Kingston: 1 Month

As of 8.28.14

9lbs 14.5 oz 

22 inches
Blue eyes. 
Strawberry birthmark on crown of head and back of neck.  
Looking exactly like his daddy but with my bottom lip/hands/feet.

Baby acne on cheeks and chin.

Craddle cap is almost gone. 

Clothes: still wearing a few newborn pieces but for the most part in 0-3 months.
Diapers: We went up to size 1 at about 2.5 weeks of age.
Shoes: We have a lot but we haven't worn any yet.

Eating

I call Kingston my little gremlin because this boy sure loves to eat. You know the song by Willow Smith - I Whip My Hair ... that's Kingston's theme song.  Except his is I Whip My Head back and forth as he goes in for the kill. 

My little boy is growing and gaining weight. He usually nurses every 2.5-3 hours during the day and every 3.5-4.5 hours during the night for about 20-25 minutes. For the most part he keeps everything down if we make sure to get out his massive burps. 

I have started to pump and build a small freezer stash. I'm going to kick it in gear soon so we will have a good amount stored up before my return to work in November. Kingston has taken one bottle from CT and it was the sweetest moment I've ever seen. See here.

Sleeping 

He sleeps great during the day and at night until his gas bubbles wake him up. {I have never heard such loud noises come out of such a tiny human.} Right now Kingston is giving me a few 2.5-4 hour stretches of sleep during the night and he takes a few 1.5-2 hour naps during the day. 

We tried having him sleep in a bassinet in our room for the first two nights home and he slept awful. The following night we moved him to his crib and he sleeps so much better. It's a win/win for everyone. He usually naps in his crib as well unless we have visitors or daddy who enjoy holding him. Daddy's chest - stomach to stomach - is both of their favorites. 

If it was up to Kingston he would love his hands free and by his face. Unfortunately, he always startles and wakes himself up so we swaddle him to give him the best sleep possible. Summer Infant SwaddleMe Blankets are what we use and they work like a charm. 

Milestones

Sleeping longer stretches during the night.

Cooing. 

Likes

Being outside.

Looking at the fan.

Laying in mom/dad's bed. 

Car rides. 

Visitors. 

Dislikes

Quietness. 

Being cold.

Gas. 

When I change his diaper and have to mess with his circumcision. 

(He has a slight case of penile adhesion so we have to work at retracting the skin during diaper changes which is super uncomfortable for my poor little guy. His wife will thank me one day but it is the worst thing ever for his mama.)

Misc.
Daycare has finally been decided upon. Starting in November CT will be taking Kingston to school with him and he will attend the facility at Southeast Highschool. CT will be able to stop by on lunch time or plan periods, it's super convenient and they don't charge for days when school isn't in session. After months and months of thinking and talking about it and interviewing providers, I'm so relieved we finally have something decided on.  

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This first month has F-L-O-W-N by! 

Kingston and I have been spending many hours at home getting to know each other but we also enjoy getting out of the house. We have made frequent trips to CT's school for lunch and to the football field for walks. This upcoming month we will be doing a lot of traveling for CT's football games and Tessa's volleyball games. Kingston is quickly getting accustomed to the athletic lifestyle.

I'm looking forward to what this next month is going to bring us! 

5 on Friday - Football Edition

If you've been around a while you know we are a big time football family. CT coaches college football - so that makes me a football wife. Needless to say, our fall is jam packed with tailgating, Saturdays at the field, Sundays in front of the TV and the many boys of fall. 

1. Today is CT's last 2-a-day practice. No more 515a wake up and gone till 630p. Tomorrow is the RED vs. WHITE scrimmage and then next weekend starts their regular season. 
So much to look forward to! 

2014 Friends University

2. During all my middle of the night feedings - I've been doing a little shopping on Etsy for Kingston. Check out what I have coming in the mail. 

via

I am SO obsessed with leather moccasins. 
Kingston already has a grey,red,black and white pair. I might be going a little overboard but they are just too cute!

3. CT and I also found some football attire for Kingston last weekend at the mall. 

It's funny how I no longer want to shop for myself and I want to spend all my money on him. 
How times have changed!

4. CT's first two games are in Nebraska so I'm trying to find a way {enough courage} to make the trip up there with a 5/6 week old by myself. CT will be able to ride home with us but it would just be me and Kingston on the way up. I'm not sure I'm up for the challenge quite yet. The game isn't until 700pm so it would be a super late night and I haven't quite figured out what you do when there is a crying baby in the back seat of the car. Pull over on the side of the highway? I don't know about all that. 

5. How sweet is this picture? 

He doesn't really have 7 rolls on his tummy. This was one of those shots where the photographer had to mesh two different photos together. 

It's crazy what can be done with photoshop these days. 

Happy Friday!! 

Our Version - Babywise: Week 3

Prior to Kingston's arrival, I wrote about how CT and I wanted to try out the Babywise methods from birth. We have a really good friend who had awesome success with following it's principles and her little one was successfully sleeping throughout the night from age 8-10 weeks.

'Sleep training' is a very controversial topic, but I figured why not give it a shot and if we get sleep sooner rather then later, that's awesome! 

The gist of Babywise:

-goal is to be sleeping through the night by 7/8 weeks

- feed every 2.5/3 hours (but if your baby becomes hungry sooner - feed them)

- eat (full feedings), wake time, sleep 

Ever since my milk came in, Kingston has been on a great schedule of becoming hungry at the 3 hour mark. It makes planning our day and judging his mood easy. There are some days, mostly in the evenings (his fussy time) when he will want to eat every 2 or 2.5 hours and we do so. I think of this as his cluster feeding time where he is hopefully getting more calories to help him sleep longer at night. 

I like to think of the Babywise method as a routine and less as a schedule. We have no real start time and the times he eats each day aren't consistent, but we do have a routine we follow.

The last few days here has been Kingston's routine (3 weeks):

Sunday 

(going through a 'growth spurt' = more hungry then normal)

600am - eat/wake/nap

815am - eat/wake/nap

1100am - eat/wake/nap

130pm - eat/wake/nap

330pm - eat/wake/nap

600pm - eat/wake
(fussy - fighting sleep - no nap)

815pm - bath/pjs/eat/sleep

Monday 

1245am - eat/ sleep

415am - eat/sleep
730am - eat/wake/nap
1030am - eat/wake/nap
130pm - eat/wake/nap
400pm - eat/wake/nap
645 - eat/wake 
(fussy - fighting sleep - no nap)
830 - bath/pjs/eat/sleep

Tuesday
1215am - eat/sleep
400am - eat/sleep
630am - eat/sleep
915am - eat/wake/sleep
1245pm - eat/wake/sleep
(out visiting CT for lunch so little longer then 3 hours between feedings)
400pm - eat/wake/sleep
615pm - eat/wake
(no evening nap because we were at Friends volleyball game)
845pm - bath/pjs/eat/sleep


Wednesday
100am - eat/sleep
430am - eat/sleep
700am - eat/wake
(no nap - tummy time & swing)
915am - eat/wake/sleep
1130am - eat/wake/sleep
130pm - eat/wake/sleep
415pm - eat/wake/sleep
615pm - eat/wake/sleep
830pm - bath/pjs/eat/sleep 
1230am - eat/sleep 


 Kingston is going about 3.5-4.5 hours between feedings at night. Usually in the evening he eats sooner then the 3 hour mark because this is his fussy time, he doesn't want to nap and I figure I'll keep his belly more full in hopes he will sleep longer at night. 

Right now he naps about 1.5-2 hours at a time, but the older he gets the longer I will try and make his wake time so his naps will get less. 

I'm not 'super strict' in following the Babywise methods, but for the most part we have a pretty good routine going and I'm getting a few good stretches of sleep at night. 

What I'm working on now is getting Kingston to fall asleep the first time after he is put in his crib. At night he's good at falling right back to sleep, but for nap time he likes to be held/rocked to sleep and then sometimes wakes up when we put him down. It's crazy how every day is a learning process and I'm working my way through trying to find out what works best for us as a family. 

Googled It

The entire time I was pregnant, the doctor and everyone I talked to always said not to turn to Dr. Google seeking answers to any questions I might have. 

I assume the same goes for post pregnancy. Since coming home with Kingston, I can't tell you how much time (mostly during the middle of my night feeds) that I've spent searching google. I chalk it up to being a first time mom and having SO many questions and concerns about everything. 

Let me let you in on some of my recent searches: 

Do baths give infants ear infections?

(CT is always so cautious when we give Kingston a bath and worries about him getting an ear infection. According to Google - 'swimmers ear' can be caused by bath water that sits in the outer ear for to long and it is recommended to throughly dry the ears after bath time.)

Newborn 3 week growth spurts.

Infant sleepier after growth spurt.

(Kingston has been really good about eating every 3 hours (almost on the dot) during the day. Well a few nights ago and yesterday afternoon, Kingston broke all his norms = wanting to eat every hour or so and then the next day taking awesome naps. According to Google - infants do go through a growth spurt around 3 weeks of age and increased feedings and sleepiness after is associated with this spurt.)

Infant skin peeling.

(Kingston had peeling on all of his extremities and we were wondering if this was normal. According to Google - this is normal and not something to be concerned with. They see increased skin peeling on the wrists, hands, ankles and feet of overdue babies. (Kingston was 2 days overdue.))

What causes baby acne?

How to prevent baby acne.

(Poor Kingston had/has a bad case of baby acne - mostly on his cheeks and chin - just like his mama. According to Google - this shows up usually around 2/3 weeks and is caused by stimulation of babies oil glands due to an increase in hormones passed from the mother to baby at birth. I am so ready for this to be gone for him! Until then, we are washing his face a few times daily to try and help the situation.) 

Newborn eye goop

(I had noticed eye goop in Kingston's left eye 3 times since coming home from the hospital. I didn't know if this was 'sleep' like us adults get or what the cause of it is was. According to Google - This could be caused by a clogged tear duct and require massaging if it persists. Since I googled this, I haven't seen anymore goop.)

Damage to soft spot on back of babies head. 

(After feeding Kingston one night, I was getting up off the couch and bonked the back of his head on CT's knee. Of course, I freaked out and immediately started to google how tough the soft spots are, how damage is detected and what to look for if there is damage. According to Google - the babies soft spots aren't as delicate as we all think. The brain is covered by a thick membrane and it would take quite a bit of force to damage it. Thankfully, after talking with CT, he said it wasn't that hard of a bonk which made me feel less of a horrible mom.) 

I tell you what - being a mom is so amazing but so scary at the same time. This little human depends 100% on us for everything and it is our duty to make sure they are properly taken care of. I have a fear of noticing something and not taking the appropriate action, so that's why I turn to Google. I've learned to stay off the message board type questions and answers because those moms always post the worst case scenarios. As the time goes on, I'm sure I'll become more confident in my 'mama instincts' but until then I'll continue to turn to Google. 

Have you googled any of the same things as I have? 

Kingston's Birth Story

Years down the road, I know I will want to remember how July 30th, 2014 happened. 

Kingston's birth story: 

Let me preface by saying that at 36 weeks, with the help of our lovely chiropractor, Kingston finally decided to become un-breech. Starting at 32 weeks I saw her 3 times a week and did nightly exercises to try and get him to flip to avoid a c-section. 

Also, at my weekly OB appointments starting at 36 weeks - I was always 'almost at 1cm and softening'. 

July 28th, 2014:

Kingston's due date. 

Still no more progress. Almost at 1cm and softening. 

Our OB knew we didn't want to go much longer then our due date (We were getting anxious to meet our little man and I wanted CT to have as much time off with us before school started.  Also, induction is a personal choice, one not everyone agrees with it, but it was a choice we wanted.) - so she asked us if we wanted to be induced and when. 

We choose his birthday - July 30th, 2014.  

July 29th, 2014: 

We had our last dinner as a family of 2 at Old Chicago.

730pm

 We checked into the hospital to begin the induction process. 

I changed into the sexy hospital gown and answered a bunch of questions from the nurse and residents. 

I then got hooked up to begin monitoring Kingston's heartbeat, and was poked 3 times to start an IV. My nurse tried once and then she called the IV team. The IV team was super busy so the charge nurse came and got it on her second try. Supposedly, I am 'valve-y'. 

At this point I was checked by everyone - still at about 1cm and softening. I was also told that I had a posterior cervix and that it would become more anterior as Kingston made his way into position.

930pm 

Time to get a foley bulb catheter, which is a more natural way to induce labor.  I was told that having a posterior cervix could possibly make getting the foley bulb more difficult so they had the year 3 resident insert it. He was awesome and was able to place it with no problem and no pain. They then filled the balloon portion of the catheter with saline solution and gave it a tug every hour or so. This caused the cervix to mechanically open and by the time it fell out I was at 3/4cm.

1030pm

Last chance to order food before delivery day. 

I ordered a grilled cheese, salt and vinegar chips and water. Because of the delicious pizza I had a few hours prior - this meal went to waste.

130pm

The foley bulb fell out, I was at about 3/4cm and I was told to rest until 530am when they would start the pitocin. CT was able to get in some really good shut eye but me not so much. I was too nervous, and between getting up, using the restroom and listening to my little mans heart beat -  I couldn't get more then 30 minutes here and there. 

530am 

They started pitocin and increased it by 2 every 15 minutes. 

I was getting checked every hour and still at about 3/4cm and maybe softening a little more. 

930am 

The contractions really hadn't started and my pitocin was already pretty high. 

My Dr. decided now would be a good time to break my water to see if I would progress any more because of it.

1130am 

The contractions started and I was at a good 4cm now. 

Everyone who checked me thought Kingston was sunny side up and not able to get into the correct position. 

100pm

I was at 5cm by now and finally softening more.

When my doctor came in she tried to internally/manually turn Kingston's head so he was no longer sunny side up. It was uncomfortable but I could feel he had moved. My doctor left and acted really positive saying she thinks we would have a baby by 4 or 5pm.

200pm 

The epidural team came in and it took them 2 pokes to get it started. I also ended up jumping major when they said 'this may send a shock through your body, try and hold still'. Ya ... I suck.

200pm- 600pm

This time frame is all a blur.

 There was no real progress. I couldn't get past 5 cm but I was softening a little more. 

They had to place an internal monitor to measure contractions. 

After a bunch of checks, they think Kingston turned back to being sunny side up. 

We tried tons of different position changes to help him make his way into position better and nothing worked. 

My epidural worked great on my right leg (it was super dead) but I could still feel my left side. I had to have my epidural medications changed multiple times because they would run out or because they needed something stronger. 

600pm

The Dr. came in and the baby and my body hadn't progressed any more. Something was causing him to not get into the correct position so he couldn't fully make my cervix soften and open up. I was still at 5cm and she said I had until 700pm to progress to 8cm or we would need to do a c-section. 

This is when the water works started flowing. I remember turning to CT and mouthing 'stupid baby'. I had tried everything possible to get our stubborn baby to flip from being breech so we could avoid a c-section. We worked so hard and it was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to have skin to skin, I wanted to breastfeed as soon as possible, and I wanted our epidural to fully work so I could remember everything if a c-section was to happen. 
Naturally, there were so many fears I had. 

My nurse was awesome and did everything in her power to help us progress - more frequent changes in position and tying to manually stretch me to make it possible for Kingston to move down. It didn't work. 

730pm

By this time, I was still shedding a few tears off and on, but I had come to terms with the fact that we were going to need a c-section. I had talked to our nurse and made sure if I was unable to do skin to skin, that CT could. 

The Dr. came back in and checked me. I was almost at 7cm but she still advised we go ahead and get him out. The nurse anesthetist got me hooked up and I was completely numb up to my arm pits.  

745pm

CT gets changed into his OR clothes and a backwards hospital gown so it opens in the front. Everyone was so confused as to why he was dressed like that - but we were determined to do our skin to skin time.

I got wheeled back to the OR and the prayer before surgery started. 

812pm

My 8lb 6oz baby with a slight cone head arrived and he was absolutely perfect. 

I was able to have about 20 minutes of skin to skin time with him before my arms became to tired and I had to hand him off to CT. 

Being cut open and having him removed from me was the easy part. Being put back together was the hard part. Thankfully, I had an awesome nurse anesthetist that talked me through the whole process and kept my mind off everything that was going on behind the curtain. I literally felt like I was having a heart attack as they were pulling and tugging on everything.

930-1130pm

We were wheeled to recovery. 

Kingston easily latched on and we had a really good breast feeding experience. 

CT was then able to help with bath time. 

All I wanted was some water so the nurses snuck me some. 

1200pm

We finally made it to our postpartum room and my family got to meet Kingston for the first time.

 Immediately after everyone left, all I wanted was some chicken nuggets but the nurses said no. CT left to get some food and on his return Kingston had the biggest meconium poop and CT had the pleasure of changing it! CT was the biggest help and we spent the first few hours, exhausted but just loving on our boy.

July 31st, 2014

700am

I was determined to get up and walk around so I could shower. 

Everyone thought I was doing so well after surgery and I felt great. 

Thursday was spent figuring out our baby, entertaining visitors, and being constantly checked on by the nurses. 

August 1st, 2014

We were told the whole time that we wouldn't be released to go home until Saturday morning, but since I was doing so well and able to move so easily they gave us the option of going home Friday evening and we took it. 

430pm

We got released from the hospital, headed to the pharmacy to get my medications filled and immediately the adrenaline stops and reality sets in. 

I'm a mom and I'm going to do everything in my power to be the best mom I can be. 

Kingston Changed My Marriage . . .

. . . for the better! 

In two and half short weeks, I can say that my marriage and relationship with my husband is 100% better than it ever has been. 

 We work better as a team. 

CT is so hands on with Kingston and it truly is the biggest blessing to have someone do everything with me. From bath times to diaper changes and from me feeding and he finishing off with the burping - everything we do wit Kingston is together. CT helps out around the house or if I need something when I'm unable to do things because I'm needed by the baby. It really is the best feeling in the world to work together as a team.  

 We communicate so much better. 

We haven't raised our voices. We haven't been rude to each other. We consider the other persons opinions and views on each subject. I know it's because we are now thinking of more then just ourselves. The things we disagreed on before Kingston was born (daycare, etc.) we now have total different views on and we were able to discuss things as 'adults'. Becoming parents has really made us mature in how we communicate. 

I'm sure there are a lot more things that have changed and I'm sure things aren't always going to be this easy - but it's a good feeling. CT and I have been together going on our 8th year and I think things can only continue to get better from here.  

I love our family we have created and I am truly so thankful that God has given me a man that wants nothing more then to be an amazing father. It makes my duty as a wife and mother so much more rewarding and doable with the extra help and encouragement from my husband. 

I continue to fall more in love with this man as the days go on. 

5 on Friday

1. I confess  . . .

 "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart"

 - Winnie the Pooh

2. I confess . . . 

I'm excited that my sister is coming into town today and my parents tomorrow. Having a kiddo makes me wish we all lived in the same town. There is so much planning and coordinating that goes into seeing everyone now. 

3. I confess . . .

Functioning on about 6 hours of broken sleep isn't so bad - especially when you are so needed during those up hours. I must say though, hopefully this Babywise method works and before long I will be getting those hours uninterrupted. 

4. I confess . . .

I enjoy saving money on manicures - but doing your own shellac at home is NO joke. It takes forevvvva and it is so not as easy as they make it look. 

Gelish - Gossip Girl 

FingerPaints Gel Polish - Jingle & Mingle (accent nail)

For those of you who do your own gel polish manicures - where do you purchase affordable polish from? I have only ever bought on sale because I can't get myself to pay $10-$15 a bottle on polish. 

5. I confess . . . 

My relationship with my hubby has changed so much since having Kingston - but for the better. Tune in next week to see how he has changed our marriage in his 2 short weeks of life! 

{Guest Blogger} - - #NSALE

Hi ladies! I will get back to regular scheduled posting shorty - but lately I've been getting in all the snuggles I can. 

In the meantime, my MOH/BFF Katie who blogs over at Statutes & Stilettos has taken over my blog for the day. This lady is a Kate Spade-aholic and has a closet to die for. Currently her page is under construction as she has someone working on redesigning it - but coming Fall 2014 she will be back in the game! 

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Hi all! My bestie is away lovin’ on her new babe, Kingston Christopher, so while she’s away I’m guest posting! My name is Katie, and I blog over at Statutes & Stilettos! Not going lie, I’m a bit of a shop-a-holic, so you will mostly find me blogging about shopping, sales, style, and beauty. However, I like to sprinkle in some exercise, recipes, and lifestyle tips, so I hope you’ll join me on my journey! (I’ll warn you, however, that I’m currently working on a revamp of my blog, so forgive me for a lack of activity right now!)

This summer I have been studying for the Bar Exam, but there was no way it was going to keep me from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! In fact, I thought it was the perfect excuse to take a break from studying the day before the Exam and do some relaxation. Let me share with you some of my favorite finds:

My trip was off to a great start upon walking through the glass doors:

So naturally I began with shoes and found more than my wallet could afford. Here are a couple pairs I just adored (I have fall envy right now):

Next, I traipsed on over to the accessories section. In addition to shoes, I have a deep love for handbags and jewelry:

Then, there’s the beauty section. I’ve been dying to try a Clarisonic and this adorable print is on sale. Anyone try one? Have one? Thoughts?

Next, clothes. I studied abroad in England 5 years ago and fell in love with Topshop. To discover that Nordstrom has an entire Topshop line…oh boy!

However, Topshop wasn’t exactly on sale, so I kept my focus. An entire round-rack of maxi dresses for $38?! Whaaaat?!

Last, but not least: Home Goods.

I’m currently experiencing “home-owner envy” so I like to pick up little trinkets along the way like these adorable polka dot measuring cups. (I also have a thing for polka dots.)

So what did I walk away with? (Besides the cute measuring cups that is.)

(Yes both items are Kate Spade, yes I’m obsessed!)

I hope you enjoyed a few of my #nsale finds. Grateful for the opportunity to guest post on Crafting a Fairytale! Hope you’ll join me on Twitter, Instagram, and the Blogosphere :)

XoXo