Growing Up - Part 1

TheNewMommy

21 Sep, 2021

Hello again and welcome back! I apologize for the long break between the last post and this one. It has been a busy month for us! BUT…we are back in business!

Where to begin? Well, we are very quickly approaching the 5 month mark for my little handsome one! (insert sad and happy feelings here). With him being almost FIVE WHOLE MONTHS old, there has been a lot of exciting things that have occurred in this last month! My baby flips himself over and can hold himself up (for the most part). He recently started bouncing (and I mean that boy can BOUNCE), giving kisses, and eating solids! Oh, don’t let me forget! Sleep regression anyone? Yeah, that was a thing! Let me just tell you…NOT A FAN! But that ship has sailed, thank you Jesus!

There were so many firsts over the last month, it has been pretty overwhelming at times watching my baby get so big! Big in all ways haha. He is getting big in the sense of growing up, but let me tell you, the eight pound baby I brought home thinking was big is definitely NOT eight pounds anymore!

Baby’s first solid foods. Now this one was a little complicated, but we are starting to get a grasp as we are just starting this one! First of all, who said there could be so many brands of baby foods and why are there so many extra things in baby food besides just the fruit or vegetable on display? SO DUMB! Anyways, we started with oatmeal cereal. First time…FAIL! I followed the directions on the side of the box for baby’s first time and nope! He didn’t care for it. Figured, I will give it a few says since it was new, he isn’t used to it yet, maybe he isn’t ready? My dad suggested I try making it thicker, and this boy DEVOURED the oatmeal. I mean he really just went to town on the thing! So now I know how to give him his oatmeal – not with so much liquid.

Greens…whoever said giving greens as the first thing to a baby failed (in my opinion). My poor baby was gassy for days with just introducing greens to him. His poor belly! So we moved on after a few days to some carrots and just finished his trial run of those. I believe he thoroughly enjoyed those because when he sees the bowl, he tries to grab the spoon and pull it to his mouth. Or maybe he just really loves food haha because he gets excited when he is put in his highchair! Yay for new foods!

Now let’s back up a little but to that whole sleep regression thing. I had no idea this was a thing until a friend of mine was telling me about it. I looked it up, fun fact…quite common around 4 months if you didn’t know. From what I read, it occurs during naps and night sleeps and it is where they no longer sleep during their times you just so happily got accustomed to. Welcome to parenthood! Luckily for me, my little one did not have his naps affected by this sleep regression, but he sure did go from sleeping 4-5 hours at a time to waking up every 1.5 hours throughout the night again! It was a super hard and long couple of weeks!

There are some fun, new things I am not sad, but very excited about! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE getting my face grabbed by tiny hands and pulled in for little baby kisses (or slobbers)! It is one of the nastiest and cutest things all at the same time! I currently live for baby kisses! He also gets super excited and just bounces like crazy! I recently bought him a stationary bouncer and he just jumps away and laughs/smiles the whole time! Although it only keeps him occupied for about 15-20 minutes tops, it is really fun to watch him go, and mom gets a little break! (See Mommy’s Arms for why that last statement is still so relevant!) We also tried the pool for the first time recently! It was a fun and interesting experience. I think he enjoyed it, but was also very confused on what was happening the entire time. Oh, last thing for now. He has also discovered his toes! He now has two new chew toys! Haha!

Well, thank you again for joining me through my long-winded catch up post! Have a blessed rest of the week!

Travel Season

TheNewMommy

18 Aug, 2021

Happy Wednesday!! Thanks once again for joining us here at The New Mommy!!

I am still trying to figure this whole blog thing out as far as websites, posts, frequency and such. So, if you’re here right now, a BIG THANK YOU for bearing with us as we get this running!

Anywho!

Travel season! Another reason why I am here posting in the middle of the week instead of the beginning is because Summer (and school beginning), means travel season! Vacations, mini getaways, school prep, college move-ins/drop offs, etc. So many different things going on during August, and our family is no different! We have always been a pretty on the go family and my son just got thrown into the bunch from birth!

Thankfully, he is a GREAT travel baby! He really enjoys the movement of the car. As long as he is fed and has a diaper change, he is good to go. Awake or asleep, he’s pretty calm while the car’s in motion. Don’t even think about stopping the car unless you plan on getting him out of the carseat. If he’s awake you’ll know it! Haha!

All fun and games, he keeps me busy even on the go! If you’re nursing and/or expressing, traveling is one of those timing games I feel (at least for me). I’m like, ‘Okay nurse right before, pack a bottle for the road and pump for the road, extra bottles’. Easy right? NO WAY! Storage of milk, warming of milk, temperature outside, is it better to pump or to nurse because of the temperature? Will he want to nurse on the go or prefer a bottle? Will I have access to a place for nursing or is it easier for me to bottle feed? And even then, it is all dependent on the baby’s mood!

Have you ever seen that movie Boss Baby? Yeah, that is my son sometimes I feel! It is how he wants it, smiles when he wants, laughs when he wants, or if he does not have more than my full attention, he will make sure he does! So when it comes to traveling he is in control of the nursing or bottle feeding situations!

Another thing my son decides to do at the most inconvenient times is poop himself (and me if he gets lucky)! My son is good at home, I don’t ever have to change his outfits because of accidents (only have to change his outfits because he has an endless flowing fountain of drool). On the road though, it is GAME ON! This boy will BLOW IT UP, and I mean he really lets it all go and flow when it comes to his poop game when we are out! I feel like I can go through his diapers and spare clothes like no tomorrow! Is he the only one like this, because it drives me nuts!

A couple weeks ago we went for a simple overnight trip not too far away, small luggage will suffice because it’s “just overnight”…right? What was I thinking? I guess I need to pack multiple sets of spare clothes too with my son because with 1 poop (literally a minute after putting a fresh diaper on) he let is all go on him, and me! Not just a little bit, but it was all over his onesie, my shirt, my skirt, and my shorts. WHAT!? How in the world did it get everywhere? It happened so fast that there was just no stopping anything! And this is not even the first time he has let it go on me! luckily for me, there was a diaper to catch most of it this time because he definitely has had his share of fun when the diaper is off and mom is the one changing him!

My silly silly boy! If you have any similar stories or just want to enjoy laughing at mine let me know below! I would love to hear it! Have an amazing rest of the week friends!

Mommy's Arms

TheNewMommy

10 Aug, 2021

Happy Monday Friends! (I once again started this post this morning, but apparently evenings are a go for this momma’s blog!)

Mommy’s arms….what is it that makes mommy’s arms the ‘safest place’ for these littles? Mommies have been the safe place since conception. It is natural right? Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE snuggles with my little one just as much as the next momma, but mommy’s arms are TIRED. By tired, I mean TIRED TIRED! Mommy’s arms, mommy’s back, all around mommy is just tired. Do you feel me?! Haha

BUT! I know it is just temporary and I will enjoy it while it lasts, but mommy’s arms need a break sometimes too. Every day he is getting bigger and bigger and heavier and heavier! I better have some NICE muscles when he is grown from carrying him around all day and night!

Does/did anyone else have a child going through this phase? Whether it be the swing, bouncer, laying on his back, or even tummy time, he does not like being put down! Let me know what tips or things y’all have tried or used yourself in the comments below! I would love to hear what other ideas are out there!

Despite all the time spent holding and/or caring for my son today, there is a song that I have been thinking about called, “In My Daughter’s Eyes” and there is a part of the song that has stuck with me today with my Mommy’s Arms Loving Babe and that’s:

“This miracle God gave to me, gives me strength when I am weak. I find reason to believe, in my [son’s] eyes. And when [he] wraps [his] hand around my finger, how it puts a smile in my heart. Everything becomes a little clearer. I realize what life is all about. it’s hanging on when your heart has had enough, it’s giving more when you feel like giving up. I’ve seen the light, it’s in my [son’s] eyes” **
Song by Martina McBride

Man oh man did that really get to me! Even on the hardest days (or nights). Even with all the crying and the body heat that LITERALLY radiates off of my son (it is not pleasant, TRUST ME! Especially in the heat of summer…NOT A FAN!). BUT, when he looks up with his big eyes and smiles at me, goodness gracious how my heart just MELTS all over again! Then I’M the one who is wrapped around HIS finger!

At the end of the day though, being a mommy has been and is the most rewarding thing in my life thus far! And it honestly will probably continue to be! I look forward to hearing from y’all and look forward to our next adventure together!

**male pronouns added because, you know, I have a son LOL.

100 Days!

TheNewMommy

3 Aug, 2021

First, if you are reading this, thank you for joining me on this new blogging adventure! Blogging was never something I had considered as I entered The New Mommy world. Actually, I had never considered it for any part of my life in general, but here’s to trying new things! *raises a glass to cheer*

Now you may be wondering, 100 days? That is not the first title you would expect to find and what is the purpose behind the title? Well to get there, let me just back up to earlier in the day, go with me…

Sun shining. Handsome little face looking up at me. No tears (yet). Good (enough) night’s sleep. I was ready to conquer this day and this launch! Sounds great right? However, there was something I had forgotten to tell you…my son is a 3 month old, mommy-loving baby. So what does that mean? If you guessed lots of crying, lots of cuddling, feedings, diaper changes, burps, and endlessly being held by ONLY MOM, then you must have been The New Mommy before too! Does this stage ever end?! I’m sure it does, but I have YET to see the end…and I have a feeling it will be quite some time before I can have a (in my eyes) successful day start to finish! Although, every day the baby is still alive and fed by the end of the day is a success right? I’m getting off track though, let’s bring it back!

So today, I had all these plans to get this page up and running. Laptop was plugged in, I had ideas of what I was going to write, how it was all going to come together this morning, but instead, here I am after 9:30pm instead, on my son’s 100th day of life starting this post now. I was going to get him dressed all cute and take the most adorable photos of him for his 100 days. You know, those little wooden circles that are the ‘IN’ thing to take photos with now days? Yeah, I had it all thought out, but I forgot that there is no such thing as making plans anymore with my son. Each and every day is catered to him and his every need. Welcome to motherhood right? It is so interesting, we have this saying in the Christian community – “Less of me, more of Him” – meaning less of myself and more of God, but I cannot help but think my son thinks that applies to him as well! ‘Less of mommy and her plans and more of my needs and mine only.’ Literally! He is in my arms asleep as I write this post because the four times I have tried to put him down to write this, he wakes up crying because…yup, you guessed it! He wants to be held! Well, I guess this is what I signed up for when I entered motherhood right?

Well, now you know where the ‘100 Days!’ title came from! Happy 100 days on this earth my darling son! Mommy loves you more than words could ever express! Thank you again for joining me on the beginning of this journey! Hopefully you tune in as I continue to (attempt) tracking this motherhood journey I have begun and I hope that you can find some peace in what I write if you are in the journey of motherhood with us also!