The World of Parenting

Confession.  Some of my posts about natural childbirth (here, here, and here) were a bit defensive.  If you haven't noticed, how one chooses to give birth can be a bit controversial.  Drugs or no drugs?  Hospital or home birth?  Birth center?  What's a birth center??

Since I happened to be in the one percent of the American population that didn't choose to give birth in a hospital (I went to a birth center), I was met with questions/remarks such as.. 1) Is that even safe? 2) Whyyyyyy would you do that?? 3) I just don't understand why you wouldn't get an epidural?  You're not going to win some kind of medal or something!!

(**Quick sidenote: Can we just talk about that last one for a quick second though?  This is not what this post is about, but I can't help it.  That one just irks me.  I'm passionate about birth and I can't help it.  Plus, this is my blog and I get to do long sidenote vents when and where I want.  But honestly??  I didn't give birth without drugs because I wanted to be cool, to try and be superwoman, or because I wanted to just see if I could do it for fun.  Some women may find the research regarding epidurals and their effects on breastfeeding appealing... or others may be interested in the plethora of convincing research effects such as a higher incidence in low blood pressure or fever, a longer pushing stage, an increase in instrumental delivery, or the increased chances of needing more synthetic drugs due to a slowed down labor... but anyway!  Rant over.)

That aside, I felt like people thought I was crazy... or at least some crunchy hippy that likes organic foods, yoga, cloth diapers, and sometimes co-sleeps.  Oh wait... that is me.  Well, label me as you must.  Just go with me here for a second.  I'm growing.  I'm learning.  And at first, it was hard for me to be met with so many that didn't understand something that I was so passionate about.  I happen to think that waterbirth is AWESOME?  So what?  :-)  Anyway... a little at a time, I'm starting to realize that the whole world of parenting is filled with these hot topics that everyone seems to disagree on.

For example, I recently saw this ad...

WOAH!  Like I said... people are really passionate about some of these issues!  I have a few things to say about this very controversial ad... but that is not the point of THIS post haha.

The point of THIS post, is that I'm starting to become more confident in my decisions, and realizing that  part of parenting is doing the research, and then doing what is right for you and your family.  I mean, I know this seems like common sense, but when you are met face to face with people who adamantly disagree with you and make you feel like you're doing something wrong, it's hard to be confident sometimes.  And just like anything in life, there are lots of parenting issues that are hot topics.  Vaccinations?  Spanking?  Basically, these issues result in me spending hours researching on the internet, talking to as many people as I can about what they do and why they do it, and then spending A LOT of time thinking, analyzing, more thinking, pondering, and then doing some over-thinking!!

But when it comes down to it, Scott and I get to make the shots.  We get to decide what's right for us, and what's right for Miss K.  It's a tremendous amount of responsibility... it's called PARENTING.  And I can already tell ya, it's changing me for the better!

Having to make these big decisions for an innocent little child can be overwhelming, but I feel like it's making me a more confident person.  I'm actually starting to enjoy the controversial issues and be amused by them, even if others think I'm crazy.  At the end of the day, I make decisions based on what is right for me and my child in my situation.  Welcome to the world of parenting!

Newborn Pictures!

My friend Becky came over a few weeks ago and took some newborn pics of little K.  You can see more of her pictures on her website HERE.  Here are some of my fave pics that she took!

Notice the big fat diaper in the pics above?  We tried to take it off so we could do those cute nakey pics but she totally did a big fat juicy juicy in her pants so the diaper had to stay on.... or 1/2 way on rather!  Oh, babies...

Kaelyn's First Month

We survived the first month of parenting!  Time is going so fast all of a sudden... is that what happens once you start having kids?? P.S. She was one month old on November 5th... this post is just a bit late! ;-)

I've been meaning to write an update post for AWHILE now.  As it turns out... being a stay at home mom does not result in having more time to myself!  In between diaper changes, round the clock feedings, burping, rocking, making faces and cooing back at her, changing her outfit and mine several times a day due to spit up and runny poop (a bit of an exaggeration... but I do change HER outfit at least once a day!), quite a bit more laundry, keeping the house clean and cooking more, and my increasingly busy social life, I feel quite busy!  And while she does sleep quite a bit, it seems that a lot of the time when I put her in her crib, she wakes up.  Not only that, she doesn't seem to be the baby that I can just put in the swing to get things done... when she's awake, she wants to be held 24/7!  I'm hoping she will be more self-entertaining soon!

This month has also brought quite a bit of change in my emotions!  This is nothing too new as I was hormonal throughout pregnancy, but I have definitely felt some of the highest highs and lowest lows to be sure.  First of all, I'm quite sure I have never felt so ecstatic about anything in my life.  She is the most gorgeous little person in this universe.  I am also quite positive I have never done ANYTHING as worthwhile with my days as sustaining a living, breathing, beautiful human being.  I have never experienced this type of love, and my heart just about explodes out of my body every time I see that gummy, toothless grin of hers.  I love that I get to snuggle with her 24/7, and that I get to experience every new noise and incremental physical/developmental change each and every day.  My life suddenly has so much purpose... so much meaning!  I am fulfilling my dream of being a mom, and that feels fantastic.

At the same time, the lows I have felt have been quite interesting.  Things are finally starting to normalize now (around 5ish weeks) and I feel like I can look back on this past month with more perspective.  I think running on next to no sleep is definitely something that would drive anyone a bit crazy, and then add the hormones on top of that and it is sure to result in a few "off" days.  Not to mention... being on demand 24/7 is something that takes a little getting used to.  It's weird to spend so much time taking care of such a little, helpless being, and not being able to eat when I want to eat, or sleep when I want to sleep, etc.  As much as we adore her, it seems there is quite a bit of sacrifice involved. :-)  Of course we knew this going into parenthood, but it's still different when you are experiencing it!! :-)  I also had a few of those days where I fell into the pit of despair trying to fit into non-maternity clothes, and mourning my pre-pregnancy body.  I have a lot of work to do!  I gained 45 pounds total, and lost 15 the first week after she was born.  Since then (the past 4 weeks)... I haven't lost anything!  What everyone says about the weight starting to fall off with breastfeeding apparently doesn't apply to me.  At least it hasn't so far.  So, yeah.  It is seeming that I have about 30 lbs to lose on my own, which is going to take quite a bit of work.  Boo.

All of that to say, despite the combination of mixed emotions, this has, without a doubt, been the best month of our entire lives.  We are over the moon in love with our little one, and each day brings new excitement and challenges.  I can honestly say that my heart misses her if she sleeps longer than an hour... YEAH, I'm pretty in love.

And now I will give you a 1 month show of little K's "firsts!"

First time getting ready for church....

First bath (which she totally loved!!).  Of course it was because she was born in water. :-)

First Halloween!  Kaelyn had a little onsie that said "my first Halloween" with a little pumpkin hat (thanks Aunt Christie!).  We were Mr. and Mrs. Pacman (NO, not bumble bees!!!)

First play date (which she slept through most of....).  These are her two friends Britain Larson (on the left, 10 days old in this pic), and Cody Harper (on the right, 13 days old in this pic).

Oh, and first boyfriend.  Look at Cody puttin' the moves on her already....