Forget the Baby Whisperer...

Zantac is where it's at!

Turns out it seems Mira's "issues" are stemming primarily from her acid reflux. She's been struggling with nursing for a few days, and the problem really escalated Tuesday into Wednesday. She just wouldn't nurse. She'd scream as soon as I laid her on my lap to start nursing. It was beyond frustrating and worrying. She napped better on Wednesday, but still struggled with every feeding. I was getting so worried that she was developing an aversion to nursing, and that we'd have to give it up. More than that, nursing should be a pleasant, positive experience for both me and her, and it just wasn't.

So I desperately called 2 lactation consultants, and the pediatrician. One discussion with the consultant, and one visit to the pediatrician later... Mira's reflux medication got increased by 50%. Seemed like a lot, but we'll give it a try!

Lo and behold... She nurses with ease, and is sleeping like a champ. Oh, the wonders of medication. *Sigh* of relief from me!

But can you imagine? Her whole life, she's been in so much pain she can't sleep or eat properly. That breaks my heart.

Little Wrastler

Grandma may have been run over by a reindeer, but Mira was able to wrestle one to the ground over the Christmas holiday:

Don't Pass me by!

We're just now back home from a Christmas trip down to NYC/LI for a nice family time. We go down that way roughly twice a year, and every time we go, we get stuck in trrraaafffffiiiiiiccccc. It sucks. It helps remind us why we live in the "country". And when we get in that "Cash Only" line at the toll booths, we stare longingly at the EZPass lanes, with the cars zipping through while we suffer with screaming kids in the backseat....

Not this year!!! Keith had the brilliant idea of stopping at the EZPass service center in Albany and we left the proud owners of THREE EZPass tags (one for each of us, and one a present for my ma). Thruway tolls? A breeze. George Washington Bridge, well bring it on! And the Garden State Parkway? Best of ALL: EZPass at 65mph! Gotta love that express lane. I don't know how we lived without it before, but it was the highlight of this trip! (No offense to the family, of course).

To quote my mom: "I loved it so much, I wished there were more toll booths"

Day one with the Baby Whisperer

Mira turned 7 weeks old this past Friday. Up until that day, we were rolling with it pretty well. She would have one good nap in the car seat (due to 3 year old activities in the morning) and we'd get by the afternoon, usually with her napping on me. Not ideal, but not too bad.

Nighttime was, in general, a blessing. Mira might struggle to go to bed, but she'd sleep a good 4-5 hours and then nurse, diaper, and nurse back to bed for another 3-4. Of course, I'm talking a week's worth of data on that, but still. It seemed like we were having a trend, a pattern, dare I say, a schedule.

Then, it hit. I don't know what. A growth spurt, a cognitive development, who knows? All of a sudden, she's nursing erratically and screaming a LOT. Not sleeping well, not happy. No idea what to do.

So, a mom friend loans me "The Baby Whisperer" (a book). I have had a very strong "read no parenting books" motto since Lili was born. But I was desperate (am desperate). I need sleep. I need sanity. I need.... patience. So I've skimmed the book this morning, between screaming and crying (ummmm both of us), and successfully got Mira to nap in her own bed (with much patting and reassuring at the wakeful/restless/fussy stages of the nap) going on 2 hours now.

We'll keep working on it. I know it's a work in progress. I'm creating a mantra: patience. love. care. observe. boundaries. reassurance. patience.

Oh, and what I've learned so far? Mira is a mostly "touchy baby", and a little bit of a "spirited baby". Meaning? She's easily overstimulated. Easily overtired. Needs a LOT of reassurance. And goes from 0-100 very quickly.

Cloth Diapers, Part Deux

I've blogged about cloth diapering in the past... And the time has come again because Nicki's Diapers is giving away a one-size fits all diaper cover. Just up my alley.

We've been using Thirstie's Duo's (which I really love) and Bummi's for Mira. Only during the day when we are at home. I know... it's better to use them all the time! But, with her diaper rash and wanting sleep and all that, a combo of disposable and cloth is what works for us.

So... if you happen to be in the market to try cloth diapering, check out Nicki's... They have free shipping on all diaper covers, which is a rare thing to find!

Cut it out!

I love to bake. The holidays (well, really winter time.... wait who am I kidding? all year round!) gives me a great excuse to bake and do a little experimenting.

Can you believe I've never mastered cut-out cookies? I guess my philosophy is that they are too much work and don't taste that great anyway. Well, unless you're my friend Anna, in which case you make the best sugar cookie cut outs known to man.... But I digress.

This year I decided to make gingerbread people as a project for me and Lili. I used Paula D's recipe from FoodTV and it's just OK. Actually they are a little hard and tasteless. But it was fun to decorate them!

we even made little jewish people :)

Me Me? Okaaay...

What does a "meme" stand for, anyway? As far as I can tell, it's basically a list of info about me. Me. Get it? And since I love to enter raffles and drawings and giveaways, here's a Holiday "MeMe"...

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
A tea kettle. A not so fussy baby. A healthy family. Lots of snow this winter. More sleep.

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
A knitted wool blanket.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
A knitted sweater.

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
Jolene, my cabbage patch doll, with a crib for her that my brother made. Plus personalized bedding for the crib that my mother made.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
No idea. Well, anything princessy.

6. What is your favorite holiday food?
I really do like turkey and stuffing with gravy. And cherry pie.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
Not this year! No time with the little baby around.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (Cartoon version)

9. Favorite holiday song?
It came upon a midnight clear. But it's mostly Rudolph around here lately.

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
Mulled cider, popcorn, and a movie.

YAY!

First big snow of the year! This whole family couldn't be more excited. Well, Mira doesn't really understand the cold white stuff yet, but the rest of us are happy to see it!

Never wake a...

Sleeping baby...

Just wishing that she'd sleep a little more!

cute squashy sleeping face

Sumo Mira

So, my friend takes Mira and gets a good look at her and says "Don't take this the wrong way or anything, but Mira looks kinda like a sumo wrestler"

And, at the same time "she looks just like you".

Does this mean I should stop eating Ice Cream?

yes. i got big cheeks and a double chin.
if you gotta problem with that, i can SIT ON YOU!

In case you didn't know...

Life with a baby isn't always roses and sunshine:

hee hee.