FYI

Mommy did very good today dropping our sweet Mills off at Aunt June's! No crying. When I left and he was happy, a peace came over me! YAY! Now, its back to reality. Oh, but did I miss him or what! I couldn't give enough kisses when I got home from work. (Daddy picked him up early)

Sweet Mills

This picture was taken last week. Mills was sitting on his daddy's tummy. His beautiful dark head of hair is steadily turning to a beautiful bald head! I was hoping that he wouldn't lose too much of it, but he's going bald from front to back. Each day we notice a little more missing. It's as slick as Daddy Warbucks! I hope it comes back dark. I love dark hair, that's how I always pictured our Mills before he was born, but I will love'em with dark hair, blond hair, or bald! Erik and I were both cotton top as kids, so...Mills may be too!

Last Day at Home

Today, on this Sunday, Sept. 27, is the last day at home with our precious baby boy. Tomorrow I will be heading back to work for my usual 3 1/2 day work week. I know it doesn't seem like its been 6 weeks, but 6 weeks has come and gone, and it is time to resume to what may seem to be be SOME normalcy in our lives. Believe me, if I could stay off 2 more weeks, I would, but like I've said before, unless someone has a money tree they'd like to donate from, it's just not possible. I don't want to go back, but at least I have a job and co-workers that I love, and I don't have to work 5 days, just 3 1/2. Thank goodness that our Mills is going to be in GREAT hands. Aunt June is going to take such good care of Mills, and we couldn't be more happy about him staying with her, but that doesn't take away my fear of seperation anxiety that I may experience tomorrow and the rest of the week or weeks. Mills is going to be encountering so many new things, and I am afraid of missing out on them. I don't want to miss the first time he holds a rattle, sits up,or says his first word, and takes his first step. Life is life, and it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day to spend with him. There is so much to do today. I've got to get his bags ready, go and get his box of diapers and wipes to take with him, and spend every waking second with him until we part tomorrow. Please keep us in your prayers :)

Mills and His Monkey

When daddy changes Mills, they always have a little bit of playtime as well. Mills loves laying on his changing pad and staring at the shelf above. He also loves the monkey that sits there. Why? We don't know, he just thinks it is interesting. Of course, today when I decide to video, he doesn't smile as big as usual, but hey, you get the picture...or should I say video-ha! Joey also loves anything plush. We have to watch him or he'll get Mills' toys.


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

6 weeks and a little "Good Start"

Mills and I went to the Dr. today, for me actually. Today I had my 6 week post partum check-up. Everything checked out good! Mills behaved quite well, but I will tell you this, he is ALL MALE! I attempted a quick trip to Ann Taylor post visit, and the boy does not like shopping. He's just like his daddy, lol! Turns out, he just needed a diaper change and some lunch, then all was good. Sitting in the back of my car and feeding is not very roomy, but hey, it works.
As far as Mills' tummy trouble are concerned, we have now switched to formula #4. I am not saying a word as to whether or not it's working, but we started it yesterday afternoon. So far, his "straining" has become unpainful, and he had a "real good diaper" this morning. Poor thing has been so "backed up" that it took his daddy and me 3 diapers to catch it all. Like I said before, he is going to kill me for this one day. I am reporting TMI! You all know that he is just a baby, and that's just how babies work. Its not as if I'm telling you about Erik's or my tummy troubles-lol! Thank you all for listening and for your advice. (Allison :) Continue to keep your finger's crossed, and keep me in your prayers. I head back to work on Monday, and am not ready at all! I know that regardless of how long I would have stayed off, I would not have been ready. Six weeks, eight weeks, or 3 months, it would all be too hard for me.

Emily Peyton Cook Photography presents...

FALL FAMILY MINI SESSIONS

Benefitting the Junior Auxiliary of Tipton County

November 2-7

8am-10am & 2-4 at the Tipton County Museum & Nature Trail

751 Bert Johnston Ave. Covington, TN

*Images to be featured in the Leader's Holiday Classic

$50 packages available!

*Rain out Day scheduled for November 14 (we'll call you to reschedule)

What comes with the package? Your choice of :

A. (3) 5 x 7s, 8 wallets

B. (1) 8 x 10, (1) 5 x 7, & (4) 4 x 6s

C. (3) 5 x 7s, (4) 4 x 6s

D. (1) 8 x 10, (1) 5 x 7, & (4) 4 x 6s

Background? Outdoor FALL scenery. **No Christmas props will be used!

To make an appointment:

*This event is by appointment only! Call Emily at 901.476.7164 to secure your reservation.

More information at www.epcphotography.com

Baby Update

It is 9:10 pm, and our Mills is FINALLY asleep. Yes, he's been awake ALL DAY. Sounds great doesn't it? Well, honestly, he's been screaming his head off all day due to constipation, and that is why he has not slept today. We've been thinking he's been constipated for the last couple of weeks, but actually, he's just had irregular bowel movements which is normal for a newborn, with the exception of tummy-aches. I think he took a cat nap around 11:00 for about an hour, but that's about it. So, last resort I call my pharmacist friend, Leann to ask if there is anything I can give Mills. Thank goodness my mom was on the way up to bring us dinner, because I had to get to Walmart pharmacy by 6:00 in order to get some suppositories...a new kind that I was unaware of...oh yeah, much easier. So, it helped, but our little one is still trying "to go." Aaahhh. I feel so bad for him. I am hoping he'll eventually wear out and sleep tonight. Terrible aren't I?

Maybe There's Hope

Mills has been on new formula for 50 hours.

1. Mills was awake and happy all morning at Aunt Whitney's baby shower
2. Mills naptime was 3 hours ago, and he's STILL awake...huh? You guys know that I can never keep him awake during the day! Whats going on?
3. Mills slept 3-4 hours between feedings last night.
4. Mills has been a smiling baby all day...maybe its gas? Nah, couldn't be!

Now, I am praying that all of this will help him/us have a great night. I hope I'm not jinxing anything...hmmm.

Here we go again...

Well, we're on formula #3! After calling my peidatrician's office on Wednesday to reschedule Mills' 8 week appointment, I decided to talk to Dr. O's nurse and see if they had any suggestions for another formula to supplement with. She left me some samples of Isomil Advance (soy), which is what I took as a baby. Maybe thats a sign?! lol! So, we ran by there yesterday and picked them up. So far, Mills has been on this formula for 32 hours and we've had 3 poops, and no fussing, (well except for when he needs a diaper change, which is every 30 minutes! and looses "Mr. Pappy." I can't wait until he can put his pappy back in his own mouth!) He seems to be liking this formula already, and is willing to take a little more of it, than of the milk-based formulas we've tried. Keep your fingers crossed. I hope I'm not speaking too soon!

Mommy's Favorites

As I sit here watching my baby take his afternoon nap, I look around at some of the things that have been my favorites while being a mom. Things that I am thankful to have and would recommend to anyone expecting a baby, or anyone who is already a mom wanting new "stuff."



#1 Plain ole' white Gerber onesies.

They come in a pack of 5. Mills wears them at home when we're not going anywhere. They're inexpensive, so if he spits up on them, tee tees on them or we get them stained in any form or fashion, its not a big loss. He also sleeps in them on warmer nights.


#2 Summer Infant Best-view color handheld monitor.



This video monitor is the BEST! We use it all of the time. It has a 2.5" screen for a great view of the baby. It will pan 360 degrees, move up and down and zoom in all with the touch of a button. It has various volume control, night vision, and you can add cameras for different rooms of the house. All of this controlled with the handheld screen. Also, if you turn the volume off, it has a "scale" if you will that measures sound, so if Mills is really crying, it turns from green to red. It is a tad bit expensive at $230 (Babies "R" Us), but I bought ours with monetary gifts on ebay for $150, new in box, and free shipping.



#3 Boppy Cradle and Comfort Bouncer


This papasan style bouncy seat keeps Mills soothed with its large frame and cushioned cradle and vibrations. It also plays music, but we don't use it most of the time. We can put him in it and not worry about him falling out, like with other bouncers. I usually don't strap him in, because I am usually nearby.



#4 Gripe Water


My sister and a friend told me about this stuff. I guess that its what our parents used to call "temper drops." Maybe? There are several types of "gripe water" on the market. It is an herbal supplement used to ease the gas and stomach discomfort of babies occasionally associated with colic, hiccups, and teething. I bought this kind because it did not have to be refrigerated, and I can keep it with me at all times. You can get it at Walgreens. Erik and I use Mylicon too, but usually alternate between the two.



#5 Kissy Kissy gowns and hats







Found at the freckled frog, these are my absolute favorite! They are so comfy and soft. I wish I had one in my size! I love the hats too. The gowns allow for easier access during diaper changes during those poop and pee pee every 5 minute days. I prefer these much more than the footed sleepers. All of those snaps become difficult when you have a baby that squirms as much as mine. I frequent "the frog" to scope out the new patterns every so often, and to see if there are any that Mills just can't live without, which are all of them. I sent the one above with my nurse at the hospital so that the nursery staff could put it on Mills after his first bath. He looked adorable! It was much better than those over sized kimono tops that they put them in.



#6 Pampers Swaddlers diapers



The softest diapers I've found. They have a yellow stripe in the front that turns green after Mills "tee-tees." I've heard that after size 1, there is no stripe, but the Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive diapers do have it, so we may be switching when Mills reaches the appropriate weight. I haven't had any problem with leakage either.



#7 My "Best Chair Storytime Series" swivel-glider and rocker





This by far has been the best purchase. It is the most comfortable chair!! I could literally sit in it for hours, and there are nights that I have. I have fallen asleep several times. This style is the "Patoka." My friend and co-worker Rachel got one for her nursery and told me about it. So, I decided to check it out. It is the perfect size for me, because I am so small. If you are taller, you may want to check out a bigger style. My feet touch the ground in this one, which is more than I can say for most other chairs! I bought mine at Galleria Furniture & Interiors in Atoka.



#8 Tavi Raine receiving blankets


Also at the freckled frog, these blankets are very soft and hold up very well in the wash. Love'em!



#9 The First Years Night and Day bottle warmer

Now, I will be the first to admit that I did NOT want a bottle warmer. I have heard numerous negative reviews on them, so I decided to be old fashioned and heat my bottles in a cup of warm water. Okay, thats all fine and dandy if your nursery is downstairs and you want to wait 5 minutes to get your bottle warmed up. I however, can't! My nursery is upstairs, and as you all know, my baby has had tummy troubles and there are many nights when he is screaming bloody murder. I don't have time to run down to the fridge and get a bottle of his formula supplement and heat it up. (Erik and I are upstairs now too.)

This warmer has a cooler on the back for 2 bottles, and will heat a bottle in about 1 minute or less depending on the size of the bottle and amt. of formula in it. So, half-way through nursing, I reach over, push a button, and viola!...heated bottle and HAPPY BABY! I couldn't resist, so I gave in. It has been great. Although, I do use the old-fashioned heat in a cup bottle warming method downstairs.

#10 Plain ole' white burping towels. Is that what they are? ( We "crept" them from the hospital.) I came home with about 5 of these. We use them for everything from burping to spit-up, sprinkling tee-tee, etc. Again, not fancy, but no loss!

Fun Day with Mills

Mills has been a good baby today! He has slept most of the day and did cry a little this morning, but has been very good. Of course the day isn't over yet.


We've had bath time:

Tummy Time:

And changed a lot of wet diapers!!




I LOVE MOMMYHOOD!

Wanted: ATTENTION

This is Joey

This is Joey's toy bucket

This is Joey laying beside his toy bucket whining because he's wanting me to get a certain toy underneath the other toys. Sometimes he'll take the time to remove those other toys that are on top of that "certain toy" to get to it.

But not today, Mommy's feeding baby, and he inconveniently wants me to get up and get it for him.

Yes, he got his way after whining and whining.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Mills was 4 weeks old on Thursday, wow! Tomorrow, he will officially be one month old. Time is flying and it appears that our little sweetie is gaining weight. He is filling out quite nicely and getting heavier by the minute. Tonight, while I was upstairs trying to "stock up on milk" if you will, our Mills was enjoying tummy time on his tummy mat and ROLLED OVER! Now, whether or not he intentionally did it is beyond us, but regardless, he ROLLED OVER!...and I missed it!

He is still battling his tummy issues, but we hope that it will soon resolve. Bless his heart, he is so fussy! I can tell when he's trying "to go" and just can't. We've had to help him out a bit. Let's hope the next week will be better. He IS sleeping better at night, 3 or 4 hours at a time, so I have been getting a break. I have been falling asleep after feedings while rocking back to sleep...ugh!

Tuesday

All is still this morning at the Beasley house. Maybe mommy can get a shower while our lazy dog baby sits...oh, now he's asleep too!

A Better Night

What a night! Mills went to bed at 10:00 and slept until 1:00, and without his "pappy." I didn't give it to him one time last night. I fed him, and then he slept again until 5:15. YAY! I did NOT call the pediatrician, but decided yesterday morning to try Gentlease. We have gone through 3 bottle of mylicon. After two small bottles, I finally bought the big one. I bought the small can of formula yesterday just to try. Mills seems to be handling it better already, but I don't want to speak too soon. Last night, he layed in the floor on his back smiling and looking around for about 45 minutes. I also put him in his swing, which is usually used when he is fussy. It puts him to sleep. This time, he looked around happily for about 45 minutes or so. He is still passing gas, but appears to be doing it without pain. Erik and I are just hoping that this pattern continues regardless of whether it is from a change in formula or not. Hopefully we can get our litte guy straightened out. It has been easier the past 2 days and we thank all of you for your comments and suggestions.

Who's Tried It?

We have been supplementing my milk with formula at each feeding since Mills had not gained any weight. It is not something that I wanted to do, but sometimes you just don't have a choice. We are using Enfamil with Lipil Premium, which as given to us at the pediatrician. I am wondering if it is what's causing Mills to be continuously fussy and mad. Not to mention that he is pretty gassy. When he "toots" (sorry TMI) sometimes he cries. So, I was just wondering if any of you have tried Enfamil Lipil Gentlease. If not what or do you have any suggestions. I am planning on calling the pediatrician on Monday to see if they recommend switching, or what.

Go VOLS Go!

Mills is ready. We're excited because he's watching his first football game. The first of many to come. We can't wait to take him to the "real thing." Oh, and Rocky Top soothes him when he cries. We love it!