$35 Expressiva.com Giveaway!

Are you interested in winning a $35 gift card to Expressiva.com? The website has tons of great clothing, loungewear, and pajamas for nursing mommies. Head over to Hormonal Imbalances at http://hormonal-imbalances.blogspot.com/2010/02/win-35-gift-certificate-to.html for your chance to win!

Check Out This Giveaway!

Babie Dickie is giving away an awesome Bravado Nursing Bra! To enter,  head over to http://babydickey.com/2010/02/11/bravado-nursing-bra-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-4126!

Jackson's Delivery

Jessica from Session Nine did a fantastic job photographing Jackson's delivery. I couldn't have asked for a better gift! Being able to have these pictures to look back at and reflect on is amazing. Jackson's delivery was truly the most blessed moment of my life and these photographs really attest to that. The delivery can be such a blur and having the most important moments on film really helps each moment stand out.

Maternity Pictures

We were so blessed to hire an amazing photography team to chronicle our pregnancy! Session Nine Photography (http://www.sessionninephotography.com/) is a husband and wife team who are not only amazing photographers, but also wonderful people. We shot our maternity shoot on December 18, 2009 in downtown Gilbert. The weather was perfect and there were some really cool places to use as backdrops. As you can see from the pictures Jess and Jason have amazing eyes for really cool shots. We couldn't have been happier!

What a DAY

The swing broke. Jackson hasn't taken a SINGLE nap all day. He's been fussing and crying every time I stop moving. He won't sit in any of the three slings we have. Swaddling isn't working. And he just pooped ALL over me. I love motherhood.

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These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things. . .

1. Kiddapotamus "Swaddle Me" Velcro swaddler- the only thing that calms Jackson down instantly when he's upset.

2. The Happiest Baby on the Block- this video/book literally saved our lives. The techniques calm Jackson down instantly!

3. Fisher Price Newborn Rocker- If Jackson isn't sleeping with me he's in this. I love how it keeps him at an angle, which he definitely prefers for sleeping.

4. Boppy- a necessity for breastfeeding!

5. Baby Daze Ultimate Baby Organizer- I keep track of Jackson's feeding times, how long he eats for, diaper changes, sleep patterns, and weigh-ins all in this handy book. Love it!

6. Lansinoh- have to have this before and after feedings!

7. Womb Sounds Bear- I got this as a gift from a student and Jackson loves it! It plays a combo of white noise and heartbeat to mimic the sounds heard in the womb. You can put it inside a stuffed bear for older babies or just hang the sound machine on the side of the crib.

8. Swing- We use a Fisher Price Cradle Swing and sometimes Jackson sleeps swaddled in it night while I sleep next to him on the couch.

Balding!

Jackson is going bald! He is gradually losing all of the hair on the front of his head, but still keeping the hair in the back! Of course this is normal, but it sure does look funny! He's also growing quickly! Yesterday at the doctor's office he had already gained another 5 ounces since his last weigh-in on Friday to put him at 9 pounds 10 ounces! His little personality is beginning to shine through and he is full of smiles- especially right after eating. :)

Money Worries

Having a baby is expensive. Very expensive. Our hospital bill alone came to over $15,000 and thankfully my health insurance is covering a large chunk of it, but any out-of-pocket costs right now are very tough on our finances. A teacher's salary just doesn't cut it these days. Plus we have to buy Jackson's health insurance on our own because it's ridiculously expensive through our district. And they don't cover any sick baby visits! So if my anxiety wasn't extreme enough already, now I'm worrying about how much it's going to cost to take him to the doctor when he inevitably gets sick. What's the point of having insurance if they don't cover anything?! I am so envious of women who's husbands have jobs that can cover their children. Why can't anything in life be simple? One sick visit to the doctor is 1/4 of my paycheck and then there's the added costs of diapers, wipes, and all of the other baby-related items that are necessities. I would love to be like most people and not have to worry about this stuff. It's so hard to have faith that things will turn out ok when they usually don't when it comes to money. Someday I'd love to have a job where I can adequately provide for my child and give him the things he deserves in life. We'll see if that ever happens.

3 Weeks Already?!

I am cuddling my now three-week old little man as I write this. It's absolutely amazing how much life has completely and utterly changed since his arrival. And I wouldn't have it any other way. If there's one thing that makes your life do a complete 180 it's the birth of a child. It's hard. Sometimes I miss my life before. But then I look down at the package of sweetness cuddled in my lap and I realize things are only getting better. It's like shedding your skin. 28 years of who I was is slowly being shaken off and replaced by a new identity, which isn't always easy and sometimes it's a little painful. Being a new mommy is not about being on cloud nine all the time. It's the hardest work I've ever done. But I couldn't ask for a better baby and after three weeks together I feel like we're finally getting to know each other. I now recognize his different cries and when he's hungry and when he's just fussing. Slowly I am beginning to sleep better with him cuddled up against my chest. Some of my anxiety is fading, but I will always wonder if I'm doing a good enough job. It's just such a huge responsibility, being in charge of another human being's growth and development. I feel lucky to have the help and support of my family to get me through this time and I know we will eventually move out of this challenging newborn stage and into a different phase with its own challenges. I don't want to rush it though. This might be my only child and I know that once it's gone I can never get it back. So I take one day at a time and try to hold on to these moments as they pass.