What I've Learned About Parenthood as of August 21

1. Giving your baby a bottle of formula before bed does not make you a bad parent, nor will it tank your milk supply.  Formula takes longer to digest, which means you'll get more sleep; after weeks of sleeping in 2-hour increments, 4 hours will seem like a vacation.

2. It's okay to still wear your maternity jeans 7 weeks after your baby is born.  Likewise, it is okay to wear your pre-pregnancy jeans with the button undone AS LONG A SHIRT COVERS THE WAISTBAND.  Honestly, let's keep some modicum of decency here.

3. When your baby is screaming and fighting sleep, place him in a baby carrier and vacuum a room.  The white noise from the vacuum mimics the sounds he's used to in the womb, and the baby carrier leaves your hands free in case you need to down a beer to maintain your sanity.

4. The best thing you can do for new parents is bring easy-to-prepare food for them to eat, and offer to do laundry.  Seriously, where do all the dirty clothes come from?

5. Don't pass up an opportunity to pee.  Your baby may decide in 2 minutes that he's hungry and will be attached to the breast for 45 minutes; you'll wish you'd hit up the bathroom when you had a free moment.

6. If nursing, a Netflix account is indispensable.  I nurse anywhere from 3.5-6 hours daily, and have worked my way through some great TV shows during that time.

7. Remember all those people who said, 'Enjoy this time, they grow up so fast?!'  They weren't kidding.  August has gained 4ish pounds since he came home from the hospital, and those preemie pj's he wore at first seem like a distant memory.

8. It's okay to change your plans about parenting.  I truly thought I would love breastfeeding and it would come naturally to us; I didn't love it at first, and it didn't come easily.  We had to use nipple shields (which some people are vehemently against, unnecessarily so), pump to get my supply up, it would take him over an hour at each feeding, and I still ended up having to supplement with formula to help him get rid of his jaundice.  I thought to myself, 'This is not how I envisioned this going, and I'm a bad mom.'  I had this idea in my head of what a good mom looks like, and I was not meeting it.
You know what?  August is doing great.  He can down a bottle or a breast now with no problem or extra assistance.  Most of our feedings take 45 minutes now, and they're spaced further apart.  I actually like our late-night meetings; it's just the two of us, and he makes the cutest faces and hand motions while he's eating.

9. No one cares what you're wearing as long as your baby is happy and well cared for.  A couple weeks ago, August was dressed in an outfit consisting of socks, a polo onesie, pants, a cardigan and hat- all matching.  I was in pajama pants, a nursing tank, and Converses.  When I got to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law's for lunch, they didn't even mention my pj's, just went straight for the baby.  Expectations for your appearance pretty low right now.

10. In order to be a good parent, sometimes you have to let someone else hold him while you take a nap.  It is simply impossible to be good at anything when you're going on just a smidge of sleep.  Take the offer of someone else watching your baby and crash for 45 minutes.  It's amazing what it will do for your psyche.

Our Week in Photos. Mostly of August.

 An epic staredown between my Diego men.

How adorable are these lion jammies?!  August is so precious in them, and is doing a mini Zoolander face to model them properly.

Last weekend JP got pretty into wake surfing; I love seeing him behind the boat like that.  He's so good!

The little man is just not sure about bathtime.

On Tuesday, August and I went to a mommy group, so he got dressed in his Florida Keys tee to impress the ladies.

Here he is practicing his sensitive artist look.  

During the group itself, August was so alert!  He hasn't really been around other babies, and he really seemed to enjoy it.  His eyes kept darting around, as if he didn't realize there were other babies in the world. 

We met at a church about 15 minutes from our house, and there were 30ish other moms and infants there.  From my own standpoint, it was great to get out and be around other moms, many of them with their first babies too.  We were nursing without covers, chatting about milestones, and exchanging sleep tips; it felt like a real community.  I can't wait to go back!  Especially since sometimes a group will go out for pizza afterwards.  I'm always up for pizza. 

I love his ducky towel!

And, lest you think we forgot about our fur baby, Mia got and destroyed a new toy this week.  That monkey never even stood a chance.

Cast Iron Chicken Pot Pie

You may have noticed that pregnancy and now parenthood have brought out the carnivore in me.  I didn't grow up in a vegetarian household, and all I'm craving right now is comfort food.  For me, that means meaty lasagna, chicken pot pie, chili (yes, even during the dog days of Atlanta summer), and biscuits.  However, I've got a 6-week old to entertain and keep an eye on, and not a ton of energy to make these traditionally time-intensive meals.
I've done some tweaking on the standard c.p.p. recipe, and think this is quite possibly the easiest chicken pot pie recipe ever.  Everything is cooked in the same pan that it's baked in (!!), we use storebought pie crust and precooked chicken , and you could even buy pre-cut veggies from a salad bar if you were so inclined.  Does it get any easier?
You're welcome.  And dig in!

Cast Iron Chicken Pot Pie
1 storebought pie crust, thawed if frozen
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 carrots, peeled and sliced thinly
1 onion, chopped
1/2 bag frozen corn (about 2 c.)
1/2 bag frozen peas (about 2 c.)
2 c. rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp. flour
2 c. chicken stock
1 c. heavy cream or whole milk
1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Heat olive oil in cast iron skillet until shimmery, then add carrots and onions.  Sautee until onions are mostly translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add corn and peas, and cook through.  Toss in chicken and seasonings, stirring to coat all veggies and protein.  Sprinkle in flour and cook another minute.
3. Add in chicken stock and cream, and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.  When liquid is thickened, about 15 minutes, top skillet with pie crust and brush with an egg wash.
4.  Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until crust is golden brown.  Remove from oven, serve, and enjoy!

Gratuitous Photos of August

 August, Mia, and I generally get some good couch time in the afternoons.  Good thing our sofa is big enough for all three of us!

 Morning snuggles with my little man last week; he usually eats at 7ish, then takes a little nap, which I sometimes join him for!

This kid knows how to yawn!  It looks like a roar, but then just ends with him smacking his lips together.  So cute!

 Last Sunday, we ventured out for our first mini-hike!  Our family loaded up in the car and headed to Roswell Area Park, where Mia and JP jogged for a few miles while August and I walked behind them. He likes being in the Ergo baby carrier!

 Modeling the effectiveness of some new jammies.

 Sometimes, he needs a quick rest before his nightcap with me.

 On Tuesday afternoon, August, Mia and I ventured up to the lake house for some downtime with Abuela and Tia Belen.  He had a really good time!

It completely wore him out to be stared at and adored for hours on end.

And here he is practicing some soccer kicks with his dad.  We can't start him too young!

I'll close with this quick video of August's yawn in action.  This is my life; it's not too shabby.

August's Nursery

 You know, August's room is probably my favorite in the whole house.  The color is a medium gray (Benjamin Moore's 'Ozark Shadows') that pops with white and yellow accents.  Although these photos come across a little dark, the one window in the nursery lets in plenty of light during the day.  There is a lovely pink crape myrtle right outside, and we have a great view of the rest of our cul-de-sac.
We didn't hang too much art on the walls because we didn't give ourselves time to get it together, but I actually like that it's not cluttered.  When August starts playing with toys and sleeping in here (he's currently in a bassinet at the foot of our bed), there will be enough clutter on the floor!

This is the view from the door: gray/white chevron curtains from PB Kids, kitchen island/changing table from Crate & Barrel, and, of course, a Diaper Genie.

I love that our rocking chair and dresser have connections to both my and JP's childhood.  I've already gone on about the chair here, and the dresser was in JP's nursery!  I did spray paint the knobs yellow to give a bit of contrast.
BTW, that floor pouf is from Target, and its thick knit is so comfy rest my feet on during August's night feedings.

 My almost-cousin Laura made the cute clothespin wall art for my baby shower (so adorable!), and the colors couldn't be more perfect for the room.  The art below is of St. Augustine, and was a gift from my mom.  How perfect that it greets you as you walk in the room!

 JP's childhood teddy bear is in the middle; he insists that August will love it as much as he did.  So far, they're about the same size.

 There is a full bathroom attached to the nursery, which will make bathtime so much easier when August grows up.  (Right now, he gets baths in an infant bath in the kitchen sink.)

 There's no closet in the bathroom to store his toiletries, so I picked up this little kitchen rack from IKEA over the summer.  I love this pop of turquoise, plus has plenty of room for bath toys (eventually), baby towels, and shampoo!

 This changing station is absolutely perfect.  There are literally hundreds of diapers and wipes in the drawers and behind the cabinet doors, so they're hidden but easily accessible.  It's also the perfect height, and we just purchased a changing pad to screw into the top.  The panda painting was done by Patricia/Abuela, and August loves looking at its contrasting colors during his diaper changes.

Although August isn't sleeping in his crib yet, it's all ready for his naps when we start getting him on a schedule next week.

How adorable is this little mobile Patricia picked up for August's room?  I love these knitted sheep, and the colors are so fun!  I think my favorite is the fuzzy blue sheep.

And, of course, here's another shot of August's library.

All in all, this room has come together beautifully.  It's exactly what I wanted: a few colors (gray, yellow, white, black) with lots of textures and patterns (knitted, chevron, stripes, tribal).  The space will (hopefully) grow with August, and will be easy to switch up with future babies (!!).

Tomato Scallion Shortcakes with Whipped Goat Cheese

Six weeks ago, JP and I had a truly delicious summer meal: tomato scallion shortcakes with whipped goat cheese.  Doesn't that just make your mouth water thinking about it?  Trust Smitten Kitchen to come up with such a wonderful way to serve tomatoes.
Start out with some flaky, buttery scallion biscuits/shortcakes, then marinate some grape tomatoes with tangy red wine vinegar, and top with savory, light whipped goat cheese.  It is just as delicious as it sounds.  This recipe should make 6-8 shortcakes.
We served it with sausages, but it would be great for brunch with scrambled eggs, or some grilled lamb at a cookout.  Just be sure to make it while the tomatoes are still in season!

Tomato Scallion Shortcakes with Whipped Goat Cheese (from Smitten Kitchen, 2012)
2 c. plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. baking powder
3/4 t. table salt
5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes
3 scallion, thinly sliced
1 c. buttermilk, well-shaken
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of sugar
1/2 lb. grape tomatoes
3 Tbsp. whipping cream
4 oz. goat cheese, softened

1. Preheat oven to 425, line baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together.  Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.  Stir in 1 sliced scallion, add buttermilk, and stir until dough just comes together.
3. On a floured surface, pat or roll dough to 3/4" or 1" thickness and cut into 3-inch rounds, reforming scraps as needed.  Arrange on prepared sheet, and bake 15 minutes, until golden on top.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.  Halve or quarter tomatoes (depending on size), then toss in dressing.  Allow to sit while you finish goat cheese.
5. In another medium bowl, combine cheese and cream.  Whip on high until peaks form.
6. Split each shortcake in half, and spoon each portion with tomato mixture.  Top with goat cheese and remaining scallions.  Enjoy!

August's Birth Story

Can you believe that August has been with us for over a month?  I feel like this time has absolutely flown by; his delivery seems like a distant memory for me (JP might have different opinions about that sentence).  Just thinking about him getting here so early and being so healthy and adorable makes me weepy, and it's taken me a while to be able to type this out without dissolving into a big, salty puddle!

My ongoing hospital bag list; it's so silly to think that we
didn't really need any of this stuff!  Was I really concerned about aromatherapy?

It started 5 days before August actually got here.  Late on the evening of June 22, a few gory things happened that told me my body was getting ready for labor (I'll spare you the details, but it wasn't anything terribly traumatizing).  I wasn't in any pain or feeling crazy uncomfortable (although my hips and pelvis had a dull ache going on), but JP suddenly got that paternal urge to get stuff done.  At 11pm Saturday night, he insisted that we start packing our hospital bags, even though I was right behind him saying it was way too early!  Regardless, we dug out our suitcases and put in a few items inside.  I threw some toiletries together, leggings and a tunic, pillows and a blanket for JP (I read that dads usually get the short end of the stick when it comes to hospital accommodations), and a tennis ball for massage.  JP's suitcase had pj pants, running shoes, and one pair of boxers.  Clearly, we were ready for this baby (ha!).

August's last sonogram!  Cute little foot.

The following Tuesday, June 25, I had my last sonogram for the churro.  Everything looked normal...I guess, I still have a really hard time figuring out what some of the body parts are.  I was told he was about 5.5 lbs, and would probably be 7.5 lbs if I carried him full-term.  I was ready for the long haul!  When I asked both the nurse at my OB's office and the ultrasound tech if I should be concerned about Saturday night, both said it was just my body getting ready for birth, but no indication that I would be going into labor soon.  I left the appointment massive and a bit uncomfortable, but that's normal for being 35 weeks pregnant!

I'm in the middle, with tree trunks for ankles!  Look how slender Karen's are to my left...

On Thursday, I took a walk with one of my new mom friends in the neighborhood and made plans to get coffee the next morning, then went home to get our house ready for some visitors: my dad's wife Karen and her daughter Alicia!  We went out to dinner and showed them around historic Roswell before returning to our house to pose for a few pictures.  I've cropped my face out of the above photo to give you an idea of just how big I was that last week; oof!

That night, JP and I got ready for bed and passed out at 11.  At about 2:30am Friday morning, on one of my many bathroom breaks, my water broke.  Of course, as a first time mom, I just thought it was normal bathroom stuff, although my back started hurting really intensely after that.  I figured I would try moving around and sitting on our fitness ball, etc., to help ease the pain.  In hindsight, I was obviously in labor, but too clueless to know!

Finally, at 4am, I shook JP awake and told him something was wrong.  He automatically thought I was in labor and started timing my contractions (I had tried, but couldn't really get it; now I realize it's because they started out so close together).  JP called our doctor's office, and they told us to come in to be looked at.  As I wandered around the house, moaning and in total denial about being in labor, JP threw some more stuff in our bags, and convinced me into the car.  Everything for this pregnancy was totally textbook, and I was really in denial about going into labor 4.5 weeks early; I just kept telling JP that I wasn't ready for this.  Thank goodness the roads were empty that early in the morning, as it allowed JP to speed 100mph down the highway to our hospital.  He made record time!

We were the only ones in the waiting room when we got there at 4:40am, and I must have looked a mess because they got us right into a delivery room.  JP parked the car while a team of nurses prepped me for delivery.  My doctor was already at the hospital, finishing another birth, so she was ready for business the second she came in our room.  She informed us that I was already at 8cm when I came in, and would be ready to push soon.  I honestly couldn't believe it; despite the increasing pain and pressure, I somehow thought I would have a more 'normal' labor and delivery.  This was all happening way too fast!  I kept telling JP, 'I'm not ready for this,' both because he would be so early, and because I thought we would have another month to prepare for parenthood.  Since that night, though, I know we work on 'baby time,' which has its own schedule.

JP sent a few texts and made a couple of phone calls to let people know that the churro was coming earlier than we'd planned, then got into 'labor coach' mode.  The week before, we had completed our birthing classes, and not a moment too soon!  JP used all of the breathing techniques we learned, and got me through the entire last part of labor.  Then, at about 5:30, my doctor said it was time to start pushing.  I had planned on a natural delivery, and that's what I got, but it was not a fun process!  Pushing was so hard and intense, but purposeful; JP would remind me when to breathe, count while I pushed, and gave me updates about the progress being made.  The nurses put a mirror up so I could watch the process, which was insanely cool.  Birth is a messy business, but incredible to watch.  We had joked that JP would stay above the shoulders to keep his trauma to a minimum, but my doctor had him holding one of my legs back and he got the entire show!  What a brave man.

As the birth got nearer, and he started crowning, several nurses and a doctor from the NICU came into the room.  My OB said his heart rate was starting to drop a bit, so she would have to do an incision to quicken his delivery.  After that, the mirror had to be moved (started to feel woozy), and about 5 minutes later, our baby's head was out.  I couldn't see anything, but JP was amazing and encouraged me to push one more time.  I gathered my waning energy, and out came our baby boy.  The NICU team jumped into high gear, and JP stayed close to our newborn.

August got a bath, weighed (6 lbs, 4 oz), measured (19 inches), and checked out (all fingers and toes accounted for!) while my OB finished with me.  My blood pressure was a little high (I had pretty intense double vision and the shakes), and had to get lots of stitches (when labor is really quick, the body doesn't have time to stretch, so natural and medical tears are normal), which, without pain meds, was almost as painful as contractions!  It was about an hour before I could hold our little baby on my chest, which felt like an eternity.

When August was finally put in my arms, I was completely overwhelmed.  My heart just opened and gobbled that boy up; he was so beautiful and perfect.  I couldn't have imagined him looking any other way, or feeling any different against me.  He'd been with me every minute for over 245 days, and it felt like he was coming home.

After about an hour in post-delivery, we were taken to our recovery room.  Northside Hospital has all private rooms, so JP and I got to spend some time acclimating to the magnitude of the last 6 hours.  I was a hormonal wreck, crying every time JP picked up August and seeing my two men together.  We called our families and sent texts and talked about what to name him.  By the time JP's family came for a visit at 11am, we had a title for the churro.

JP had to run home to pick up some more items for our hospital stay on Friday, and my mother-in-law brought me some nursing clothes on Saturday so I could feed the little man more easily.  We were able to order in some Chinese food on Saturday night, and I slurped down three McFlurries while at Northside!  I was ravenous, and hospital food can only do so much.

We had visitors throughout Friday and Saturday, and August was tested for jaundice (he had a mild case that cleared up within 2.5 weeks and never got too worrisome), went through a car seat exam to make sure he could breathe easily in it with his little lungs, and we tried out breastfeeding.  The first day was so hard because I was so sore and recuperating, and JP and I were both so tired; it felt like we were going on pure adrenaline.  On the flip side, our baby was here and we couldn't stop staring at him!

When Sunday rolled around, we loaded up our items on a trolley (somehow, we accumulated lots of items during our 50-hour hospital stay!) and headed home one Diego stronger.

Even if that one extra Diego was, as Haley so succinctly put it, mostly hat at that point.

On the one hand, I feel as though my birth experience was quick and easy; only 3.5 hours, and 2 hours of that at home.  I'd asked for a natural birth, which is exactly what I got, and discovered that it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be.  (If I was in labor for 20 hours, though, I'd be singing another tune.)  I felt so powerful and connected with my body during the delivery, and would definitely strongly consider going unmedicated next time.
Alternately, I can't believe how mentally exhausting August's first 24 hours were.  We had a lot of change to adjust to really quickly, and I felt incredibly unprepared to be a parent.  Yes, there are 40 weeks to research parenthood, but I spent so much of that time just making sure my pregnancy was going smoothly and normally; I just assumed I would research infancy during my last month.  It's been incredibly reassuring to hear that no amount of research can prepare you for bringing a baby home.  Even if August had been late, we would have been overwhelmed!
Now, 35 days later, I feel confident and capable of taking care of our son.  His birth might have been a surprise, but I'm so glad we've had this extra time to get to know him.  And look how much he's already grown!

I think he's doing a bodybuilder pose here.