How was your Valentine’s Day? Mine was not so hot. (Here’s where I whine for a little bit.) The husband did not acknowledge the day in any way until late in the afternoon, when I finally gave in and said “You do realize what today is, right?” For the record, he did realize, and didn’t think it was important to recognize his wife and the mother of his child. I’m just a wee bit bitter, can you tell?
Let me step out on a limb here and say I’m not particularly attached to Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t hold some great important meaning to me. However, I do feel it’s a great day to take the opportunity to let your loved ones know you care about them. I don’t expect $50 roses, or diamond earrings, or some other great expensive gift. I do expect a heartfelt card and maybe some sort of planned outing. A trip to a park, a dinner out – anything would be romantic and special if it was planned by someone other than me.
I probably would not have gotten so mad had my birthday (January 29, so just a few weeks ago) not come and gone with no acknowledgement other than a “Happy Birthday!” I didn’t even get a card on that day. This is my husband’s MO and it is something that drives me absolutely bonkers about him – he just doesn’t care about birthdays and holidays. In his family, it wasn’t a big deal, so he thinks it shouldn’t be a big deal now. However, in my family it is a big deal, so I expect him to recognize those days. It’s a never ending battle and I really don’t know how to get it through to him that this is truly important to me.
BAH. Moving on.
Speaking of Valentine’s Day, does your family have any special traditions? I really want the holidays to be special for Cooper. Growing up, my mom always got us kids a little gift and some chocolates. A friend of mine does chinese take out and a movie with her husband and kids. I decided we’ll do some sort of baking (this year it was cake balls, and Cooper supervised) although I’m not sure what else will do to make the day special.
Many of you have asked about Cooper’s burn, and I’m happy to report it is looking much better! Right now all that remains is a red mark, which I’m hoping will fade. We’ll see. It went from this:
To this: (Horrible picture, but you can see the faint red mark above and to the right of his belly button)
These pictures were taken courtesy of my brand-spanking new Canon Rebel EOS Xsi. The only problem is that I have no clue how to use it. Tips?
I know my posts have been all pregnancy and baby, all the time, for the past few months. I apologize to those of you who don’t find that interesting. I know my blog didn’t start off that way and I’m probably loosing a few readers because of it. However, I won’t apologize for the direction my life has taken. This is a blog about my life and interests, and right now my life is overwhelmingly all baby. I promise it won’t always be this way and I do have some non-Cooper posts planned. Thanks to those of you who are sticking around.
A few clueless mommy questions to my readers who are experienced mommies:
When does spit up start to be a problem? Cooper has projectile spit up. It was happening with almost every feeding, but we’ve changed bottles and have started propping him up in the boppy when he sleeps and lies down, and it has improved to only once or twice a day. Are there any other things we can try? He is formula fed… should I switch formulas?
How many #2 diapers should I expect in a day? We switched formula brands recently, and I think he may be constipated. We were feeding him Similac Advanced, but our pediatrician said we could switch to generic. We changed to Sam’s Club version of Enfamil Lipil/Similac Advanced and he is pooping less than before (one every day or sometimes every other day).
I will be asking his doctor these questions but due to the lovely nature of military medicine, Cooper’s next appointment isn’t for 3 more weeks, and there is no nurse line. Don’t even get me started…
Happy Wednesday, everyone!
27 comments:
Don't feel too bad, I got nothing from anyone, and no acknowledgment. It happens I guess, I am bitter too.
Oh my lovely friend. My hubby was EXACTLY the same until I laid it out for him. And I mean gave him a HUGE wake up call. And this year I got a birthday card and was taken out for dinner twice on sunday. You REALLY have to sort it out other wise you will be bitter all the time and it will effect your marriage. It really messed with ours. and it sounds petty to some people but I am with you on this. And if it is important to you then it needs to be important to him and vise versa.
The vomiting......check out Gastric reflux. Jesse had the exact same thing when we bought him home and it was REALLY bad. Sadly many GPs dont think GR is a 'real' problem, but it is especially if it is your baby!!!! I switched Jess to Soya formula and that helped. I also went to the GP every day until they admitted that the constant crying, puking and cramping was some thing more that colic. Dont let them tell you its colic! It is not!
Dont stress either it will make him more stressed.
Go and tell them your baby has reflux and ask them what they are going to do.
Google it. I found a good site called momswearingpuke.com
they give you a whole list of reflux sympotoms. See how many Coop has.
And PARY!
lots of love. Hope this helped in some way.
xxxx
ack no nurse line?? I will defer the questiosn to mommy's with kids younger than five b/c you really do get fuzzy on those details!
For V day we just go eat somewhere. We get my son a small bag (sweets and a toy) and he makes us cards :)
for valentine's traditions, i try to make heart-shaped foods. i have a heart-shaped mold that i got from pampered chef, but i think i've seen them other places. i usually make pancakes for breakfast with that. for lunch, i also use it to cut out heart-shaped bread. and dinner (we usually go out if it's the weekend) at home we make homemade pizza in heart-shape. my kiddies LOVE it. also, i've started using red food coloring and making their milk pink! (i make the milk green on st. patrick's day)
i can't really help you with the mommy questions because i can't remember. i'll probably be asking the same questions in a few weeks!!
glad cooper's tummy is looking better ♥
My mom and I always baked the week of and did something special the day of. She also always filled a red basket(sort of like Easter, but smaller scale). She still does- one for me and one for hubby!
As for your husband not celebrating holidays- Ugh, mine was the same way. He thinks it's crazy that my mom would leave something out for me on the first day or spring or for st pattys..etc (Never mind the normal holiday stuff she did). I made it clear that this was how I wanted our family to celebrate. It didn't have to be diamonds, but I expected a card..dinner. etc.
Anyway- I've found that the best way to make sure that he "remembers"- although this isn't much of a problem as time has gone on - is just to say something like...Oh you're going to love what I ordered for you for Vday. It's like a reminder...and it doesn't put the pressure on. And it's true. I try to pick out fun things that I know he really wants so it's fun(not so much a job).
:) Hope this helps!
Ack, I wish I could help you on the baby questions, but both my girls were booby fed which produced much different kinda poop diapers. Much less spitting up too, I think.
Okay, I think it's HORRIBLE that your hubby takes no interest in special occasions KNOWING that they're important to you. I don't know... just seems like a blatant slap in the face. I think you need to sit him down and have a serious conversation about how that makes you feel, ya know?
As for baby posts. Keep em coming! This is YOUR blog and you have to write about what's going on in YOUR life. If people don't stick around, they aren't worth it.
Justine :o )
First of all- no apologies about what you blog about girl!!! I love that you have slowly shifted into Mommyhood!!!!
In our house, we celebrate V day with Mommy doing something with the boys and Daddy doing something with our daughter (he takes her out for a special breakfast). I usually give them a small gift (they got snuggies this year). It may change as they get older. We'll see.
I wish I could help with the spitting up- my kids never were big ones though, so I am no help.
Straight from my ped's mouth: Every kid is different with how many #2s they do in a day. Ian went from every diaper in the beginning to one every other day- there is no "normal" amount.
Hope these help- have a wonderful day my mommy friend!
~Becca
No need to apologize for posting about pregnancy and baby...This is your blog, you write about what YOU want to write about...I became a follower because of the blog post about the nursery and have read some from before that and now after and I still LOVE your blog!
I also have a Canon Rebel and no clue how to use it! Maybe I should read up on it! Instead of letting my exspensive camera sit around to collect dust :) haha
You’re right you do not need to apologize. It’s your blog which means you can write about what you want. I’m sure most of your readers are excited for you and this new chapter of your life……I am. We just had the baby talk and decided we are going to start “trying” this time next year. I’m already super excited! So if we are blessed with a baby next year I’m sure my blog with be a little different at that time too.
I’m so happy to see that he’s belly is getting better. That was just awful! Ahhh I would have flipped but it seems like you were good and remained calm. I was thinking about it and I could be totally wrong but I’m sure inside they felt awful about it but in their field they don’t like to apologize when things like that happen because they would be admitting fault which is a scary thing for them. I HATE that the medical field is like that, I guess I should say that I hate that “some” of the medical field is like that. My close friend is a nurse and she’s told me wayyy too many stories (that she would probably loose her job if they knew she told me) where the Dr. had messed up and didn’t want to admit fault or tried to cover it up so the patient didn’t know they messed up. But to be positive there are some really great doctors out there and of course they do wonderful things for us! I just hate that that happened to Cooper.
As far as your new camera I got a new SLR for Christmas. I was a little freaked out too and had no idea how to use it…..ok I’m still a little freaked out but I have a better understanding. I got on youtube and watched a few clips on SLR cameras, read through the manual, and went to the library and rented a few books on photography. It’s really helping! I still plan to take a class…..someday. Oh I also found a site called Ilovefaces.come. They have a ton of pointers and some great inspirational pics!
Sorry this has turned into a mini book!
Kendra
http://domesticprincessintraining.blogspot.com
Sorry about your V-Day. My husband is like that... I have to pretty much spell out what I want - a cookie cake from the grocery store every.single.year. :) We celebrated holidays & birthdays growing up but his mom died when he was young so his dad didn't really do much.
On the bowel moments - 1 every day or every other day should be fine. T went over a week without one and the nurse said it's ok as long as they aren't hard. Hope that helps!
I am so glad to see that Cooper is healing nicely.
http://www.eyeballgirl.com
Oh Andrea ~ Glenn is the absolute same way about birthdays and Valentine's Day. I gave him a little bag with a stuffed bear and some candy and a cute card. What did I get...nada. And nothing for my birthday either (January 22nd). I hate it...because, like you, holidays and birthdays were so special to my family and I try to keep them that way for my kids.
Little Liam (3 months now) had reflux and the projectile spitting up. The dr didn't want to put him on meds..he wanted him to outgrow it. It has gotten better...Cassie still breastfeeds him and I give him a bottle with formula. I also feed him 2 oz, then burp him. He spits up still for her, but not me. You can't tell a 21 year old anything...she thinks she knows it all!!! Also, Liam wasn't pooping everyday either, and the dr. said that the older they get, they use more of the formula and may poop only once or twice a week and it's not abnormal. Here I was thinking he was constipated too!
Hope things get better...and if you come up with a way to get these guys to notice holidays, let me know!
Hugz,
Michele
Ooooh...the whole holiday and birthday thing would make me SOOOOOOOOO flippin mad!!! Kick him in the butt girl!
Sorry - I know nothing about babies or your new camera. I suck.
OK, the pooping thing: Emma did the same thing at about the same age as Cooper, and it will even out. I took her to the doctor for not pooping enough, they said to give her some baby white grape juice mixed with water to get it flowing. Not sure about the formula thing though-most babies that are formula fed don't poop as often as breastfed babies. Either give it some time to level out, or try the juice/water in a bottle-like 2 or 3 oz. :D
I'm still following along as usual! We were preggo at the same time though and my little guy Hayden is 6 weeks so not far behind Cooper. His poor little tummy just made me so sad (and mad at that doctor!) when you first posted about it. It looks SO much better, thank God!!!
As far as the formula, I personally wouldnt change formula without asking my doc which one to switch to. Hayden is also on Similac Advanced and I tried a generic can of Target brand formula and his poops changed texture...they got alot harder which they shouldnt be at this age just yet. The change in formula could very well explain his change in pooping habits. My little guy, on Similiac, poops about 3 times a day. it changes though b/c sometimes he goes a day without pooping.
I will groan with you about military docs. Hayden doctor told me that if I keep feeding him every 2 hours when he cries for food, he will be an emotional eater and smoke and drink b/c I taught him to put something in his mouth when he is upset. Needless to say we are trying to get him out in town for his medical car now...
Good luck with the spit up. Our daughter was a spazzy 5 ft. puker like that too but it just went away over time.
We use Parent's Choice, which is the wal mart brand of formula. He usually goes once a day. Sometimes twice. Sometimes not at all. As for spitting up, Carter does the same thing. Only it's not projectile. We went from the formula that was comparable to Enfamil Lipil to the comparable to Enfamil AR. AR standing for Added Rice. It makes the formula thicker so hopefully it stays down. No such luck with Carte. He still spits up just as much as he ever did. My friend suggested we try the playtex bottles with the disposable liners cause that way we can squeeze any air that is in the bottle out before feeding him. He really does keep it down much better if we can get a burp out of him during the feeding. If he eats a couple ounces and then burps, he spits up a normal amount of formula. If we can't get him to burp, at least an ounce or so comes up. So, I need to go out and get at least one bottle and some liners to see if that helps at all. Really hoping it does because Vinny leaps back from the spit up like it's acid that will burn his skin to the bone should it get on him. When I tell him that it's only formula that's been in his stomach no more than 10 minutes his reply is "IT'S GROSS!" Puh-Leaze!!!! Man up already!!!
The Birthday/Valentine's thing cracked me up! My hubby is awful about these dates, too! My bday is Jan 24th and I received nada this year. For Valentine's, he did get me a card...But apparently he didn't read it because it was for a MAN!!!!
I guess it helps to know I am not the only one!!!
Hi! I'm a new reader, and I heart your blog :)Congratulations on your new little one! I'm a mamma of 5 and have to say that though they weren't really 'spitty' it did seem to wear off the older they got. Also my littlest one didn't poo for 10 DAYS!! His ped said that this can be normal?!10 days? Really? , but to add a tsp. of Dark Karo syrup to his bottles... I was skeptical at firt, but hey, I was desperate. It worked... Just added a tsp. to each bottle.
Also as far as you learning your camera, I have some websites that I can recommend, though I don't shoot with an XSI, I AM a Canon girl ;) HTH ~Jenn
I love Valentine's and i'm sorry yours sucked.
My dad always did something for us, it's one of my best memories. He had 3 daughters so he always made it special.
Our traditions are....
Everyone wakes up to some kind of gift from "cupid"
Heart attacking Lan's room (started it this year....pictures on my blog and facebook)
Making breakfast or breakfast for dinner (pink heart pancakes and anything else I can dye pink)
eating out one meal that day and/or some kind of trip to just spend time together
Maybe I can answer your questions:) His spit up should not be projectile but if its only once or twice a day I would not be too concerned. Its completely normal for little babies to only poop once a day or even once every other day. When my second daughter was only about a month old she went nearly two weeks with out going! It freaked me out and at that point the Dr had me use pediatric suppositories. They still didn't really work though. You just have to wait for their bodies to get into the swing of things:)
Of course you should ALWAYS bring up your concerns with your Doctor!! I am only speaking from my own experiences with my children:)
His tummy is looking much better, I am so happy!! Oh, and I HATE when my hubby doesn't acknowledge important dates!!
Don't have any kids and likely won't so can't give you any advice there!
Cooper's burn looks so much better! I'm so happy it doesn't look like it'll scar or if it does, it'll just be a little red mark.
No need to apologize for the new direction your blog has taken. Your life is different now than when you started the blog and your posts reflect that!
Nate spitt up all the time! At first I worried, but I talked to his doc and he said as long as he was gaining weight that it did not matter that some babies just spitt up. I breast fed the first 6 months and he spitt up all the time, then when I switched to formula he spitt up all the time, I tried different types of formula and he still spitt up. Once I knew that Nate was gaining weight just fine I realized this was just him. I just got use to it and it was no biggy. But I do remember thinking in the beginning ..dude did you just spitt up everything I just gave you. And Nate was projectile too. As long as Cooper doesn't act like the formula is hurting his belly or anything like that I would not worry about it, and that he is gaining weight. If he is really fussy with the formula or not gaining weight then that is when I would be more concerned. A little guy that I watch also spitts up every where too...I think it is a boy thing.
As for the poop, I don't remember a set number of poops a day but is the poop that he does have hard that would probably be one of the best indications that he is constipated. Or if he acts fussy like he trying to push something out and can't. If he is not fussy and the poop he does have is not hard then I would say he is just fine. I think there was even times when Nate didn't have a poop and I worried and called and they said it is okay every baby is different, asked how he was acting and those questions and he was fine kind of deal.
Just remember so many people will have advice for you and some of it is good and everyone is trying to be helpful but in the end you know Cooper the best and what is best for him. Whatever decisions you make will be the best ones!
We gave Nate infamel but I really don't think it matters what brand.. one cool thing about infamel is they have travel packs and we used those when we went to mexico and we loved them.
Oh, and tell that hubby he has his family now and it is time for him to have new traditions with you and Cooper and appreciating holidays and b-days is a good place to start with traditions. Wait till Coopers first b-day then he may see just how amazing b-days truly are...not saying he shouldn't change now cause he should!
I'm not a mama, but I DO work at a pediatrics office. I know more about babies then I've ever wanted to.
As far as spitting up, he may be getting TOO much food. Try doing only 2-3 oz feedings. If babies have too much volume then they will just hurle it back up.
And babies GI systems are all wacky. Your baby can safely go without pooping for 6 days. Embrace it. Any longer than that and you should contact your pediatrician. =)
So glad you're back!
Oh he looks SO much better! Really glad to see that!
I make a big deal out of every single holiday over here so is hard for the hubby to deny them! ha Also i think it will be fun for our kids... eventually. Traditions is a great idea and something i do wanna incorporate though!
Happy one month, Cooper! You are a sweet little handsome boy. What a cute face! You've made your mommy and daddy the happiest parents in the world. :)
Don't apologize for writing about your baby. Some people actually like babies, and I hear that new moms especially like them :) So you write away.
It will be fun to see a nice mix of all the fun things you used to write about AND this little guy.
So glad to see that the burn looks a lot better.
I'm late, but I blame JW. LOL
For valentine's Day we do candy and a gift - typically a book. This year even JW got a book from me and from Mom.
I got a birthstone necklace though - which was a HUGE surprise! I was floored. And I say pound it into his head that you want the occasions to be a big deal. I have and it's slowly sinking in. (Oh and I sent him a video game even though he said he wanted nothing, when I say I want nothing I know it's a lie or maybe it's true but getting something is nice.)
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