I'm gonna jinx myself

I don't even want to write this...I know that the second I put it out there for you all to see, it's gonna end. But here goes- Jennie has slept ALL night, every night, for the past week. From last Sunday night to this Sunday night, Jake and I have enjoyed 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Could be many reasons for this-

1. What we were dealing with a couple weeks ago was actually a growth spurt, and not a teething event. Unlikely...she has all the symptoms of cutting a new tooth, just no new tooth.

2. After witnessing my daughter nap through one of the most rambunctious days in her classroom (picture day at daycare= crazy kids!!) and the fact that she doesn't nap well at home, we realized maybe she likes lots of noise when she sleeps. So we put a radio in her room and ever since she has slept all night. I knew she was going to be a country music lover from the time she was in my belly- but the fact that she is sleeping while her "boyfriend" Luke Bryan and others sing to her makes me chuckle. So this is definitely a reason why she is sleeping.

3. You're gonna laugh at this one- she has an egg hanging above her door. Ok, maybe you're not laughing- maybe you're going "what the hell?!" Here's the story behind that- one of our friends is from Kentucky and she is always telling us old wives' tales from the south concerning babies and parenting. Her big one when I was pregnant was "don't buy a crib til after 20 weeks" (a superstitious story about losing a baby in utero before that time). When we visited her one day during the week of Hell I described in an earlier post, she told us to hang an egg inside one of her socks above her door. She didn't actually explain the story behind it, she just told us to do it. So we did. When you're in the middle of a hair-pulling, no sleep, screaming fit (and your daughter is doing the same) you'll try anything. So we did. And guess what- it worked. She has slept so good ever since. And guess what again? It's still there. It's been nearly 2 weeks...you would think it would start to stink. I'm going to be so worried when I have to change it out- what if it messes up the sleeping streak?! Nooooo!!!! Sorry if you come in our house and it smells like rotten eggs. But if it means my daughter is sleeping, let it stink.

Know any old wives' tales or stories concerning babies or parenting? Share them here...love hearing them all!

And this is my baby girl on her 7 month birthday :)

I'm happy to announce....

everyone, take a deep breath....

I SURVIVED!!! Yea, bet you didn't think I was gonna say that. What I'm trying to say is, I survived last week, one of the toughest of my new-mom life so far. From Sunday til Saturday, my daughter was kidnapped and replaced with a baby who didn't sleep, didn't eat right, and screamed...ALL. DAY. LONG. Pretty sure it was teething, but still no new tooth to show for it. I'm so happy my real baby is back- smiling, laughing, eating like a beast. I really thought that by Thursday night I was going to lose all my hair whether it be from her pulling on it while she was screaming or me actually pulling it out myself, but I'm intact.

A big thanks to my mom and dad for watching Jennie Saturday night while we held a birthday bash for Jake, Chris and Amber. We celebrated til 4am...it's been a LONG time since Jake and I have stayed up all night (for fun anyway). Tons of friends came out, lots of drinks were served (mostly to Amber lol) and I realized that I have some pretty awesome people in my life. Here is just a few of them :)

And I promise Chris is actually having fun...

Well, a short post tonight, since now my daughter is trying to tell us it is bath time- how is it 8:30pm already?!- hope I didn't scare ya too much with my big announcement ;)

Fighting it

Day 6 of teething. Jennie slept all night Wednesday and Thursday nights...last night was not so good. Jennie went to bed at 9, but woke up at 1:30am and was awake til about 3am coughing on all the drool that is caused by teething. She was fine when I was standing up, holding and rocking her. The second I put her down in her crib, she would fidget, wiggle and cough. Did this for about an hour and a half. Teething is such a hard thing to handle, as I've said before, mostly for one reason- the baby's worst pains always seem to happen in the middle of the night. And at 2am, it doesn't matter that millions of other babies are keeping their parents up for the same reason- you feel so alone when you look out your baby's bedroom window and see all the lights in your neighborhood out. Alone and helpless. There really isn't a decent product on the market to soothe those little gums...Tylenol does help, but Orajel doesn't do anything for Jennie and we still haven't had a chance to go get those teething tablets everyone is raving about. Mostly because I don't want to risk a meltdown in public with an inconsolably-in-pain baby. Going to lunch with some co-workers today...wish me luck!

Tonight is the epic birthday bash I have planned for Jake, his best friend (and Jennie's godfather) Chris and my best friend Amber, and I'm fighting the urge to tell my parents they don't have to watch Jennie tonight. I know they can handle her at her worst but that guilt of handing her over when I know she isn't at her best kills me. And as much as I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends I know my mind won't be 100% with them. Every mom gets those feelings when their child isn't around- you hear them crying when they aren't there, you all the sudden stop because you just know something isn't right. I'm sure it's going to happen multiple times tonight and hopefully I can fight the urge to text my mom to make sure everything is ok. Because it will be ok. But if you're at my house tonight and you notice that I haven't been able to get my phone out of my hand you'll know why. And then you can take a shot on my behalf- I deserve it after the week I had** :)

**I don't drink- that's why you can take the shot :)

Not again

My daughter is teething. Again. She had her first tooth pop through a couple weeks ago, and if she isn't teething, then somebody needs to return my happy, smiling daughter. A fever, unstoppable drool, inconsistent appetite, horrible gas...all of the above have contributed to a baby who, if she isn't being held or constantly entertained, is screaming bloody murder. And in the past 48 hours, it feels like she has slept a total of 30 minutes. Jennie's schedule is pretty easy to figure out- awake for 2-3 hours, then takes a 20-40 minute nap. Yesterday, she was awake from 2:40-7pm, when we finally put her in the car just to see if she would nap. She slept til we got to Walgreens in Rochelle (a 15-20 minute drive), was awake during our shopping trip, slept a little bit on the way home, then decided to NOT go to bed til 10:30pm. Oh, and guess who woke Daddy up at 3am, then woke mommy up at 4am, and Daddy got up with her again at 5am. Exhausted doesn't even begin to cover it.

What kills me is how different Jennie acts while teething. We get so many comments about how she is always smiling, or how happy or well behaved she is. One of her daycare teachers even said "She musta been born with a smile on her face!" But when she is teething, smiles are few and far between. And guess what- mother's guilt kicks in. Why can't I make her feel better? Why is she screaming like this? Do I give her Tylenol or let her ride it out? About a million other questions fly through my mind (and I'm sure Jake's too).

Hopefully soon we get this situation figured out because my life is this equation: teething baby + busy work schedule + no sleep in 48 hours = one exhausted set of parents. Jake's birthday is on Thursday, and I would love to give him a full night's sleep or a new tooth in his daughter's mouth. But guess what? We will more than likely end up getting home from work, taking turns carrying Jennie in circles around the house and possibly eating a cold dinner around 9pm. Happy early birthday babe :)

Don't drink the water!

If you are a female, you're more than likely pregnant right now. Seriously, EVERYBODY has either a) announced that they are pregnant or b)updated their Facebook page with belly pictures. Can't say much...obviously I drank the same water because I now have a 6 month old. And I see all the pictures and Facebook statuses from these newly expecting girls with such high hopes and dreams, and I used to be one of them. "Can't wait to be a mommy- I want to see what this little bundle of joy looks like!" or "Found the cutest matching stroller-carseat-high chair set!" Good grief...to be so naive again. I remember the days of registering for my baby shower and Jake and I just went up and down the aisles clicking on everything- these companies do a good job of making it seem like you NEED a $12,000 baby monitor (it has an LCD screen and can Tazer any intruder!) Ok, over-exaggeration, but you get my point. How are you supposed to know what you need and don't need? I'll make it simple-

1. A crib
2. Diapers
3. Wipes
4. Carseat

Everything else, seriously, is just extra. Oh, and another piece of advice- if you plan on having more than one baby, buy the "big" stuff in a gender neutral color.

Another status that made me laugh recently from a girl who is pretty close to popping- "I just want to sleep! This baby can't figure out where he wants to be, and I haven't slept right in days!"

Ha...ha...ha...you think that by that baby being taken out of you, you will be able to sleep? To be that hopeful. This baby has the right idea:

Now I'm not saying you'll never sleep again (although it sure as hell feels like it). But your idea of a good night's rest goes from 8-10 hours uninterrupted to being able to sleep from 10pm-4am with only one wake up call.

And I'm also not saying that you can't go buy some cute, unnecessary items for your bundle of joy- Lord knows I have spent tons of money on International Harvester clothes and accessories for Jennie. But listen to me, and other experienced parents when they tell you what to splurge on and what to save on. We kinda know what we're talking about ;) As an expecting mom, a new mom, and even experienced parents, we receive advice on a daily basis and your best bet is to listen to it. If you're not ready to listen, then don't drink the water...

Another great giveaway!

As a mom, I'm always looking for deals. Whether it's for diapers, food, clothes, or anything really, anytime I save my little family even just a buck, I feel like I've helped out alot. One of my friends and fellow bloggers, Pam, is doing a Thirty-One giveaway. If you aren't familiar with the Thirty-One brand, they offer trendy and affordable purses and bags featuring super cute designs! My boss gave us a few bags for Christmas, and I love each one of them. The bags have many uses...I couldn't live without my large tote to carry my coupons and couponing supplies while grocery shopping! Here are just a few of the bags and designs you can choose from:

I love blogging- getting to share my daily experiences as a new mom helps me in more ways than one. And I also love reading other blogs and Pam's is definitely one I don't miss. Her blog reminds me of the days of being child free and worrying about what bedroom set I'm going to get :) Check out her blog at www.somethingshiny24.blogspot.com...it's good for a laugh or two, or just one of those "what the f**k" moments. Don't forget to tell her The Cupcake In My Belly sent you!

Copy and paste this URL into your browser to enter her giveaway:

http://somethingshiny24.blogspot.com/2012/04/i-think-i-will-do-giveaway.html?showComment=1334175563417#c6320593984993376153

Our first Easter

What a weekend- I don't think I have sat down once! From 7:30am yesterday til 8pm tonight, my little family has been all over the place. Yesterday morning, I ran a 3k race with a set of parents from the daycare I work at- 1.8 miles in 22 minutes, and somehow walked away with a medal for placing in the top 3 in my age group. Obviously, I didn't have much competition, but I'm still pretty proud of myself for finishing a 3k. Next goal: complete a 5k (Brat Fest 5k, here I come!!) After the race there was an Easter egg hunt, which was Jennie's first. Big thanks to McKynlee for letting her help :)

Me and my baby girl...don't mind me lookin-a hot mess after the race

After Jennie and I returned home from the race and egg hunt, we headed to Auntie Amber's house to support her during a rough day. Her step-dad was killed in a car accident, and yesterday they held an auction to sell off his things. Amber and I have been friends since we were babies, and she has been through more than her fair share of hard times (read more about our friendship and our history by looking under January's posts and reading "The Good and The Bad-This One Is For You Amber"). Watching 15 years of her memories being sold off was almost too much to bear- nothing can prepare you for the loss of a loved one so suddenly and unexpectedly, and I don't know what's worse- the fact that they are gone or all that you have to do and take care of once they are gone. Lots of tears were shed...but we also had lots of laughs later last night when she came over with a few friends. Hopefully we took her mind off everything for awhile. 24 years of friendship right there...love you Amber!

Easter Sunday today- our first Easter with Jennie. Easter brunch at Jake's grandparents, and the afternoon spent doing yard and housework. I realized today that it's absolutely pointless to have Jake in the yard and me in the house trying to clean. When you have a baby, only one person can really concentrate on the job they are doing. In the time it took Jake to load a truck bed full of firewood, go the gas station and get fuel for the quad, and then use the quad to pull out three large bushes from our backyard, I was able to put away Jennie's laundry. Yes, it took me over an hour to put away one baby's close. Know why? Oh wait, 5 minutes into putting clothes away, it was time for a bottle. After the bottle, she needed a diaper. And after her diaper, she apparently thought it was time to play with mommy. Every time I set her down so I could fold her clothes, she grabbed that said piece of clothing and tried to shove it in her mouth (oh, they joys of teething). Speaking of housework- if you know of anyone willing to be my maid, send them my way.****<-----see disclaimer at bottom

Another exciting development for the weekend? Jennie's first tooth poked through. And now her upper gums are swollen (both left and right sides). So corny, but I can't believe how fast time is going. How can my baby girl be 6 and a half months old already?

****Disclaimer- I'll pay you in fond memories of vacuuming two large dogs' hair, sinks full of dishes with who knows what on them, and lots of diaper-genie refilling. Anyone interested in this position, please call the household chore fairy Jake seems to think lives here that does all this :)

What do dads think?

Lots of my readers are moms. I love it- you girls know exactly what I'm going through, whether it has happened to you just a few months ago or 18 years ago. But there are alot of things I wonder about when it comes to being a dad. So here goes-

When you see a guy riding his Harley down the highway, do you ever go "Wow, to be that guy!" I do the same thing when I see girls around my age out shopping, or running, or out with their friends, able to wear cute black shirts that don't have snot or spit up on them. Sometimes I look at them with such jealousy- Wow, I wish I could be that girl right now! And moms, don't even try to say you have never thought something like that. So I wonder if dads do the same thing- "that lucky son of a bitch!" Is that the thought that runs through their heads when they see a guy, gloriously alone on a Harley?

Along those lines...

When you see a guy driving a minivan, do you go "awwww, that poor guy!"? Must have got suckered into buying one by his wife when all he wanted to do was get himself an Expedition or Tahoe to haul the kids around (or whatever he REALLY wanted, but just agreed to buy to get his wife to shut up).

Jake always asks me this- "How are girls able to carry babies on their hips?" And I noticed this- when guys hold babies, they generally hold them like footballs or sacks of groceries. Girls can hold babies just about any way- on the hip, in front of us, around our neck, attached to our legs. Guys aren't so sure of themselves it seems like, even when it's their own kids.

Dads, do you ever wonder how your baby mamas would be able to get the car seat base in the car without you? Or put the crib or any of your kids' toys together? I know anytime something like that needs to be done for Jennie, Jake does it. I'm sure I could figure it out by looking at the directions, but it's just easier to be like "Jaaaaaakkkkeee! I can't do it!"

Another question Jake ponders- How the hell did our baby fit inside your belly? He is constantly picking Jennie up, holding her over my stomach and going "How did you ever fit in there?" I wonder the same thing, but I was able to feel feet jamming into my lungs and hands poking body parts I didn't even know I had. Pregnancy is such a mysterious thing, and for guys, I can't even imagine what they think it feels like.

I'm sure I missed other questions dads ask themselves and each other when moms aren't around- oh yea, do dads discuss their baby's bowel movements with each other the way moms do?- but now it's dinner time. Jake made steaks and potatoes- he is such a good wife :)