Attention DIY Lovers: Uses for Baby Food Jars and Formula Cans

Disclaimer: None of these craft ideas are created by me. I’m just giving links to ideas that I think you would be interested in. So excuse the overuse of links. I’m trying to adhere to copyright laws.




If you’re like me, you don’t like to just throw anything away. You might even enjoy making a craft or two in your spare time.

Being that Yuuki just started eating solid food, I thought I would post a few links to some adorable and creative crafts using baby food jars.

This first one caught my eye immediately with how adorable it is. It would be a good craft to use in the nursery or perhaps the bathroom for when you have to get up in the middle of the night.

http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/baby-food-jar-crafts.html

Here’s a link to the main page if you like this idea: http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/index.html



This baby food jar garden would be a great way to spruce up a room or office.

http://funschool.kaboose.com/globe-rider/earth-day/crafts/baby-food-jar-garden.html

Their main page is http://funschool.kaboose.com/index.html



This one will probably take a bit to find the materials for, as most were salvaged or recycled. I’m sure this baby food chandelier could be modified as well for a simpler look. http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/Homemade-Home-Decor/Baby-Food-Chandelier.aspx

Main page: http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/



These hanging jar lanterns would make a nice touch for a porch when it starts getting darker outside. The creators are from Crafty Nest, and you can look here: http://www.craftynest.com/ for more ideas if you like this one.

http://www.craftynest.com/2008/10/hanging-jar-lanterns/



Now, for those who use formula, this site has a lot of great ideas for what you can do with the used cans other than throwing them out. http://rappleyefam.blogspot.com/2008/03/formula-cans-easy-pull-macgyver.html

The main page is http://rappleyefam.blogspot.com/. I looked through the site a bit, and they have some really cute craft ideas. The links are on the right side of the page.



Another great page is http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2009/09/4-ways-to-reuse-your-formula-can.html.

Main page is: http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/

These are just a few ideas of what you can do with your leftover baby food jars and formula cans. If none of these appeal to you, you can always Google image baby food jar crafts or formula can crafts and take a look around. That’s how I spotted most of the crafts that I linked on this page.

First Night Home

So, once again I’m up late and wanting to write something. There’s been a certain topic on my mind for a while now, and that’s the first night when my husband and I returned from the hospital with Yuuki.
Keep in mind as you read this that I had been in the hospital for three days before I was released. That is two nights spent sleeping on a hospital bed. My husband stayed with me and slept on a pull-out couch. Therefore, neither one of us had slept in a real bed in a few days.

We left the hospital pretty late on Saturday night/early Sunday morning. Now, this would be pretty normal, except for the fact that it had been storming earlier in the day, and this caused the power to be out. That’s right, we returned home to absolutely no electricity. We have a three-day-old baby, and we’re straining our eyes just to see the stairs.

The first thing we did when we returned was to make it into the nursery. From there, we need to figure out a way to see. The only thing that I could think of at the time was the mobile that we had bought for the crib. There’s a faint light on it, and it was the first thing that I reached for in the dark.

So, while I’m holding Yuuki, my husband goes around trying to find candles so, obviously, we can see. After we are able to locate one, it was the time to figure out exactly what we were going to do. No electricity means that the monitors are not going to work, so how are we supposed to hear if she cries? So what did we do?

We set up camp. Yes, my husband brought over a comforter and pillows from our room, and we had a little campout. We talked, fed Yuuki as she needed it, and switched off holding her until early morning. I still remember my husband holding Yuuki in the candlelight and the rush of love I had for him that night.

After a few hours, I told my husband that he could sleep while I stayed up with Yuuki. I watched some episodes of Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the dark (on my husband’s laptop with a dying battery), never failing to laugh at Anya’s hatred of bunnies.

(Quote directly from IMDB)


Anya: [singing] Bunnies aren't just cute like everybody supposes. They got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses. And what's with all the carrots? What do they need such good eyesight for anyway? Bunnies. Bunnies. It must be bunnies!

A few hours later, the electricity finally came back on. If I remember correctly, it was about 2 or 3 in the morning. I woke my husband up, we put Yuuki in her crib, then gathered our things and crawled into our nice, normal bed.

Maybe I’m Going Crazy…

So, those of you who personally know me, know that I’m pretty much anti-girl. After about twelve, it was pretty much impossible to get me in a dress or really anything not jeans and a t-shirt. Altogether, this means disliking anything pink, frilly, lacey, or too cutesy.
Well, I think I’ve been bitten by the cuteness bug. I’ve been thinking about what I would like to do with Yuuki’s room once my husband and I get our own place, and I’ve come across these adorable finds:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/KidKraft-Dollhouse-Bookcase-With-Flip-Top/4200510#

I first came across the bookcase at a Once Upon a Child in my area. It’s a great second-hand children’s store. If there’s one in your area, I’d recommend at least checking them out. They have new items as well as second-hand. We bought a brand new crib there, but second-hand clothing for instance.

Well, one day this bookcase was there, and then it was not. However, by that time, I had already fallen in love with it, so I had to have it…for Yuuki. Yes, for Yuuki. I looked it up and there it was, at Wal-Mart. Never have I been so excited for Wal-Mart before.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Badger-Basket-9-Cubby-Storage-Unit-White/8056054

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=fabric+cubes&ic=48_0&search_constraint=0

With the cubby units, I intend to use the fabric cubes in it. Well, except that I plan to use the brightly colored ones…that I can’t find online. They’re always in store though, whether at Wal-Mart or Target. I figure that I can turn them into a makeshift dresser for when Yuuki is younger, like through 4 or so. Afterwards, she’s free to choose her own decorations. (I’m sure that statement will come to bite me someday.)

Well, these are just my ideas for now. As I find more I’ll definitely be posting.

Free Time, No Time

I know that I haven’t posted too much in the past few days. This isn’t something that I’m doing on purpose, just that I have a lot going on right now.
As I mentioned a few posts ago, I’ve been hired to write a novelized version of a manga. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s also extremely challenging. I’ve never written something that I didn’t create myself. Therefore, I’m left with using whatever dialogue I can that’s directly from the manga, and just using my own interpretations of what the characters are thinking. Also, I’m shooting for 50,000 words, and since I’m currently just over 6,000, I have a lot more to write before I finish. I write 1,000 words a day as often as I can. I admit that I skip a few days here and there, but it’s mostly because a more difficult task came up, say taking care of Yuuki all day, because she just won’t stop crying. Then again, I also miss, because I’m just having one of those days.

Today was one of those days, as was yesterday. Those days are when the very thought of writing on the novel sounds absolutely horrible. This is not to be confused with not wanting to work on it, just that upon having the screen in front of me, it looks unappealing. This happens when it comes to my own novels as well.

It’s also one of those days when I would just rather stay in bed all day than do anything else. I woke up this morning feeling just fine, but now I’m utterly exhausted, and I can’t take a nap, because Yuuki is just being fussy today.

I don’t really know the point of this thread other than to let everyone know that posts might take longer than usual to make their appearances. Once I’m done with the novel, I’ll be more on top of things. When it comes to what I do in my spare time, the novel takes precedence over everything else. However, I do slip up and spend way too much time on Facebook sometimes…okay, a lot of the time…but I’m working on that.

Hello, Motherhood! Goodbye, Modesty!

Warning: Post will contain some information that is TMI.
It’s very true. From the second that you get pregnant, any sense of modesty you have will be out the window. Now, I’m not saying that you’ll suddenly start stripping in public or will become a nudist, but a degree of your modesty will be gone. As someone who is uncomfortable wearing a shirt that is a centimeter too low-cut, this is saying a lot.

Being pregnant usually brings along an ability to go to the bathroom five times (or more) in thirty minutes. I’m the type who can’t stand when someone is in the stall next to me, but I quickly had to let go (pun unintentional) of my pride and just do it. Soon enough, I no longer cared if somebody was in the next stall over. Being pregnant does not give the ability to hold it in for long.

When I entered the hospital to be induced, I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught. Upon being shown to my room, I was instructed to put on a baggy, thin hospital gown, wearing nothing underneath. This is because the doctor regularly has to check for progress, which is so much easier if nothing is in the way. Yes, it is humiliating, but is it as humiliating as the first time I stepped into doctor’s office and I had to have a yearly exam? No, not at all.

Then, of course, baby is born. Once I began to push, my doctor and a few nurses were everywhere. Someone was constantly looking to see how much further you have to go before baby is born. Oh, and sorry if TMI, but don’t be surprised if a baby isn’t the only thing that is pushed out. It happens. It happened to me (it was actually something that I was worried might happen), but honestly, I didn’t find it that humiliating, because I knew about it and it’s completely normal.

Please forgive me if this post grossed you out in the slightest. It’s the unfortunate truth of being pregnant, and I’m not afraid to give a friendly warning to those out there who have never experienced it. And please keep in mind that just because it happened to me, it doesn’t mean it will happen to you.

Tip to Mothers: Be Creative!


In parenthood, sometimes you just don’t know why your child in crying. You’ve tried everything from changing to feeding to doing the most ridiculous face you can think of and nothing works. That’s the one it’s been for me today so far.

Yuuki has only been awake for about four hours, but she’s already consuming the contents of two bottles of formula. I’ve changed her diaper about four or five times. I’ve put her in different clothes just in case she was too warm. She’s had a brief nap in her swing.

For a while, a strange invention of mine was working to keep her on the quiet side. She is almost always absolutely mesmerized by her Takealong-Tunes, so I came up with this:

It’s not working anymore, but for some time, it did. So mothers, don’t be afraid to dig into your creative side and come up with something that might work. Oh, and don't use this if your swing actually works and you're going to turn on said swing. The batteries on ours are dead right now.

Lucky in Pregnancy

This is just going to be a little post about what symptoms I dealt with during pregnancy, both good and bad.
Good:

1) I didn’t have swelling of the hands and feet. I wore my wedding rings until the day I gave birth.

2) I did not have gestational diabetes.

3) I was able to wear most of my normal clothes throughout pregnancy.

4) This doesn’t really count, but one of my cravings was chocolate.

5) Near the end of my pregnancy, I could eat tons of food. I once ate five pieces of french toast for a single meal.

Bad:

1) My blood type is 0-, so I had to have a Rho-GAM shot. It didn’t hurt, but the fact that I had to have it bothered me a bit. Basically, it means that your body might see your baby’s blood as intruders and attack it. It’s a scary thought.

2) I ended up testing positive for Group B Strep. I don’t even fully understand it, but the fact that I would need the medicine four hours before I gave birth helped me decide to be induced.

3) I do have stretch marks from pregnancy. For a long time, it looked like I would miss out (hahaha) on them, but in the final weeks, they appeared.

4) I did have morning sickness the first trimester. The very sight of pizza, even on TV, made me sick. Luckily, this passed and I was able to have pizza later on in pregnancy.

5) I had to have stitches after delivery.

Basically, this is to say that every pregnancy is different. Some woman won’t have to deal with morning sickness at all, or will have it a lot worse. Some women don’t need the Rho-GAM shot or will test positive for GBS. Some women won’t have any stretch marks. Some women won’t be able to wear rings on their fingers during pregnancy. Some women won’t have to get stitches when they deliver.

However your experiences are or will be, it will be different from anyone else’s experience. My next pregnancy, hopefully five years away, might leave me with none of these same symptoms (except for the stretch marks, those won’t go away).

Insomnia

So, I’m not even sure to write about right now. It’s nearing one o’clock here and I can’t sleep, so I thought I would write another post while I’m up.


I’m usually exhausted when I get up in the morning, but by bedtime, I’m just not tired anymore.

Insomnia is not something that is new to me. I’ve always had a difficult time falling asleep, but it’s become even more difficult since Yuuki has been born. It’s all too easy to stay up late when most of my hours are spent taking care of a baby, and I’m wanting some me time or time with my husband.

It’s weird, because I spend so much time during the day around noise (crying, rattle, her Take-along Tunes, etc.) that I can’t sleep when it’s quieter (my husband likes background noise when he sleeps; I want none). I’ve taken plenty of naps in the middle of the day with the TV on and Yuuki’s swing playing music at the same time. I suppose it’s just one of those things that I’m going to have to get used to as a mother.

Now, I’m going to figure out how to balance sleep, baby, and writing. I’ve accepted a job from an independent source to write a novel based on a manga. I will have to make sure that I have plenty of time to devote to this job during the day, and with Yuuki’s semi-regular schedule, maybe I can work something out. I just hope that the hours I should spend sleeping don’t become new work hours.

After Delivery

I’m going to start off by saying that if you don’t feel an overwhelming love for your child from the moment you lay eyes on them, you’re not alone.
Giving birth is one of the most draining times, both physically and mentally, that a woman will ever do. Shortly after Yuuki was born, too fast to even wrap my mind around it, the nurses unsnapped my hospital gown and plopped her stomach-down on top of me for body warmth. I say plop, because literally it was as if she wasn’t there one second and then she was the next.

This isn’t even the weirdest part, but she was crying nonstop when she was born, and the second the nurses put her on me and our eyes met, she stopped. At least, I think that’s how it happened. I was still in shock from the actual process. I guess I must have looked it too, because one of the nurses asked if I was okay and if I wanted her to take Yuuki off me. I told her that I was fine and they could leave Yuuki there.

Here’s where the first sentence will start to make sense. I did not feel overwhelming love when Yuuki was born. I looked at her, and I was immediately thinking ‘that came out of me’ and ‘they lied when they say that you forget the pain the second you see your child’. I could remember the pain all too well. Actually, since I had an epidural, it was more like pressure. (Note: If you get an epidural, make sure to eat first, because you’re not allowed to afterwards.) All I knew was that I was relieved when she was finally out.

I’m going to be completely honest. I have never been a baby person. Before I had Yuuki, I had never changed a diaper, fed a baby, and had barely even held one. I had only held two babies before Yuuki. The first time was when the children’s pastor’s wife handed over her child to me while she went to do something during children’s church. The other time was when my best friend handed her child over to me unexpectedly. Both times, I just sat there awkwardly with no idea what to do with them.

With this knowledge, actually having a child was difficult to wrap my mind around. I almost thought that after all the doctor visits, the ultrasounds, after everything that proved that I was pregnant, that I would come to find that it was just a hysterical pregnancy. It’s strange for me to admit that, but it’s true. It did not feel real for a long time.

While she was still on me is when they birthed the placenta. All I remember is a very unpleasant tugging and pulling feeling and the relief when it was out too. I won’t say more than that. I did not see it, thank goodness.

After an hour, they took her off me and proceeded to wash and clothe her. I was just waiting in the hospital bed the entire time, watching everything happen around me. The only things I really felt were being worn out and tired. She cried the entire time they washed her.

One of the worst things was that since I had had an epidural, which numbs you from the waist down, I was not allowed to get up without a nurse there to assist me. Once I was able to, the hospital bed was remade, and I was finally able to eat at midnight. Remember, I hadn’t eaten since about 7 that morning. It honestly just took them forever to actually get the food to me. I mentioned wanting to eat almost immediately after delivery.

The other part that I really did not enjoy was that I ran a fever for awhile after delivery. Therefore, I was not allowed to shower or bathe until I was back at normal body temperature. They also would not take out my IVs. Every few hours, a nurse would come in to check my blood pressure and temperature, so I slept in about hour long blocks of time. It was not until nearly 3 or 4 in the morning when my temperature was finally back to normal, and the IVs could be taken out. It was amazing to be able to walk around freely.

I will write about the recovery process later. If you have any questions, just mention them in your comment.

Why I’m Not Fond of the Newborn Stage

I’m not going to lie. I’m not too fond of the early months of a baby’s life. Don’t get me wrong, I love my daughter, but it’s not always bunnies and rainbows.
I don’t much care for having my daughter depend on me for everything. I understand why, and I do it anyway, but that doesn’t mean I’m fond of it. Also, I don’t like not knowing why she’s crying, especially when nothing seems to work. Does she need to be changed? Yes, okay, and she’s still crying. Is she hungry? Okay, and still crying. Usually at this point, she’s dry and full, so she might go down for a nap or she might enjoy either her bouncer or her swing. And that’s not working, which means she probably wants to be held or entertained.

Now, I understand that part of figuring out what’s wrong is trial and error. If this doesn’t work, something else must be the issue. However, sometimes it is a much longer process than I like.

This morning, when I was feeding Yuuki for the first time, she actually held her bottle up for about 3 seconds. It was actually probably closer to one second, but I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Instead of being upset that she’s reached a new milestone (if you want to call it that, she didn’t do it again), I was glad. I look forward to when she can point and show me what she wants instead of trying to play a guessing game. I can’t wait until she can talk and tell me. I can’t wait until she can walk. I can’t wait until she can hold her own bottle.

I understand that these milestones also lead to more problems. She’ll learn to say ‘no’, and it’ll be her new favorite word for awhile. She’ll get older and refuse to get into the car seat for the fourth time in one day. She’ll start running away and squirm like crazy when I try to change her, both diapers and clothes. She’ll have her own opinions and voice them, and she’ll think she’s the center of the universe. She won’t understand when I try to reason and explain things to her, at least not at first.

However, I look forward to it more than I dread it. I’ve always wanted to raise a strong, independent woman. If she has to go through her difficult phases to get there, so be it.

Crazy Prices

So, I’m currently looking into getting a new travel system. I love the one we have now, don’t get me wrong, but it was used, and it would be best to buy a new one ASAP.

Currently, Babies “R” Us is having a trade-in sale that I’m hoping to get in on, but it’s impossible to find something at a decent price, even with the 25% off.

Now, I understand that part of what you’re paying for is the materials of the product. So, I would not just be paying for the product, but the plastic, cloth, and the production cost.

However, I also personally believe that items that are needed and not just wanted should not be so expensive. If you have a young child, you need a car seat. It’s not some optional item should you decide that it would just be easier if you had one; it’s required.

I’m currently stuck between a few different travel systems. I originally thought it would be better to just get a car seat, but some of the car seats alone are worth about as much as a travel system. I thought I was going to stick with the plan, but now I’m not so sure again.

The price issue is the same with formula and diapers. I don’t understand why it should cost 20+ dollars to buy a large can of formula. Again, if you’re not breastfeeding, it’s not an option. With diapers, honestly, it depends on brand. If you look, you can find good deals. Same with formula, of course, but even those brands seem overpriced.

Truth is, you will always need items for baby, overpriced or not. I suppose it just comes down to the lesser of two evils. I’d rather spend extra money for a good product than less money on a bad product. I guess I made my choice.

How People View Me Now

There’s an amazing phenomenon that happens after a woman has a child. Within hours of sharing the news, I found multiple people branding me with a new nickname. “Mommy”, “mama” and countless other words that mean likewise suddenly became branded as part of a new identity.


Personally, I despise being called this. It’s mostly the idea that I was only a mother; that was my identity. Yes, I am a mother, but I am not only a mother. I’ve said this before.

Well, aside from the whole ‘mommy’ nickname, I also had other changes happening in my life. People would walk by and compliment on how cute Yuuki is or her chubby cheeks which she’s quickly becoming known for having. Everyone seems to think they have a right to make comments, no matter where we are. I was just at the library yesterday, and a man asked if she was reading already (or something like that). While I just laughed, I was really thinking ‘awkward’, you know in the way that everyone says it when something strange just happened. Thankfully, nobody has asked to hold her.

My husband and I have also gotten some strange looks, because he usually pushes the stroller. Honestly, he just can control it a lot better than I can, but I guess people think pushing the stroller is the mother’s job.

I’m also fairly sure that someone has probably glared at us because of how old my husband and I look. We are both 23, young to be starting a family to some, but I’ve been mistaken for a teenager my entire life, and my husband looks younger as well. I distinctly remember being glared at when I was pregnant, one of those ‘how dare you’ looks, if that makes any sense.

The plus side is that people do smile at me more. Nobody, so far, has gotten on my case for bottle feeding her, which is probably because she rarely ever eats in public. It could be because I look fairly unapproachable though. I never had strangers rub my stomach when I was pregnant either. Plenty of people asked when I was due but never to feel.

Being a mother is both good and bad for public life. I feel awkward if Yuuki starts crying in the middle of a restaurant, though we try to figure out what she needs as fast as we can. I don’t much care for the extra attention when someone sees me pushing the stroller and wants to come take a look. And what am I honestly supposed to do when somebody compliments her except smile or say ‘thank you’?

Being a mother certainly is a new world.

Who Comes First?

Sorry for the brief hiatus. I’ve been trying to figure out my next topic, and I finally decided on one.

One thing that I’ve taken a lot of consideration into is the issue of who comes first, the spouse (or boyfriend, girlfriend, etc.) or the child. It is my personal opinion that the spouse should come first.

Now, before anyone jumps to conclusions, let me explain what it means to me. It does not mean that I would buy a big screen television for my husband over a can of formula or a package of diapers. It does not even mean that I would buy myself clothes when my daughter needs them more. My husband and I have both agreed that we would both starve before she would. I still consider this decision putting my husband first, because it shows Yuuki that any relationship requires sacrifice.

Let me make it clear that to me, putting my husband first means that I put my marriage with him first. The most important thing that we can give our daughter is a good example of what a marriage should be. I want her to grow up knowing what to look for in a spouse. I will not make a decision concerning my daughter without consulting my husband on it. If she is 16 and wants a later curfew, I won’t answer her without talking to him first.

And take any hypothetical questions about who would I save if both my husband and daughter were drowning out of the running. One, because what is the chance that would ever happen? Two, how dare anyone ask me to choose between the two most important people in my life.

I love them for two completely different reasons. I love my husband, because he’s the man I choose to spend the rest of my life with. He supports me in all the decisions I make and is the person I can go to for anything. He never makes me feel stupid for feeling a certain way, but he also tells it to me straight. If I’m being rude, he’ll tell me, because sometimes you just need someone to say it out loud to realize how ridiculous you’re being. Also, without him, Yuuki would not exist, and how would I have come to love her if she was never born?

I love my daughter because she is my flesh and blood. I see both myself and my husband in her, whether it’s the fact that she’s a deep sleeper or her facial expressions. How could I not love someone that is the perfect mix of both my husband and me?

The one thing that I will not give up for either though, is myself. By that, I mean that I am more than just a mother and wife, I am also a person. I take time out of everyday for myself. I go on Facebook. I write. I read a good, or sometimes not-so-good, book. I listen to music. I watch television. I am still my own person.

You can feel free to disagree with me. We’re all entitled to our feelings.

My Delivery Story

June 16, 2010 was the day that I decided to be induced. Let me make a few things clear first though. I made this decision for a number of reasons.

1. I was 40 weeks 4 days pregnant when I gave birth. The hospital doesn’t allow you to go beyond a week.

2. Yuuki was not engaged, though she was facing the right direction.

3. I was 3 cm and 75% effaced by this time.

4. I was GBS positive, and I wanted to be sure I would get the medicine for it on time.

I would not advise going the inducing route unless it’s necessary, and it doesn’t seem like it is going to happen on its own.

We arrived at the hospital at 9:45, and after I filled out the required paperwork, were shown to my room. They had me set up on Pitocin to start contractions and another medication for my GBS. I was put on a portable IV so I could walk around as needed. They also attached a device that monitored Yuuki’s heartbeat to my stomach in case of emergency. About every hour or so, the nurses would return to up my dose of Pitocin so my labor would progress naturally.

At 1:30, they came in to check my progress. At that time, I was about 4 centimeters. However, what I was not expecting was that they were going to break my water at the time. It was completely without warning, and was easily one of the most uncomfortable parts of the process. They break the water with a thick stick with a hook at the end. Afterwards, they push on your stomach to get everything out.

After my water was broken, I must have gone into some form of shock, because I was shaking uncontrollably after that. The nurses had to bring blankets in so I could warm up. I was fine after a while, but I wish I would have had some idea of what was going to happen.

At 4:00, I asked for an epidural. I had hoped to deliver without medication, but at this point I knew that I probably would not be able to deliver the way I had wanted. Personally, it did not hurt that much. I had to sit on the edge of my hospital bed, feet hanging over the edge, and kind of bend over and tuck my head down while the anesthesiologist administered the epidural. There was, of course, pressure from the needle, but once it was done, I was not in any pain.

After receiving the epidural, I progressed pretty quickly. The next time they came into the room, I was 10 centimeters. They inclined me for an hour in order to allow Yuuki to descend and engage, which she still had not done at this point.

Now for the last part of the adventure. At 9:22, when things were not progressing as they had liked, they told me to start pushing. I had to push the top part of my body forward, tuck my chin into my chest, and push. Yuuki was born at 9:49 pm at 7 pounds 10 ounces, 20 inches long.

This is where I’ll stop for now. I’ll have a later post on my feelings after the delivery. Feel free to ask questions.

Introducing...

So, I thought it was about time to introduce the reason why this blog exists in the first place.

Introducing…Yuuki!

Originally born at 7 pounds 10 ounces, this now two-month old beauty is currently weighing in at 11 pounds 8 ounces. She measures just two inches shorter than two feet.

Her nicknames include:
• Squishy (think ‘Finding Nemo’) – Dory: I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy.
• Blue Eyes (only I’ve used this so far) – Can you guess why?
• Baby Girl – Self-explanatory
• Girly – Also self-explanatory

Her favorite activities include not smiling for photos (literally, it’s gone the second she hears the camera start up), staring at her mobile (now that she can see it), sleeping as often as she can, snuggling, looking at books, and sucking on her hands. She loves when you mess with her nose (don’t ask me why) and make funny faces at her. She is an extremely happy baby.

She can lift her head when she is on her stomach, and has rolled over on her own a total of one time, though she often rolls onto her side without any issues. She has been sleeping through the night since she was about 7 weeks old, save one night before she had to go in to get her immunizations.

She adores her bouncer and swing, which often are the only ways that she will calm down and take a nap. She also loves baths, though she hates both the before and after processes. She often finishes an entire bottle at each feeding time.

She hates being changed and does not like having clothes either being taken off or put on her. She does not like cold formula, having her position changed when she is comfortable (especially when sleeping on our chests), and her pacifier falling out.

Well, that is all I can think of for now. In summary, she is a healthy, growing baby who makes it exceptionally clear when she does and does not like something.

Random: Scooby Doo, New and True?

Just a note: If you ever see the word 'random' in front of the title, it is not a parenting post.

Okay, so since the newest Scooby Doo series, “Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated”, started a few weeks ago, I’ve made it a point to set aside time every Monday to watch it. The animation is different, but a few voiceovers will sound familiar to longtime fans.

Frank Welker reprises his role as Fred Jones. In fact, he’s voiced Fred since the original series “Scooby Doo, Where Are You!” aired back in 1969. The only series where he did not contribute the voice of Fred was “A Pup Named Scooby Doo” (1988-1991), in which he played Fred’s uncle. His first role as Scooby, which he continues here, was started with “Scooby Doo! And the Legend of the Vampire” (2003).

Mindy Cohn, who has voiced Velma since “Scooby Doo! Christmas” (2004), returns to bring new life into an old favorite.

Grey DeLisle returns as Daphne Blake once again, a role she has voiced since “Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase” in 2001.

Many might recall Matthew Lillard from the first two live action Scooby Doo movies. Well, he is now the new voice of Shaggy Rogers, his second voiceover as the loveable character, his first being in “Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo” (the newest animated movie as of now, August 2010).

Another favorite would be Casey Kasem, the original voice of Shaggy since “Scooby Doo, Where Are You!” He is now the voice of Colton Rogers, Shaggy’s father. A second celebrity voice is Patrick Warburton as Sheriff Stone, who openly opposes Mystery Incorporated (this series shows the origin of the name).

Now, the characters that we all know and love have been revamped. Some, I love as much as I did in the original series. Some, I wish they had just left alone.

First of all, the true and blue Scooby Doo. He’s the same as ever, loving food more than anything else, running from ghosts at the drop of a hat and Shaggy’s best friend. However, there is a new dynamic there, which is shown when Shaggy has to make a decision on whether or not to let Scooby in on a little secret.

Shaggy is as loveable as ever. He’s long since been my favorite character. His love for food as always is present, but his love for his best friend, Scooby Doo, rivals that for his secret girlfriend, Velma Dinkley. Yes, that’s right. My jaw dropped the second I saw it as well. When Shaggy snuck away from Scooby in order to attend prom with Velma, tension was high because of Shaggy’s supposed betrayal for girls instead of Vincent Van Ghoul marathons. Scooby Doo and Shaggy made up at the end of the last episode, but being that the season has only a few episodes left, it’s anyone’s guess whether Shaggy and Velma are going to make it past the final episode of season one.

Velma is the character who has changed the most. She is noticeably slimmer and fashionable, in her own Velma way of course, but her clothes are about the only thing about Velma that have stayed the same. She wants her relationship with Shaggy to be out in the open, but she doesn’t seem happy with Shaggy himself. She has made efforts to change everything possible about him, from his every present use of the word ‘like’, to his famous baggy pants, and even to his eating habits. She has shown a liking for being disrespectful and rude. Her parents own the local museum for Crystal Cove (another rant for another time), the “Hauntedest Place on Earth”, and she has no problem telling tourists how stupid she finds it. This is not the Velma I liked as a child. The creators of this show should have left her alone.

Fred is different as well, but I find this new him endearing rather than annoying. Fred is absorbed in solving mysteries, but even more than that, creating the perfect traps. So much so, in fact, that he never notices anything but traps, much to the dismay of one Daphne Blake. However, once he is made aware of this phenomenon known as “feelings”, he is more confused than ever. Though I found it funny, Fred’s idea that feelings make him an “un-guy” bothered me a bit. He openly says that he wished he didn’t care about Daphne, which she takes completely out of context. He’s deeply confused at the time. However, he seemed to get his head on straight at the end of last week’s episode, and it appears that Daphne is no longer mad at him.

Now, Daphne is the same in terms of being a girly girl. She is the youngest of I don’t even know how many sisters. I believe there are six or so. The main difference is that her affections for Fred are all too well-known. She swoons over him, and acts disappointed when he never picks up on her hints, even when she told him she always imagined prom with him there. She still gets in trouble a lot, and both times that she disappeared, Fred had breakdowns. Though I don’t care for her live-action strong-willed, can do everything character, I do hate that she won’t just be straightforward with Fred. He finally understood, but we’ll see if his change of heart leads to a new relationship.

All in all, I can’t really complain about this new show. Yes, there are things that I think would have been best left alone, but they captured the heart of the original: solving mysteries.

Prepare, Don't Compare

When it comes to motherhood, much too often women find themselves in mommy wars. This is the war where mothers compare themselves to others in the thought that the way they raise their children is not just the best way, but the only way.

Examples of these are:

Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding – Honestly, whatever you do here is completely up to you. As long as your child is growing and healthy, what is there to fight about? I’ll be honest. I tried breastfeeding for a few weeks, with a mixture of bottle feeding as well. I have no trouble outright saying that I hated breastfeeding. It’s time consuming and exhausting, and though one time your baby’s latch is perfect, the next might be a fight to get baby to open her mouth enough or even stay awake through the process. It was frustrating for both us, usually ending up with Yuuki crying and me wanting to give up. Now, I’m exclusively bottle feeding, and it’s so much easier. I’m all for breastfeeding (it’s good for the baby), but ultimately, it just wasn’t for me, and that’s okay. And don’t worry, if you don’t breastfeed (either at all or not anymore), and you bought a boppy, they’re great for helping baby to sit up and provide baby some tummy time as well.

Disposable vs. Cloth Diapers – Again, there are advantages to both. Disposables are just that, disposable. There is the downside of cost however, especially if baby grows out of one size and you still have some left over. Cloth diapers help the environment, because they don’t get thrown away. Some also double as burp cloths too. However, they look time consuming (I haven’t used mine yet), and they can be expensive (with good reason, too).

Working Mom vs. Stay-at-Home-Mom – Right now, I’m a SAHM, but that could soon change. I see the advantages: being there for your child all day, getting to see all the milestones firsthand, you save money on day care, etc. However, it’s also a full-time job. You’ll be dealing with diapers and feeding all day when the children are infants. They demand constant attention and it can often get overwhelming. You don’t get much alone time, and often, you’re trying to juggle household work as well, though don’t worry if you don’t get it all done in one day.

Working moms (I’m including Work-at-Home-Moms too) usually mean that day care or a babysitter is involved. I would love to be able to contribute financially to our household, but at the same time, it just gives another source of stress with work (This is not to say that SAHMs don’t work. If anything, they’re overworked like anyone else). There’s dividing your time between work and your children. There are good points too, such as having extra money, getting out of the house on your own, and having another outlet to focus on outside of children.

Also, think of it this way. Maybe that working mom wishes that she could stay at home with her children. Maybe that stay at home mom wishes she could work. Or maybe, just maybe, they’re perfectly happy where they are.

From the Beginning

I have to admit that I never thought I would be pregnant at 22. Of course, I never expected to be married at 22 either. I always imagined I would be closer to 25 and wouldn't have children until around 30. This is just an estimate of what I expected before though. Obviously, life wasn't meant to happen the way that I expected. It rarely ever does.

So, I now find myself 18 weeks pregnant after only being married for about 5 months. It's a crazy concept to wrap my mind around at times. I admit that I was completely freaking out at first. It was Black Friday when I took the test, and then another 2 or so weeks until I was able to schedule an appointment to confirm the pregnancy.

I remember the day it was confirmed so well because it was snowing that morning. I distinctly recall going downstairs for something to eat or drink and looking out the kitchen window. My mouth literally dropped open when I saw it was snowing. You have to understand, I'm a Texas girl. I live in Indiana now and while it was expected that it would snow eventually, I never imagined that would be the first day it would. Somehow, after that moment, I just knew it would be a good day.

I'm not going to lie and say that I was thrilled when we found out. To be honest, I was half-hoping that I had somehow made up the whole thing. This is not to be confused with hoping something drastic had happened if I was pregnant, just that maybe they were symptoms of something else. However, that wasn't how it was supposed to happen. I heard the infamous words 'you're pregnant' before I was handed a bag full of new baby items and papers detailing what you should watch out for in pregnancy and a parenting magazine.

I'll also admit that I had a lot of fears. I've never been a fan of babies. I feel like I should be holding them at arms length in order to not crush them or something. I don't know how to change a diaper or really how to do anything that involves children. The most contact I've had was when I volunteered at the nursery one Sunday at church.

I guess I'll have to see.