Mommy Things Yes and Mommy Things No

Things we've learned and loved....

Classic Items We Didn't Use

- bottle warmers

- bottle sterilizers

- diaper genie or other system

- baby bath...we had a large baby bath pillow we used until Jax could sit on his own

- baby seat....though it seemed useful...the period of time he would use it was so small, we decided to skip it all together

6- 8mos (in progress)

- Still likes ArtSee FartSee

-No more pacifier, or swaddling, and rarely mylicon

- baby leg warmers (keeps legs covered when pants ride up, but nothing extra to remove when time for changing)

- Early to bed + good bedtime routine = happy baby that sleeps thru the night.

Our routine = dinner + bath + books w/bottle = bed

The food stuff

- Added some formula around 4 mos

- Added rice cereal at 5.5 mos

- Started solid baby food at 6 mos...prunes first due to constipation

0-6 mos

- wubbanub pacifier

- Mylicon (generic brand is fine)

- ArtSeeFartSee CD

- LookLook B&W Book

- Miracle Wrap (best swaddle)

- Huggies wipe BOX (you can refill with whatever you like...but this dispenser box is better than most)...though i liked their wipes the best also

- GOOD umbrella stroller (we used it much more than our mega-stroller). Chicco Lite Way.

Mommy stuff

- cloth breast pads (with the lace on one side)

- nursing tank tops

- feminine rinsing after delivery - i used a mug warmer, but water in a mug and filled the rinser-bottle halfway with water and put it in the mug. Then i'd add cold water to the bottle when it was time to rinse.

WHY? You want to rinse with warm water....but warm water took too long to come from the faucet and i'd waste water besides. Filler the rinser and heating it up was get it too hot.

HOT TIPS!

-Breast Milk poopy stains - rinse with some oxyclean+water and lay in SUN!

-Breast fed babies may only poop every few days...so don't freak :-)

- Don't over commit to anything....what works for one baby, may not work for another (ie. don't buy 10 of one type of bottle until you know YOUR baby like that type.)

- Be aware of the items that might be temporary in babies world, and purchase appropriate amount at appropriate price...(swaddlers, etc)

- Don't outrule anything....what didn't work a few minutes ago to soothe baby, may work in another second.

-put baby down for nap/sleep BEFORE they are sleepy or at least at the very FIRST SIGN of sleepiness.

Our First Big Adventure

What better way to welcome Jaxon to the world than to bring him Home.

On Sept 1, 2010, 4 week old Jaxon headed on his first trip to the Reno desert and home to Burning Man. Grandpa Ver and Pat facilitated the trip by letting us tag along in the RV.

Jax LOVED the light and sounds and meeting all his fellow burners. We were stopped everywhere we went. As someone said, seeing a 4 week old at burning man is kinda like spotting a unicorn. We think he was probably the littlest burner ever.

He bounced to sleep in the art car....he helped me write my message to Tucker at the temple.

People said what a gift it was to him (and to others) to have him there. I think so too.

Jaxon's Birthday

Better late than never...

i thought i'd better document the day Jax arrived before i forget!

In the middle of the night or early in the morning Friday, July 30 *something* happened....just what, wasn't exactly clear. I took to the internet to try and figure out if my water broke...or something a little less exciting. After trying unsuccessfully to reach the doctors office (turns out they were having their carpets cleaned)...i finally called the hospital to describe the situation.

11 am - The hospital said to monitor kick count, the flow, and any contractions and call back in an hour. Though i wasn't feeling any contractions, when i called back they said come on in and let's check it out.

12 am - I called Grandma Bonnie to come get me....but i said no rush....so she went to lunch. She suggested I load up the car... I protested that I was likely to just be sent home....but i loaded the car anyway just in case.

3:30pm - Mom and I head up to the hospital with bags just in case. I tell her i'm not having contractions, only some gas pain. Mom suggests i "time" the gas pain since they seem to be coming and semi-regular intervals.

4pm - We arrive at the hospital....but i won't let mom bring any bags in with us! I don't want to be sent back home with all my bags in tow. But....after a quick test at the hospital...turns out i will not be going home just yet! It WAS in fact my water breaking last night, I'm in labor and ready to go! We start to make the phone calls to Team Jax....but tell them it will likely be a while so no rush.

5:25 pm - Auntie BabyDaddy Sarah sends out the first email to the awaiting throng and heads to the hospital!

Things are clicking along a bit slowly so i get a little boost from some pill [i can't remember what]...and suddenly things are clicking MUCH Faster. After an hour or so of "OMG labor"....where we went from 1 to 4 cm dilated.....we shifted into "Ahhhhh much better labor."

Everyone was called back and told to "step on it"...and they did.

Grandpa Ver, Gma Susan, Micah, Sarah, and Pat all arrive to help cheer Jax into the world.

9pm - Second update goes out over email predicting a 2am delivery.

I think around midnight - The pushing starts...and......

2:17 am - Jaxon arrives! He is 20" long and weights 7lbs 15 oz.

Meanwhile, somewhere high above the ground, Adam and Christine are flying home from their honeymoon...in separate rows.... Adam sends a bottle of champagne to Christine with the news!