Hope all had fun at the swap. I missed seeing you guys too. Darcy didn't enjoy her first mother's day at all. She was dead tired and had the baby blues. It was also after a second straight night of 3 hour long wailing session by the little one. Addie went to the doc today and everything seems to be in order but she's not gaining 'enough' weight so she has to go back Friday. It doesn't sound like a big deal though. Today is my first day back to work and even though I got a decent night's sleep last night, I still feel like I might face plant on my desk.

Hmm...it sounds like you all could use someone to help out. Is either of your mothers able and willing to come stay with you for awhile?

oh, my Jeff, hoping for calmer seas ahead.

Hope last night was more restful for everybody!

I remember we went in for a check-up at 2 weeks, and the doctor said "where does she sleep?" We looked at each other and said, "mostly in our arms." He said, "You have to put her down sometime...?" We said, "Why?" LOL We couldn't stand her being the least bit unhappy, so Jim would go to bed early and I'd take first shift, holding and rocking her, alternately reading a book or singing to her while she slept in my arms, until 3 or 4 am. Then Jim would take over, and I'd sleep. Then she transitioned to a bassenette at the foot of our bed (with a cat-excluding cover... Eliot still kept watch over her and meowed in my face if she started fussing, "fix her! she is not happy!") and eventually ended up in her crib (and we even let her cry for a bit, so we could return to a normal sleep schedule).

BTW, if her weight doesn't go up "enough" and you have to switch to formula, Darcy shouldn't feel the least bit guilty. That's what formula is for, and many many healthy babies (including Joyanna) have been raised on it. The folks who support breast feeding go a little overboard sometimes, IMO. Also, bottle feeding means you can take a turn, and it's wonderful to cuddle your daughter while she's having a blissful meal. (Pumping is good for that, too, and gives Darcy a break for sleeping/napping.) Jim is a light sleeper and also gets back to sleep almost instantly, me not so much, so the middle of the night feedings were his thing after we were past the first few weeks of sleeping in shifts.

One of the best things about a new baby in the "family" is getting to remember all the special moments when your own kids were this tiny!

Darcy's Mom has been helping out a lot. It's really nice to have her 5 minutes away. My Mom lives out in Phoenix so they aren't able to help much other than to provide a listening ear. They are coming in for a few days the first week of June though, so that will be nice.

I agree with you on the breast feeding thing Jill. At the hospital, they were relentless with pushing breast feeding. Immediately out of the womb, they had her breast feed. Darcy gave up pumping at every feeding because it was just too much. She's just going to do that when she goes back to work. I know there are clear benefits to breast feeding but it should feel like a choice, not an obligation.

Exactly. We adopted Joyanna at birth, and I was told several times (not by our family doctor, who is more reasonable about everything), "you know, you could take hormones that would let you breast feed her." Oh yeah, that's what Joyanna needed, a mom dealing with all the side effects of a strong course of hormones. I think even a few days of breast feeding gives the baby that initial rich colostrum and a good hit of antibodies. So it's certainly good to try (and check in with a lactation consultant if it's difficult), but don't let her stress out about it.

So glad Darcy's mom is nearby!

Having nursed all four of mine (each beyond a year ) - I'm obviously an advocate of nursing but not if it causes more stress then benefits and certainly not if the mama feels 'obligated.' My response was always the same to my friends/family who were either having their first baby or had not previously nursed - 'you can easily go to the bottle if you decide nursing's not for you...not so easy to do the reverse. Any bit of nursing, if you're able, whether it be 1 time or 1 year will benefit the baby.' I think when the pressure is removed it can help the mama relax a little bit. Jeff, I realize Darcy may not know me very well but I'm happy to provide an ear and any soothing advice should she think that would help. I have a no judgment when it comes to nursing but am happy to provide any encouragement that may be helpful. Hugs and prayers...

I hope Darcy is sleeping whenever Addison sleeps....no cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.! Darcy should only eat, sleep and care for Addison. Bathing is optional and staying in pj's all day is fine

Thanks Chantell, much appreciated! Things are going alright. The baby gets gassy and then will cry inconsolably for a couple hours. Only thing is, you don't know she's gassy and until there's a poo explosion in the diaper..lol...then she calms down. We were able to get out on Saturday. Addie went on her first out of county excursion. We went to York to the PSU extension native plant sale. She was a good girl and I think even Momma had fun . I got two plants. Then we came back to Lancaster and went to Babies 'R' Us and a jewelry store. Sunday we all went out grocery shopping. Darcy and I can't figure out where to put the car seat when you get a cart at the store. We were putting it in the big part of the cart but then the baby and the car seat take up most of the room. Setting the car seat on the fold out part by the handles didn't seem like a very secure option. Any thoughts? We were going to try to stalk another young couple into the store but her brother called and we ended up staying in the car a few extra minutes.

Some carts work better than others, but you're right to be careful setting the car seat on top of that front part. If both of you are going into the store, I'd recommend just taking a stroller in unless you just need to pick up a few things. Do you have one of those car seat / stroller combo's? I used mine hard for the first few months... actually used it *as* a shopping cart a few times (putting a few groceries in a basket that I hung from the handles or shoved into the bottom of the stroller LOL)

hi, Seq. Glad to hear the baby is doing well. In terms of the gas, lengthy crying, and then explosion--just wondering if she is nursing or on formula?

The baby is nursing. I think the exploding might just be a baby thing. Last night, in the middle of nursing, the exploded out the mouth with no warning, sending milk all over herself, Darcy, and the couch. Addie went in for an immediate bath afterward.

Interesting Jill, I'd have thought the storekeeper might have assumed you'd be shop lifting. Soon she'll be old enough to hold up her head and big enough to ride in the cart. I guess we only have a small amount of time with bringing the carrier in the store. We do have one of those combo jigs where you set the car seat on top of the stroller. They're pretty nice but the only thing is we have to get another car seat once she gets bigger.

I did try to use a store carry-basket with the stroller... not looking furtive about my efforts helped also. At one time, I used 2 canes to get around, so I had to make do with pockets in some stores... guess it was obvious enough what I was doing that nobody every got het up about it, although maybe they kept an eye on me to make sure I was heading to the checkout line and not the door.

You're right; it's a short phase. Bet she loves getting out and seeing everything and everybody!

Sorry about the exploding at both ends... sometimes burp cloths are just totally inadequate.

sorry to hear you and Darcy are having to deal with that, Jeff.

Yeah thanks Catmint. I don't think we're experiencing anything different than a normal first timer with a newborn. I'm not upset about it at all and even look forward to coming home to see the little duck (that's her nickname). She spit up all over Darcy again tonight. We have to figure out what it is Darcy is eating that is making this happen. Addie hasn't slept at all since I got home from work 4 hours ago. Hopefully we get some sleep tonight

Try burping her in the middle of a feeding, rather than waiting until she's done, then burping her again after she's had her fill. That seemed to help my daughters. My youngest also had to remain upright for several minutes after nursing to ensure it didn't come right back up.

Good burping advice, Muddy!

Seq, I'm sure you and Darcy have already been googling around trying to find as much info as you can about possible links between mom's diet and gassy babies. I thought this one from Parents was pretty well-balanced, although you may have seen it already! http://www.parents.com/baby/ca...

Ahhhh, the memories, Jeff... projectile vomiting, up for hours during the night, poop blowouts that come out the legs of the diaper... it's all part of the joys of parenthood ! You think that's bad, just wait until she hits her teens !

...let the fun begin!! Seriously...cherish each and every stage and believe it when folks say time flies by before you know it. This song still gets me every time I listen to the lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Thanks guys. She slept pretty good last night and only got up once to feed. My wife says Addie is really uncomfortable today though and hasn't really slept at all; just fussing the whole time. We gave her some anti gas drops last night so maybe they worked to keep her asleep. Thanks for the article Cat, I'll check it out.