TLC's A Baby Story...

I am in love with TLC's A Baby Story. I actually only caught a few episodes before I had Riley, but now I DVR it and watch it daily. I cry at EVERY birth....the experience of having a baby never changes, it is always amazing. I think I cry also as I see these women go through all the pain and frustration. Ugh, childbirth is HARD! But oh so amazing!

I cried at every birth I watched before giving birth, and now after. But was is interesting, I did not cry when I gave birth. I cried a lot during the labor from the excruciating pain of the contractions....but I did not cry when I had Riley. I think it was so surreal I was just in awe! I like to think I was just taking it all in without losing it emotionally.

Whatever the reason for my tears or no tears, I get it now. I had a baby and I understand what women go through to give birth. It is crazy...Women Rock!

Smiling = Breathtaking!

Your baby's smile is like nothing in the World.

Enough said!

Body after Baby!

Ok, I know I just gave birth 7 weeks ago, and I am quite content with where my body has transgressed since then not to mention pregnancy. Nursing has definitely helped drop the weight, and now that I have clearance to start working out again, the new year will bring a new focus on getting back in shape.

All of that being said, I am still surprised at a few things on my post baby body!

Number 1: My chest has grown astronomically with nursing. I will just say this, I had to buy yet more bras after baby. I should have invested in a bra company or the Pump Station.

Number 2: I like leggings...I never wore leggings before pregnancy and now they are all I live in. They are comfortable and since I am top heavy, they are slimming for now. And I can wear them with a lot of things. Another thing I should have invested in.

Number 3: My hips have moved...surprise, surprise. I am not sure why I thought this would not happen. I finally broke down and bought a new pair of jeans...I cannot live in leggings forever. My main frustration, I spent a ton of money on jeans right before I got pregnant..and I will get back into them one day!

Number 4: I have become a fan of Tunics...do you have any good recos for places I can buy them?

Number 5: Nothing from before fits...so I keep shelling out money for clothes...oh well, I do love to buy new stuff!!!

Pix...my new Hard Tail soft as can be sweatshirt...American Apparel, Michael Stars, Victoria Secret and Planet Blue are helping me find a new wardrobe.

A few Baby Moments so Far!

For the most part the past 7 weeks have been wonderful...we have had lots of visitors, and Tim and I have eased into being parents relatively smoothly. Riley is a very good baby...she sleeps regularly up to 3 to 4 hours at night and part of the day. She has even slept up to 6 hours one night so far. She feeds very well - she had gained up to 3 pounds at her first months appointment. She does not get too fussy, except during growth spurts and at night some times.

We have taken her out to lunch and dinners including Bazaar, Ceconnis, Cafe Del Rey and more. She has done really well at all of them!

During her 3 week growth spurt was the hardest part for me. She had a lot of cluster feeding going on and still cried.

I have had just a few days of feeling kind of blue...the first day Tim went to work and a few other days where I had been with her for 12 hours at home without leaving the house. Now, as she gets older, it has been a little easier to go out during the day for a few hours.

I have started back at post-natal yoga...which is awesome. I can bring her with and I get some excercise while being around other moms and babies. I am starting to feel a little more connected to the World. I hate to say this but Thank God for Facebook...it is my main lifeline to the Real World.

I never want to leave her ever!!! I get nervous thinking about going back to work!

I have had a few funny moments including a diaper blow out at the yoga place and having to nurse her on the floor of the bathroom stall at the Baby Gap! I surprisingly do not freak out bad, I am laughing at most of these moments which is good for controlling nature! I am liking what motherhood is doing to me!!!

So much fun and so worth the hard work!

Nursing....I like it!

I am shocked that I am enjoying nursing as much as I am. It is a bonding time that only I can experience with Riley. I am lucky that it has worked really well for Riley and I...I am interested to see how long I do it! My initial goal was 3 months...we shall see.

No pix needed for this post.

Home - A new life!

I remember that ride home from the hospital...it was a BEAUTIFUL day in LA, warm and sunny. My parents had bought groceries for us, we had lots of flowers and balloons to welcome us home and I felt a new sense of awareness wash over me. Nothing looked the same...Santa Monica Boulevard, the Pier, our condo. Everything was different and better!

Tim and I just stared at Riley all day that day, we could not imagine going back to work and leaving her! It was a wonderful day!

The First Night

We finally got Riley around midnight on the 25th of October....she was born around 9:20 PM that night. Tim and I marvel at our baby and listen to the nurse as she runs through the dos and don'ts with her during the night. Then she leaves....Whoa....she gave us a 10 minute instructions run down and then she is gone. And we are left with this baby! What do we do now???

Thankfully we can call the nurse during the night if we need anything. I need to try and nurse - which Baby Riley figures out right away luckily. This is one smart little girl. But I am all bandaged up from the labor...which leaves you definitely sore and tired and is quite a process. My husband jumps right in to take the lead on taking care of Riley. He is wonderful...We finally fall asleep around 2 in the morning.

That first cry from your baby in the middle of the night is quite startling...you just extended your body beyond comprehension, you are groggy and tired and this little being starts wailing right next to you. Believe me, I jumped up right away. So did Tim. Little Riley had a dirty diaper and she was not happy. Tim got up and changed her right away since I was laid up in the bed! I remember this moment so clearly because Riley was telling us how she felt and Tim took care of her right away. I went on to feed her twice that night and the nurse told me she was going to be a feeder....she was correct on that one.

We had a few issues figuring out the feeding over the next day or so given the small amount of milk available - Riley got frustrated and would cry so we gave her a little formula in the hospital but overall, she took to breast feeding pretty instinctively.

On Tuesday, we just spent the day getting used to this little girl who had entranced us from the moment of birth. We had a few visitors, toasted her birth with some good champagne and we could not wait to get her home. We left the hospital, with good signs of health for both mommy and baby on Wednesday and headed home for the first time! I felt a little sad leaving, mainly because the birth while taxing and hard, was such an amazing experience. It felt bittersweet almost.