Happy Halloween! (Well, For Some Of Us)

I was given a peanut costume by a friend whose baby was a bit too big for it (thanks Tami!) and knew that although it wasn't going to be a happy experience I would give it a shot anyway. First I gave Brooke a pacifier, hoping to get a minute or two of her in a calm state. Since she seemed to be pretty calm, I slipped the costume on and took a picture as fast as I could. It worked! But ... only for a minute. This pic was only the very tip of the crying episode. I actually took one when she was full out crying but it came out blurry ... and I just couldnt post it.

Nobody likes an unhappy peanut :(

The Pink & Chocolate Retreat

Before Brooke was a she, she was a TBD. We decided not to find out the gender in advance, so up until 1:13 AM on 10/1 it was a surprise. This made some things complicated for me in the shopping arena, most notably with clothing and her bedroom. I knew either way the room would be brown, and then we would accent it with pink or blue depending on the gender of the baby. I'm still working on the room, which since Brooke's arrival has received some touches of pink ... but the two biggest items that really ARE the room are still in process. We ordered a pink and brown rug, and some pink and brown draperies.

I found out that the rug is getting "released" today, meaning it should arrive within a week or so. For her draperies, one of the fabrics is backordered and wont be in until next week - which means they should be ready the week after.

I am not a girly girl at all, and actually didnt own any pink until I ended up with 2 pink maternity shirts. Its funny though how now that I have a little girl all I do is buy pink outfits and doll up her room in (almost excessive) amounts of pink. Soon enough Brooke will have a room ideal for a little princess ... I'm sure she is totally stoked :)

This is what the rug looks like - just too cute!

The rug in a room is not Brooke's room, but a pic from the website. First of all, her name isnt "Sophia", and second of all, Brooke doesnt have a teepee in her room cuz that would be weird.

Is It Still Halloween Without The Candy?

I remember trick-or-treating as a kid, and how much of a prize each piece of candy was. I couldnt wait to get home, sort my candy ... and start inhaling it. I also remember that some houses were "bad houses" because they gave out yucky candy, or heavin forbid ... something like raisins! Some of the houses were really "good", and we'd hit them twice (often swapping costumes or trying to sneak in with another large group of trick-or-treaters). But as the childhood obesity rate continues to climb, more and more people (both the givers and receivers of that wonderful Halloween candy) are beginning to think twice about the plethora of candy available to kids on 10/31.

An article in the CNN health section provides some tips and alternatives for making Halloween a wee bit healther . Suggestions include:

• One parent lets her kids eat whatever treats they want on Halloween, then they (the kids) decide what's going to be left for the "switch witch," who comes at night like the tooth fairy and takes the kids' candy, leaving toys in her wake.
• Another tactic has parents buying back the candy for money or books. For example, offering a nickel for each piece of candy they like but don't love, and a dime for each piece of something they love.
• Rationing is also an effective method: a piece a day until the candy is gone.

For the treat giver, some alternatives are offered too! - Try giving out toys instead of candy.
For example: stickers, pencils, Play-Doh or glow sticks
- Or offer both candy and nonedible treats, allowing children who come to your door to make the choice.

We dont have to worry about Brooke & candy for quite a while - like 2 years. This year we are going the traditional candy route, giving out M&M's, Reeses, and KitKat. We also had Butterfinger but I bought the candy a bit too early ... and already ate them (whoops). Perhaps when Brooke is a trick-or-treater we will also think about smarter candy options :) Until then, giving (and eating) the candy is half the fun!

One Month Old!

Today Brooke is officially one month old, well, one "lunar month". She is four weeks old and will actually be one "calendar month" old on Saturday. Since development for children is generally in weeks, thats how I'm looking at it. So yes, she is one month in my book! Its funny how it seems she is so much bigger and "older", no longer a newborn ... yet obviously she is still so young and has so much more to grow.

In order to chronicle this special day we decided to take a picture with her stuffed dog. Our friend Patrick gave Brooke this dog when she was born, and Jeff and I remarked about how much bigger than her it was. She was a lot smaller when she was born, but at one month old the dog is still bigger than her. I thought a picture of them together would be something she would appreciate seeing when she gets older, and we can tell her that her favorite stuffed animal used to be bigger than her ;)
Brooke @ 4 Weeks
Some amazing things happen with a baby during the first four weeks of life. For example, now at 1 month Brooke:

• Has different cries to communicate different needs: short and low-pitched when hungry; intermittent fussiness and whimpering when bored; and continuous and whiny when uncomfortable or overtired. (Jeff and I still havent figured these out, but they supposedly exist!)
• Has improved concentration and focusing skills, using her eyes to take in her surroundings in a much more sophisticated way. Complex shapes are more engaging than simple ones (zigzags vs circles). She also should be able to track things as they move. What to Expect suggests waving a scarf, soft toy, or a spinning mobile slowly around her head to watch as her eyes follow every movement.
• Is now capable of deep sleep (or non-REM sleep) during which the growth hormone somatotropin is released, so she actually does grow while sleeping!
• Spends more time in lighter REM sleep, when dreams occur. It may be possible to notice body twitching, eyelids fluttering, and increases in breathing increases when she is dreaming.

As parents we learn something new each day too - for example we have recently learned the benefits of the vibrate option on her swing and pack-and-play. Seems so simple, but by flipping a button and having her jiggled around we can now find a few minutes (and I do mean only minutes, but they are precious minutes) of quiet!

To celebrate the big day I think Brooke and I are going to go to Crate & Barrel. She has never been there before and I'm quite sure she will love it.

Tequila Time!

Since Brooke was born we have had someone come to help with the housekeeping. They were referred by a friend and have truly been lifesavers!

There are generally 3 of them: Danny, his wife, and his sister-in-law. Today the women (who are not as proficient in English) sent Danny up to me with a tip - rub tequila on Brookes stomach once a day for three days and it will cure colic. Apparently they feel bad watching me spend all of my time trying to soothe a screaming baby :(

They are all from the same village in Mexico, and it's a common practice over there. I tried googling it and kept finding references to how THE PARENTS should DRINK tequila to survive the days & nights with a colicky baby, but nothing about rubbing it directly on the baby.

I'm considering it. At this point no advice is unappreciated. I'll do anything to ease Brookes pain and keep my sanity! If rubbing it on her belly doesn't work at least I can drink whatever is left.

When Your Precious Baby Is A Screaming Ball Of Fury

It looks like our beautiful princess has another side to her - one that involves fits of rage and sobbing cries. When she is sleeping she is adorable, and for the few minutes during the day where she hasnt been in "one of her moods" she is alert, chipper and cuddly. But it seems as though the majority of hours of our days are spent trying to console an angry or upset baby. Yup, it appears to be the 5 letter word all parents dread: colic.

What Is Colic
Babycenter says that "while babies normally cry when they're wet or hungry or frightened or tired, a baby with colic cries inconsolably and excessively, often at the same time of day, frequently in the late afternoon or evening."

Rules of Three
Colic is often defined by the "rules of threes":

• Begins within the first three weeks of life
• Lasts up to or more than three hours a day
• Occurs at least three or more days a week
• Continues for at least three weeks
• Disappears at about three months of age

Colicky Baby or Fussy Baby?
Medicinenet.com points out that all babies have fussy moments, and in fact normally cry for 2-3 hours a day. What differentiates a fussy baby is that these 2-3 hours are spread out over a 24 hour period, and a colicky baby has hours of continuous crying.

Perhaps she is just experiencing a growth spurt or has a bit of a cold, but the signs point otherwise. I'll keep you updated, and if she is colicky its likely to be a frequent topic here ... so you'll know :)

Wrigley & Brooke

I get a lot of questions about how our "fur baby" is handling the new addition. Wrigley seems to really like Brooke! She gives her kisses and gets very concerned when she cries. Every squeak and squeal that comes out of Brooke catches her attention ... And the other day she was lucky enough to beat me in cleaning up some fresh spitup from the floor :). Brooke doesn't even know Wrigley exists, so for now she is happy thinking she is the only demanding force in our home. I do think that when she gets a bit bigger that Brooke & Wrigley will make a great troublesome twosome.

Shopping

Today Brooke and I went to Whole Foods so I can begin to teach my daughter about the world of over priced groceries. On the way out I showed her the pumpkins but she wasn't the slightest bit impressed.

Brooke Is 3!

Weeks that is! To celebrate we decided to head out to Starbucks.

Where has the time gone?

Brooke @ 3 Weeks
Although Brooke is still tiny - she is growing at an amazing rate (one that appears to be a bit above average). In addition to weight and height gains, she is developing in other areas too!

What to Expect mentions a few things occuring in a 3-week-old baby:
Spitting up
Diaper blowouts
Baby acne
Improved concentration and focusing skills

We're definitely noticing all of the above! While some of it is great (her eyes open more often and she looks directly at us) some of its not so great (poop and barf all over the place). Its been a fun 3 weeks ... and before we know it she'll bw a month old already :)

Bathing & Screaming

Yesterday at the doctor I was told that Booke can take her first official bath (up until now we were only supposed to sponge bathe her). So tonight Jeff and I decided to pull out our new bath tub and give her a good washing. All was pretty good until at the end - somewhere between pouring water on her head and pulling her out of the tub she got mad. REALLY MAD. This was followed by 20 minutes of screaming. So while she was clean, she wasnt happy about it!

Hopefully future attempts will end with happy moments, but for now we are all fine and dandy and Brooke is peacefully hanging out in her swing.

Bathing Baby Tips
How to bathe your baby (BabyCenter)
How to bathe a baby (iVillage)
Bathing Baby Safety Checklist (iVillage)
How to Bathe Baby: First Tup Bath (Parents.com)

Brooke Finds Her Thumb

Height:20.75 inches
Weight:9 lbs
Brooke had her 2 week doctors visit today - she has gained a whole pound since her last visit and also grew 3/4 of an inch! No doctor again for 6 weeks, when we go for her 2 month checkup...and a bunch of shots :(

She's been trying since only moments after she was born, and accidentally found it once or twice ... But today while we were waiting for the doctor Brooke made a deliberate attempt at getting her little thumb into her mouth and was finally met with success!

Meeting More Family

We had some more visitors today when my Aunt Pat, Cousin Karen, and her daughter Haley all came to see Brooke.

As usual, she decided to sleep through the entire visit :)

Luckily Brooke decided to peek at them on their way out so they got a chance to see her beautiful baby blues!

In addition to getting to meet more members of her family, she also received some cool presents ... including some super cute clothes she is really excited to wear when she gets a bit bigger. My cousin was also thinking about Jeff & I and brought over some turkey tetrazini, salad and bread - all of which is getting prepared as I type.

A Day Without Dad...

Today was Jeff's first day back at work - but Brooke and I were not alone! Grandma Stanula came during the morning to help while I was expecting a blind installer to come. She and Brooke hung out, and Brooke gave her the privilege of seeing her with her eyes open for a bit.

As Grandma walked out, a group of other visitors came in! These visitors were very special, and came wearing their medals from yesterdays Chicago Marathon. Last year I trained with Team in Training for the Chicago Marathon. That whole thing was a debacle (you can read about it on my other blog) and this year the group of friends I made (Beca, Bradley, Cara, Kevin & Patti) trained again for the marathon and yesterday all became FINISHERS! While they trained for the marathon, we waited for Brooke ... and today my friends and Brooke had the opportunity to meet face to face. While she tried to stay on her best behavior I got to hear about each of their experiences. We had a busy day, Brooke and I. Tomorrow we have more visitors - so although Dad may be back at work, Brooke and I still have quite the busy social calendar :)

Liars!!!

A new study by the Australian National University's centre for mental health has proclaimed thatpregnancy does not cloud the brain.

Researchers interviewed 2,500 women aged between 20 and 24 in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Results indicated that the 76 women who were pregnant during the 2nd or 3rd interviews did not score any differently on logic and memory tests than previously. While its an interesting study I am prone not to believe it for several reasons
1) 76 women is not a large enough sample
2) All the women I know who have been pregnant claim to have experienced "pregnancy brain"
3) I myself belive I was the victim of some lapses in memory and logic

Walking With Wrigley

Today we took a walk with Wrigley - I carried Brooke in her sling and Jeff walked Wrigley. We hit up our usual hotspot, Starbucks. I have yet attempted to walk Brooke on my own, and certainly havent tried to manage the dog and the baby at the same time ... but that will happen soon enough! Jeff goes back to work on Monday and it will be time for Brooke, Wrigley & I to figure out how we will manage our days with just the girls. I have a feeling its going to take a bit of time to figure out how we are going to do it all, but expect that we will all quickly learn how to coexist!

First Walk

Today we pulled out Brooke's wheels, A Chicco stroller, and took her
on her 1st walk. Of course, she slept through most of it ... But in
the moments she was awake we could tell she was having a good time :)

The Official Due Date

Today is Brooke's actual due date ... its hard to believe she is already one week old! We cant believe how much things have changed in the past week, especially since she wasnt even expected until today :) Only 7 days ago we were sitting in the hospital staring in awe at our new daughter and since then have been getting to know the newest member of our family. In just a week she has already changed so much - growing in both height and weight, opening her eyes more often and focusing on objects in her near vacinity, thrown a few fits to show her frustration with our clumsy dipering styles and using her hands to grab at close objects (including her own nose and ears). Its been a fun week and just the beginning of a long and exciting journey!

Cookie Bouquet

Today we showed Brooke the cookie bouquet her Uncle Brad sent her. She seemed to think it was pretty interesting...



Until we explained to her exactly what a cookie was, and how Daddy and Mommy were going to be the ones to enjoy them :) That didnt seem to make her too happy.

Brooke's First Doctor Visit

Today Brooke went out in the car for her 2nd time - 1st was the trip home from the hospital and 2nd was a trip to visit the doctor. The doctor ran through the basic checks to make sure she was doing well - and she is! Currently Brooke is 20 inches long and weights 8lbs .04oz. She is getting bigger by the minute :)

It was a great trip and she did her best to cooperate. She tried to sleep through the visit but the doctor wasnt letting that happen - she wiggled her around, check her heart/lung sounds, took her temperature and checked her eyes. We were happy to hear she is progressing as expected and will be back to see the doctor for her 2 week checkup.

Brooke Meets Her Grandmas!

Brooke has met quite a few people in the past few days - most of them hospital personnel :) She has been quite the charmer with each of the people she meets - not once has she cried or complained while being handed off from relative to relative and friend to friend! We are pretty proud of her.

Of course, Brooke spent some quality time with each of her Grandmas.

Here she is charming the socks off Grandma Schneider (Jeff's Mom)

And here Brooke spends some quality time with Grandma Stanula (my Mom)

Brooke Angeline

Brooke Angeline graced us with her presence a bit earlier than expected (but none the less welcome!) at 1:13AM on 10/1/08.

She was 19.5 inches long and 7lbs 14oz in weight.

We are all doing great and will be in the hospital for a few days until we get to go home (and Brooke & Wrigley finally meet!)

A Baby Story

Yesterday I had a funny feeling all day. It was hard to explain but I had a sneaking suspicion that Baby Schneider might be coming a bit earlier than expected. At night I started having some contractions with some pain - unlike the Braxton Hicks I had been experiencing in previous weeks. We went to bed and I couldnt sleep. I was restless and the contractions continued.

At 3:00 AM today I gave up trying to sleep. The contractions were still happening and at times the pain was pretty severe. I remember my doctor saying that you can make Braxton Hicks go away by taking a bath, drinking water, etc. So I had a huge glass of water and hopped into a hot shower. We have a steam unit, so I set the shower to steam and hung out in the sauna for a while. I got out of the shower around 4:00 AM and still was having the contractions, so I got dressed and went down to watch some television.

Around 5AM I started timing them - they were about 10-15 minutes apart. They werent totally predictable, the pain wasnt overwhelming, and they werent getting any stronger. Jeff got up at 5:45 to get ready for work. When he came down I told him I might be in labor, but wasnt sure - so to keep himself prepared at work. We chatted througout the day as I sat and watched television. Around 11AM I decided to walk to Starbucks. At this point the contractions were about 5 minutes apart so I called him and he decided to come home from work. He arrived home at around 11:30 and got ready to help me time contractions. Of course, they stopped.

All along I had been worried it was a false alarm, and how here I was after 8 hours of contractions finding that it might be true. But...over the next hour they picked up again. Jeff and I timed them all day. My doctor told me to call the office if contractions were 5 minutes apart for at least one hour. Over the day they would constantly be 5 minutes aparat for abotu 30 minutes ... but then they would be 15 minutes. It was random and unpredicable, so we continued to wait.

Finally around 4-5 pm I was getting more regular contractions (all less than 8 minutes) and they were continually getting stronger. At about 6 they were 5 minutes apart for 45 minutes - with several in the 3-4 minute range. I called the doctor and she told me to head into Labor & Delivery to get checked.

It wasnt a moment too soon. In the car the contractions were about 2 minutes apart and I was out of my mind in pain. Waiting to get into L&D and get a nurse to check me out was the longest hour of my life. While she was timing my contractions my water broke ... I was being admitted! It was about 7:30.

I was brought into a delivery room, hooked up to IV's and machines, and told to wait for the doctor and approval for an epidural. I dont know how long it took to get the epidural but each minute felt like an hour. Finally with the epidural I felt immediate relief and literally thought "this isnt so bad". Again, perhaps a bit premature.

After the epidural my contractions slowed down and I was given pitocin to increase the urgency of my contractions. While my contractions did become much closer together, they also became much stronger. I continued to complain to the nurse about the level of my pain and finally told her it was just unbearable. In order to get my epidural increased they had to have the doctor come to see me first. She was paged a few times and not quickly responding. Eventually another doctor came because my doctor appeared to be MIA. Turns out I was in so much pain because it was time for Baby Schneider to come - everyone was shocked.

It was just a bit before midnight. I was told I couldnt get any more drugs because it was time to push, everyone in the room started running around in a painic. It appears that the arrival of Baby Schneider shocked more than Jeff and I - the entire L&D staff wasnt expecting the baby yet either! My doctor was paged (with more urgency this time I assume) and she showed up a few minutes later. At 1:13 Brooke Angeline became an official member of the Schneider Family.

It was a crazy experience. Jeff and I will always remember the panic Brooke's arrival inspired in the hospital staff. I think they were all more suprised by her arrival than her own parents were :) Its great that she wanted to meet us sooner than expected, we were ready!