Not a quiet house...

No matter how hard I try, I am not a quiet person. Just ask my husband, family, any roommate I have lived with, and even my students.

My mom used to say, "Stasia, you are like a bull in a china cabinet!" Referring to the way she could almost always hear me anywhere in the house. I used to get offended by this, now I have just accepted the truth. When Andrew and I first got married he had to adapt to me washing dishes and cleaning the house at 3:30 in the morning. 

I have always wondered how I would adapt when we had a baby... worried that I would never be quiet enough to let a baby sleep! Luckily, a couple dear friends informed me that being quiet is not necessary for a baby, that in fact it is good to be the opposite at times! I watched in amazement on one girl's night as their boys slept through the loud movie.

Bailey Drew on the monitor :)

So I have made the decision, or rather accepted the reality, our house is not a quiet one. Life must continue even after we are blessed with little bundles of joy! Bailey Drew sleeps through music, television, movies, and our conversations. I even took BD to the movies with one of these friends and their newborn... She slept right through it!

On our baby date... babies on the way to the movies!

This has worked for me with this baby... Hopefully it will continue!

What about you... Quiet house? Or not?

Skip, Splurge, Save...

I have been pondering all this baby stuff we have... and really just stuff in general.   When buying something, deciding whether to buy something, or deciding whether I spent what I should have on an item... I figured out that they fall into three categories...

Skip

These are the items that you think you need, but really don't.  The "Oh, I will use that all of the time!" but it really just gathers dust in the corner of a cabinet or closet.  A lot of these are items from our wedding or baby registries... guess we didn't know any better... we had never been married or had a baby before! :)

Splurge

This item is totally worth it... no skimping here!  These are the things I have found to be worth the extra money spent through experience with the item of value... or experience without it.  It has taken me a while in life to stop being so cheap and except that some things are worth splurging on. (Of course this does not mean you can't find a good deal on the splurge!:))

Save

These are the items that you need to get... but there is no need to pay full price, get the name brand or even buy them new.  I find that most things I buy fall into this category!

For the first month of Bailey's life, here is one thing that I found to fall in each category and why... 

Skip

A full kit of bottles if you are planning on exclusively breast feeding.  We got a full kit of Dr. Brown bottles, that Bailey won't even take.  It would have been much better for us to return and/or wait to buy a full set.  In the mean time borrow from friends or just purchase one bottle of different types to see what works for her.  Sadly, we got this advise and did not follow it.  I felt for sure I could get her to take the bottles... and she won't take any right now!

Splurge

Travel system (carseat with stroller).  We did tons of research on safety, and talked to friends.  The safety of our child in the car is not something I am willing to compromise for a good deal.  Also, while I often wear Bailey, it is convenient to have the option of leaving her in the carseat or just attach the carseat to the stroller without having to take her out.

Save

BABY CLOTHES!!! These are outgrown, spit up on, and even pooped on.  There is just no need to go crazy in this category!  Almost all of Bailey's clothes were given to us.  We did luck out because some friends from work gave her some really cute things, but even if we didn't get those, I would shop consignment.  As she outgrows the sizes we have, we plan to replace them with sale and consigned clothes.

What are the things you feel fall into these categories? Baby related or not! :)

BD 1 Month...

Bailey Drew 1 Month! 

I can't believe how quickly this month has flown by... it is amazing to watch you change, but sad too! I find myself torn between the excitement of seeing each new thing... and wanting you to stay little forever!

You already fill the laundry basket!

Monthly Milestones... 

*First Night Home- 3/25/13

*First Sponge Bath- 3/26/12

*Umbilical Cord Fell Off- 4/9/13

*Started smiling- this started with just gas and sleep smiles, but by the end of the month she developed a little smirk :) it reminds me of Andrew's smirk... but we have yet to catch it on camera really well.


*First "Real" Bath- 4/20/13

Favorite Things... 

*You love to be held

*You love baths

*You love being in the stroller and going on walks.

*You love riding in the car 

*You have a love/hate relationship with being in the baby carrier (baby k'tan)

*You love tummy time on mommy or daddy's chest

*You love your boppy

Weight... 

You were born at 9 pounds 9 ounces, left the hospital at 9 pounds 1 ounce, first doctor's visit 10 pounds 8.5 ounces, second doctors appointment 11 pounds 2 ounces, and this morning when we got on the scale you were over 12 pounds(probably not that accurate).

Height... 

You were born at 20 1/4 inch, left the hospital at 21 inches, first doctor's visit 21 1/2 inches, and second doctors appointment 22 1/2 inches.

Clothing Size... 

At first you fit into some newborn things... but by about 2 weeks, no way!  Right now you are wearing 0-3 month and 3-6 month.

Sleep Patterns... 

You sleeps pretty well, except when you are gassy or having a growth spirt.  You usually gives us at least one 4 hour stretch... but there are nights I am up almost every hour. 

Eating Patterns... 

You love eating... guess that is why you are already so big!  Even though you are a good eater, you refuse the bottle almost every time.  We are trying to work on this!

Outings and Celebrations... 

We went out and about a lot this month, probably more than most do in the first month.  I just didn't let strangers touch you and had plenty of hand sanitizer on hand!  

*We went to Easter service at Vintage Church- you slept the entire time.

*Our parents were in town so we went out to eat some at Dat Dog, Dragos, Panera, and Chick-Fil-A.

*We have been shopping at the mall, Target, Babies'R Us and Sam's.

* You had your first "date night" with baby Oliver!  Since Oliver's mom Abby and I had matching due dates we decided to make a date together!  We went to dinner at Superior Grill and even to the movies and saw the Croods.  Yes went to the movies with newborns... and they slept the whole time.

*For Andrew's birthday we went back to Gulfport (where we went on our babymoon)!  We ate at this fantastic restaurant called Darwell's Cafe.  Unfortunately it was the one cold rainy day this week so we couldn't go to the beach... so we went to the outlets instead :).

Nicknames... 
*Chunky Monkey- because you are so cute... and so big!!!

*Grunty- I think you spend 70% of your life grunting... awake and asleep. Some happy grunts... some not so happy. You are just very vocal. :)

Things others have said about you... 

* "She is so big... she doesn't even look like a newborn."

*"She has so much hair!"

Things we have noticed about you...

*You are very happy and love to play.  Love to spend wake time with people, on your playmat, cooing and "talking."

*We have gotten to know more and more about your personality!  One thing we have seen is that you may be a little strong willed (I wonder where you get that???)
For example, you will not take a bottle or a pacifier... I thought that most mom's had the opposite problem... they would not give those things up!  We have tried all the tricks, without success, guess you just want things the way you want them.
You did the same thing with our baby carrier... first 3 weeks you loved it... then all of a sudden you would only get in when you wanted to get in it.

For Bailey Drew...

We love you sooooooo much and have enjoyed every minute with you (even the spit up, grunty and poopy moments :))  We feel privileged to be your parents!  Everyday we are praying for you, that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that you will grow into a beautiful young lady!!!

Newborn pics...

Nothing formal... just a couple pictures we took!