Group Therapy

Group Therapy. No, all of the sleep deprivation, constant diaper changes, crying and nursing (He's hungry AGAIN?!) hasn't quite landed me into intensive counseling. That could be because I have discovered an amazing secret moms have known for centuries. Playdates. You may wonder why would an 11 week old baby need a play date? He doesn't even really notice interact with the other baby. It's because mommy needs a playdate. Play dates are group therapy. Moms come together with their babies and later kids who "play" together while we talk and process the full time craziness it is to be a mom. 

I went to a particular play date where the three of us all had babies 3 months old and under. We all sat around on the floor amidst toys, changing pads, blankets and hooter hiders. We all nursed together, changed diapers together and talked for hours about life. One of the women I hardly knew before the play date and at the end of the day felt as if we shared a deep bond of motherhood. Seriously. Group therapy...umm..play dates are the best.

I recently joined MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) through my church. Someone already knew about this great discovery I recently made and created a huge international organization all about it. MOPS is a much better name than MNGT... Mommies Need Group Therapy. There are over 100 women in the group, but we sit in small groups of 8 or so and talk, I have only been to one meeting so far, but it made me realize how to breathe and adjust my expectations.

Mommy do you need a play date?

No wonder I always would see moms with strollers and little babies grouped together. My sister told me she had a group therapy siting at the aquarium she works at. Moms were all standing in a circle with their babies in ergos or bjorns all swaying side to side chatting. It makes me smile thinking about it. Which is why all moms, especially moms with babies, smile at each other.

Just chillin in his stroller at the park

What you talkin bout mommy?!

With one of my favorite play dates! Will miss you guys up there

Second time at the beach loving San Diego !

Outings with a Little Man

OK - big learning experience here. Going out for any period of time longer than a walk around the block with a little man aka Baby Bobby is akin to packing for a trip. And I mean me packing for a trip, not Eric.
Our first trip out I pretty much packed the entire baby room sans crib and changing table. Alright, that was a little overkill I must admit. But Bobby REALLY might of needed that super cute long pants and fleece outfit in the middle of July just in case. Also, he had his choice of beanies, sunhats and various socks. Don't forget the shoes - even though he is at least a year from walking anywhere. But who doesn't love baby shoes ?! Alright Alright I am exaggerating just a little bit on what I packed ..maybe.

Now that I am a pro mama of 6 weeks. (I took this crash course in newborn care ...)  I have the list narrowed down of essentials which are great for anywhere from a trip to the park with a friend to a day excursion to the lake or beach. Granted, these essentials will most definitely change as my little mushy lump becomes more mobile. This will work for now AND all fits in my super cute giraffe print diaper bag or in other words my new purse: 

1) Burp Cloths - um ya! These are the best, and by that I mean I would put them in my top must haves with a baby. I have many amazing handmade thick ones from some awesome women who actually know how to sew. They really put the Babies R Us burp cloths to shame.

2) A couple of receiving blankets - for those of you who don't know what the heck a receiving blanket is, like me pre crash course, they are basically thin cotton blankets.

3) A couple of onsies. Not only does baby boy need to be prepared for any occasion, a impromptu dinner or a cute baby girl, but he probably will spit up and or his diaper will leak.

4) DIAPERS.

5) Diaper cream - I don't care what anyone says or if other brands have the same active ingredient, I swear by Desitin. 

6) Changing pad

7) Soothie pacifier

8) Wipes - you know for ummm...

9) Antibacterial for Mommy (new addition great for after changing those dirty diapers)

10) Hooter Hider - or as my dad puts it "modesty blanket"(A receiving blanket works just as well thrown over one shoulder) This is necessary to breastfeed baby in public unless you want to flash the world with a look on your face like what? I am feeding my baby! Do you have a problem with that? Don't be coming at me sideways that's hella outta pocket Ima fade you right now biotch! Not that I have had any fantasy of doing that or anything. 

Our first outing with Baby at 1 week old Silver Lake at June Lake, CA

Chillin lakeside 

Notice essentials being used go us!

OK ready to try this Hooter Hider.... in other words the modesty blanket

This is kind of tricky in here. 

Fresh Air! Finally figured it out. Definitely a rookie at this.

Oh PS that splash is Eric throwing Dodger a stick in the lake of course.

Nana

Much more proskill now. Here's how you can also use a receiving blanket to feed a hungry baby instead of having it all hang out.

 Just mommy taking a stroll :)

AND Bobby never fails to remind me that I am far from being proskill mama.
















And the rest of the pictures actually have nothing to do with this post's subject, but I just had to post them because well they are just pretty dang cute!

Going on outings really wears me out mom! 

WHERE THOSEZZ BOOBIEZZ ATZZ?? I CAN HAS MILKZZ?

Dad must be driving....

My Baby Daddy

 WARNING - prepare yourself for a super sappy hormonal blog post! ;)

It seems like just yesterday that I came out of the bathroom, walked into the living room and told Eric that I was pregnant. We sat there with mixed emotions of joy, excitement, disbelief and anxiety. We were going to be parents! Now, that day in December seems a lifetime away. 

While I was pregnant, I often thought about what it would be like to see Eric hold our baby. I got to spend 41 weeks hogging the baby and carrying him 24/7. I wondered what it would be like for his daddy to meet him and to hold him. What would it be like to see Eric as a dad?

During pregnancy, it seems like, and feels like I was the one doing all the work and it was hard for me to feel like Eric was included in the process... I mean it was pretty life changing and let's just say my entire body was lost to little Bobby for a while.

Here I am 4 days before Bobby was born. Wow! Can you say huge?! I was ready for my baby daddy to meet our little man. 

It's just the most crazy and wonderful thing seeing Eric become a father. I think about our relationship over the past 8  years and all the adventures we have had together. It reminds me of when we were first married. I didn't think that getting married would really change our relationship and how we felt about each other because we were so in love. However, getting married was a huge statement of our commitment to each other that our relationship did change. Somehow, we became closer.

Now, as I see Eric holding our son and being a daddy, I am amazed. Watching him in the role of a parent to a baby we created makes me love him even more.

Here is the moment I always thought of during my pregnancy, the first time Eric would hold his son. 

Just chilin by the BBQ

In Daddy's lap

Cuddle time!

The boys of my life!

Hey there!

Daddy's little monster

Dressing Bobby

Splish Splash

Bath time. Eric and I took a birthing class, even though I swore I could read up on everything I needed to know online or in books, I signed up for a birthing class at the last minute. ( Just in case Eric needed to learn something.) I remember clearly the night we were learning about newborn care. I raised my hand and asked, "I have heard that giving a newborn baby a bath is really scary because they are all slippery and squirming. What's the trick to make it easy and fun?" The teachers from first five and and pediatrician speaking that night just kind of looked at Eric and me. The response was, basically, it is scary to give a newborn a bath. period. Here is another instance where I thought I could plan and be prepared to be the mom who knew exactly how to get around a task that is just plain tricky. 

Bobby and I came home from the hospital and the next day, Eric and I decided it was time to give our little bundle of joy a bath. We got all set up with our newborn bath tub, baby washcloths, baby bath towel, and baby head to toe body wash. Previously, I was under the impression I could just give Bobby a bath in the sink, use my body wash, a regular washcloth, and dry him with a dish towel.  All of the baby stuff here is actually necessary. I can't imagine handling this slippery little man in a sink.*** Just so you know, these pictures were taken the morning after our first night with a baby. Let's just say we got no sleep. Hello sleep deprivation....my new nemesis, but I digress. Onto the pictures: 

  I have never concentrated so hard on anything. I guess two college degrees and a graduate degree don't make it any easier.

Obviously, Bobby is NOT interested in his rubber ducky.


As you can tell, Bobby is not too happy about this bath time adventure! I felt so bad for him and his little red face. 



And yes, I hate to tell all of you moms to be, it is true. Giving a newborn a bath is difficult and a two person job.

All clean! And hopefully not scarred for life just yet... 

Here he is recovering in his little swaddle. Swaddling is pretty similar to wrapping a burrito or a tamale. We say, let's taco the baby! 








Now,  things do get better or easier or maybe I am just getting used to handling a soaking wet screaming newborn. Or maybe I am just getting used to functioning on 2 hours of sleep at a time... no seriously though, I have a series of photos to prove bath time has gotten fun and easy! Here's Bobby's bath time at 3 weeks old. 

Hmm.. mom, I'm not sure if I like this, but I'll give it a shot. Oooh, what's that shiny object over there?

I can handle this...

This warm water is pretty nice. 

Yay bath time!! 

Ok... mom are you really taking pictures of me or are we going to finish this bath thing?? 

 

Watch out mom! This is pretty slippery jeez!!!

All clean! Gimme some ... pound it!

 Yep much better than the first bath. 

I ha