So long 2013! Hello 2014!

The Burton's 2013

What an amazing year it has been! I am feeling so blessed. No matter what 2014 brings I know I have a great support system behind me!

Nana to the Rescue!

I really shouldn't be surprised. My mom has had 2 amazing kids of her own. She must be doing something right. Sis and I turned out great. ;) Each morning I text my mom telling her how Baby E did the night before. It usually goes like this, "He had a terrible night. It was the worst. I'm so tired." For some unknown reason Baby E hates sleeping on his back. I finally figured out if he slept in his bouncer he would sleep anywhere from 2-6 hours. It was glorious. I felt so blessed to have a good baby. However, on his 1 month check up the doctor lowered the boom. NO MORE BOUNCER! He said its too dangerous to have him sleep that long unsupervised in that position. I could have started crying right then and there. So we reluctantly started laying him in his crib. After the 3rd night of 1hour of sleep I had reached my breaking point. I was exhausted. I put him back in his bouncer so I could get a few hours of sleep. I woke up an hour later to find that my son had some how managed to slide all the way down so his head was where his bottom would be. His feet were hanging out of the bouncer. #1 Mom Award goes to this girl. Alright I get it. No more bouncer. 

I always love when my mom comes to stay with us. Mom came last night on day 4 of Baby E "Nights in Hell". Like Baby E she is an early riser as well. This morning my mother had a mission...Get Baby E to sleep on his back! Yeah, good luck with that crazy lady. She put him in his crib. Within 5 minutes he was crying. She soothed him and tried again. 5 minutes later he was crying again. Did she get frustrated?  (In the words of Pete the Cat) "Goodness No!" She thought maybe we should try putting him on his back on his play mat. That way we can sit next to him and help him fall asleep. She even suggested a different pacifier so he could keep it in his mouth. So we sat rubbing his tummy and pushing replay over and over on Kenny Loggins, "Pooh Corner". And...

Do you see what I see? I see a sleeping baby on his back! Praise Jesus! The pacifier trick worked too. I used a short fat nipple instead of the hospital pacifier that is long and skinny. He kept it in his mouth all by himself until he fell asleep. He might not be in his crib but small steps people. We just reached an hour. I could cry at the beauty of this sight! I just hope I can do it again without Nana here to show me how. 

Thanks momma! You are the best Nana!! We love you! 

Excuse Me?

My main man Baby E is wanting to eat all day. He is a "grazer". My DH and I were trying to figure out why. Maybe he isn't getting enough milk, falling asleep and not eating, eating disorder??? JK...but seriously it's a problem. I can't be gone for 5 minutes because he might want to eat. I'm trying to save my pumped milk for daycare. So i hoard my liquid gold...poor DH! He just gets to hold a screaming child until i can get there. While I was still in the hospital they said to feed on demand. I was thinking that was only for a week or two. Baby E had a doctor appointment on Monday. I brought up my dairy cow status and the doc gave me the "good" news. He said as long as I'm breastfeeding that I should feed on demand. Excuse me, what?

However, he did say that chances are he will probably calm down and get on a schedule. I just need to be patient. Uh-oh! Patience is not something I excel at. I love you Baby E, even if I'm your dairy cow. Moo!

1month old

I Need a Raincoat!

How? How is it possible for this little boy to pee on his onesie and his diaper is completely dry? Not while I'm changing him, but while he is doing tummy time. Don't worry when i change him he will pee on me, his outfit, his new diaper, whatever he can find. Baby E has a talent and I'm trying to figure out how to cash in on it. Hollywood? Ripley's Believe It or Not?

When Baby E is in high school he is going to kill me for writing this story. But I'm going to take full advantage while he is too little to know any better.

Since Baby E pees on me or drenches his outfit at least 3 times a day, I like to give my DH the opportunity to join in on the fun at night. Typically Baby E will spare him, I'm not sure what thats about. DH tends to brag about the fact that Baby E doesn't pee on him during Daddy/Son diaper changes. (It's rather annoying) That is what makes this story that much sweeter. My DH is more than willing to change diapers. Really, I think he is willing to do anything that he is better at than me. After listening to me complain about the 4 outfit changes that we had to complete that day, he walked over with a smirk on his face and picked up Baby E. He laid him on the changing table very gently. He was taking his time, concentrating, and trying to keep his record in tact. I was "patiently" waiting in my chair to see if Baby E would help wipe the smirk off Daddy's face. Finally DH was finished and it was time for the inspection. He holds him up and we start feeling his outfit...DRY! Grrrr! DH is ready to start the bragging. But then I notice Baby E's hair. It is dripping wet. I mean soaked. Somehow Baby E missed the diaper, missed his outfit, and went straight for his head! As we are "washing" his hair with a baby wipe, I can't help but gloat. That a boy Baby E! That a boy! Until I realize it will be my turn when DH goes back to work. 

Baby Blues

So no one really talks about the baby blues the first two weeks after delivery except maybe your doctor. It almost seems like it is a shameful or embarrassing topic in the general population. I can't wrap my brain around that. New mommies just got done doing the most important thing they will ever do in their life. They brought a miracle into this world. Not to mention the life changes you endure to get them here. 

I started experiencing the emotional roller coaster in the hospital. I told DH to go home and stay the night because he had to work the next day. He has a job where he works with dangerous tools and machines. They use lots of saws, hammers, and huge machines that I don't even know what they do. Most guys there are missing at least a finger if not more. Guys get taken to the ER each week because of accidents.  Being exhausted makes it that much more dangerous. It was my suggestion for him to go home. It was my idea. When the time came for him to leave I cried and cried and begged for him to stay. I was terrified to be left alone with our baby. I had absolutely no idea what i was doing. I just knew i didn't want to do it by myself. Without complaining he said it was no big deal he would stay the night with me. 5 minutes later I calmed down and told him to go before the roller coaster went through another loop.I couldn't live with myself if something would have happened to him at work because I made him stay with me, sleeping on a hard uncomfortable couch with a screaming newborn waking up every hour. Reluctantly he left but called me from the parking lot to see if I was crying again. I was but I lied and told him I was fine. We spoke on the phone a few times that evening. At 8:45 I called to tell him goodnight. Once we hung up I heard a knock at my hospital door. It was my DH holding a blanket and a pillow. It was the best surprise I have ever received. Of course, I started crying again. Hell, I'm crying right now thinking about it. 

I would love to say that was my only experience with the baby blues but that would be a lie. My hormones and emotions were all over the place. I cried every time my DH left for work, when baby E wouldn't latch on correctly, at insurance drama, once my family members stopped coming to spend the day with me, thinking I'm the worst mother because I don't know what I'm doing, etc... I think I lost weight because of all those tears that came out. 

I'm now 12 days post-partum. I no longer cry when my DH leaves or when nursing doesn't go as planned. I'm feeling so much better and not so weepy. I found that talking about my feelings made me feel more in control, instead of hiding it and being ashamed. I also found that doing normal everyday things made me feel better. I started doing a load of laundry each day, taking a shower, doing some dishes, it made me feel like my old self. But the #1 thing that got me through is my husband! He reassures me daily that i am a good wife and mother. When he doesn't know what to say or how to make me feel better he just hugs me. Either that or he brings me a soda or beer. :) I might not be completely back to my regular self but I'm well on my way.

I love my boys!!!

Today Is the Day!

November 14, 2013 is Eli's actual due date! 

Instead he has been in this world for 11 days. I can't remember a day without him.

Today his umbilical cord fell off. I thought that once it came off it would look like a normal belly button. That is so not the case. It looks gross still. Babies are so cute and adorable but the amount of smelly, nasty, and weird things that come from them is bizarre. Who knew? Welcome to motherhood!

I'm so in love. Not just with my lil man but also my hubby! I'm a happy girl. So blessed!!

I NeED SLeEP

Long time no sleep. I'm loving being a mother. It is amazing! I'm having difficulty finding time to shower or sleep so blogging is totally out of the question.

My baby is sleeping which means I can nap for a few minutes. So I will just leave some pictures for you to ogle.

He is Here!

I'm just stopping by to say he is here. And of course to show off my beautiful son. We are already so in love!!

I will be back with some more photos and fun stories along the way.

This Is It! ONE DAY

I can't put a complete thought together. Maybe that's because I only have 1 more day.

Tonight we go in at 8:00 to start cervadil 

Tomorrow morning I will start pitocin

Baby E will be here sometime on November 2, 2013

I'm on anxiety overload so I need things that take my mind off what is about to happen. I can't wait to meet my son but getting there is scary.

Next time I'm on blogger I will be a mother. CRAZY!!

Boo! TWO

Two more days!

Happy Halloween!! Everyone seems to think I will have a Halloween baby. Since baby E is still hanging out in his warm home I can only imagine what his costume would be.

They have the cutest costumes for babies. 

I can't forget my adorable niece...these are the cutest costumes

My little bug as a Ladybug...2011

My cute little skunk...2012

This year ladybug is a cowgirl. 2013

3...That's It?

 

Last regular doctor appointment and sonogram today! I'm starting to get nervous. 

Happy Birthday CL...4 more days!

Having issues with blogger yesterday so a little late! 

More days!

Yesterday, was my now 7 year old step daughters birthday! It's a bummer when she isn't at our house for big occasions like this. But we aren't the only family who knows how tough this is. We make do with the time we get. Daddy took her gift to her Sunday so she could use it before going back to school on her actual birthday. 

She was in LOVE! I would say we did good. :) We called to sing and wish her a Happy Birthday last night and she was upset. Mom made her come inside and put the bike away. :( She was not happy about that.

My Favorite Things About CL:

* you don't mind all my nicknames I give you

* too smart for your own good

* loves school

* have an entire conversation by yourself with whatever tv show you are watching

* want to be a teenager so bad but then realize that kid stuff isn't so bad

* very creative

* sis is your best friend

* keep daddy and I on our toes

* you and I are kindred spirits...I recognize some of the same naughty behavior in you that I did as a child

* everything excites you

Daddy and I love you little girl! Happy Birthday! We hope you have a great year! Baby E and you will have birthdays close together. You will be the best big sis!