An emotional day

Today was an emotional day. :( I cried, a lot.

For starters, Ireland has been fussy the last few days. I know that some parents have extra fussy kids, but so far, I have not. So a few days of a little more fuss than normal was a lot for us. By 3:30 this morning, I was not happy. Tired and cranky, I finally got 'mad' at Ireland...then felt really bad about it later.

I had to go for in for my 6 week checkup. All is clear and I can now get back to working out and start to shed this baby weight! I also got released to go back to work in 2 weeks. Boo.

On my way home from a target stop after the doctors, I realized that I only have two precious weeks home full time with my baby and I spent the morning of today mad at my beautiful girl. What a waste of time!

So I came home and nursed my baby and looked at her beautiful eyes. She is just so amazing. I can't believe I have to leave her a few days a week soon. She has been with me every single day since October and she is my buddy. I loved being pregnant, she was always with me. And for the past 6 weeks, I'm always with her. I know it may do us both some good to get a break twice a week, but I am not ready for it.

I keep trying to get Ireland to nap in her crib. I'm not ready to have her not in her bassinet in our room at night yet, but I do want her to get used to crib. I didn't have the heart to force her in it today. Instead, I let her snooze on my nap and we cuddled a lot! :)

I wish my mom were here. I wish she was able to come over daily and spend time with her granddaughter and me while I worked. Soon enough hopefully. This way I would have my mom here to console me! LOL :) Love you, Mom.

It's 11pm and I put her down to bed over an hour ago. she's fussing again so dad let her come out of the room and snooze on her nap. Thank God you can't teach a 6 week old baby bad habits. Tomorrow we can throw the ax down again on staying in the room all night, but for tonight, we'll enjoy our baby!

Talking Dad's Birthday and Sleep

Today was MP's birthday! He woke up to find a card from Ireland and I and a book from Ireland. Since MP calls himself 'pop' when referring to himself in dialogue with Ireland, she had the perfect gift for him. She gave him the Dr. Suess special "hop on pop" so they could read it together. We all went to lunch and then to Lowe's so I could treat him to the leaf blower he wanted.

It's no secret that I'm a horrible sleeper. I don't recall exactly when I became a bad sleeper, I think after my father died, but my mom would have to confirm. As far back as around that time period, I remember my mind just doesn't shut off at night. I'm a busy bee, always have been and I don't do a lot of my private 'pleasure' thinking until I would hit that pillow. Then I start processing my day, mulling over things, worrying about things, etc. Now, there have been periods of time I sleep quite well. My junior year of college was a great year for sleep. The years I worked at PPG, I was up daily at 5am, did two workouts a day and so by 9pm or so, I was out. Since then, not so much. Throw in my restless leg and well, sometimes I'm lucky that I sleep at all.

So its no wonder that I'm a bit of a nervous nelly about Ireland's sleeping habits and really want her to have her father's good sleeping habits! It's very important to me that she has a healthy sleep from the start.

So now that I'm two weeks out from having to go back to work, and putting her in daycare a few days a week soon, I'm really wanting to start a routine and get her on a good schedule.

So, tonight MP and I did a practice run at our routine. Not so much the timing we want, but a good start.

I nursed Ireland and got her belly full! Then I gave her a bath. This was particularly a big win, b/c I just figured out she likes a bath and doesn't scream the whole time. So she loved her bath tonight and I'm certain if she could speak, she would've asked me to stay in there! After her bath, I took her into her room and gave her a little massage while I put her lotion on. Then daddy took her to be swaddled, read to and put down in the bassinet. (We've been letting her sleep in the bouncer chair until her 12pm feeding).

So, she is now sleeping and I hope she will sleep until I wake her at about 11:30 or 12:00 for her next feeding. If all goes as it has been, she will sleep until at least 4:30. FINGERS CROSSED!

Family Day

Today we had our first family day! MP took off work so we could spend the day together with Ireland. We've had visitors for 5 out of my 6 weeks of maternity leave and were excited to get some time together alone.

The day started out great - b/c MP offered to take the 4:30 feeding. I told him he didn't have to, b/c I need to get up to pump. He suggested I take the first feeding off and get some continuous sleep. That was not a great idea as I woke up sweating like a whore in church and I leaked all over my bed. So while he sat up on the rocker to feed the little, I laid on the couch with a the fan over my body trying to sleep. A for Effort MP, and thank you!! So, I got up 8 to nurse and went back to sleep until 10. Around 10:30 I rolled back into the bedroom and suggested that our family day should consist of us staying in bed but we opted to get out and move around.

By noon we were on our way to the mall - to window shop, eat lunch and hang out. We hit up two malls and ate at TooJays and P.F. Changs before retreating home. It was great to get out and hang together.

Now, my final semester of school started today and in 3 weeks I'll be back at work, boo!

I have to say, I am very impressed with Ireland. She is so not my child, she is so mild mannered and easy going! Aunt Tracey and I had her out tons last week - errands, malls, restaurants and now even today. I am hopeful that this will continue!! :)

Now to pray the next 14 days go really really slow! :)

Ireland is 4 Weeks Old!

I can't believe that 4 weeks ago today I was in labor, hours away from going into the OR to get my little, beautiful baby girl! These weeks have flown. I have 4 short weeks left with her and I pray every day that they will creep by, slowly like a little kid waiting for Christmas.

The past 4 weeks have been wonderful. Yes, I've had a few hormonal meltdowns, and yes, I don't get to sleep like I want to*, but I've hardly noticed. I would say that my years of restless leg and my inability to sleep well were great for parenthood. Combine it with the fact that we get 3-5 hours of sleep at once at night, I'm doing good.

My mom, now known as Nana, arrived to Florida two days after we got home from the hospital. She was such a humongous help - from cooking, to cleaning, to taking the baby so I could nap in between feedings. It was such a blessing and a treat to have her. It's been a long time since I got some 'girl' time with my mom, and it was nice to have that for a while.

Last week, I was blessed by one of my best best friends, Andrea, aka Sola. She came at a busy, chaotic week and was a great sport about seeing my boobs more than the outside of my house! She was here for me to vent to, to share my first postpartum beer and to make up all kinds of one-liners again! It was nice to giggle like that again!

My sister came in town over the weekend for Ireland's baptism and comes again this Saturday for 6 days! She has been a great aunt and godmother and we are looking forward to her arrival. We plan to eat foodz, watch moviez and gigglez. Sisterz!

We've had a plethora of friends being so generous with their time and money - from sending wonderful gifts, food, food certificates and coming to visit and keep me sane in these four walls.

My sister (in law) Kim came in from Orlando for the baptism and will be back soon. She is also a Godmother and was a big help in the hospital and day after. We look forward to more time with her.

We had Miss Carmen come over for a series of photo-shoots. We finally got 'the' image we were shooting for - among some other really special shots. Carmen, if you read this, I never tire of telling you that you rock! Thank you!

I've had a few days with 'just' Ireland. The first was rainy, so we did what any able bodied best gals would do - we napped and cuddled and had a little tummy time. We barely got out of our pj's and just hung out, me and my best gal! Yesterday we went to a Mom/Baby group at the hospital and made some new friends. We look forward to going next week. Afterwards we went to dinner with Dad and enjoy a little family night! Thank you to Aunt Amy for the Mac Grill giftcard!!

Today we had the pleasure of having Dad work from home - so we started doing our chores and had dad help when possible.

Now, little poop is swinging and I'm getting ready to clean up the floors before we have a lunch guest tomorrow!

I know that I need to add a lot of photo's and video's and I will....its just, I tend to get sidetracked by the sweet one I have - and she's so much more fun to hold than sitting on this clunky computer!:)


So I'll stop here for now - I gotta go pump some reserve, clean my floors and cook dinner! :) But I'm not complaining! I'm thankful I have food for my baby, a house for our family and two sweet ones to cook for!

I think you can view some pictures by clicking here: