Mommy & Me

Because I couldn't resist....(notice the burp rag? Ha! Always have one of those handy!)

Couldn't Agree More

Oh the Pacifier

The pacifier. If you knew me well, you would know I had absolutely no plans of using one. At all. I won't go into full detail why because I don't want to offend any avid users out there. And on a side note, it is NOT a binkie, it's a pacifier. Soothie will work too since that's the brand we use.

I tweaked my plan when Hailey was in the NICU. I saw there was one in her isolette. I asked the nurse why it was in there and that I preferred for it not to be. I was told it was because they needed to teach her to suck and strengthen her ability without giving her food. The suck, swallow, breath coordination doesn't develop until around 35 weeks gestation. She was born at 33 weeks so more than likely she didn't have that technique. Well we all know now she didn't and had trouble with it which is what kept her in the NICU for so long. So I let that slide. It was for her own good.

Babies use sucking to soothe themselves. In their early weeks, this is all they know. I didn't get to breast feed Hailey. You hear about lots of moms saying their breast feed babies ate every 1-2 hours in the beginning. There are other reasons why but one of them is that they use sucking to soothe. When they are given the breast, sucking soothes them whether they are hungry or not. And sometimes they want breast when they are not hungry, they just want to suck to soothe.

Think of Hailey's early weeks. She was pushed from her comfortable womb 7 weeks early, had sticky leads stuck on her, a horrible experience with an IV, constant pokes on the foot for blood tests, tube stuck down through her nose and down her throat, left alone for most of day, horrible butt rash, different ladies handling her with different feel, touch, warmth...I could go on. Heart-wrenching isn't? Yea, I try not to think about it.

Then comes home after 4 weeks of this environment to a completely new one at 1 month old. Now she needs to adjust to this and to us. Sticky leads are still there, refluxing like crazy, more shots, more butt rash. *sigh*

She's been through more crap compared to what an average full term baby goes through so it's no wonder she's in need of soothing. She sucks to soothe. That's how she calms herself. There are other ways to calm and soothe her but sucking is a big one.

As you have seen in recent video, she sucks on her hands too. A pacifier I can take away, her hands or thumb I cannot. If that's what soothes her, then why should not soothe her in the way in which she wants? So I can prove a point? What point? Because I was so dead-set on not using one? I will not do that just to save face. I admit it, I judged people for using them and now I use them myself! I proved myself wrong.

Although, this is not used as a plug or a way to get her to shut up. It's used for its purpose. To soothe. Also, research has shown babies who fall asleep with a pacifier have a lower risk of dying from SIDS. Hailey does not fall asleep with the pacifier, however, I just wanted to point out positive research for pacifiers.

So there you have it. I hate pacifiers. Hailey uses one. I depend on it way more than I ever thought I would. But I am over it and I have come to peace with it.

The End.

Christmas fun at Grandma Wiesman's!

I like this Santa!
I am too cute!

This Santa is much bigger than me! But my cheeks are certainly bigger!

First Day Back at Work

So it went okay. Work is drama (joys of being in HR). People just cannot behave themselves and welcome me back into a drama-free workplace! *sigh* Good thing I love most of the people I work with!

Of course it's only been one day so I don't feel like I haven't seen Hailey for a long time. She was a sleepy girl so she didn't give Grandma Wiesman too much trouble!

I won't have another day off until Wednesday of next week. Another *sigh*

We have GIGGLES!!!!

I can't believe we got this on video! The camera happened to be right there when she started! I got a small giggle last night but these are way bigger!

The file was too big to upload to Blogger or Photobucket so I had to go through YouTube. Here's the link:

Hailey's Giggle Video

Another GI Doctor Appointment

Not much to report really. She now weighs 11lbs 14oz and 23.5 inches long. She is in the 55th percentile for both height and weight. I told him my concerns and he thinks it's important for her to get 4 doses of Raglen. Usually it's one dose every 6 hours but the way she sleeps she ends up sleeping through her last dose. He said every 4-5 hours would be fine too. Making sure she gets the proper doses will help with the choking and spitting up. I hope he is right!!

Back to work tomorrow.....boo.......

And tomorrow is it....

I can't believe it is already here! It's time for me to go back to work tomorrow. I have been off of work for 16 weeks. It makes me feel much better to have Hailey with family instead of daycare but it kills me to be away from her for 5 work days out of the week.

I am so happy that she sleeps through the night. She now sleeps 9-11 hours stretches and dropped her night feedings 3 weeks ago. Sometimes getting her down is a challenge (like last night, she thought it was party time until 12:30am). So she is still sleeping as I type this (it's 10:30 now).

She has another GI doctor appointment today. Some of her reflux symptoms are coming back again. Choking while eating, randomly choking inbetween feedings, spitting up 2-2.5 hours after she eats (it should be digested by then). I am hoping this isn't a sign of one of her meds not working. She doesn't seem to be in a lot of pain however, which is a good thing. Hopefully he will give us some insight as to what is causing this.

Hailey & Dr.Williams

I saw my OB today and brought Hailey with me. It was the first time Dr. Williams had seen her since the day she was born. She was still in the NICU at my post-partum follow up appointment.

I know I am a dork and asked if I could get a picture of the two of them together. She was whisked away to the NICU so fast after her birth I didn't even think to get a picture of him holding her. He gladly posed for me! He didn't seem to mind so I didn't feel like such a dork about it!!

He is a great doctor! I was really happy with him and all the nurses at the hospital raved about him when they found out he was my doctor. It will be nice to have him deliver all my kids (however many that ends up being! haha).

I have only one more day until I go back to work. While I LOVE the people I work with, I much rather stay home with Hailey any day!! Still looking for that winning lottery ticket.....

Can I just say.....

Can I just say how much Hailey looks like me? I wish I can bring up a picture of me around this age to show you! But look at this picture, she especially looks like one of my baby photos in this one (I am hoping my mom agrees).

It such a surreal thing to look at your own child and see how much they look like you and what characteristics they have of yours! Lately I am getting a lot of comments about how much she looks like me. She still has blue eyes and I really think they are going to stay blue. They are lightening in the middle (just like mine) but definitely not looking like they are going to turn brown. She is too cute for words. I just can't stand it!

Randy said today when he looked at her "How could I have been a part of that?" It's so funny to think about it!

Hailey's new boyfriend Aiden

Hailey met Aidan today for the first time. Aiden is the son of my friend Jennifer. Aiden was born 3 days after Hailey. Seeing them together is so cute. Especially because neither of them know what is going on and don't really even care about the fact that they are sitting next to each other!

Here are a few more pictures that Jennifer took. She is a professional photographer. Click HERE for her website if you are looking for a great photographer! There were so many cute pics!

Hailey & Aiden

I love the look on Aiden's face in this one

My Cutie

Too cute!

One Week To Go

One week from today I will be back at work. Have I expressed yet how much I am dreading this? I have been searching for at home jobs with decent pay and there just aren't any. I have seen a lot that will require arranged child care anyway. Well that sucks and defeats the purpose. If anyone has any ideas, send them my way!

So in the meantime I am just enjoying the time I have left.

And because blog posts are boring without pics, here are some. I got Hailey to hold her rattle last night (after placing in her hand of course!). Though she was more interested in sucking on it then actually playing with it, it was still so cute. Of course she dropped it after a few seconds but I got some shots of her looking like she was enjoying it!

Hailey Met Santa Today!

So I gave in and took Hailey to see Santa today! Her Nana & Papa came along too. I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to start this tradition with her. I hate seeing crying Santa pictures! A friend of mine, Jennifer, had taken her son to Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga. This place was really cute and not cheesy like other mall set ups! Hailey did really good! She didn't cry at all (of course next year could be a different story!). She was snoozing in her stroller up until it was her turn so she was in a great mood! The picture they took turned out really cute!

Santa's House!

I'm ready!!

The picture they took! She did so good!

Santa told my dad he hasn't shaved his beard in 40 years!

Hailey & Santa

What Happens When Daddy Dresses Hailey

Poor Hailey, at least he tried! This is his way of dressing her warm so he can walk her down the street to look at the Christmas lights. Although if you look closely you will notice the flower outfit is a one piece romper with long pant legs so he put the blue pants over the flower outfit! Points for trying! haha.

Deck the Blog with Christmas Deco

I love Christmas so I thought I would make my blog look festive!



Randy put up the lights on the house. Hailey absolutely loves to look at them. She just stares in total aw! We haven't gotten our tree yet but did put up the small fake one we have. I set Hailey in her bouncer and she stared at it for 15 minutes! Guess we have a new way of soothing/distracting her for the next month.

On the down side, 9 days until I go back to work! Anyone have a winning lotto ticket cause mine seems to be broken!! =(