Rhi in Pink

Henry is Three Months Old!

Rhi — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:08:43 +0000

Dear Henry,

At some point during the last month you stopped being a newborn and started being a baby. I think you’ve always been tons of fun, but you’re becoming so much MORE fun with each passing day. This month you started babbling NON STOP. We love the sound of your voice and I think you do, too!

You have social smiling down pat and I love how you smile with your whole entire body. We continue to go to your music class and you just love it at the end of the class when the clown puppets come out. Your favorite toys are your mirror and your new activity center from IKEA (what a good little Scandinavian baby). You’ve spent much of your tummy time with your head on the floor and your hand(s) in your mouth.

You are an excellent sleeper at night. Daddy went on another business trip this month and you surprised Mama by sleeping almost 9 hours in a row! We thought it was just a fluke, but you’ve kept it up for the past couple weeks. We’ll take it! Now, if we could only get you to nap a bit better during the day.

You weigh 14 pounds, 10 ounces! You still wear a few 0-3 month outfits, but most of your clothes are 3-6 months. I can hardly believe how much you’ve grown in the past three months.

Henry, I am more in love with you every single day. You have made your Mama and Daddy so very happy. We don’t know what we’d do without you.

Love,

Mama

Friday Bullets

Rhi — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:00:48 +0000

One week from today, we’ll be on an aeroplane headed toward Miami. I am SCARED TO DEATH to fly with Henry. Do you have tips on flying with an infant? I’d love to hear them.
By the way, it was right after this Miami trip last year (Bill has a conference there every year) that we found out that we were expecting. The day I flew back was the day that I was due to start my period and I remember being paranoid about it starting on the plane. HAAAAAAAAAAAA.
A few weeks ago (or, maybe a month ago) it snowed here and then it all melted and then it rained a ton. The snow meltage and the rain together were just too much for our house apparently as a bunch of water got into our basement. The bad news is the carpet and walls in our basement office are ruined. The good news is we never really cared for that room anyway. The smelly carpet, ugly built-in desks and the wet drywall has been removed and we’re waiting on NEW! pretty stuff to be installed. Thank goodness for insurance.
While Henry sleeps AMAZINGLY well at night, napping is a huge struggle. I’ve gotten in the horrible, terrible habit of holding him for most of his naps. So, this weekend, Bill and I are going to work on putting him down to nap in his crib. Fingers crossed it goes well and that I’ll have both hands free during nap time in the near future.
One more thing about my baby: yesterday, he rolled from back to belly. Obviously, he’s a genius.
I have a lovely new blog design! Thank you HJD Studio!

My Little Valentine

Rhi — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:10:53 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day, Friends!

(also, Happy 63rd Anniversary to my fabulous grandparents and Happy 153rd Birthday to Oregon!)

(Henry’s darling shirt by SheShe Made)

Get Pinteractive: Baby Keepsake Shadow Box

Rhi — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:05:12 +0000

Over the summer, I found myself hugely pregnant and in possession of a collection of darling baby ultrasound photos like this one.

Have you ever seen a cuter fetus? They’re an odd shape for a frame (and my husband has forbid me from spending anymore money on custom framing) and there were just SO many of them that I didn’t know what to do with them. One day, my chief shopping enabler, Crist sent me this from Pinterest.

I repinned the idea and then waited. And, waited. And, then my baby arrived and I had all the “ingredients” to complete the project. Tiny hat that never stayed on? Check. Bracelets? Check. Footprints? Check. Photos of us with DARLING babe? CHECK. And, then I waited some more. Then my friend Nanette kicked my rear into gear by creating a “Pinteractive” blog challenge. So, here I am.

Here’s what you’ll need.

Shadow Box Type Device (mine is from Target, but I’ve also seen them at IKEA)
Stuff you want to display. I’m using one ultrasound photo, Henry’s hospital bracelet, his wee hat, a couple photos and his footprint from the hospital.
Something to “stick” your pieces onto the board with. I used Scrapbook Adhesive Foam Dots. They were $2.99 at Fred Meyer (this is our grocery/everything store here. Need groceries AND Nikes AND a lawnmower? Fred’s is your store)
Five spare minutes

Please note that I fail at “in process” photos. I did this while Henry sat in his bouncer next to me and wanted to be quick in case he put his fussypants on.

Here he is, with his Infantino Foot Rattles on. Otherwise known as the best $4.99 we ever spent. These wonderful little rattles allowed me to complete this project yesterday and type this blog post this morning.

Basically, all you need to do is lay your pieces out and arrange (and rearrange) them until they look good to you. MAKE SURE before you tack them down that the hangy thing on the back is in the right position. I did not do this and had to take all my pieces off and re-stick them.

Then, you just need to snap the frame together and you’re done!

Easy, right?

Ready to get Pinteractive? Link up with Nanette and show us what you’ve made!

Henry is Two Months Old!

Rhi — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:08:37 +0000

Dear Henry,

You’re two months old! How on earth did this happen? I can’t believe how much you’ve changed in the past few weeks. Sometimes, when you’re asleep, I look through pictures at you on my phone and marvel at all these changes. You’re not a teensy baby anymore.

You smile ALL the time and it’s just the best thing ever. You’ve found your voice and love to coo at the “guys” on your play mat. Your favorite toys are “Bob the Bee” and “Milo the Monkey.” You love your bath and kick your feet in the water when we put you in the tub. Daddy is hopeful that you’ll take after him and be a swimmer one day. You do not like it when bath time is over and usually get a little fussy when we’re drying you off and getting you dressed. We’re working on being faster at the post-bath routine.

We spent Christmas on the Oregon Coast and you were so good on the long car ride there. You met your Great Mummu for the first time and you got to see your Grandpa W. again. We were nervous to stay the night at Grandpa’s house because we thought you’d keep the whole house up, but you surprised us with a 5 hour stretch of sleep followed by a 4 hour stretch. Santa (and your grandparents) rewarded you for that with lots of wonderful presents. There were cousins and great aunts and uncles for you to meet at Grandma and Grandpa C’s house and you thought it was a little overwhelming. Once, you fussed a bit so Mama took you to check your diaper and when we were finally alone, you looked up and smiled as if to say, “I just wanted to be alone with you, Mama.”

We started going to Gymboree classes and you seem to have a really good time there. It is so much fun to see you around other babies. We also started going to a Mom’s Group at the hospital where you were born. It’s nice for Mama to chat with other mommies and for you to spend more time with other babies.

Daddy went on his first business trip since you were born this month. Mama was scared to take care of you all by herself, but we did just fine. Both your Grandmas came to help out and you rewarded them with big smiles and coos. It was while your Grandmas were here that Mama realized that we have a pretty good schedule. I think we’re a pretty good team, Henry.

At your 2-month doctor’s appointment, you weighed 13 pounds and were 23 inches long. What a big boy! You’re wearing 0-3 month clothes mostly, but all your jammies are 3-6 months. Your feet are just too big for 0-3 month pajamas!

Baby Boy, you are the very best thing in the world. I’m so happy that I get to be your Mama.

Love,

Mama

Friday Bullets

Rhi — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:26:41 +0000

I think it’s time to admit to myself that there will only be Bullets on SOME Fridays.
Henry turned two months old on Wednesday and has his two month checkup, complete with icky shots this morning. I’m super excited to see how much he weighs (the super scientific bathroom scale method says 13ish pounds) and how long he is. UPDATE: Shots happened. OH MY. Poor little guy. If you need us, we’re spending the day cuddling on the couch. Send cookies.
My husband had his first business trip since Henry was born this week and I’m proud to report that we survived without too many tears. Everything was pretty smooth until just a couple hours before Bill got home. Both baby and I were a little frazzled and tired.
I’m soooo close to my pre-pregnancy weight, so to celebrate I ate an entire container of two-bite cinnamon rolls this week. I’ve been lying to myself and saying that I probably burned those extra calories breastfeeding, but I don’t know if 2 weeks of nursing would burn that many calories. I’m thinking it’s probably high time I get my butt back to Bar Method.
You know that January Photo a Day thingie? Well, I dropped out. I dropped out on the day that you were supposed to take a picture of the sky. Taking a picture of the sky would have required that I go outside and I just wasn’t feeling like putting on shoes that day. Pathetic, right? I am very much enjoying everyone else’s photographs, though.
Infant clothing sizes perplex me. If Henry outgrows a 0-3 month something in a certain brand, then it’s logical that he would then fit into a 3-6 month in that same brand, right? In some brands (I’m looking at you, Kate Quinn) that is not the case.
I do an excellent job squawking when I experience bad customer service. Lame. Instead, I should squawk when I experience good customer service. So, here you go! I have some Bebe au Lait burp cloths that are falling apart. I was pretty frustrated as Henry’s only 9 weeks old so they really havent’ had that much use (and they actually started falling apart right after I washed them), so I took a photo and emailed it to Bebe au Lait and they’re sending me new ones! I love it when a company stands behind their product. Hooray!

I have a lot to learn…

Rhi — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:29:15 +0000

Henry, who was 11 and a half pounds at his last weigh-in, is seen here in the outfit that I brought for him to wear home from the hospital (IT WAS LABELED NEWBORN).

(He’s thinking, “Cool it with the giraffes, Mom.”)

And, here he is partially seen in the OTHER outfit I brought for him to wear home from the hospital.

Let me say that I’m REALLY GLAD that neither option fit as that would have made for a difficult delivery. Basically, if there’s every a Baby on Board v2, I’ll be sure to bring an ACTUAL newborn outfit.

We’re doing the best we can

Rhi — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:46:35 +0000

After a few days of practically falling asleep the second Bill walked in the door in the evenings from exhaustion, I decided that it was time I figure out how to get our non-napping baby boy to nap, so that I can also nap for a bit each day. Sure, he falls asleep while nursing or in the Ergo, but the second I try to lay him ever so gently into his Pack and Play, his eyes bolt open. Sometimes, he even smiles at me, which makes it impossible to leave him there. But! He has to nap. Other people’s babies nap. Their babies nap, they have clean houses and time to style their hair. If I can get him to nap, then I can nap and when I’m well rested I can clean my house and perhaps even prepare a meal for my husband. All while having styled hair and lipstick on, of course.

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child was recommended to us by a colleague of Bill’s and On Becoming Babywise magically appeared in the mail one day (we really have no idea who sent this to us) so I decided to crack them open to see what they said about naps.

First Learning: I have likely already ruined my child, for I should have been sleep training him from the very beginning.

Second Learning: I’m a horrible mother.

Third Learning: I was supposed to read this before he arrived, wasn’t I?

The books don’t say this of course, but I can read between the lines. Babies who don’t nap grow up to lead horrible existences. And, ideally I WOULD have read these books before he arrived. But, I was busy reading about what my body was doing, how to manage pain during labor and re-create a womb like experience for his “Fourth Trimester.” Also, I was working up until my 39th week and trying to spend as much alone time with my husband as possible. There really wasn’t time for another book.

Anyway, Henry’s wee little brain is supposed to develop while he’s resting and according to the books, I’m not allowing him enough time to develop. Horrible mother, right? After thinking “WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO ME LIKE THIS?” while turning the pages, I decided to seek advice from actual moms rather than condescending books and finally attended a New Moms Group at the hospital where I delivered. I’ve been meaning to go for a few weeks, but it’s so easy to find an excuse NOT to venture out with a newborn baby. And honestly, a couple of times I just forgot, which is also very easy to do when you have a newborn baby.

I’m so glad I went. There were 15-20 mommies and babies in the room. And, almost every single one of them said that they had trouble getting their babies to nap. Two things stuck in my head from this group. One lady said, “Don’t try to solve something until it becomes a problem.” So, if he only naps in his swing, it’s not a problem until it’s dangerous for him to be in his swing (as I write this, he’s sleeping in his swing). And, another gal said, “Take the advice that you’re given and just see what works for you.”

And, so that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to try and get some naps in during the day, they might be in the swing or his bouncer and while he does that, I’m going to try to shut my eyes a bit. And, maybe one of these days I won’t need a 5 o’clock cat nap.

P.S. Someone should really look into making ONE book about baby sleep and soothing and pain management and nursing, etc.

I didn’t know…

Rhi — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:30:40 +0000

…that the first time I peed post childbirth that I’d have an audience.
…how “normal” I’d feel immediately after giving birth. Heartburn? GONE!
…that I’d be doing baby laundry EVERY single day.
…just how time consuming breastfeeding is.
…how well I’d get at doing things with one hand.
…how well I’d be able to function on very little sleep.
…how happy it would make me to see my husband holding our child.
…how many of our conversations would revolve around a certain someone’s bodily functions.
…how much it would mean to me to see how much other people love my son.
…how in love I’d be with this little guy. He is amazing.

2011

Rhi — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:06:15 +0000

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

I had a baby! Also, I visited Boston and Miami.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I have always thought resolutions were kind of dumb, as we should strive to make ourselves better all the time, so I didn’t have any for last year. This year, I’d like to be skinnier, be more patient and make my house prettier and more organized.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Me, and the entire internet.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

Costa Rica, on our “NOT A BABYMOON vacation this summer. It was delightful.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn’t have in 2011?

Time to just “be.” I feel like we spent most of the year doing projects.

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

11.11.11, the day my son was born. And, February 1st, the date of my last menstrual period, which I had to tell everyone and their mother during my pregnancy.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Giving birth to my baby! (ARE YOU SENSING A THEME HERE?) And, speaking at a digital marketing conference, while 35 weeks pregnant!

9. What was your biggest failure?

I got really mad about a few things. I need to be less of a brat.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Same as last year, kidney stones! But, this time while I was 9 months pregnant. It was a DELIGHT and also kind of scary as there was a possibility that I’d be admitted to the hospital for pain control. Luckily, they passed without too much pain.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Hmmm. Bill got a new car, which I love. Is it lame to say that I really, really love our stroller?

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I’m going to have to go with Bill again. He’s so patient and adorable with Henry. And, he’s patient with me. And, I’ve been difficult.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Hmmm. Not sure.

14. Where did most your money go?

Baby Gear. More landscaping.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Getting Pregnant. Being Pregnant. Giving Birth. Finding out after 41 weeks that we had a little boy in there!

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Joshua Radin’s Road to Ride On

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a) happier

b) thinner, but much squishier

c) richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Slept. I MISS YOU, SLEEP!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying about what other people are doing.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We traveled to the Oregon Coast to spend Christmas with my in-laws and my father (separately). We packed our entire house for this trip and we were only gone 36 hours. I can’t imagine how much stuff we’ll bring for a longer trip. We came home Christmas night and had grand plans to cook dinner and spend time together, but instead we ate a frozen pizza and fell asleep on the couch. It was perfect. I’m not even kidding.

Christmas was delightful. One of the best things about being a parent (so far) is seeing how much other people love Henry. Sure, we think he’s great (because he is), but seeing that other people think he’s great makes my heart burst.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Yes, with a little baby boy. Also, more in love with my husband. Seeing him as a father is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

The Good Wife and Revenge.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I’m not going to say I hate this person, but I strongly dislike someone that has taken up residence in our lives. Hopefully this person goes away before too long.

24. What was the best book you read?

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I’m ridiculously lame and did not discover any new music. I continue to love the Decemberists. We saw them live twice this year.

26. What did you want and get?

A baby! Also, I got Christian Louboutins for Christmas from Bill. Which is perhaps the most unpractical gift for the mother of a newborn, but oh, I love them so.

27. What did you want and not get?

I was hoping this was the year we’d remodel our kitchen and downstairs bathroom. Hopefully one of these will happen in 2012.

28. What was your favorite film of 2011?

I can’t remember if I went to any movies this year. PATHETIC. I did get Coco Before Chanel from Netflix recently and I really loved it.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 33 on December 10th. I got my hair cut and went to dinner with Bill and Henry. I enjoyed my very first post-pregnancy glass of wine and it was delightful. I then spent the rest of the night obsessing over whether or not my son was drunk via my breast milk. (I waited over 3 hours before nursing him, by the way)

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More energy. I was a pretty exhausted pregnant lady, and I’m pretty exhausted now. But, it’s all worth it.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?

Stretchy fabrics.

32. What kept you sane?

Girlfriends. Both inside and outside of the computer. Also, my husband.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

I was pretty annoyed with how the City of Portland handled the entire Occupy Portland protest.

34. Who did you miss?

I really missed my Grandma this year. She would have been so excited to meet Henry.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

This guy!

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

SLEEP WHEN THE BABY SLEEPS. It’s harder than it sounds, but it’s a very good idea.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

From answer #16, Joshua Radin’s Road to Ride On, I doubt he’s talking about having a baby, but the lyrics kind of sum up our year.

We’ve been waiting,
anticipating your arrival.
Turn the light on,
give us road to ride on
help ensure survival
now there’s a new day,
sing with us a new way
or be left behind.
You say, someday
we’ll know where to go,
but we don’t know
I’m always the last one,
never ready for the fast ones,
well it’s time to change
so we make our plans,
set our sites on a new land
one that’s kind of strange.