Seperation Anxiety, Constipation, Nannies, and Other Things They Never Warn You About...

Dear Monster,

   I love you son. I REALLY do. But all of the things that are involved in raising you can truly be exhausting sometimes. Just exhausting.
~~~

"There are times when parenthood seems like nothing but feeding the mouth that bites you."

-Peter De Vries

This week has been one of those weeks. Not that Liam is actually biting me but, no matter what I do, something else goes wrong! I just can't seem to get to the top of this mountain. But, I've heard that there is no top to this mountain called Parenthood so I'm going to try to stay positive while climbing. :) But first...how about some good old-fashioned venting?

Let's start at the beginning shall we? Separation Anxiety. Pediatricians, Child Psychologists, and Infant Physical Therapists will tell you that it is a normal developmental stage. That it normally starts around six months of age and will continue until they are around one year old. It consists of your child slowly remembering your face and recognizing that you provide for them and that the things you provide for them make them happy...then it sets in that you leave them for short bursts of time. This comes with the realization that for that short burst of time you are not there to entertain, feed, or hold them. This does NOT make for a happy baby and MAN do they let you know about it! Liam's Physical Therapist was especially happy when she saw that he hit this stage. Mommy is not quite as excited. I have not been able to put this child down. AT ALL! When I do, within one minute, I have a sniffling, fussing, and sometimes full-on crying baby. If I am not in his face playing, feeding, burping, cuddling, or just generally talking to him, there is trouble. I'm not talking about setting him down and leaving the room for several hours or ignoring him for extended periods of time. I'm talking, "Mommy needs to pee...please don't cry...please just don't...(insert Liam crying)...DANG IT!". This is insanity! He lets Daddy play video games, make lunch, mix bottles, do chores, etc., but I try ONE thing and it is the END of the world. *sigh* I just keep reminding myself that this too shall pass. This too shall pass...................this too shall pass. Please...?

Moving right along to constipation. I mean, REALLY?? It happens to 90% of babies who are in the process of introducing or full on switching to solid foods and NO ONE TOLD ME??? NO ONE?? Not one person was like, "Hey, it's gonna happen. Throw a little extra fiber in his diet and you'll be a-okay."? Instead I have to find out post-constipation when it is a long and ridiculous road back to regulation for Liam? Gah! We have been struggling through his constipation for WEEKS! And because he was gun shy about gas pain and general constipation discomfort he went from eating 6oz at every feeding to barely forcing himself to eat 3oz at every feeding. This is NOT OKAY for a child who needs each and every ounce so that he can squeak by on his growth percentiles. So, after speaking with Liam's Pediatrician and a fellow Mommy at work who told me that her daughter had chronic constipation issues, we went out to Target (WOO!) and bought some Target brand Metamucil which we will be mixing in with his formula and solid foods. So, now we're crossing our fingers and hoping for the best. Our poor Monster. :(

How about some Nanny issues? I've got those too! After talking, talking, talking, debating, debating, debating, and going over and over our budget, we decided that I should go back to work full-time and that we should hire a Nanny. Then after crying and talking more and apologizing to Liam and going back and forth and back and forth about our "final" decision I finally asked around for help with finding a Nanny and, though so many wonderful people made such valiant efforts on our behalf, we ended up needing to go onto Care.com. For those of you that have never heard of this site, it is fantastic! You can find all different levels of care providers, post your profile as either needing a care provider or being a care provider, and browse profiles of people who show interest in helping you by sending you a message. Then, after paying a hefty $45/month, you can message back and forth with employees or employers, check basic level background checks and reviews, and eventually connect with someone you think would be right for you or your family. We thought we had found that person in, let's call her, "Jane". "Jane" was an energetic, bouncy, enthusiastic college student who had open availability and a willingness to learn. We did an interview with her, she seemed very pleasant, said that the pay and hours would be lovely, and stated that she was ready to start asap! Wonderful! Well, here comes her first training day and the first thing she says to my husband is, "After reassessing everything, I won't be able to stay here in Lakewood after May. I will be moving back to Longmont." REALLY???? On her profile she states that her expected pay scale is from $5-10/hr and that she would be fine with part time. We were planning on paying her on the higher end of that scale and giving her up to 40 hours every 2 weeks! WTF? Maybe you should change your requirements on your profile and assess your situation BEFORE your first day of training...?? But whatever. So we start panicking but we continue to pay and train "Jane" just in case we weren't able to find someone right away. Then, BAM, welcome to our world Miss Candice! She loves Liam, she shares our same values and beliefs on raising children, she has a 100% open schedule, and she loves Ninja Turtles...I mean, come on. I guess everything happens for a reason and "Jane" can just go..........be somewhere else. ;)

Oh the whole wide world of things that they NEVER warn you about when they decide to write those stupid parenting books. Like how even though Liam will cry and fuss at me ALL day, if he smiles just once I forget everything and somehow am able to smile right back. Or how your whole life will brighten up when your child finally starts feeling better after being sick or uncomfortable. They definitely don't tell you about the emotional roller coaster that is involved with leaving your child with someone that is still (even after background checks, interviews, and training days), technically, a stranger (and hoping the entire time that they are not currently crossing the American-Mexican border with your child). Sean and I are going to write our own book on parenting, The Lies Called Pregnancy and Parenting.

That's it for me tonight readers. Sorry about the rants. It has been such a frustrating week and I think I just need a nap and a glass of wine. ;) Happy Friday to everyone!

*** Since we both had awful weeks and dealt with them like the awesome woman warriors that we are, I thought I'd send some major props to my good friend, Miss Alyssa, over at In The Land of Lou. Read through her blog Perspective. That woman has WAY more positive mind power than I. Much love. :::chest pound, weird hand symbol, kiss the "peace sign" fingers, point to the sky:::

Payday Friday #4

Dear Monster,

   One of the first things that I was excited to buy for you was SHOES! Seeing all of the little Converse and hiking shoes just made we want to jump up and down with excitement...I think I actually did a couple of times (much to your father's chagrin). Since then, obviously, other purchases for you have excited me (i.e. food, toys, clothes, binkies, bottles, spoons...okay, pretty much everything) but nothing will ever feel the same as when I first realized that I could start buying you little shoes because you were ACTUALLY going to be joining our lives.
~~~

Hello hello hello Readers and TGIF! WOO! It's finally Payday Friday and have I got a fun product for you! :D Today's product was brought to my attention by Liam's Auntie Angela! This woman is amazing...for so very very many reasons. She jumped up and down with me like a fool (over the phone) when I told her I was pregnant, she sat with me while I was pregnant and on bed rest (and never even let on that she was bored out of her mind ;), she went SO FAR above and beyond for Liam's Star Wars themed baby shower, and she dipped out of a meeting to show me some love when I called her to freak out on the day that Liam was born. All of these things paint the picture of an amazing and wonderful woman and I love her for it all but the day that I KNEW that I would love her forever was the day that I received these from her for my son:

I freaking LOVE these shoes. They gave Angela the perfect way to show that she knew us, she knew Liam, and that she was excited for us and all of our new adventure as a little family. Liam wears them every time we leave the house! They are easy to get on, super stylish (for a nerd's child anyway), they keep his freaking socks on, and they are not easily kicked off! Liam is a sock Houdini so any shoe that helps remedy said Houdini-ism is a winner in my mind. I love these shoes so much that I just had to find out what they were about and where they came from.

These gifts from God are called Robeez. They come in styles for boys and girls and they size appropriately for newborns, creepy crawlers, and walkers! They top out at around 4 years old. They have Sesame Street characters, Star Was characters, the standard monkeys, kitties, bears, and lions, and they have dressier styled shoes as well. They are designed around the idea of mimicking bare feet and supporting the growth of tiny feet, not constricting them. By promoting balance, growth, and protection of little tooties the Robeez company has created a unique and wonderful product.

The Robeez Company has three main variations of their wonderful shoes:

• Robeez Soft Soles (which Liam has)- designed to stay on and keep feet happy, ideal for everyday wear
• Ages: 0-4
• Stages: Kicking, crawling, cruising, walking
• Activities: Indoor & light outdoor use, pre-school/daycare, gymnastics/dance
• Easy on/Stays on: Elasticized ankle design assures they stay on
• Durable Comfort: High quality leather and materials for both comfort and durability
• Skid-resistant Sole: Textured suede sole prevents slipping
• Great for foot development: Soft, flexible sole
• Robeez Mini Shoez- have a stylish "real shoe" look which make these the perfect compliment to any outfit. Comfort never looked so good
• Ages: 3-18 months
• Stages: crawling, kicking, cruising, beginner walker
• Activities: Special occasions, play on the driveway, playgroup, daycare
• Easy on/Stays on: Elasticized back AND adjustable fastener
• Premium Quality: High quality leather and materials with detailed finishing
• Water-Repellant Sole: Non-slip sole perfect for indoor and outdoor wear
• Comfortable: Flexible sole and cushioned foam insole
• Robeez Eco Collection- made from premium "green" materials with careful attention to their impact on the environment. Available in Soft Soles and 1st Stepz.
• Lining: Naturally tanner leather
• Printing: Water Soluble Inks 
• Outsole: Naturally tanner suede
• Upper Canvas: 100% organic cotton canvas

So far, Sean and I have only tried the Soft Soles but I can't WAIT to try the other variations. I'm especially excited for the Oscar the Grouch winter boots for next year!

That about wraps it up for Payday Friday! I hope you look into using these awesome little shoes for your own kiddo or as a unique and personal gift for someone else. :) If you're not racing over to buy the shoes, what ARE you doing for Payday Friday? Got any big, strange, or completely normal purchases planned for today? Are you finally going to be able to buy something you've been saving up for? If not, how far away are you from that dream purchase?

Have a great day everyone and TGIF! :D

Tempting Tuesday #4

Dear Monster,

   Your Dad and I have decided to purchase the Baby Signing Time pack for you! After reading through how the program will grow with you and us, we got SO excited! I also talked with Miss Alyssa and read her wonderful blog regarding the pack as she is working through it with your buddy Jonah. We think it is going to be fantastic! We can't wait to communicate with you in such a unique and fun way. The site says that about 80% of children who used the program were advanced readers too! WOO! I can't wait!
~~~

Hello readers! *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* It's Tempting Tuesday and I am so so so happy about this author! I started reading her novels when one of my fellow "Dangerous Hero Addicts" over at Goodreads recommended her. I asked for an author with a great sense of humor and some not-so-cheesy writing and MAN does this author meet and exceed all of my expectations!

So, welcome to the Tempting Tuesday crew:

Tessa Dare

I just cannot say enough about this author! She is like comfort food. I'm drawn to her mainly because she writes simple stories that revolve around these profound characters that just absorb you into the story. From page one I absolutely cannot wait to learn everything about the world, characters, and series in general. 

Tessa Dare fell in love with books while she moved from place to place to place as a child. She says her only constants were the characters in the books she read and the characters in her head (which, apparently, still speak to her daily). It took me a couple times of seeing authors talk about the "characters in their heads" and then asking my husband about his head characters to realize that this is a pretty standard thing. I guess when you're meant to be a writer you just have random plot lines and characters floating around up there and eventually you put them down on paper. Tessa Dare did, and thank goodness for that.

Amongst her fans are the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award (which she has won twice), the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (which she has been a finalist for twice), Booklist Magazine (which named her one of the "new stars of historical romance"), and many other countries (her books have been contracted to be translated into 10 different languages).

One thing that Tessa Dare does that I so wish some other historical romance authors would do is relate to her modern day readers. She is most notably doing this in her newer Spindle Cove Series. In this series she created a fictional seaside resort for "unconventional women" (aka women who were pursuing knowledge and even *gasp* a career during the Regency Era). On her website she states that she had the most fun writing the "the strong-willed, unsuspecting men who find their hearts ensnared by these unlikely heroines". I have the first two books of this series sitting on my dresser as we speak. I'm just waiting...waiting...waiting...for Liam to nap so that I can do some power reading through those books, which critics are already raving about. The first Spindle Cove novel, A Night to Surrender, received critical acclaim, including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist. The digital-only release Once Upon a Winter’s Eve: A Spindle Cove Novella spent four wonderful weeks on the USA Today bestseller list. The next Spindle Cove installment, A Week to be Wicked (which I am already drooling over), will be available March 27, 2012 from Avon Books.

So, if I have convinced you to at least give her a try, here are her series:

The Wanton Dairymaid Trilogy (which I am currently reading and LOVING)

The Stud Club Trilogy (read it- adored it! Especially Lily and Julian's Book)

The Spindle Cove Series (on my to-do dresser)

If you give her a try, let me know how it goes. What are you currently reading? Anything you're excited about reading here soon?

Happy Tempting Tuesday everyone!! <3

***Special Note: Please remember that most of the titles and covers of books in the historical romance genre are cheesy. It's gonna happen. Be prepared to look beyond the name and cover to the awesome books within!***

How I Know I'm A Mother...(besides the obvious)

Dear Monster,

   I didn't realize how very much I have changed since becoming your Mom! The changes are numerous and most of them are small but there are a couple that really caught me by surprise. Either way, I love you and I love me and life has been better than I ever could have imagined since you joined us.
~~~

Hello readers! Sorry for the lack of Payday Friday. Things have been a little chaotic since I got home from my visit with my Mom. So, I'm hoarding my favorite product until this coming Friday and today I'm going to review all of the lovely(?) ways that my son has changed me as a person. I was thinking about this list a couple of days ago when a friend of mine mentioned that I seemed "calmer" now that Liam is here. I stared at her in bald-faced shock because I truly feel like I have been flying by the seat of my pants for the last year. 2011 was the year of me learning that, no matter how valiantly I may try, there are certain things I just do not have control over. This has left me wondering who the hell DOES have control over said things but...we'll discuss that on a different day. Today, is about my list. Hopefully other Mommies can agree with some of it but, if not, I'm okay with my new insanity. ;)

The Top 25 Reasons That I Know I'm A Mother

1) My new accessories consist of boogers, spit up and drool.

2) Liam starts to throw up and I hold out my hands to catch it because, usually, I'm no where near a burp cloth. Then I hold a crying Liam, getting puke in my hair and all over my clothes but, in the end, that's the least of my concerns. Gross, yes, but not until I think about it later.

3) Going grocery shopping alone is now considered "getting some ME time".

4) My six month old son has more clothes than I do.

5) I pick Liam's  boogers and it's no big deal...to me anyway.

6) Okay, I admit it, I actually enjoy driving the Mommy Mobile!

7) I know a million and a half things to clean with baby wipes.

8) I feel the need to stick a binky in the mouth of anyone that's whining...anyone.

9) I can go from wanting to rip my hair out with frustration to crying over baby pictures in 2.5 seconds.

10) Through sheer force of will, I can put off needing to pee for up to 12 hours.

11) ‎"What kind of poop was it?" will ALWAYS turns into an hour long conversation that can involve laughing, crying, and sighs of frustration.

12) It is now 100% normal to find binkies, burp cloths, teething toys, and bottles in my purse. Even during Sean's days with Liam.

13) I have resigned myself to the fact that, for now, uninterrupted nap time excites me more than uninterrupted sexy time. (This would bother me more if I knew that Sean felt differently...but, for now, we both REALLY enjoy our naps)

14) Sneeze pee.

15) The last thing I do on a vacation is relax.

16) I have learned and mastered the intricate dance that is "Avoiding the Bouncer/Mat/Toys/Excersaucer/Play Arches/Animals/Rogue Bottles/Binkies that are on my living room floor".

17) I know what the "About to Puke Face" looks like...and it's not because of too many nights partying.

18) I enjoy seeing people's baby pictures now...when the hell did that happen?

19) Instead of getting angry and exasperated with parents when their child is having an epic meltdown a couple of isles over, I just feel so so so bad for them. 

20) I LOOOOOOOVE shopping for baby food! I have NEVER been so excited for mushed up vegetables, fruits, and meats.

21) My body doesn't know how to sleep passed 630am anymore. That's IF I make it that long.

22) I know the complete and overwhelming joy that the simple phrase "Sleeping Through the Night" brings.

23) I don't know how to relax without the little fussing/talking/burping/pooping sounds that Liam makes all day.

24) Everything in my home has a fine layer of drool coating it. Even if you can't see it, it's there.

25) Last but not least, I wake up, go through my day, and go to bed with a feeling of being whole. Never felt anything quite like it. Don't know how I'd ever live without it.

So there you have it folks: My Top 25 Reasons That I Know I'm A Mom! Is there anything you'd add to my list??? If you had to make a list what would it be for?

Anywho, I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I spend it working. Blah. For the next two weeks I will be soaking up every second that I have with my tiny family because, as of March 11th, it's back to full time work for me. So nervous and excited! One day soon I'll do a blow-by-blow of what I do at work all day!

Liam had an amazing day with Daddy yesterday so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that he decides to give me a good day today! I hope everyone enjoys their Monday! :D

Happy 6 Months Monster!

Dear Monster,

   Today you are, technically, six months old! I can't believe it's been half a year since you graced us with your presence. I have, very selectively, blocked out a bunch of those early months due to stress or exhaustion but there are some mental snap shots that I will never forget. I can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds for us. We love you so so so much Tiny Monster. ;)
~~~

Hi readers! Well, I made it safely home from Woodland Park! Huzzah! I can't even begin to explain how nice it was to stay up there with my Mom and be able to watch my tiny man bond with his Bug. My mom let me sleep in a couple of times and took over while I napped a few times. It was amazing! So much fun! I will post pictures and blog about how lovely it is to have such an amazing Mom here to help us out on a later date but today...today my little man is 6 months old and this one is all for him!

So, let's see...Liam's life in pictures thus far.

This was his birthday!

This was, quite possibly, the scariest day of Sean and my lives. I was told around noon on this day that my preeclampsia had progressed to a dangerous degree and that the doctors were concerned that I may start having seizures. So, onward to a C-section! Liam came out at 30 weeks and 2 days (2 1/2 months early). He was 2lbs 7oz and 15 1/4" long. The doctors told us that he probably wouldn't cry due to premature lungs but he showed them by hollering at us while they were trying to listen to his heart.

Fast Forward: One month

He was still very very tiny but when he turned one month old we were finally able to try bottle feeding! He took to it like a natural. Because he was so small we had to start with very tiny amounts but once he figured it out, he progressed like it was his JOB!

Fast Forward: Two months

When we finally brought Liam home he was still on oxygen and he still had pretty severe acid reflux. After several weeks of Sean and I staying awake for 24-48hrs at a time with only 3-4hrs of sleep in between, we came across a sale at Target! (Bless you Target for the many gifts you bring to our lives) They had a swing that was one sale and when you bought the swing the bouncer was free! These two products saved our lives and our marriage. Wonderful! Once we got his sleep schedule figured out, things started to progress rapidly!

Fast Forward: Three months

Our first big trip! Around the time Liam turned 3 months we were scheduled to be at the Hopkins Family Thanksgiving. We were a little nervous because it would be the longest trip we had taken since bringing him home. Ahhh! But, as we had hoped, he was a freaking superstar! He didn't fuss, he let everyone hold him, he ate like a champ, then fell asleep right before we headed home. I mean, COME ON! Best. Kid. Ever. He got to meet his Great Grandma and he just smiled and smiled! We thought we were the luckiest people in the world! It turns out that, when he travels, Liam is just a very pleasant baby. :)

Fast Forward: Four months

Merry Christmas! This was the first time we were able to do family pictures and they turned out great! It was also the first time Liam experienced really cold wind...not great. He was a trooper though. We got our shots then he went inside and crashed. :)

Fast Forward: Five months

Look at those red eyebrows! And the hair! We love it! To celebrate him turning 5 months, and him being a "supported sitter", we started solid foods! Woo! He LOVES peaches, pears, and prunes. He HATES green beans, peas, and squash. He's pretty indifferent to carrots, sweet potatoes, and bananas. That is all we know so far...but it's enough to start making our own baby food! Once he is a "sitter" we will begin mixing our own foods for him. So excited!

Hello SIX MONTHS!

Okay...seriously...I adore this picture. Gotta love the Zoolander face. Liam is 6 months old today. If you're wondering why he doesn't look like a 6 month old, it's because he isn't...technically. If you go according to conception and when he was SUPPOSE to be born, he's 3 1/2 months old right now. He is right on track for this age, which is wonderful, but trying to explain to a stranger that he is 6 months but really only 3 1/2 months is obnoxious. So, for the first year of his life we will be referring to him as his adjusted age and once it actually starts to matter (like on his first birthday) we will switch it around. Now that you're thoroughly confused, here is an update on what our little monster is doing:

ROLLING

He cries before, he cries during, but once he's rolled himself over it's all smiles, stares, and drool. :P

SMILING

I mean, come on...looks at those cheeks!

PULLING OBJECTS TOWARD HIM

Even his Grandma's hair.

SLEEPING...ANYWHERE

He's got it rough guys...geez.

RECOGNIZING AND GRASPING TOYS

This kid loves his elephant.

SUPPORTED SITTING

Geez Mom, I got this. Relax.

BEING ADORABLE

My happy Mountain Man!

So, here we are, six months left until he's one year old and plowing through his adjusted developmental milestones. We, literally, cannot wait to see what he'll be doing when we head over the mountains to see the other side of his family for Easter! Everyday this kid does something new and, sometimes scary, for his parents but we wouldn't trade it for the world. :D

Tomorrow is vaccine day for my little man. ACK! What are your plans for tomorrow? It's going to be PAYDAY FRIDAY here at Mom and Monster! Can't wait to tell you guys about my new favorite product!!

Motoring Momma Monday

Dear Monster,

Over the river and through the woods
To Grandmother's house we go!
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
Through white and drifted snow

Over the river and through the woods
Oh how the wind does blow
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go

[Everybody now]
Over the river and through the woods
To Grandmother's house we go
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
Through white and drifted snow

Over the river and through the woods
Oh how the wind does blow
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go

[Instrumental]

Over the river and through the woods
And through the barnyard gate
We seem to go extremely slow
It is so hard to wait
~~~

Good morning readers! This morning Liam and I will be traveling to my Mom's house where we'll be hanging out until Wednesday. This is the longest trip we'll have taken so far and *gasp* it's without Daddy! Yep, we're leaving Dad at home as a belated Valentine's Day gift. Three whole days to just sit around, work on his writing, and probably watch all of the Tom Cruise movies I refuse to watch with him. ;)

So, I'm going to give you a glimpse into the mind of a traveling mother! Here's what is going through my mind right now:

1) I need to leave by 1200pm........It's 1130am.

2) Formula

3) Diapers & wipes

4) At least two outfits per day and jammies for each night

5) GAH! SOCKS!

*deep breath* Almost lost it there for a second

6) Which toys?

7) Do I bring the bouncer?

8) How many binkies? I know I'll lose at least 2 while I'm there

9) The swaddle and a blanket...but which blanket?

10) Do I bring his play mat?

11) WHERE WILL ALL OF THIS FIT??

*deep breath* Okay...it's totally fine...

12) Almost forgot about burp clothes and bibs....how many of those freaking things will I need?

13) Solid foods...wait...did my Mom say she had those?

14) WAIT! WHAT DOES MY MOM ALREADY HAVE UP THERE???

*calls Mom*

15) Jeep carrier

16) 3 bottles

17) Oh crap, I have to switch the laundry to the dryer

*switches laundry*

18) Have to bring Alyssa her slings

19) Bulb syringe

20) Tylenol

21) Gas Drops

22) How long ago did he eat? He likes to throw up if we travel too soon after eating

*throws an extra burp cloth in the car seat*

23) Do I bring his vibrating frog? He loves that thing...hm...

24) Which teething toy is his favorite right now?

*throws the red teething toy in the bag...pulls it out....puts the yellow one in...wait...*

25) Did I already get the formula?

26) Almost forget the camera

27) Which shoes?

28) Almost forgot his jackets...

29) Did I already grab his binkies?

*throws an extra binky in the car seat*

30) Remember to stop by the library on your way out.

31) I just realized I haven't even packed for myself yet....................

Well, now that I have thoroughly thrown myself into "panic attack" mode, I'm going to pack for myself. Do you have a packing routine? Are you as scatter brained as I am when you're packing for a trip?

I probably won't have much time to write while I'm up in the mountains with my Mom and the Monster (I mean...she DOES have a hot tub), so I'll be on hiatus until Thursday! I hope you all have a wonderful Tempting Tuesday (have you tried any of the authors?) and that you get to relax on Hump Day! See you all again on Thursday!

Adventures in Baby Swaddling Part 2

Dear Monster,

   Your escape artist days are over! ha ha! ;)
~~~

Good morning readers! This morning, I am ecstatic! Why? Because THE SWADDLE WORKS! Huzzah!! As you know, last Saturday our new swaddle by the Pea Wee Baby Co. arrived! So, we tested it out the first night and found that we needed to throw a light blanket over his feet to make sure he stays warm enough to sleep through the night. Once we got that down, it was easy peasy! For those that have never seen or worked with one of these swaddles I made some visual aides! :D The swaddle takes some work to get down but once you have it, you have it and it gets easier and easier every time! So here we go:

How to swaddle a baby using a Pea Wee Baby Co. SwaddleBuddy Sack! 

Step 1:

 You should probably have a baby to swaddle...Just sayin'. Lucky for me, I found this one rolling around my floor. Let's get him swaddled and ready to eat then go to bed!

Step 2:

With this swaddle you'll notice that one end of the swaddle is obviously for the feet (it's closed) and the other end opens up into two separate panels and has velcro ALL over it! At this point I would NORMALLY say "read the freaking instructions" but, trust me, they won't help! The pictures kind of do but the written instructions include phrases like "square panel of fabric loop" and "hook tape". Uh.....huh. SO! I'm gonna make this as easy as I can! Point the end with the two open panels UP and the end that's closed DOWN. Separate the top panel from the bottom panel and fold it down. It should look like the picture above...Velcro, tags, panels, and all!

Step 3:

Lay your kiddo on the swaddle so that their armpits line up with the top seam. Then tuck the feet into the sack.

Step 4:

This is where it gets a little confusing to read, so stay with me. Bring the end of left arm wrap up between your little one's arm and torso. Then wrap the end around the outside of the arm and attach the velco on the end of the wrap to the velcro along the back of the swaddle. It sounds like complete chaos but when you have it in your hands and you're actually looking at it, it makes total sense! It should look like the picture above when you're done with this step. It might be a little awkward getting it wrapped around the arm the first time but practice makes perfect and after a couple of trial runs, Liam was a champ!

Step 5:

Repeat with the other arm wrap and the other arm. The first time you attempt this you may think that it looks completely uncomfortable and that your kiddo's arms are in some crazy position but, I assure you, they're not. I spent several minutes feeling his arms and shoulders and back and neck and everything just to make sure it all felt normal and comfortable and making sure that everything was in it's correct place. The entire time I was searching him for some sign of discomfort Liam was just chillin' out looking at me like I was a crazy person. If you keep the arm wraps and velco a little loose here, all will be well!

Step 6:

Raise the panel that as been bent down this whole time so that it reaches just below your little one's shoulders. You'll see the giant velcro patch facing up on the left side of the panel and the side that attaches to it is facing down on the right side of the panel.

Step 7:

Wrap the left panel underneath.

Step 8:

Attach the velcro on the right side of the panel to it's waiting velcro friend along the back of the swaddle and TADA! Swaddled baby!

Step 9:

Enjoy. ;)

I love love love this swaddle! It encourages Liam to keep his arms at his side throughout the night when before he was working and working to get his arms free. By the morning he was exhausted and he would always have one little fist sticking out. No more! He still has freedom to move his legs, which is great because Liam's a kicker and a bouncer, but I've found that he falls asleep faster without the ability to work at getting those arms free. In the morning we unswaddle him, do a couple quick arm stretches to make sure he is comfortable after sleeping with his arms by his side for the night (these stretches are by NO MEANS necessary- I just do them because I'm crazy and I think stretching helps him grow hehe), then we start our day. The only thing we've had to do a little differently is throw a little blanket over his feet at night so that he stays warm. The swaddle is 100% cotton so it's breathable but on winter nights it can leave the feet just a tiny bit chilled (again, the blanket is not really necessary- I'm just crazy about his body temperature and the calories he burns because he is a preemie). The blanket solved that problem and everything else has been fine! Also, if you browse back through the pictures, you'll notice that Liam wasn't fussing or thrashing or anything while I was wrapping him. He just hung out while I did each step and Sean took pictures. It feels like there are more steps to using this swaddle but Liam fusses a heck of a lot less when we're getting him into it than he has with his previous means of swaddling.

So, I've listed my reasons for loving this swaddle but here are a couple more provided by the Pea Wee Baby Company:

• Easy to use
• Bust-proof
• Baby is unable to kick out of leg pouch
• No scratching from zippers
• Fabric is 100% cotton to reduce risk of overheating
• No loose blankets
• Fabric stretches to prevent inhibition of lung function
• Legs are free to prevent hip dysplasia
• Even pressure across the torso relieves colic
• Baby's arms stay in the preferred swaddle position - at the sides
• Invented by a Mom!

So, there you have it ladies and gents, our new amazing swaddle that works like a dream! I'm so happy we found this hidden treasure and I hope you try it out if you're looking for a new swaddle!

I'm off to make myself lunch, watch some Grey's Anatomy, and enjoy my day off with my Monster while we wait for Dad to come home. I hope you're all having a lovely Friday!