Good fight Amber, but I win!

Today has been quite different from the usual.  Normally, Amber sleeps until 8:30-9am then has a good nap in the morning.  The rest of the day - anything goes, however she does still nap for short bits here and there.

Today, well... today she was wide awake by 7:30 (I am not complaining here, trust me!) and was wide awake all morning!  She started to get a little fussy around 11:30 but would not fall asleep in the usual way.  I made sure everything was right (fed her, burped her, changed her, gave her her soother, tried her in different positions, rocked her...) but she just didn't seem to want to sleep.  We went for a drive to the grocery store around 12:30 and I figured... surely she'll nap now.  She loves going for car rides!  As soon as we get going, she falls right asleep.  And sure enough, today as usual, she falls asleep.  However as soon as we get to the grocery store, she wakes up and is alert and happy for the rest of the trip home.  Ok.  Fine.  But now by 2pm she is getting cranky.  Not crying or upset, just simply complaining and won't let me put her down anywhere.  So I decide to bring her upstairs and lay down with her in our bed. 

Hah.  For the next HOUR, she fought it!  She kicked and waved her arms like she was conducting an orchestra!  Oh she was tired, believe me.  She was rubbing her eyes, jamming her fist into her nose, would close her eyes and relax when I stroked her nose (her sweet spot) and when she'd lose her soother... she'd just keep on sucking.  Oh my.  I had a really hard time trying not to laugh.  She was putting up such a good fight!  Then, all of a sudden, she's out!  Hah!  I win!

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Aaaaaand she's awake.

Catch up!

Hi!  I know I have a lot to catch up on...  Hold tight!  I will!  Amber is starting to let me do a few things of my own now.  :)

The Bra: Comfort VS. Fashion

Disclaimer: This post talks about bras and boobs. 

Don't read if you get squeamish or don't want to hear about such things!

Bra shopping.  Can anyone think of a more daunting task?  Or maybe you enjoy it... However for someone like me, who can't stand bra shopping on a normal day, maternity bra shopping becomes an ordeal.  I have been to three different lingerie shops, tried on every style of maternity bra they had and still have not found a single one that I like.  Now, I'm not being picky here... or at least I don't think I am!  I simply want a bra that is comfortable and doesn't make me look like I have misshapen or distorted breasts!

Is it just me or does it seem like the grand majority of bras are made for looks rather than for comfort?  Sure, you want to look nice for your man but at the expense of comfort?  And do you really need to wear a super lacey, highly sexy bra... at work or while you are out shopping? 

It seemed to me, while trying on several bras, that compulsary components to the bras were:

• itchy elastics,
• scratchy lace,
• seams and lace on the cups that make you look all bumpy,
• skinny elastics that dig into shoulders and shoulder blades,
• and cups that make you look like you have cones rather than breasts,

And these were maternity bras! You would think, at least for maternity bras, when you are uncomfortable (both physically and mentally) in all other aspects of your body, that bra manufacturers would make them as comfortable as possible!

Now, I know there are comfortable ones out there.  I'll just have to keep up this daunting, time consuming sport.  I better find them fast though as my time in my regular bras is quickly coming to an end!

Cloth or Disposable?

Chris and I had discussed a while ago whether to go with cloth diapers or disposable diapers.  With very little research it was an easy decision - we will go with cloth diapers.  They are much easier on the environnemt, cost less in the long run and oh, so cute!!  Don't you agree?

The down side is that we will be doing more laundry.  Now that the decision was made... the hard choice was which brand?  There are many different brands out there: Bummis, FuzziBunz, BumGenius, etc..etc.. and each claim to be the best, most comfortable diapers out there!  Then mom added a new one to the list: gDiapers.  If you have never heard of this one, check it out!  Think: disposable/biodegradable meets cloth diaper system!

http://www.gdiapers.com/

Here's another great resource on a fantastic blog!  http://lovelivegrow.com/2012/02/cloth-diapering-resource-page/

What's your experience with cloth diapers? What do you use and why?  Or, did you go disposable over cloth and why?

Thanks for your help!

Kristen and Chris

Baby Gift Items

Lots of people are wondering what we are needing in terms of baby gifts.  Here is a list of what we are still missing (that I can think of...) :

• Crib bedding (fitted sheets, blankets)
• High chair
• Diaper bag
• Bibs
• Swing and/or vibrating chair
• Baby monitor
• Baby bath
• Diaper pail
• Nursing cover
• Bumbo chair with tray
• Gift certificates (Nature's Baby Basket www.NaturesBabyBasket.com
   has amazing stuff!)
• Diapers (We have decided to go the cloth diaper route however will use disposables until baby is big enough to "safely" (ie: no blow outs!) fit cloth ones.)
• Wash cloths/baby towels
• CD player for baby's room
• Soothing music CDs

I hope that gives you some ideas!  Please remember that we really don't mind used items so if you can find something used and in good contition - go for it!

It's a girl!

February 24th!  What a special day!

Corinne's birthday, Amy's birthday, Chris's very last exam completing his apprenticeship and our ultrasound telling us whether we are having a girl or boy.

It's a girl!

What an amazing experience - having an ultrasound.  I didn't realize how detailed the ultrasound would be!  The first recognizable feature was the baby's spine.  I remember thinking at that point, "Oh my goodness... that's a real baby!"  The technician looked at everything, making sure all features were accounted for - even the liver.  She measured everything, and I mean everything!  She even measured parts of the brain to be sure that things were developing properly.  I was utterly amazed at the detail that could be seen but what really struck me was watching the baby's movements!  She was stretching, turning, flipping, moving her head (at one point she looked straight at us!) and waving!  I nearly started crying when I saw those little fingers... nearly.  Ok, maybe I cried...alot.  These crazy hormones are making me break down at every slightly sentimental thing.

Stay tuned for more baby news!