Month 4/ Lesson 4

In Cooper's 4th month of life, we took our first trip!  During this month I learned what it takes to travel with a baby!  It was a weekend trip to visit family and go to an Auburn football game.  It was only a 4 hour drive, so we thought this was a good test trip - not too far away.

If you know me, you probably know that I am a list-maker.  So my lists began... and the overwhelming feeling began.  There were so many things on the list!  And I was worried I had forgotten to write something down.  The best piece of advice I got when trying to prepare for this trip was:  Write down everything you use throughout the day and that is what you pack.

I finished packing and felt pretty good about it.  One thing great about traveling when he was this young... no bottles, no snacks, no food; just a boppy and a cover.

It was a four hour trip so we planned to stop half way through and we all had a snack.

The whole thing really went smoothly.  I had told myself to plan for the worst... and realize it will probably go better than expected.  And it did!  He slept most of the time.  While we were there everything went pretty well.  He napped when he got the chance and didn't fuss much.  The only minor mess up was that I left my cover at the house we were staying at... but I luckily had a blanket to cover up with.

What was your first baby trip like?

30 minutes!

I ran 30 minutes, without stopping!  I haven't done that in about 6 years.  I was so excited.  I went for a night run that I didn't really feel like doing.  But I told myself I would make it 22 minutes.  At 20 minutes I thought to myself, I can go for 25 minutes.  Then I thought to myself, I'm feeling so good I can make it 30 minutes!

When I ran these 30 minutes it was partially thanks to the perfect circumstances.  For dinner I had pasta.  I ran when it was dark, so there was no sun and less heat.  And I had plenty of water that day.  I know I will have to remind myself of this the next time I run and I can't make it 30 minutes.

I measured the route out on Map My Run and it was 2.5 miles, which means I am running a 12 minute mile.  I hope to eventually be faster.  For now I'm just happy to be running

Running update:  I've decided to postpone my 10k plans.  I am still going to complete one, but I think I need time to get in better shape.

Month 3 / Lesson 3

Month 3 was tough.  Even though things were getting slightly easier with the baby, things at home were not.  My father-in-law was sick and in the hospital.  We had no idea he would be in the hospital for almost a month.  Understandably, my husband wanted to be at his side.  His schedule was work, hospital, home to go to bed.

So I did what I had to do and took over the house and the baby.  We both said, after the fact, that it was like I was a single parent.  In month 3 I learned that life as a single parent is not easy and help from your partner is priceless!  Many women and men have to be single parents for different reasons and I applaud the hard work you do!

My friends and family that are moms had been telling me "do what you have to do," and I did.  This is also the time I discovered the moby wrap.  To do laundry, I wrapped him in my moby, to have some peace and quiet I wrapped him.  I also had to sometimes just let him cry long enough for me to finish unloading the dishwasher.  At the end of each day I was exhausted.  I had used every napping moment to wash the dishes or do laundry.  The rest of the housework would have to wait.

Unfortunately, after a 4 week stay in the hospital my father-in-law passed away.  We had two major life changes within three months.  We had to adjust to a new normal.

Luckily I am not always handling everything by myself.

Watching his first Auburn football game, just the two of us

Month 2 / Lesson 2

Two months down and Cooper and I were really getting to know each other.  We both learned how to breast feed and how to sleep when we got the chance.  I also learned how to take a shower and keep my eye on a baby at the same time.  But the most important lesson I learned, looking back on month 2, is that you can't spoil them and mess up their sleep in the first few months of life.

And I say "looking back on month 2" because I did not think this lesson was true during those first few months.  I read bits and pieces of many books on sleep worried I was doing things completely wrong!  I was paranoid he was never going to be able to sleep in his crib!  Those first two or three months Cooper practically lived in his bouncer seat.

I asked several moms about when, where, and how much he slept and they tried to assure me that things were going fine but I was so worried (being a worrier runs in the family).  You may try to put baby on a "schedule," but he/she will choose their own schedule... especially in the early days.  It will be hectic but reassure yourself "this too shall pass."  With any luck, your baby will put himself or herself on their own schedule, love to sleep, and be a great sleeper like Cooper.  Well... really, we just got lucky.  Here's how Cooper sleeps these days:

Latest run

Since the last time I wrote about running, I have not followed my 10k training.  Lucky for me, the schedule is for 8 weeks and I have more than 8 weeks.  I decided this would be the week I really stick to it!

I started out with Sunday, a long run day.  For whatever reason, I decided to go right before dinner.  It had been 5 hours since I ate so I was not fueled up enough at all!  And boy could I tell.  Before this run, I had run a few times for 20 to 25 minutes without stopping.  On this run I had to stop many times.

Monday I did a little bit of strength training.

Tuesday was a 2.5 mile run.  I managed that with no problem!  I learned my lesson about running without fuel.  Everything went so much better and I didn't have to stop at all.  However, my shins began to hurt.

Wednesday is cross training.  I took the dogs for a 30 minute walk... shins still hurting.

The rest of the week it rained, and rained, and rained some more.  The rain combined with a holiday, the Fourth of July, and my shins hurting lead to me taking Thursday off.

Friday is an off day... woohoo!

Saturday was 40 minutes of cross training.  Since it was still raining, I went to the gym and did a cycling machine.

All and all I think I did pretty well!  Hopefully I'll keep it up and be able to run my end of August 10k.

This blog may be changing soon.  I'm considering making this more of a mommy/running blog... maybe.

Month 1 / Lesson 1 (Warning: if you don't like to hear about breastfeeding, stop reading)

In the first month I learned the dedication breastfeeding takes.  Before baby comes, decide how committed you are to breastfeeding.  If you have taken a class at all, they will tell you it's not easy... and it is so true.

The first few days in the hospital were not terrible, but not necessarily easy.  Then we got home and things got really hard!  He kept falling asleep... thus the milk was slow to come in, so there wasn't much to eat.  The doctor suggested we "finger feed."  What does that mean?  We had to put either pumped milk or formula in a curved syringe and have him get it out.  So I had to nurse him, then pump, while my husband gave him the milk out of the syringe.  And we had to do this every 2 hours... night and day... for 48 hours... and the whole process took 1 hour!  Talk about sleep deprived!

The milk finally came in and we had a happy baby and a happy mama.  Breastfeeding was not all a walk in the park.  So, you have to know you're committed before the baby comes and you are an emotional mess (thanks to hormones).

First birthday!

One year ago and a few days my life changed forever!

My 23 lb. boy was this small... what? (8 lb. in this picture)

The time has really flown by!  I cannot believe that this time last year Cooper was only a few days old. Those first days at home were really the most challenging.

Cooper had a small but wonderful birthday party.  And he of course had cake to get all over his face!

Another milestone Cooper had the night before his birthday party was that he spent his first night away from home.  The Hubs and I went to a late wedding so it was easiest to let him spend the night with his Nana V than have someone stay here late while he just sleep.  I can't believe he's old enough to not have to be with me all the time.  During most of his first year he would have starved without me!

For the next 12 weeks I am going to try to do 12 lessons I learned during the first 12 months of my son's life.