I can't believe it's been three years since Lofton and I walked down the aisle. The memories of that day are such a blur of excitement and anticipation.I could not have married a better man.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Three years, really?
I can't believe it's been three years since Lofton and I walked down the aisle. The memories of that day are such a blur of excitement and anticipation.Saturday, December 13, 2008
bath time
Bath time is getting better. We aren't laughing and splashing, but we aren't screaming either!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Merry Christmas, Love the Ostrea's
No kidding we got the Christmas cards I ordered (at-the-last-minute) today in the mail. I hurried home from work eager to see them. I ripped open the UPS package only to discover the cards inside were not my beautiful son, but the Ostrea family. Ethan, Hannah, Lily, Robert and Susan wish you a happy holiday season!
I wonder who got our cards????
After a chilly call to Shutterfly, the problem has been fixed and our new cards are on their way. I audibly chuckled when the lady from Shutterfly told not to worry about the cards from the Ostrea family-- that I could throw them away. Okay, thanks, I thought maybe I should keep them.
I wonder who got our cards????
After a chilly call to Shutterfly, the problem has been fixed and our new cards are on their way. I audibly chuckled when the lady from Shutterfly told not to worry about the cards from the Ostrea family-- that I could throw them away. Okay, thanks, I thought maybe I should keep them.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Blog Stalking
Tonight I was blog stalking (reading other people's blogs) and I happened upon the blog of one of my sorority sisters from college, Abby Maddox. I love to read her blog because she writes with such an amazing honesty about marriage and motherhood.
Anyway, tonight as I read her blog she shared a story, and a link to an organization, that I want to share with you.
Jenny's Light is an organization started by the family of a girl who committed suicide last year. Jenny was a girl much like myself. She went away to college, met a boy, fell in love, got married and started a life with him. After a few years of marriage, they decided to have a baby. Her pregnancy wasn't the easiest, she was pretty sick, but she carried her little boy to term and he was born last year on November 1, 2007. Motherhood was an adjustment for her-- much like it is for all of us.
On December 19th of last year, Jenny went to a store in Birmingham, bought a gun, and killed herself and her little boy. She suffered from post-partum depression.
As I sit here holding my sweet little boy-- the one who God so graciously gave me but forgot to leave a handbook for-- I'm saddened. I'm sad for this girl's family, they lost a daughter and a grand baby, a wife and a son; but mainly I'm sad for Jenny. I'm sad that she felt so lonely and so hopeless during what should have been the happiest time in her life.
I read a little more about post-partum depression tonight and it really is more common than I realized. It angers me to think that so many people suffer because they are too ashamed to ask for help. There seems to be a stigma attached to becoming a mom-- we think we can do it all and asking for help makes us seem incapable.
I'm so grateful to have the support of such an amazing network of mom's. Of course my mom is my rock, but the support of my friends at work, who readily offer advice and answer any of the questions I have, makes motherhood so much more navigable. Thanks to all of you.
If you would like to visit Jenny's Light, the website is www.jennyslight.org
Anyway, tonight as I read her blog she shared a story, and a link to an organization, that I want to share with you.
Jenny's Light is an organization started by the family of a girl who committed suicide last year. Jenny was a girl much like myself. She went away to college, met a boy, fell in love, got married and started a life with him. After a few years of marriage, they decided to have a baby. Her pregnancy wasn't the easiest, she was pretty sick, but she carried her little boy to term and he was born last year on November 1, 2007. Motherhood was an adjustment for her-- much like it is for all of us.
On December 19th of last year, Jenny went to a store in Birmingham, bought a gun, and killed herself and her little boy. She suffered from post-partum depression.
As I sit here holding my sweet little boy-- the one who God so graciously gave me but forgot to leave a handbook for-- I'm saddened. I'm sad for this girl's family, they lost a daughter and a grand baby, a wife and a son; but mainly I'm sad for Jenny. I'm sad that she felt so lonely and so hopeless during what should have been the happiest time in her life.
I read a little more about post-partum depression tonight and it really is more common than I realized. It angers me to think that so many people suffer because they are too ashamed to ask for help. There seems to be a stigma attached to becoming a mom-- we think we can do it all and asking for help makes us seem incapable.
I'm so grateful to have the support of such an amazing network of mom's. Of course my mom is my rock, but the support of my friends at work, who readily offer advice and answer any of the questions I have, makes motherhood so much more navigable. Thanks to all of you.
If you would like to visit Jenny's Light, the website is www.jennyslight.org
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sleep
Sleep is elusive with an infant, and being tired wasn't as big of a deal when I was staying home, but this past work week has been a blur of sleepy days. Reese is on a 10-2-6 schedule but he was also waking up at 4 a.m. ready to eat again almost everyday.
After conferring with friends at work about the amounts they feed their kids and the length of time others babies sleep, we made some changes to Reese's diet this week.
When we had our two month check up (before Thanksgiving) I asked Dr. Greer about when we should start feeding Reese more. His answer was that we would know. Well, we thought we knew before and that was how our little Reese gained three pounds in three weeks. We overfed him! Although recently I had been feeling like he might need more food during the day, I was also (understandably) doubting my instincts.
After much discussion at home, Reese is now eating around five ounces of formula every four hours and a little bit extra a night. We even sneak in a teensy bit of rice cereal to his 10 p.m. bottle. So far, the results had been mixed. He was still waking up at 2 a.m. to eat but not waking up at 4 a.m.. I read in one of my books that we should try weening him off the 2 a.m. bottle by slowly decreasing the amount. So Lofton started only giving him two ounces instead of the usual four-five. According to the book, this gradual weening (we will continue cutting back) is supposed to make Reese think it isn't worth his time to wake up during the night if he isn't going to get to eat! Metabolically, children don't need to eat during the night once they reach eleven pounds- which we weighed at four weeks!
I am happy to report that he slept much longer last night! Last night we went to dinner after the game and didn't get home until about 8:30 p.m. Reese slept through most of dinner, but was wide awake for the car ride home (i.e he was screaming-- have I mentioned he's bi-polar?). We fed him his bottle a little early, about 9:30, and then Lofton put him down for the night.
When I heard him stirring on the monitor I nudged Lofton awake so he could go feed him (Lofton takes the middle of the night shift because if I get up I can't go back to sleep). I reached over and grabbed my phone to see what time it was-- fully expecting it to say 1:30 or 2, but NO, it was 4:30 a.m. 4:30!!!!
Please Lord, let this trend continue!
(new post below)
After conferring with friends at work about the amounts they feed their kids and the length of time others babies sleep, we made some changes to Reese's diet this week.
When we had our two month check up (before Thanksgiving) I asked Dr. Greer about when we should start feeding Reese more. His answer was that we would know. Well, we thought we knew before and that was how our little Reese gained three pounds in three weeks. We overfed him! Although recently I had been feeling like he might need more food during the day, I was also (understandably) doubting my instincts.
After much discussion at home, Reese is now eating around five ounces of formula every four hours and a little bit extra a night. We even sneak in a teensy bit of rice cereal to his 10 p.m. bottle. So far, the results had been mixed. He was still waking up at 2 a.m. to eat but not waking up at 4 a.m.. I read in one of my books that we should try weening him off the 2 a.m. bottle by slowly decreasing the amount. So Lofton started only giving him two ounces instead of the usual four-five. According to the book, this gradual weening (we will continue cutting back) is supposed to make Reese think it isn't worth his time to wake up during the night if he isn't going to get to eat! Metabolically, children don't need to eat during the night once they reach eleven pounds- which we weighed at four weeks!
I am happy to report that he slept much longer last night! Last night we went to dinner after the game and didn't get home until about 8:30 p.m. Reese slept through most of dinner, but was wide awake for the car ride home (i.e he was screaming-- have I mentioned he's bi-polar?). We fed him his bottle a little early, about 9:30, and then Lofton put him down for the night.
When I heard him stirring on the monitor I nudged Lofton awake so he could go feed him (Lofton takes the middle of the night shift because if I get up I can't go back to sleep). I reached over and grabbed my phone to see what time it was-- fully expecting it to say 1:30 or 2, but NO, it was 4:30 a.m. 4:30!!!!
Please Lord, let this trend continue!
(new post below)
SEC Championship
Last night we had friends over to watch the SEC championship. Though isn't wasn't quite the route of Alabama I had hoped for, the Gators pulled out a win.
Our friends Ashley and Rich came over, as did Kelly and Ricky. Ashley was my little sister in KD and Rich was a Sig Ep with Lofton so it is super nice that they are married and we can all be friends. We found out last month that they are expecting a baby in late July, so Reese is pumped about having A) a best friend or B) maybe a wife.
Ash getting a little practice time! She's going to be a phenomenal mom.
(new post below)
Back to work
I don't have much to write about going back to work. I love my kids at school and my job is great, but I sure do miss my baby at home! Only two more weeks until Christmas break!
Reese spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with his daddy at home. Lofton says they sis "man things." I'm not sure what that entailed, but when I got home from work Monday Lofton was still in his pajamas. Thursday and Friday Nonna was here to keep the little man. As usual, our bi-polar baby had his good days and his bad.
The next two weeks Lofton is going to split Daddy duty with Mimi (his mom) and some other friends. It's a little hectic to bridge the three week gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I just didn't want him to start daycare until he was a little bigger. Okay maybe bigger isn't right word when your child dwarfs most infants his age! I don't want him to start daycare until he is older.
Reese spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with his daddy at home. Lofton says they sis "man things." I'm not sure what that entailed, but when I got home from work Monday Lofton was still in his pajamas. Thursday and Friday Nonna was here to keep the little man. As usual, our bi-polar baby had his good days and his bad.
The next two weeks Lofton is going to split Daddy duty with Mimi (his mom) and some other friends. It's a little hectic to bridge the three week gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I just didn't want him to start daycare until he was a little bigger. Okay maybe bigger isn't right word when your child dwarfs most infants his age! I don't want him to start daycare until he is older.
snuggling after work
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)