Poop King

Everyone told me this day would come!!!! Last week Chris told me about he went to change Cater's diaper and poop shot up the back and almost reached his hair. I thought it was hilarious when he told me this because it happened to him and not me. Oh don't worry I got pay back in the worst way. The very next day, after my laughing session, I woke up with Carter at 6:30 am. He had a poopy diaper but not much. So I change his diaper and I turn to put the diaper down and I hear weird noise. HOLY SHIT, literally. The kid had poop go flying across the changing table and somehow got it on the wall (I still can't figure that out). So I'm trying to clean this up as quick as possible and boom he starts peeing everywhere. I screamed so loud it woke Chris up and he came running thinking something was wrong. Oh there was something wrong only he though it was funny!!!

Austin bound to first time shots

Last week we were in Austin to visit Chris' parents. We had such a great time with Chris' mom and dad, they just love Carter to death. I noticed while we were there that Carter started cooing more. It was so cute, he is talker now. While we were there he was making you work for his smiles. He didn't give it up easy, but this week man he is laughing like crazy. I love seeing his personality grow.

On a different note, Carter got his first set of shots last week. I think it hurt me more than it hurt him. When she stuck him the first time I had tears in my eyes. I hated hearing him cry due to his shots. When they were finished we picked him up and he immediately stopped crying. I know we had more shots to go, but I don't think it will get any better for me.

We put Carter in his bumbo for the first time two days ago. He seemed to like it a lot. He can't sit in it more than a few minutes, I don't think his muscles are strong enough yet. We have been putting him in the bumbo for the past 3 hoping hoping to strengthen his muscles. I hope it works because right now he doesn't like tummy time. I think it has to due with his acid reflux. I was reading that when they have reflux they don't like pressure on their tummy's.

Well it wasn't colic

We have had a pretty busy week. My mom came back in town and stayed with us part of the time. Last Saturday Carter went to his first birthday party. My friend Mary's little girl Tatum turned two. She had a pool party for all of the kiddos. My mom came with us and we all got in the pool. Carter did the same thing as before, slept most of the time in the pool. He looked so cute though. After the party we went to my grandparents, my mom's parents, house since the party was in Arlington. My grandma, Nanny, was at the hospital when he was born and went to my house one day to see Carter. However my Papa hadn't met him yet. We had a good time it was great to see how they were with him.

Well, last week Carter started up his "colic" again. We didn't know what to do because he was also rejecting his bottle. He was crying so bad he was sweating so I took his onesie off. I noticed on his back a rash. I called his doctor and they told me to come it that day. It turns out his rash wasn't anything, it was baby acne, he is having withdraw from my estrogen. I noticed today it was gone. She also told us that it wasn't colic but reflux. That's why is was rejecting his bottle. Poor baby! She prescribed us some medicine he takes 3 times a day. It seems to be working. He hasn't been really fussy since or throwing fits. She also told us to start putting rice cereal in his formula and it will help with the reflux. We do this at night and he has been sleeping a lot longer. We usually only have to get up once in the night to do a feeding now. It's been soooo nice.

First time in the pool

We decided to take Carter to the pool today to see how he would do in water. On Saturday my friend Mary is having a pool party for her 2 year old little girl. I was worried how Carter might do so we did a sort of test drive today. Poor baby, the swimming diapers are too big. However I did rig them so that they stay up. Colter, our nephew, is 4 months older than Carter. Colter's mom gave us a lot of 0-3 month clothes including a bathing suit. Thank goodness because I couldn't find a swim suit that small. It is a little big on him but not too bad. He looked so cute in his swimming gear, the hat I bought for him makes me laugh. We also have a sling for the water that is SPF protected. My mother-in-law bought it for us and it worked out so great. We put baby suntan lotion, SPF 100 (I didn't know they made that). He did really well, just looking around and enjoying it. Then the next thing I knew I look down and he was asleep. Goofy boy! Carter woke up and started screaming because he was hungry, we knew it was time to leave. I can't wait to get him back in the water this weekend!!

6 weeks old...

Last Saturday night, July 5th, we decided to go to Chris' Aunt Vickie and Uncle Chris' house to watch the UFC fight. Yes, I actually like watching those fights, guilty pleasure. However, I had doubts about bringing Carter because of his colic. I went back and forth about going, I really didn't want him to throw a fit the whole time we were there. I decided to bring him and hope for the best. I noticed the night before that he really liked his swaddle blanket. Chris and I are both terrible swaddlers, he kicks his feet out and the blanket just falls apart. I did remember that my mother in law bought us a swaddle blanket that you Velcro him in. He loved it. I brought it with us hoping if he started a fit I will wrap him in the blanket. Surprisingly I really didn't need it, he was pretty good (slept most of the time), and no fuss! The next day for the 4th we tried to go watch fireworks. We went and found a spot near Lake Ray Hubbard, we live in Rockwall next to the lake. We sat there forever but no fireworks. We saw some really far away and thought maybe that's it. We decided to leave because we couldn't see them. On the way home we see a sign saying the fireworks on the lake were canceled, of course thats just our luck!

The next few nights he was still fussy, but not nearly as bad as he had been. He did still sound congested so we agreed it was time to take him to the doctor to make sure he was fine. We got there and they weighed him. He was 10 lbs. 3 oz. I couldn't believe it. He is getting so big! He is now in his 0-3 mo. clothes and size one diapers. Anyways, we told the doctor about the fuss and his congestion.

Chris was dead set that he was congested and that's why he has been fussy. I 100% believed it was colic. The doctor told us it sounds like colic. He thinks that Carter isn't breaking down protein in his formula, but there is no way for sure to know what causes colic and how to fix it. He did recommend we switch him to Similac Alimentum. It's been a week now and I think it is working. I was worried at first that it wasn't but he said it might take a week. Now that it's been a week he seems to be doing better. Last night was the first night since he's been colic that he has slept through the night. It was so great! He only woke up for feedings and went straight to sleep. I really hope I'm not jinxing myself and hope this continues.

Chris' mom and dad came into town this weekend and it was nice to have guests. We had a wedding to go to on Saturday so they agreed to come visit and watch him for us. On Friday night his mom offered to take Carter that night so we could get some rest. I was debating whether we should or not.

On one had it would be great to have the rest on the other had I didn't want it to seem like we were pawning our kid off.

Karen insisted on taking him and said she didn't mind so we said yes. I'm so glad we did, it is the first night in 6 weeks we have slept though the night with no interruptions. I'm so thankful Karen took him, thanks Karen!!!!

Saturday was the first time we left Carter for a long period of time, but I had to go to Alexis' wedding. She has been a good friend of mine since I was 16. She looked so beautiful!!!!! Her whole wedding was gorgeous. She had it at the Dallas Arboretum. If you have never been there you must visit sometime. That is where Chrisand I had our engagement photos done.

I was so worried because it was an outside wedding and it had been sprinkling that day. Chris and I arrived about 30 min early and noticed it was lightlysprinkling. I was praying it would stop, and it did!!! Thank goodness, everything was perfect. However, they do say rain on your wedding day is good luck! I'm so happy for the two of them!!!

Colic, What the heck is Colic??????

I thought changing his formula last week was going to be a great idea. On my last blog I talked about how it didn't agree with Carter and we switched back. Well I'm not sure if it was a coincidence or if that formula just messed up his stomach. He has been a holy terror this week. During the day he isn't so bad, but only because he is trying to catch up on sleep since he is getting none of it at night. Believe me I'm trying to make him stay up during the day, but man oh man when he is asleep he is REALLY asleep. There is no waking this guy up, I just wish he slept this good at night. The first three weeks he was a dream baby, he would sleep all night and only wake up about every 3 1/2 hours for a feeding. Then that stupid formula came around and he is crying the night away. We only gave him a couple of bottles and switched back. I did make the nipple holes bigger, because the "bad" formula was thick. When we put him back on the original formula I didn't switch nipples. I thought maybe that's why he was crying, the size was too big. Two days ago I got him brand new nipples to see if there was a change. NOPE, nothing still a holy terror at night. He would literally stay up crying from 12-4 am. I read up on it and thought to myself, hey I think he is colic. Didn't really know what colic was so of course I google it because I'm the google queen. I also have books, so I'm reading up on it that way too (can't always trust the Internet). I read about Gripe Water. I, once again, google Gripe Water because I have no clue what that is. Then I remembered that I have a medicine kit for him I received as a gift. I pray that Gripe Water is in it (it was 2 am so I wasn't going to the store that night to buy it). Yes the kit had it hallelujah, it was there!!! I immediately give it to him. I swear within seconds he is calm. I did think to myself, it might be a coincidence since he had been screaming so long. So the next night (which was last night, also Chris' night to feed him) he begins to get that cry and turning red around 12 am (same time every night, that's what the books said it would be like). Before I go to bed I get the Gripe Water out and give it to him, once again within seconds he is calm. He also had a great night!!!! Holy cow this Gripe Water is amazing. Chris and I agree we are stocking up on this stuff!!!! ( the above pic is me looking for the Gripe water)

On another note, Chris' parents came in town yesterday to stay the night before going to Canadian for 4th of July. It was really great to see them, they are so good with Carter and love him very much. They could only stay one night, however they are coming back next weekend to watch Carter. My good friend Alexis is getting married on the 10th so they said they would drive up to watch him. As much company as we have had, I did like when we were on our own. However, I have to admit I do miss having people around. It's so hot outside I sit at home all day. If I do get out it's just to run up to Target. So needless to say it will be great to have them here next weekend so I can visit with them, plus like I said they are so great with Carter. ( Pic above is Carter with his grandpa)

Exhaustion has finally set in.....

These first few weeks have flown by so quickly. When I came home from the hospital I couldn't help but move around and try to do housework, even though I wasn't supposed to. Laying in a bed and not moving much was killing me. I had so much family around to help, but that wasn't it I simply couldn't sit still. I was doing laundry, dishes, I even cleaned out my pantry, not to mention taking care of Carter. I never got that "nesting" stage when I was pregnant. It must of hit me after I had him.

Now week three rolls around is another story. At the beginning of this week I felt like I had just ran a marathon. I was so physically drained. Chris gets up early to work, and this week he would do the first morning feedings everyday so I could sleep in. I feel so terrible when he does this, because I feel like I should be getting up and I'm letting both Carter and Chris down. Chris tells me I'm crazy and he's up anyways and I need rest. He's probably right, but I can't help but feel awful about it. However, I've been non stop since I've come home from the hospital I really think I've push my physical ability and that's why I feel like a bump on a log this week.

What has helped this week is actually getting out of the house, FINALLY! Chris and I made it a point to get out of the house, whether it's just going to lunch or just running up to Target. Once I was up and going I felt much better and not so run down. In the positive of doing a ton of chores, and being run down from them, I really think that has helped with the baby weight.

I gained 26 lbs during my pregnancy, which (from what I've read) isn't that much. I was really worried about trying to lose the weight, but have been pleasantly surprised. It's been 3 1/2 weeks since I had Carter and I've lost 22 lbs. I was extra worried after I had him because I had the c-section done. Which my doctor told me you can't work out for 6 weeks (only walking at that point) and 8 weeks for everything else (like weights). I really do think running around doing chores has made me lose the weight! I'm trying not to get too excited because I was trying to lose weight when I got pregnant. I do have more to go on top of my pregnancy weight. Not a lot, but I would like to lose a few more lbs and tone up. I really liked how toned I was getting for my wedding (doing boot camp which kicked my butt, but was awesome) all of that muscle is gone. I couldn't continue to work out while I was pregnant. The first 20 weeks I was pregnant I had morning sickness, aka all day sickness, which made me so weak (I actually had to go to the ER one day bc it wouldn't stop and I had to get an IV). So needless to say I lost all muscle I achieved before my wedding.

Back to my sweet baby. I really have got off track with tummy time this week. I really have to get back on it. Our doctor said it's extremely important to do this because they spend so much time sleeping on their backs it's bad for their soft spots on their head. I noticed his right side is more flat then his left. I've started to make him sleep on his left side, since he favors his right. I'm trying to now do two days on the left and one day on the right. I am praying it will even out on it's own. I would hate for him to have to wear one of those helmets at night. Not to mention pay for one. They are around $3,500, and most insurances won't pay for them. So I really need to make an attempt to get him doing tummy time everyday this week.

We tried changing Carter's formula this week, bad idea. We originally had him on Similac Advance. He was spitting up, not much, but I was wondering if it was bc of the formula. We tried Similac Sensitive for less spitting up. OMG!!! He turned in to a Tasmanian devil! After two bottles he wouldn't stop crying and throwing fits. Chris and I both were freaking out. We couldn't get him to calm down for anything, which isn't like him at all. We were like screw this we are going back to Similac Advance. He isn't really spitting up a lot, but still some. But no more crazy fits!

He just seems to amaze me everyday. I know he still can't do much, but any little thing I'm just shocked. It's amazing to see a baby (your baby) growing and learning how to do things as simple as holding his head up or even a smile. Well he just woke up from a nap crying so he probably has a dirty diaper, I better get off the blog for now! :)

First Two Weeks

Now that we are approaching the three week mark of Carter's birth I figured I would do a quick blog about how these first two weeks have gone. Carter was born on a Tuesday and we were released from the hospital on that Friday. The day Carter was born I was so surprised and shocked at all of the family members that came out to see him. We felt very special that we had so many people there to support us. I just remembered rolling down the hall after my surgery to go into the recovery room and seeing close to 12-15 people. And there was even more through out the day!! Definitely felt very loved! It was amazing to have my parents there at the hospital everyday, all day. It can be very boring just hanging out in a small recovery room all day. Granted I did have my sweet angel and the love of my life with me, but I couldn't get out of bed to do hardly anything those 4 days. Seriously there is only so much basic TV you can watch (I think we watched a lot a of Family Guy and Office, that's all that was on). So it was great having visitors.

Coming home never felt so good, just to be in my own bed...AMAZING. Reality set in that this is my son! I am responsible for this little guy all day everyday. It's so great that Chris works from home to help out. We share the responsibility of changing diapers, feedings etc. My doctor told me to take it easy so Chris was so helpful, but not because he had to. You could really tell he wanted to be involved and do everything. I'm so lucky to have him in my life and the father of my son. Surprisingly our first night at home with Carter wasn't too bad, however he seemed to not really like his bassinet. I was so bummed at first cause I love that bassinet it's so cute. We had so many people coming by to see Carter, I swear that kid was never put down. Someone was always holding him. So of course when it came time for him to go to bed in his bassinet he wouldn't sleep. He always wanted us to hold him. By Sunday we put our foot down and told everyone they have to put him down when he's sleeping (plus that was the last day we had a ton of guests until the next weekend). By Monday night he was sleeping in his bassinet just fine, only waking up for his feedings every 3 hours! Chris and I decided before he was born to switch nights off, this way one of us will get descent sleep every other night. It has worked out really well!

After all family left that Sunday, we were finally on our own for the first time. I'm not going to lie I was bit scared. It must have been nerves, because when Monday came it felt fine. Through out the week it just felt routine, as if we had always done this. Granted it wasn't easy but it wasn't hard either.

I really love doing tummy time with him. He didn't do much at first and I didn't know if I was doing something wrong. So of course I start reading up on it, because I feel the need to look everything up. Apparently I was doing alright with him being just a few days old. They aren't supposed to do much. Then out of nowhere Carter rolls onto his back, TWICE! 9 days old and he's rolling. I noticed he had his right arm stuck under him, and I guess he wasn't happy about it. Next thing I knew he swung his legs around and BAM he was on his back. He hasn't done it much since, maybe two more times, but I was amazed. I have a feeling I will have those moments of amazement a lot and I can't wait!!!

Today is a very special day. Not only is it Chris' first father's day, it's also our first wedding anniversary. This has truly been the best year of my life. One year ago I married the love of my life, bought a beautiful home last August, found out we were pregnant in October, then of course welcomed Carter Michael into our lives this June! I feel truly blessed and have an amazing family!

I love this bassinet so much, I'm so glad he finally decided to sleep in it.

First Posting

Well I have decided to try blogging now that I'm a mom. I'm hoping to get good advice about being a mom and to let my family be involved with Carter's life without actually being here. Not really sure who will read this or if I will even keep up with it, but it's worth a shot.

June 1st!!!

Around 7am the nurse came in to start my pitocin and induce labor. I definitely knew I had a stubborn one being 3 days from my due date and my little boy wasn't going anywhere. I was so excited and ready for all this to begin until 10 am hit. Holy cow, people can tell you how much contractions hurt, but until you actually experience them you have NO idea. At first it felt fine, the nurse asked if I was ready for my epidural. I tell her not yet, because of course I'm trying to suck it up and think I'm a hard ass. I can handle this right!?! Well not exactly, 12 pm rolls around and I'm ready for that epidural NOW. But it's me we're talking about here and my luck isn't so lucky. I ring for the nurse and request an epidural, she then tells me it will be about another hour because the anesthesiologist just went into surgery. Oh great! :( However she could put some medicine in my IV to help me out. Thank goodness!! I'm finally out of some of the pain and can take a nap. I don't know if I had a bad reaction to the medicine, my anxiety kicking in, or a mixture of both. But I woke up out of a deep sleep and freaked out. I couldn't catch my breath, I was crying, and then started throwing up. It was awful. Poor Chris has no clue what to do, he was so sweet and worried about me. He ran to get a nurse who put some anit-nauesa medicine in my IV. SOOOOO much better now.

Skipping a few hours, my nurse comes in to see how far along I am. Mind you I came in to the hospital 1.75 cm dilated. It is now 5:45 and I've only dilated to 4.5. Are you serious, only 3 more cm in 10 hours! I'm thinking this is crazy they have to do something to speed this up. My nurse came back in at 6 pm to let me know my doctor will be here at 6:30 and we are doing an emergency c-section, so we need to prep now. While I was pregnant I was hoping and praying to not have a c-section, that is until I was in labor for 10 hours. As they are whisking me down the hall for surgery all I'm doing is complaining about heartburn. I seriously can't stop bitching about it. Are you serious Tiffany, are you really complaining about heartburn when you're going to have major surgery? We get into the room and they make me drink this nasty liquid to get rid of the heartburn (I'm sure they were tired of me complaining about heartburn). That disgusting liquid immediately made me sick, as they are cutting into me I start throwing up. This was about the time they brought my husband in the room. What a trooper, he was so comforting through the whole surgery. Then at 6:54 pm I heard the most amazing noise in the world, my baby boy crying. I was so out of it from the anesthesia, I was trying everything in my power to just keep my eyes open. I heard our doctor tell Chris that his umbilical cord was wrapped loosely around his neck twice, but he was completely fine and was never in distress. She jokingly said he was a very smart baby to not move down the canal while we were trying to induce. Because I was so out of it the next thing I remember was Chris holding our beautiful son. I was overwhelmed with emotions. There is nothing in the world like seeing your child for the first time. It was so hard for me to not hold him right away, but I had to go to recovery for 2 hours. However after a crazy painful 9 months, 10 hours of labor, and a c-section later I am now the proud mom of Carter Michael Williams, 7lbs 1 oz and 20 3/4 in.