Time for a Baby Shower!

NOT MY BABY SHOWER! 

Today I get to go to my niece's baby shower.  

I made her a fruit salad.

Took me about an hour and half from start to finish.  Would have gone faster if I hadn't misplaced my specialty tools in one of our moves over the last 15 years. Only the crinkle cut on the honeydew and cantaloupe were done by a crinkle tool. The edging on the watermelon I did by hand.

Tongue Tied Troubles

Did you know that midwives of centuries past were reported to keep a fingernail sharp to slice the membranes under the tongues of newborn babies.  It was reportedly done to prevent speech impediments.

This blog post on Strollerderby is why I am grateful to my amazing Pediatrician for quickly disgnosing and resolving Magnus' short frenulum.   Baby Magnus had been under the constant care of doctors and nurses for the first few days of his life in the NICU but no one noticed the tongue tie. I wish I could have gotten a picture before it was clipped but it was diagnosed and treated in a matter of minutes.  After a quick touch of the gauze it had stopped bleeding. (never saw another drop)  Magnus latched easily and nursed immediately.  It was like night and day.  There was no struggling at let down.  His latch was no longer painful.

Not all tongue tie are severe enough for most people to even notice.  Like on here on the Booby Whisper

Have you ever had an experience with tongue tie?

A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities

"A baby will make love stronger,

days shorter, nights longer,


bankroll smaller, home happier, 


clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, 


and the future worth living for."


I love my little man and can't believe how fast he is growing.


Going from the 7 pound little guy in the NICU with tubes and wires to over 12 pounds at just two months old. He loves time in the moby wrap, luckily big brother got over it being his carrier. We are still going strong with our breast feeding.  Stuck it out through strictly pumping for the first few days, and then both of us getting thrush.   it was a rocky start but is very rewarding. Having a supportive family makes a huge difference in breastfeeding.  Even my kids will offer me a glass of water when I am sitting down feeding the baby.

My Birth Story

Since my baby is now a week old and I have finally started to get back to somewhat normal life again, it is time for me to finally write out my birth story.

I spent all night the 18th uncomfortable.  Almost hourly I was waking up to contractions.  Not wanting to go into Labor and Delivery only to get sent home I forced myself to lay back down and get some more sleep.

The morning of the 19th I woke before the alarm to more contractions.  Giving up on getting more sleep, I slowly got myself ready for the day. (It took 4 times as long to even get out of bed due to every move causing a contraction)  I kept thinking.. Was this it?  But it's so early. I'm only 36 weeks.  The girls woke up and got themselves ready for school.  I decided to walk them to the bus stop to see if a change of activity would cause the contractions to stop.  Not feeling hungry, I couldn't even force myself to eat something... Instead I was feeling nauseous.

I was very wrong... the contractions did not stop with the change of activity they steadily got worse.  I was so uncomfortable I could not even sit and wait with the kids for the bus. Instead I paced.  I explained the back up plan with the kids one more time as we waited. By the time the bus finally arrived I was ready to cry.  I was trying to be brave for the older kids but scared that it was too early. (only 4 days sooner than my other kids.. but days matter)

I get home and place the call to my doctors.  The contractions have been steadily 3-5 minutes apart for 2 hours now.  I am told to hurry up and get to the hospital.  The nausea got much worse and I was puking.  This scared me because in the past I have only puked when i reached 5cm and was going into transition.  I call my mom letting her know we need to go get checked and finally woke my husband.  The drive to the hospital was torturous, over railroad tracks and through busy Monday morning traffic.

We finally get to L&D and they ask you the stupidest question.  "Why are you here?"  For fun.. really.. I'm having contractions and need to be checked.   They get me hooked up to the monitors and sure enough the contractions are still coming steady.  They check me and I am 3-4 cm. After a long annoying wait. (I'll get into that horrible almost 3 hour labor limbo in another post) I am finally admitted to the hospital.

Once they get us set up in our own L&D suite and leave us alone, I break into tears. It's so much earlier than our other kids.  (OK, really only 3-4 days but I was hormonal and in labor)  We call my parents to let them know that today is really the day and we will be having a baby soon.  Our older kids are with them and excited to find out their baby brother is on his way.

Just 2 hours later and I was 5-6 cm 90% effaced and they were ready to start my epidural. This was a much easier epidural than last time.  I hate needles but that is one needle I was grateful to get.  They had already started my pitocin over an hour before.  The wicked runaway freight train of contractions from pitocin were overwhelming.

Less than an hour later during a cervical check (6 cm and fully effaced) my water suddenly breaks.  There was a shocking amount of water.(shocking for the nurse) It actually sprayed up the nurse's arm and across the floor.  She was shocked at the amount of clear healthy fluids there was.

After my water broke the contractions were becoming more intense.  The Anesthesiologist forgot to hook up my actual bag for the epidural.  I only got the original bolster shot.  They came back and hooked up the full bag with relief button.  Now I was feeling blessedly numb, but only down one side. Thanks to having me lay on my side, my epidural was pooling down one side.  My whole left side was beyond numb but my right was feeling everything.  I had to physically fight my half dead weight body to turn over and watched in horror as my left leg just flopped uselessly. I begged for the epidural to be turned down and luckily they listened.

Now is when it becomes a whirlwind..  30 minutes after my water broke I was at 7-8 cm.  The nurse told me I had plenty of time and was taking her time setting up the room.  She was gone only 10 minutes from the last time she checked me when I felt intense pressure that was not relieving between contractions.  She went to check me again only to discover I was fully dilated with baby at +4 station.(right before crowning) She hurriedly called the doctor who was in the middle of another delivery and wouldn't be able to make it for another 20 minutes.  My pitocin was quickly turned off and we waited.  As each contraction crashed over me the pressure was intense. (my epidural was slowly wearing off.. instead of turning it down they turned it off)  My husband joked between contractions. The nurse worriedly told me not to laugh or we would be having a baby without doctor's assistance.  We jokingly asked if we could charge them for delivery services if that happened.

The doctor finally arrived and no sooner did she place my legs in the stirrups but the baby was crowning.    My wonderful doctor used counter pressure rather than an episiotomy

Magnus Raymond was born at 5:23pm
Weighing 6lbs 14 oz and 20 inches long.




I will continue with his post delivery saga in a later post.
Fluid on the lungs, NICU stay, pumping, zombie walking every 2 hours, unhelpful staff and worse than just unhelpful.

Boys VS Girls

When I found out in my fourth pregnancy that I was having our first son I never thought there would be so many daily differences.

Sure I have to duck when changing a diaper or be able to beat the times of a Nascar pit team in changes.  There is the obvious differences in the plumbing.  My girls were never as interested in their nether regions as early as my son has been.  It's a nonstop wrestle to keep him from yanking his jewels off.  His most recent interest in showing them to everyone or just touching them.  He has already become an expert at arranging his clothing and diaper so that he can man-handle himself. I am missing when he was just obsessed with his belly button. (he would play with it so much that he actually left it glowing red)

The biggest difference is in day to day playtime.  Today I was standing at the sink washing vegetables when my son started his usual shouting to hear himself being loud. (boys are louder.. girls are just really high pitched)  I turn around and jump at him with a loud RAWR!  I thought it would have startled him at least a little. (I know.. mean mommy)  Instead of running away to peek at me from behind something like his sisters have in the past, he runs at me full charge with a little battle cry.  I was so startled by his reaction I didn't prepare myself for his onslaught.   He almost manages to knock me to the ground.  (If I hadn't been standing close to the sink it would have been Monster Maxx 1 Mommy 0)  He then laughs a huge belly laugh while pointing at the stunned look on my face.

There are also many things that are all to similar.  Maxx loves to break into dance at any music just like his sisters.  Their favorite song to dance to is actually the intro music to Strawberry Shortcake. Nadia requests me to play it again and again just to dance with Maxx.

What are some of the differences between your sons and daughters has caught you off guard the most?  

BabyLegs Review

I just recently purchased my first set of BabyLegs leggings.  They had a great sale and I was able to convince my hubby to buy some. Once he saw that you could use it on the kid's arms when they got bigger he was sold.  The fact that they had a great sale really helped to seal the deal.  Now Maxx's knee's get a break from crawling on the hard wooden floors.  Plus when I wear him in a carrier  I wont have to wrestle with his pants to cover his ankles. Those are just a few of the added bonuses of having BabyLegs.

Within an hour of wearing Maxx wearing them all three of his big sisters were jealous of them and wanted a pair for themselves. I didn't think the older two would like them so I just ordered some for the youngest pair.  Looks like I'm gonna have to place another order after the holiday craziness is over.

As I type this Maxx is laying cuddled up next to me toasty as can be without a blanket, pants or socks.  The BabyLegs are keeping his legs warmer than any pair of pants I've ever put on him.  They haven't crept up or slipped down at all even after being picked up repeatedly, playing with his sisters, crawling up and down the hallways, and climbing up onto whatever he can reach.  I'm shocked he hasn't tried to pull them off like he does with pants.
I would recommend them for anyone not just for babies.  They have such a huge multitude of uses for all ages. The same pair Maxx is wearing I could fit on the arms and legs of ALL his sisters.  Sure, the oldest two aren't pulling them thigh high but they are still nice leg warmers and cute too.
I did not get a pair free or at discount for writing this. This is just me sharing my love of a great product.

Already a Biter

My son Maxx got his first tooth at one week shy of being 8 months old. I am positive my daughters all had multiple teeth by 8 months. I'm not complaining. I was actually dreading the day his teeth would come, they always want to test their chompers out on human flesh like little zombies. It's usually my poor defenseless Mommy flesh that is on their menu. My husband believes that Maxx was holding back on growing them in because when teeth appeared was when I stopped breastfeeding with the Nadia.

It wasn't the teeth appearing that scared me off breastfeeding. I had stopped breastfeeding Nadia after getting repeatedly being bitten while nursing her. It was so bad on many occasions that I was left bleeding and dreading the next time I would need to bare my tender bits to her. At the time I didn't know any better that she wasn't nursing but instead messing around when she would hurt me with her chompers. I didn't know I had never breast-fed a child that had teeth. With each baby I have breastfed I have been able to nurse longer and longer with each one.

Appearance of the tooth

I was sitting around after dinner watching tv while the little man cruised around the front room in his regular super army crawl. He pulled himself up on our coffee table as he always does to see what he could throw to the ground or check for any papers he could attempt to eat. Instead he started chewing on the edge of the table, so I pull him away and began playing with him. He grabbed my hand and started gnawing on it as usual. I felt something scratching me, so I inspected his mouth thinking he had some contraband. I was in shock to see a tooth since not even minutes before he had no teeth at all.

I started yelling OMG a tooth! My oldest kids come running and ask if I had lost a tooth. (being stuck in the losing tooth mode) Which is understandable considering in the past two months my two oldest daughters have lost around 10 teeth combined. (leaving our 4 yr old jealous of the all tooth fairy earnings) Once they found out it was baby Maxx's first tooth, they instantly started cheering. This little man is gonna wonder why he feels the need to have lots of cheering and applause.

I was going to wait until daddy got home from work to tell him but I can't keep a secret/surprise. Daddy was on speaker phone when I told him about the new tooth. After crowing with pride about his little man becoming such a big boy, he then asks me if this means breastfeeding will soon be coming to an end. Before I could get a response out Maxx was vigorously shaking his head no. When hubby didn't get a response because I was giggling too hard, he repeated his question and Maxx shook his head no all over again when daddy mentioned breastfeeding ending. We have our answer and will continue to breastfeed hopefully to 1-year-old. Little man shows no signs of wanting to give it up. Hubby says it is the boobies addiction that most men have it's just starting early.

Abuse of tooth power

That little tooth was not even 24 hours old and Maxx had try it out on my poor defenseless nipple. This time I knew what to do though. I still said ow because it still freaking hurt. I immediately told him no bite and set him down away from me and ended the breastfeeding session. He startled at me screeching ow but then laughed. As soon as I told him no bite and set him away from the boob you would think it was him that had just been bitten. Maxx was howling down the moon, all while giving me the most pitiful looks. For the sake of my poor nipples I stuck to my guns and again told him no bite and handed him a toy to play with instead. Less than a minute later, he had given up the howling and had turned his pitiful looks to glares of indignation.

Have you had to handle a biter? How did you overcome it?

Tip: When breastfeeding and your child bites you, tell your child "No Bite" and end the nursing session.  Set them down away from you. (near toys to play with since they were not eating but playing when they bit)  Try again in 10 minutes. 

Related Articles

• The Tooth Fairy Drops By (lauramaly.wordpress.com)
• Breastfeeding tips - All Information (umm.edu)

Babies Don't Keep

One of the women from my motherhood forum posted this and it really made me smile. This poem really is how I feel most days. Everything else can wait because my baby wont always be a willing cuddle bug.

Babies Don’t Keep
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother,
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the washing
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery,
blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little
Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done
and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for Children grow up,
as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep......

My Baby Boy and Me

I found this poem while sitting here in the wee hours cuddled with my baby boy.  It brought tears to my eyes and had me holding him closer.  I will admit there are days when I just want some peace.  The ability to do any chore with both hands or without him strapped to me.   Getting through an entire bathing ritual without someone calling out for me.  Or feeling like a pit crew when bathing.. how fast can you get everything necessary done?

Now when those days crowd in on me I will take the time to sit in awe of my sweet growing boy and revel in his need to have me close.  One day he will push for his independence, running away and laughing when I ask for hugs or kisses.  He wont remain little for long and his need for me to be near will never be so great.  For now, I will enjoy being the most important person in his life.  Even if it means having an audience while bathing.

My Baby Boy and Me

It's three AM, they're all asleep,
and no-one's here to see.
As we rock slowly back and forth,
My baby boy and me.

His little hand is feather light
Tucked up against my chin.
I hold his tiny hand in mine,
and stroke his baby skin.

The house about us creaks and groans,
The clock hands creep around.
He snuggles closer to me still,
And makes his baby sounds.

I love these quiet hours so much,
And cherish every one.
Store memories up inside my heart
For lonely nights to come.

All too soon he'll be grown up,
His need for mama gone.
But until then I still have time
For kisses and for song.

Time for quiet hours like this
With him cuddled in my arms,
Where I wish he'd always stay
Protected, safe and warm.

And yet I know the day will come
When his tiny little hand,
will be bigger than my own.
He'll grow to be a man.

But until then he's mine to love
With no one here to see.
As we rock slowly back and forth,
My baby boy and me.
...Author Unknown

My Baby-Wearing Experience and What an Experience it has been

I haven't always been a baby wearer.  In the past I was more of a baby holder. I always said that your baby will only be small enough to be held for so very little before you are going to need to chase them down for your hugs and cuddling.

My problem has always been with the carriers.  Either you are going to be spending WAY too much for something that will get bodily fluids on it or it is reasonably priced and uncomfortable to wear.  On top of that, other carriers I've had in the past were horrible to clean and didn't support the baby very well.  The final straw for me with standard baby carriers was when I pinched my youngest daughter with the closures on my last standard carrier.  After the tears cleared Daddy just said "she must be too big to be worn" and we moved her to a stroller. I sadly gave up baby wearing with her.  Every time she rode in the stroller I mourned the time spent being close to her without having to sacrifice productivity.

When I became pregnant with my son I was determined to find a better carrier. Even against my husband's complaints. "Don't you own enough carriers?"  No.. not enough of the right one.  Stubbornly I searched for my dream carrier. Supportive for my back and child, easy to clean, and it must grow with my baby.

After endless amounts of searching and comparing I finally found a carrier that intrigued me, the Moby Wrap.  I wondered how could one long strip of material secure my baby to me.  Thank you for the clarification goes to all the video's online showing the many ways to wear your baby safely in the Moby wrap and even all the way to toddler years. I convinced my husband to let me order just one more baby carrier and he actually agreed.  I think it was the promise that it was the last item I was ordering in my online baby shopping frenzy.

The carrier arrived even before my son did.  I resisted the urge to try it out, even though my 3 yr old would have still been within the weight limit.  My big belly and aching back wouldn't have been in on the fun.

Once my son was born I was excited to put it to use.  I will be the first to admit it took some getting used to and lots of reference to the booklet that came with it. My husband even helped me get it on myself and the baby inside safely the first few times. I think it was more because he didn't trust a long strip of material to hold the baby well enough, rather than him just being helpful.

My son went from fussing  to asleep in less than a minute. It frightened my husband when our son went silent that fast.  He thought something was wrong.  When he leaned in to check on the baby he shocked to watch baby Maxx snuggle closer and let out a little sigh.

I will be the first to admit that at 4 months old my son is very different from any of my daughters were. Not just the usual gross little boy stuff... stinky farts and already amused by them. He is a much calmer and happier baby than his sisters were. I never even thought it was possible to have a happier baby then his big sister was.   On the rare days when he is being grumpy all I have to do is hold up the Moby wrap and ask if he needs some Moby time. As soon as he sets his sight on the Moby wrap he is all smiles and giggles.  Once inside he's either fast asleep or calmly quietly observing the world around him.  Daddy is even amazed at the difference the Moby wrap has made.

If I could go back in time.. I would own just one carrier.  I found the perfect one for me. It may not be the same for everyone, but it's the one I can't live without. Although I may get a second Moby wrap for wash day...  Just don't tell my husband.