  <3

Baby Furniture

BJ's such a small guy... and for such a small guy, he sure takes up a lot of room in this house.  Actually, you can't really call the establishment we live in a "house".  We live in a small one bedroom cottage, which I should say I'm thankful for living in because the rent is amazingly cheap.  Anyway, when it was just me and HJ, I could actually walk around with some comfort. Now, we have so many baby items that I feel like I'm sinking deeper and deeper in a sea of baby clutter.

The picture above is what prompted me to write this blog... HJ was sleeping, so he had the couch reclined back, and I had to step over him to go into kitchen.  Lots and lots of STUFF. We have a bouncer, a walker, a swing, a rocking chair, a co-sleeper, a bassinet, a baby clothes cabinet, and lots and lots of stuffed animals. :-)  In fact, I have so much furniture that I had to take some to my parents' house!  Lucky for me, my mom puts BJ's stuff in my old room... but I doubt my dad is happy about my old room becoming a storage facility. Oh well, hehe.

The one furniture item that I am truly thankful for is something we received yesterday from HJ's co-worker.  It is a swing made by Boppy.  Here's a picture of it:

The swing is the best baby furniture ever invented.  BJ has been sleeping in his swing for a whole 3 hours now without stirring!  It's an amazing contraption.  In fact, I seriously question what I am doing awake at this hour... I should be sleeping since I know he will be out like a light.  This swing adjusts for BJ's weight and swings according to how heavy he is.  Before we received this swing, BJ would wake up every two hours, sometimes every hour.  I can't speak for him, but I think the movement soothes him and he feels like someone is holding him.  Whatever the case may be, he's ASLEEP... and I will sleep now too so I can catch some rest.  Good night baby readers!

Have to Keep This Up - For Jacob!

Jacob Roger Fumio was born on March 9, 2010 at 6:02 p.m. When he was born, he was 19 inches, 6lb. 15oz. It's been close to one month since he was born and I'm finally here writing a blog. :-( I'm such a terrible procrastinator but I told myself I would keep up with this blog and I truly MUST for Jacob's sake.

Oye. He's crying... Be right back... I hope! :-)

Okay 30 minutes later after feeding him, I'm back. Today's topic: Language change.

I noticed after becoming a mom that the vocabulary I use with HJ has drastically changed. Now, we talk about poop like it's no big deal, and "doodie diaper" has become a normal part of our conversation. I even text him about Baby Jacob's doodie diapers. Normal questions include: Was it a doodoo or a fart? Did he shishi? Does he want the boobie? LOL. Gosh, I suppose it's embarrassing to admit that we talk in this way, but I told myself that when I started this blog, I wouldn't hold anything back when I write about BJ. So yes, that is how we talk now. So romantic, isn't it?

Okay I have lots of other topics to write about, but I hope to save them for many more entries to come. :-) And anyway, he's crying again. See you later, baby readers!