Baby Gear: Round 1

 

Lexi Rocks the Moby

To prepare for a new baby, we stocked up on/registered for all sorts of gear – including the necessities like a crib, diapers and onesies, as well as luxuries like a co-sleeper, swing, BOB stroller and the Moby wrap.  In the past couple of days we finally got to put those last two to use – with mixed results.  As you can see up top, Lexi successfully made it inside of the cozy Moby.  However, it only kept her quiet for a few minutes, possibly because it was just something new so she had to take some time to size it up.  I guess it is not really a “soothing” tool, and there is a chance I didn’t have her positioned inside of it correctly, but regardless she started crying after about 5-10 minutes both times that I tried to use it.  I really liked the feel of the wrap, and if she ever goes to sleep in it I can already tell that I will be able to get a TON of stuff done while having her hanging out on my person.  In fact, before she started crying I did manage to do my hair with her strapped to my chest.  Win!

Yesterday was also the first time we got to take Lexi out for a walk.  The exercise was much needed for both me and Brent, and I think all three of use could use the fresh air.  The weather here in LA has been terrible pretty much since we took Lexi home, so heading outside hasn’t really been an option until the last couple days (even today the rain is back so for now we are on house arrest until it clears back up).  However, yesterday was one of those beautiful December days that those of us here in Southern California are so lucky to get to experience.  The perfect chance to take the BOB stroller out for a test run!  The BOB is a jogging stroller, but you can’t really jog with baby until her neck muscles are a little stronger, they suggest around month 6.  We wanted to make sure that the first few months we take Lexi out in the stroller she was secure so we also bought the carseat adapter, which works perfectly with the Graco Snugride.  Even though it was a short walk, the BOB was freaking awesome, it was so smooth!  It is kind of a beast, so it will be interesting when we actually have to take it somewhere, but for cruising around the neighborhood, we couldn’t ask for anything better.  Lexi was okay for about 10 minutes, then she just started crying so we had to turn around and take her home.  Aren’t walks supposed to put babies to sleep?  Maybe she was overwhelmed by actual sunlight, who knows?  Anyway, as soon as the sun comes back out, we’ll try it again.  I loved just getting out and walking around so I’m really looking forward to round two.

 

Yesterday Brent and I finally watched The Happiest Baby on the Block (rented via Netflix), which is a short video on different soothing mechanisms for newborns.  It was really interesting, and also helpful – Brent has already put a number of the suggestions to use.  I think the most helpful one for us so far has been holding baby on her side to soothe her.  Brent is actually getting quite good at calming Lexi down, he has a few different rocking techniques that he uses and last night he was even able to rock her to sleep!  It was the first time that I didn’t have to nurse her to sleep, which really gave me (and the boobs) a much-needed break.  We have also been utilizing her swing a lot more recently – we rotated the arm so that it swings in a different direction than it did originally and it seems like B-Ron has really responded to the “front to back” swinging. She will now take a pretty solid nap in the swing at least once a day, giving both parents a chance to do things like blog and play video games (guess which is which!).

Lexi had her 2 week check up on Monday and all is well.  She is now officially back up to her birth weight, meaning that she is getting enough to eat – yay!  We haven’t had to supplement with formula at all, and I’ve actually already got some breast milk stored up in the freezer since the lactation consultant had me pumping a few times a day when my milk was coming in to make sure that my supply was up while using the shield.  So as soon as we are ready to introduce the bottle (and trust me, I am totally ready, but we are supposed to wait a while longer to avoid “nipple confusion”) she can continue to drink breastmilk.  Lucky baby!  Also, in full disclosure, the weaning off of the nipple shield has hit a bit of a standstill.  Actually, both times we took her to the doctor recently, she has been fussy, and I didn’t have the shield with me so we had to wing it, and both times she latched on and ate without incident.  And I try to have her latch on sans shield a couple times a day – but dude, it hurts!  I think she has a “shallow latch” right now, so I’ll probably have to go to another breastfeeding class to get that corrected.  Also, the way she clusterfeeds at night makes me nervous for my boobs, the shield totally protects them from a kid who wants to eat for like 3 solid hours, and I’m scared to lose that crutch.  Meh.  I’ll be interested to see where we stand on this in a couple months.  When she starts hitting some crazy growth spurts, will the shield keep her from getting enough milk?  I know some moms use it the whole time they breastfeed, and believe me, I am tempted.  But on the other hand, having to clean it (and keep track of it) every time I feed her is a huge pain, and will become even more annoying once I start feeding on the go.  I would much rather be able to just unbutton my top and be done with it.  I guess the most important thing right now is whatever will keep me breastfeeding, and if the pain of feeding without the shield ends up being a deterrent, I should just continue with what works.

Anyway, I will end on a happy note, which is that I was able to leave Lexi home with Brent yesterday while I went shopping!  I stopped at Sketchers to buy some “tone-ups” that I can wear while walking Lexi (any additional help I can get to get back in shape is appreciated!).  Then I went to the mall to get some “shapewear” so that I don’t look like Jabba the Hut on New Years Eve.  I have never bought any before, but dude, trying on shapewear is effing depressing.  Squeezing into it is exhausting, and then once it is on I STILL had a belly, so blah!  I ended up going with this sexy number, cause at least it keeps the rolls from jiggling, but I’m not happy with my body right now.  I know I just had a baby 17 days ago, but I want my old body back NOW!  Oh well, hopefully my FANTASTIC cleavage will distract from my disappointing midsection.  The shopping trip ended on a high note when I stopped at the Gap, which was having a killer sale.  I got two new onesies for Lexi at $5 each, and even found a New Years outfit for her – it is SO CUTE, kinda matches me (I’ll be in black, she will be in black and gray) and even has some sparkle.  I can’t wait for Friday night!  Oh, and our little Lexi Bear slept the whole time that mommy was out shopping, what an angel