Birth of a Mom

Every one writes the Birth story for little one's and they are informative and very baby directive. This post is about the birth of my new persona in life the title Mom, MA-MA, mother, madre, okasan just to name a few of the many names for the title but when does it hit home?

I started to think about this before I was pregnant with my daughter. Does giving birth to a baby automatically give you the title? Or does it occur when your child looks at you and says the magical words MAMA! I didn't know because my mother wasn't the best roll model and I don't think her mother was either. But they respected the title of mother and when so when I was born I called my mother mom as well but as I got older and more aware that she wasn't like the other mom's that I knew at least for the hour or so that I was in their care, she wasn't like that. So I called her by her first name most of the time. It made her mad and said to call her Mom over and over again

When I was pregnant I didn't know if I'd ever be known as mom. I didn't feel like my life would need that title, as I didn't have a very good role model and she didn't have a very good role model herself as well. I kept telling myself I was going to have some one to take care of (to be continued)

One Year ago Feb. 4th

One year ago on February 4th, 2009, I was getting over a cold, had been out sick from work for 3 days, and I was 22 weeks pregnant (see link in title for more details). I had just got off of work, driving home and waiting for a car to turn left in front of me, then out of nowhere a car rear ends me and I am for ever changed. Well, my back was hurting and a worry that I might not carry,(at the time) the unborn baby, to 24 weeks let alone the full 37 weeks. That seemed very far away that day.

Its pretty scary to be thinking that some average day can turn into one of the defining moments in a life, even if its not yours, of your unborn child. That day I feared more for the one that wasn't born that had no clue what was going on, then myself. The knowledge if there was something wrong and it had to be born that day, its chances of survival weren't very good until two weeks later. And that was a big if it could survive at that point as well.

I remember everything that went on that day, but I think the best part was to feel my baby move and kick from the long time that I was strapped to a board (see picture above). My husband was there (the 5th is his birthday) and I had him record the heartbeat off of the fetal monitor for a Valentines idea I had that I sent to most of the grandparents (I owe one to a grandma). We were going to get the Heartbeat the next day because I all ready had a routine appointment to see my OB-GYN, but this just speed up what we were going to do anyway. Here is what we did: we got a few record your own voice Valentines day cards from the Hallmark store (I heart that store), placed the recording of the heartbeat and a note to the grandparents hinting about what the sound was that they were listening to (I need to get that from my dad because I don't know where I put the file and I want to have that again.).

The next week from the accident I was in pain and couldn't get off of work until I saw the doctor which I did the next Friday, Feb, 16th, and from then on it was a blur of Motrin and Tylenol. The last picture above is from my car, It doesn't look so smashed but the trunk area had a large crumple that totaled the car and I have been with out one for almost a year. I do have the VW Bug, but that is another story that I will get in to later.

I can not beleive

That 7 months ago it was late spring, I was in the hospital with a very over due baby in my tummy and hoping that I would be able to push it out. I didn't know if it was a boy or girl but it was coming out one way or the other. And a bit more than 24 hrs later a baby girl was born.

Now it's mid-winter a day before she turns 7 months and I can not beleive that she is thriving and very head strong and coping most things I do. I swear she says "Mum!" when protesting going to sleep. She hasn't crawled or taken her first step but is very active with toys. She loves to see my face, it lights up every time she sees me from waking from a nap, or just looking around to see if comfort is near.

Sewing Machines

So Hubby wants a Brother Sewing Machine or a Singer Sewing Machine. I say its all good if can make things for me on etsy! I know that I am to make it but if he's out of a job and I still have one, he should be making money for the family right? Also if its for the household why not? I also would make things but he likes sewing machines. I like knitting.

Sleep Training Day ??

Well, I got to say I think it is day 6 of the sleep in her own crib day and its working like a charm. Just until I go in bed and she cries for me and like any mom I pick her up and go back into bed with her by my side. This time it was around 11 pm (I think) because we were out a little late celebrating the New Year with MIL.

I had actually put her in her pj's before hand so that if needed we could put her directly into bed with only a diaper change. We got home after dinner and I fed her one last time and Hubby changed her and 2 minutes of cranky protest and nothing. I think this was around 8:30pm.

I think I need to sleep out in the living room to get a great night sleep. Maybe I'll try that tonight since it is Saturday and all.

A New Year

With each new year becomes a new directive to make your self better. This year for me is another year to where goals are set and then half way the year realize things are shot to heck and then re-establish a set of goals for the next half.

This year will again be no different.

Sleep Training mid-update day 4

Well we didn't eat the cereal, but we did take a small nap between the hours of 4-6pm. So I thought it best if we pushed her bed time a little bit further because of the 2 hr nap but as it is we are going as planed. I think the co-sleeping is good for short amounts of time and for the first 6 months of life. I don't have any hang ups on it. I think if I was in a better bed and my back was a bit stronger, I would do it more often but since its not and we don't have a better mattress right now I would have to say that we are good for 6 months. I also think because the crib is literally right next to the bed (only a half a step away) not in another room, its like she is co-sleeping with us.

I would in a heart beat put her in our bed again if there was any issues with her, cold, flu or just wanting to be near Mommy and Daddy, but as it is right now, she needed to go to sleep for her happiness a lot earlier and for the past few days, she has been waking up happy and refreshed. And for me, that's all that counts. Now I have to figure out a way to go to sleep with out her smelling me and we're all good!