Strawberry Swing and Other Things: Mama Erinn


Hi Schue Love Readers!  Natasha was kind enough to ask me to guest post while she's busy getting in the groove of motherhood. I'm so excited for her family on the new addition and the opportunity to guest post!

However, I wasn't sure what to post about until seeing the sweet photo of her brand new baby boy Ethan.  I was instantly reminded of that moment that will forever be etched into my memory and rank as the best day of my life.


The moment we met.


We locked eyes and smiled to each other, as if we were both saying, "hang on for the ride, I will love you the entire way"

If you'd like to read more about our wild ride, you can find Ashlynn and me over at Strawberry Swing and Other Things!

First Month Must Haves

First Month Must Haves


I really appreciate it when other bloggers post their "must have" items for baby, so I wanted to return the favor and list the things that we have loved in Ethan's first month.

Wipe Warmer: I know a lot of people think this is overrated, but when Ethan is fussing on the changing table, the warm wipes really do seem to pacify him a bit.  Plus, this makes for a nice container to keep the wipes in.
Cradle 'N Swing: Ethan LOVES his swing...I can't say enough good things about it.  He loves looking up at the birds and his reflection {their is a mirror by the mobile} and he also sleeps well in it.  Great for me too so I can do dishes or fold laundry as he swings away.
Mittens: The Satsuma brand are the very best.  They are super soft and stay put on his hands.  I don't think Ethan would be able to calm down and sleep half the time without these guys.
Itzbeen Timer: This timer has been a lifesaver, especially in the early sleep-deprived days.  It tracks his last diaper change, feeding, sleep and etc.  It has definitely helped me feel sane and confident knowing Ethan hasn't gone too long in between diaper changes and nursing, especially in the middle of the night.
Boppy Pillow: A must for nursing!  I also like the Brest Friend...both have made nursing a breeze.
Wubbanub Pacifier: Ethan loves the Soothie pacifiers and the Wubbanub is a great invention with the little animal attached.  I think he'll grow to love it even more as he gets control of his hands.
Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover: Another must...this cover makes nursing in a group setting tolerable.  It has a wire inserted at the top so you can see baby nurse and get great airflow as well.  It is much better than throwing a blanker over your shoulder.
Aden + Anais Swaddles: Everyone raves about them and I am no exception.  These muslin blankets are light and breathable...perfect for this time of year.  Ethan sleeps best when he's wrapped up in a little baby burrito.
Mustela Bath Time Essentials: This is a great starter kit for baby.  It includes wipes for his face and body and a no-rinse cleaner which is perfect for sponge baths.  I also love the smell!
Lanolin: This has saved my nipples while breastfeeding.  I've literally had zero issues because of this product...it's like chapstick for my nipples!  
Bottle Sterilizer: While we don't bottle feed regularly yet, I've been using this non-stop for the pump parts.  Super easy and convenient.
Boon Grass Drying Rack: Once the pump parts have been sterilzed, I use this little rack to dry them.  It's cute and functional...win-win!

So there you have it...my must-have items for the first month.  What are your must-have baby/mom products?  Anything to add to the list?



xo natasha

Happy 1 Month Ethan!


Dear Ethan,

You are one month old today, July 26th...how did that happen so fast?  It feels like just yesterday that we welcomed you into our arms, but at the same time, I feel like we've known you forever.


Though we don't know your exact weight, we are guessing you are 8 pounds and some change.  You are filling out your newborn clothes more and more and starting to fit into your 0-3 month clothes.  

As for your health, you are getting stronger and stronger every day.  You like to lift your head up when I burp you and you are kicking your legs a ton!  You love to spend time on your back, gazing around and taking everything in.  As of today, you still have not lost your umbilical cord stump, but more and more of it falls out everyday, so hopefully you lose it completely soon!  We can't wait to give you your first real bath, especially since you're not a huge fan of sponge baths {understandably so!}.  


This last week, you started to bald and broke out with a little baby acne...poor guy!  But of course, you're still the cutest little guy that we've ever met...if gives you good character right?  ;)  You have also found your lungs and don't hesitate to use them when you're hungry!  Mama definitely knows when you're hungry...you definitely don't mess around!


You got to meet your Aunt Lauren for this first time this past week and she just fell in love with you.  We get to see her again at the end of September and I can't wait for her to see how big you've gotten!

You still LOVE your swing...you spend time looking around and being super alert, but eventually give into the rocking and go to sleep.  We love the little furrowed look you give us...especially when your forehead wrinkles.  You are starting to smile more and more, wich just warms our heart.  Can't wait for the first real smile and to hear you laugh for the first time!


You're becoming much more alert during the day...looking around and holding our gaze for long periods of time.  You have such an inquisitive look on your face...I have a feeling that once you start talking, you'll have a lot of questions!

Oh and you sneeze quite a bit, usually in spurts of three and it is hands down one of the cutest things I've ever seen.  Sometimes you think you have a fourth one coming, but it comes out more as a coo.  Melts my heart!

And you still manage to surprise us on the changing table.  Dad and I have joked about setting up a bullseye on the wall...your aim is right on!  ;)


We've gotten into a routine during the night.  You only wake up at 3am and 6-7am which is not bad at all.  And then you go right back to sleep.  Only on rare occasions do you fuss after you're done nursing and it's usually because of gas.  Gripe water seems to solve that problem pretty quickly. 


All in all, you are such a sweet baby.  I love the time we spend cuddling and nursing has been such an amazing bonding experience.  I know that you're only going to continue to grow and become more interactive, but I'm trying to take it all in now.  

Happy 1 Month Ethan...we love you!

Love, Mom

***

PS...I cannot believe I reached 1,000 fans!!  So exciting!  I value each and every one of you and thank you for all the love you've shown me!

Also...I am guest posting on my wedding dress over at Something Pretty today!  Check it out!

xo

Table for 3: Mama Megan

Hi, I am Megan and I blog at Table for 3!
I am SO excited to be guest posting for one of my favorite bloggy mamas! I am here posting for Natasha while she is busy being a new mama!! =) 
I am the mama to Olivia Adele who I am head over heels OBSESSED with! She just turned 13 months old and is the main topic of my blog!
 Olivia was born 3.5 months premature on May 23rd. After spending 80 days in the NICU we welcomed her home on August 11th.
In the past year I have had SO many wonderful moments with Olivia. I would have to say I have 2 moments that will forever make my heart happy are the first time I got to hold her and the day we brought her home. 
As a mom, you wait for that moment that the doctor calls out the babys gender and places that sweet pink baby on your chest, you look at your partner and cry...at least that's how I pictured it in my head. In our situation they did call out the babys gender and I did cry but instead of placing her on my chest, she was rushed to a team of doctors. The first time I saw Olivia was a picture that Jeremy took on his phone because there was so many people around both of us. So two weeks later when I was told I could hold Olivia, was the moment I felt that took a lifetime...
My heart SO full! :)

Then the day we brought Olivia home felt like a dream. The day was perfect. I'll never forgot the feeling of walking out those double doors as a family of three. It was the moment Jeremy & I dreamed of and SO much more!
 Even Olivia was smiling! :)

I know as mamas, we try to treasure every second and moment, but these moments will always stand out in my life! 
Thanks for reading a little bit of our story! I hope you will stop by and say hi!! 
Thanks for having me Natasha! Make sure you sleep while your little Schue love sleeps! BEST advice there is and I STILL follow it! :)

Fried Tomatoes with Spicy Sriracha Sauce


Hi Friends!

Popping in to share an easy and delicious recipe today...the fried tomato!  With summer in full swing...the produce, particularly the tomatoes, have been readily available and perfect to eat.  I love a great caprese salad in the summer, but sometimes something warm and crunchy hits the mark.  I love this version {found on AllRecipes.com} because it uses cornmeal for an extra hearty crunch.  We also used panko style bread crumbs for a nice texture.  The end result was a warm tomato on the inside with a crispy outer shell.  Delicious!  And just to kick it up a notch, we made this tasty sriracha sauce to accompany the tomatoes.

2 T. mayonnaise
2 T. ketchup
chili powder
cayenne pepper
Sriracha hot chili sauce (Asian hot sauce)

Mix all the ingredients together and voila!  It adds just the right amount of heat to make this a great starter or summer meal.

What have you been enjoying this summer?

xo natasha

Linked to: Tasty Tuesdays

All Things Bright and Beautiful: Mama Aubrey

Hidey-ho, neighbors!

And yes, I totally am like Wilson...except for my fence is my blog...All Things Bright and Beautiful to be exact!

And the subject matters over yonder don't usually cover funny kiddo stories, so when gorgeous new mommy Natasha asked for mommy moments, you know I was all over that like kids on a candy bar (c;

For some reason, kids seem to be super attracted to cell phones...and I discovered this little gem on my phone one day after confiscating it from my 3 year-old:



And while the whole thing was quite ridiculous (we were totally rolling on the floor because she decided to say every word she could think of that she isn't usually allowed to say (c:), I couldn't help but have my little mommy heart melt at the saying mommy and kissing the phone...so cute! 

 Those are the little moments that make all the messes and embarrassing moments worthwhile... 

 Like when we were in church one Sunday and I was trying really hard to read something...apparently my son (who was two at the time) really wanted attention because he kept putting his little hand right where I was reading. I kept moving it away and saying "no, no"...until I couldn't take it anymore and shoved his hand away with a little more force and a "stop it!". His response??? "GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!!!" I could feel my face turning beet red as all the faces in the congregation snapped around to see who the culprit of this profanity was...
...and then dissolved into giggling when they saw that little rascal with a huge smile on his face. 

 Thank goodness they're cute!!! 



 But truly, those two little guys are the best thing that ever happened to me and I'd never trade a minute...not for all the fabulous shoes and accessories in the world! 

 (and that's *BIG* for me, y'all...)

Thank Natasha for letting me brag on my babies for a spell...I'm *SO* excited to "meet" Baby Schue!!!!

Running from the Law: Mama Sara


Hello!  I’m Sara from Running from the Law.  I’m an attorney living in St. Louis, a runner, a shopper, a foodie, and most importantly, a new mom. I’m honored that Natasha asked me to guest post on her blog while she’s home taking care of her new little bundle of joy.  I’m mom to a baby boy with a husband named Ryan, so Natasha and I are basically twins.  Anyway, my son Mac was born May 20th and just turned 7 weeks old.  It’s been so much fun sharing our pregnancy experiences over the past 9 months and I look forward to sharing baby/toddler stories over the next few years. 


Ever since Natasha asked me to share a “mommy moment” with you guys, I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with the perfect topic to discuss.  I pictured myself waxing poetically about breastfeeding and bonding with the baby, or giving you advice on how to get your newborn to stop crying or sleep through the night.  But honestly, I’ve only been doing this for 6 short long weeks, and I honestly have no idea what the hell I’m doing.  My kid won’t breastfeed and he doesn’t sleep through the night.  And sometimes he cries so hard it makes me cry and we both sit on the couch and bawl in unison - that’s probably not the type of bonding you want to be doing, right?  Being a new mom is tough and I’m learning how to do this job as I go.  I just don’t know enough about anything yet to be able to help anyone else out with a baby.  So, that’s my topic today…how to be absolutely clueless and be ok with it.


 I’m sure you’ve heard it all before: “Nothing can prepare you for having a baby.”  Truer words have never been spoken.  Believe me, you can babysit every kid on the block, read every book ever written on babies, ask endless questions of all your mom friends, practice care-giving with furbabies and take all those worthless classes at your hospital, but nothing in the world gives you a clue as to how you’ll handle being a new mom.  Sure, you’ll learn how to change a diaper and how to swaddle your newborn, but you don’t learn how to survive on 45 minutes of sleep a night for weeks at a time, how to prevent inconsolable crying from acid reflux, how to eat/drink/clean/pee one-handed while holding a baby, how to not be angry with your husband for sleeping through the baby’s cries or how to survive the mommy-guilt you feel when you can’t breastfeed your little one.   Nope, these are all things you can never prepare yourself for and you’re shocked when they happen to you.  But you know what?  That’s ok.  You also can’t prepare yourself for the pride you feel when someone tells you how cute your kid is, or the love you feel for your husband when the baby’s sleeping in his arms while they watch the baseball game, or the joy you feel when your little one snuggles into your neck and falls asleep.  Nope, you’re never prepared.  And that’s ok too.


If you’re anything like me, I hate not being good at things and it takes all I have to admit that as a new mom, I don’t know what I’m doing.  How can you possibly know what kind of parent you’ll be until you’re in the situation?  No wonder I don’t know what I’m doing…I’ve never done this before!  Duh.  But I’ve realized over the past six weeks that even though I have no idea what I’m doing, I’m getting better at it.  Does that make any sense?  Every day is a little bit better and a little bit easier.  Of course we have days/nights that are downright awful where I just want him back in my stomach where he was NICE AND QUIET, but those days are getting fewer and far between.  Nowadays I’m learning how to be the best mom I can be to my child one minute at a time.  I’m the one that knows everything about him and I’m so proud of that.  Maybe I don’t know how to cure hiccups, but I know my kid likes to be bounced while he hiccups and that makes him feel better.  I don’t know how to get the dishes and laundry done in the same day, but I know it’s worth wearing dirty clothes to be able to spend time on the playmat with him and listen to the squeaks and love noises he makes.  I don’t know how to do it all; hell, I don’t even know how to do most of it.  But again, that’s ok.  I’m learning.  My child is teaching me how to do my job as his mommy and it’s been the most important lesson of my life. 


 What I’ve really learned is that even though I’m not a perfect mom, I’m the perfect mom for my baby.  I have to trust that I know what to do that’s right for him.  I’ll still read the books and ask the questions, but raising a baby isn’t going to be a textbook experience.  And it’s not going to be identical to my best friend’s experience with her new baby or like my favorite blogger’s experience with her kids.  Every child is different and every day is a new challenge.  Maybe some of you have those mythological “easy” babies that never cry, eat on a schedule and sleep through the night at two weeks old.  And if you do, more power to you (and bugger off), but my guess is that most of your babies have their issues…I know mine does.  I don’t love him any less for them, but it certainly does make my job a little harder.  But that’s ok, because that is my job – to be his mom and do the best I can to make sure he has what he needs.  And I’ll keep trying until I figure it out.  And I’m sure that just when I think we’ve made progress, something will change and we’ll start all over again with the books and the questions and the wishing he was back in my belly.  Because if I’ve learned anything over the last six weeks, it’s that I don’t know a damn thing about what I’m doing.  But guess what…that’s ok.


Baby Ethan: Week 3


Hello Week 3!  

Thanks for all the great feedback on Ethan's birth story.  I'm still amazed that he arrived less than a month ago...but so happy he's a healthy baby!  Here's his update:
  


Weight: So last Wednesday, the 11th, a nurse from our hospital came out for a home visit.  She weighed him and he was at 7lbs 2 oz...up a whole pound from when he left the hospital!  I actually tried to weigh him at home today...and it said he was 8.5lbs.  Not too sure that's accurate, but I would guess he's pretty close to the 8lb mark!


{love his wrinkled forehead!}

Health: I'm happy to report that his diaper rash has cleared up!  His umbilical cord stump, however, is still in place.  We have one more week to wait for it to fall out on its own...otherwise, he'll be making a visit to the doctor for some help.  

Sleep: Ethan still sleeps pretty well...especially in his swing {he loves that thing!}.  He still gets up about 2-3 times each night but usually goes right back down after he's done nursing.  We can tell he has some gas issues which cause him to get cranky and wriggle around.  Definitely trying to watch what I eat to see what the culprit is.



Clothes: He's still fitting in NB clothes and some 0-3 month onesies.  Ryan loves dressing him in his Giants onesies...he has 3!


{practicing tummy time!}


Visitors: My sweet friend Amy came to visit for a couple days and Ethan's Aunt Lauren and her fiance get into town tonight.  Can't wait for her to love on him!  ;)



Diet: Milk!  We did give him his first bottle this past weekend to try and tucker him out for his newborn shoot.  He drank it right down...yay!


{Tummy time...for both baby and pup!}

Baby Gear Love: Still LOVING the no-scratch mittens.  They help soothe him when his arms start to flail and keep his little face clear from his nails.  We file his nails, by the way.  Definitely not ready to clip them!  We also love the wipe warmer.  I know some people think they're overrated...but it keeps him soothed during changes, which is 100% necessary at 3:30am!  ;)  Last, we got the Little Tummy's gripe water to help with his gas.  Seems to work for him!



I also got my "push present"...this sweet little initial necklace with his initial on it.  I LOVE how delicate and sweet it is...perfect for everyday wear.


Crying: Ethan really only cries when he needs a diaper change or is hungry.  He "fusses" more often than he cries and I am learning that it's ok to let him fuss a little bit, especially at night.  More often than not, he's just shifting around and falls right back to sleep.



Likes: He loves his swing!  And he loves his Daddy!  Ryan swears that he smiled at him {on purpose} for the first time and I wouldn't be surprised.  He also loves his morning time snuggles with Grandma.  So sweet.



Milestones: We made our first "road" trip down to Target this past weekend, which is about 45 minutes away.  Ethan did great!  He slept the whole way there and back and only needed to be nursed once.  He loves being in the car too...so it makes running errands fairly easy.  He also had his first dinner out at Edgewood Monday night and slept the whole time too!  He's making it pretty easy on us! 


Oh and we had his newborn photos taken this past Sunday.  Our photographer is a total rockstar...she just gave birth to her son a week before and was SO patient with us.  Little E was not super cooperative, but thankfully our photographer hung out and let us do our thing, so she could get some great shots.  Cannot wait to get them!  We also got our birth announcements in...love them!




Postpartum: Feeling more and more like my old self everyday!  Had my 2 week check up last Friday and everything is healing well.  Our trip to Target allowed me to get some cuter nursing bras and some clothes...like this dress above.  I'm learning more and more how to dress for nursing purposes.  It feels fun to get dressed again...thank goodness!  I'm also getting the hang of nursing and pumping...I seem to get a more consistent amount now, when I do pump.  Progress!



Oh and I submitted Ethan's nursery to Project Nursery this past week.  Would LOVE to have you check it out and rate it!!  ;)


Click ::here:: to rate it!  Thanks in advance!

xo natasha

The Honeybee: Mama Andee


Hi guys I'm Andee from The Honeybee blog! Im a wife and new mommy to our beautiful 3.5 month old daughter Ava. Being a full time mom is quite an adjustment but I wouldn't trade it for anything! I never thought I could love my daughter more than the day I first met her but that love somehow continues to grow each day!!!


 I have to say that bath time with my daughter is my absolute favorite time with her! She loves sitting in her tub and kicking her little feet in the water. I don't think she has ever looked cuter than when we take her out and put on her little hooded towel! It melts my hearts every time!



Thank you to Natasha for allowing me to share this with you ladies! Sending lots of love and prayers to her and her beautiful son...cant wait to see more pics!!

Ethan's Birth Story


I finally got Ethan's birth story together.  I decided to keep this all in one post, so sorry for the length, but of course I want to remember all of these details!


The last time we talked pregnancy, I left you all on Monday, June 25th with my 40 week update.  Baby was five days overdue and the induction cloud was looming.  I was to be induced that coming Wednesday, the 27th, which was not ideal.  I really hoped to experience certain aspects of labor, like feeling my first pang of labor, timing contractions at home with my husband and allowing baby to come on his own accord.  However, I had not felt one Braxton Hick and had shown no progress at my 40 week appointment...still about 1 cm dilated, so I had become pretty defeated.

Some time during Sunday night, I had a hard time falling asleep and started feeling some cramping...similar to menstrual cramps.  When I woke up Monday morning, they were still there, but nothing to write home about.  I had an acupuncture appointment that morning, ate lunch at my favorite lunch spot, Freshies, and then got a pedicure...stressing that I wanted a nice long foot rub!  ;)  Ryan got home from work around 6 and we went on our usual walk around the neighborhood.  I told him about the cramping and as we were walking it seemed to get stronger and come in waves.  Even though I was sure that these were not labor pains, I thought they were coming regularly enough to at least time...for fun if nothing else!  So we got home and we started timing them as I bounced on the birthing ball...and low and behold, they were actually quite regular!  Coming about every 5-10 minutes and getting stronger.  I'm telling you...they felt like a super strong menstrual cramp...nothing like the tightening I thought they would be.  I still wasn't sure if this was really it...they came on so quickly that it seemed impossible I was actually going into labor.  Plus I've heard women experience "pre-labor" pains many days in advance.  

However, I found that the "bloody show" had also come along, which scared me enough to give the hospital a call and see if we should head on in.  They told us that it wasn't a bad idea to have me checked out, so on we went to the hospital at about 10 pm that Monday night.  We got checked in and sure enough, those cramps were contractions after all!  Yipee!!  I was SOO excited that my body decided to go into labor on its own and that we would get to meet our son soon.  But, I was shocked to learn that I was still only about 1 cm dilated and 75% effaced!  So after walking the halls to no avail, we decided to go home and labor through the night as opposed to staying at the hospital.  

We got home around 1am and the contractions got WAY stronger and WAY faster...I took some hot showers and tried to stay distracted, but it was pretty miserable.  When those contractions hit, there was literally no mercy!!  So by 5:30 am on Tuesday, June 26th, I cried Uncle and back we went.  Luckily, I had progressed to about 2 cm dilated and we were told we could stay!  I couldn't believe we would get to meet our son that day!


I opted for the epidural around 9:30 am and it was pure heaven on earth!  I could actually relax and get some rest, which was nice since I got none the night before.  However, it did slow my contractions down and once they started administrating the pitocin, the baby's heart rate would drop every time a contraction would come around.  By 1pm, I was only 4 cm dilated and baby's heart rate wasn't doing any better.  The nurse {who I absolutely loved, by the way!} told me that I should dilate about 1 cm an hour and would hope to push by 7pm that night, but it was all dependent on how the baby's heart rate was, and unfortunately, they couldn't hurry things along due to the fragile balance of pitocin to baby's heart rate.  The nurse believed that the umbilical cord was probably wrapped around baby's neck which was causing the drop in heart rate.  A c-section was mentioned a couple times, but there was no push for it yet.  I prayed that his little heart beat would stabilize so that we could avoid the c-section.  I think the most frustrating aspect was knowing that I couldn't do anything to help things along, since the epidural prevented me from walking.  I will say, that the epidural was nice though because I could still feel my legs, wiggle my toes, and move from side to side.  At some point, the doctor broke my water, but not much fluid came out.  They then decided to insert the heart monitor to the baby's head to get a better read on his heart rate.  An amnio infusion was also administered to help with my fluid level.  I had shifted sides all day long to see if one side would help more than the other.  Ironically, around 5pm, I finally laid flat on my back and that's when the magic happened.

Suddenly baby's heart rate stabilized and my contractions became regular!  The nurse checked me and said I was about 6 cm dilated...progress!  And this is where is gets crazy.  I started really feeling the contractions again, which was actually kind of comforting because all was going well again.  I asked the nurse to adjust the epidural because it was starting to hurt and another hour went by.  Well, I still felt them but wasn't too worried, I mean, I had the epidural going after all.  Oh man, how wrong I was.  

I started feeling some strong tail bone pain and had a strong urge to bear down...like no joke, I wanted to run to the bathroom!  Ryan called the nurse back in and told her what I was feeling.  When she went in to check my progress I literally screamed in pain.  I.felt.everything!  And guess what, I was 9cm going on 10 and the nurse said it was time to push!  WHAATT?!  I wasn't ready and I was sure I wasn't supposed to feel pain!!  She tried to up the epidural again, but told Ryan to grab a leg...it was pushing time!

I pushed for about an hour and 15 minutes...I felt every contraction, felt the head with my hand as he started to come out and literally cried in sheer terror because I was so scared.  It was just Ryan on my left leg, the nurse on my right leg and the doctor.  Even though it wasn't what I expected...it was truly a surreal experience feeling my body push this little being out and getting amazing encouragement and support from my husband, nurse, and doctor.  My regular doctor wasn't on call that night, but the doctor who was, ended up being my hero...she was so patient and encouraging.  I am so grateful that she ended up being the one to deliver me.

Little Ethan Grant finally arrived at 7:19pm on June 26th, weighing in at 6 pounds 3 ounces and 19.5" long.  As suspected, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and shoulder, which was immediately cut to relieve him.  The second they placed him on my chest I started bawling {I am just crying right now thinking about it}.  I got to see his sweet face for the first time and I stared at my husband who was also sobbing tears of joy.  We did it!  We finally got to meet our son and he was the most perfect little thing that I had ever seen.  My heart swelled up a million times over...I've never known love like this before.

  
The next moments are all a blur.  Due to the umbilical cord being tied around his neck, the doctor had to cut the cord immediately upon his arrival.  Because of this, he did not get the blood flow and oxygen that babies normally get as they transition from the womb to the real world.  As a result, his lungs struggled and he was grunting, instead of crying.  The nurses checked him out...gave me some more skin to skin time, hoping this would help him regulate, but unfortunately, he had to be whisked to the nursery for help.  Ryan went with him but it was such a vulnerable moment to meet my son and then watch him leave so soon after.  We didn't get the bonding time to breast feed like I had hoped and then I was so scared that something was terribly wrong with him.  I've never felt more scared in my whole life.  

Here he is with his little IV in his hand.

Ryan came back in, with tears in his eyes, to tell me that everything was going to be ok, but the baby would be staying then night in the nursery, which just broke both our hearts.  Luckily, Ethan latched on like a champ the very next morning and his vitals improved drastically over night.  It was very scary and humbled me in many ways...but I am so thankful he is happy and healthy.


It's definitely been a whirlwind these last couple of weeks, but I wouldn't change a thing.  We have a healthy baby boy in our arms and we love him like nothing we've ever known before.

xo natasha

Honey We're Home: Mama Megan

Hi!  I'm Megan from Honey We're Home.  There is nothing better in the whole wide world than a little baby!  When you become a parent, everything is new and you fall in love, head over heels, with wild abandon, with your baby.  And watching them grow is even better.  With each new stage, I find myself saying, "THIS is the age I love the best!"

But I remember every first. 

First time eating peas:


First teeth:


First crawling:


First time sitting in the shopping cart:


First haircut:


First visit with Santa:


First bike ride:


First walking:


First time at the beach:


And of course, first birthday cake!


And then suddenly, they're 2! (and I know lots of mamas who can now say, "and suddenly they're 18, or 25, or 40!")


But right now, I'm cherishing the creativity of the two year old.  Mine is talking in complete sentences and we have conversations!  It's amazing and totally blows my mind.  Our conversations go something like this:

James:  What you doing mama?

Me:  I'm folding the laundry.

James:  I help fold the laundry.

Me:  Okay, thank you.

James:  You're welcome.

Total swoon!


Congratulations on your new little one Natasha!  Big hugs to you and your family!