Thanks to a shift takeover from Matt, I slept amazingly well on Wednesday-Thursday night. We are really happy with our set up with the bed in the nursery. One parent sleeps in there and keeps a fraction of an ear open for peeps and handles the diapers, swaddling and soothing after each feeding. The other parent gets to sleep in what I’m calling The Palace – our master bedroom (which is 6 feet from the nursery). This set up is such that the person in The Palace mentally can just zonk out while the person in the nursery sleeps less soundly. I had been doing most of the nursery shifts after midnight, but last night Matt let me stay in The Palace until 5am and I slept so well. Of course I had a few feedings in there, but it was great sleep when I did sleep. We’ll probably rotate this shift every few nights or so.
I woke up so refreshed that I wanted to make something special for breakfast – a sense of my old life and new mixed together. I put Maze in his wrap where he promptly took a nap.
SIDEBAR: The White Noise Lite app on our phones has been an AMAZING soother. M will often be a bit grumpy after a feeding or when he’s procrastinating a nap, and if we put this app on he instantly goes into a trance. I think the terrible phone speakers make the white noise even more uterus like! If you haven’t heard of Happiest Baby On The Block, the book’s soothing techniques for a crying baby are magical. White noise or “shushing” is one of the 5 s’s. I tuck my phone into the front of the wrap with the white noise on and it settles him to sleep in less than 2 minutes.
SO – french toast with figs!!
I soaked a big slice of Honey Whole Wheat in a beaten egg with cinnamon and vanilla and plopped it into a medium low skillet until it was all cooked through. Little figs danced around in a circle until they began to brown and sweeten.
Topped with a drizzle of maple syrup and chia seeds and sunbutter!
Served with a side of mom pills. Any idea what the two in the back are?
He was back to sleep in a few minutes.
Check out his little chick-a-dee hair!
I miss him when he sleeps!
But also enjoyed the time to make lunch myself.
Karen brought us a delicious dinner. Baby played with Matt while we cooked!
We had big fat beans with sundried tomato pesto, garlic bread, green beans with bacon and baked sweet potatoes topped with butter and candied pecans.
I ended up crashing on the nursery bed around 8pm and our long night began early! The good news is, I am once again well rested and thankful. Rather than napping during the day, we are just making our nights last 12 hours. It’s working out well.
In case you missed them, there are posts on BERF about Mazen’s name and also Matt’s perspectives on labor and delivery.
Also, Mazen’s Birth Story has been posted!!
I was about two seconds away from buying figs for the first time ever yesterday and decided against it, but your breakfast makes me regret it!!
Maze’s little plant hat is adorable!!!
That soup looks fantastic…you’ll have to share the recipe.
I love the picture of Mazen with his greens. So cute and creative!
I concur. Super adorable. Already looking forward to seeing his Halloween ensembles.
That soup does look delicious! And Maze is so cute with the stuffed lettuce! Haha he loves his veggies already!
sounds like you are in the swing of things! and you’re getting so much done during his naps. i just remember not wanting to spend time on the computer–i’d rather shower, eat, nap or do things around the house. they end up loving the bath soon enough!
Those look like placenta pills?
Love the picture of Mazen with the greens on his head! Adorable.
Your meals are looking as lovely as always – especially the French toast with figs!
So many cute Baby pictures to start the day!! I’m loving the sun dried tomato paste… Must hunt some down after my move to England tomorrow!
I am so impressed with how together you are! I remember after my boys (3 & 4 years ago) feeling like a zombie and barely able to get anything done. I wish I had read Happiest Baby on the Block! I’m now referring pregnant moms and moms with newborns to your website; it’s such a great resource! Mazen just gets cuter every day and you and Matt truly are incredible parents. Keep up the good work and thank you for continuing to share your journey with us!
Maze is a doll all wrapped up after his bath. Glad all is going so well! Figs are just the best, aren’t they? I had some on my pumpkin pancake this morning….great combo.
Thanks for sharing his birth story, kath! It’s so fun to be able to read:) You’re superwoman for juggling a newborn and two blogs! I hope you keep it up, though, because I’m loving all the posts!
these posts are not helping my baby fever 🙂 that sweet newborn face is making me think it’s about time to shoot for baby #3 soon.
Thanks for the update and plethora of adorable baby photos!!
I’ve been excited to get online each morning to read how things are going for you. Sounds like this transition has been pretty smooth. I am so glad!
I am recommending that book to my sister in law’s sister, who is expecting identical triplets next month! She is on bed rest so has a little time to read right now.
where do you find fresh figs at the grocery store? I have looked multiple times (at different stores) & still cannot locate them. I guess I should just ask the store!!
I don’t know where you are Cait, but here in my area of Ontario they aren’t in regular supermarkets … I find them at farmer’s markets and smaller, independant grocery stores in the fruit section 🙂 They are sooo good right now, just made my family a fig, pesto, roasted red pepper grilled cheese on foccacia the other night – they are also great in oatmeal (my mom is from Scotland, and that is how her 101 year old grandmother used to eat them – every morning in her oatmeal, with a sprinkling of nuts. If he lived that long there must be something to it, right? 😉 ). So versatile, and they are so yummy! Good luck in your hunt!
that would be 2 ibuprofen, 1 prenatal, 1 docusate sodium?, and 2 placenta pills, with a side of pumking beer!
I can’t wait to have a little pumpkin brew! Due wednesday but will probably go over since I did with my first. I’m kinda surprised that chasing after my 16 mo old and working 12 hr shifts in the Peds ER has not sent me into early labor!! Oh well! Mazen is so handsome!
A tip for bathtime? I take a bath and my husband hands me the baby so I can breastfeed him in the water. Then I put my knees up and let him lie back against them while I splash him with water. He loves it. He also oves to float on his back (supported by two hands, of course) and gets super calm and alert in the water. We haven’t tried a bath in the small baby tub yet because, like changes, I am sure he will hate it. With me in there (his food source) he seems to be like “Ok, this is what we’re doing now!” Afterwards, I hand him over for a coconut oil massage.
Fun! I don’t think I’m supposed to take a bath yet but this will be fun eventually!
Why would you not be able to take a bath?
That’s interesting. I have three daughters and after each birth I was told to take a sitz bath (sitting in shallow warm water) a few times a day to help heal things down there.
Our son also hated getting his diaper changed and baths in the first few weeks. It’s funny because now he LOVES them both. Anytime he is really cranky we know those are our go-to things to calm him down. Looks like you are doing great and I loved the birth story!
Also, we finally got PUMKING yesterday! So good!
Kath, I want to caution about using your phone for white noise sounds placed so close to the baby. There are strong electromagnetic fields and radiation around mobile phones (also computers) and him being so little and vulnerable that can be really dangerous (cancer!).
If you place in safe distance (several feet) there is a lot less radiation. Better be safe.
I loved HBOTB and white noise was a huge success with us as well. Are you not at all concerned with having a cell phone so close to your newborn’s rapidly developing brain? I’m usually not an alarmist about those kinds of things but I think I’d be a little anxious about that one. Even just a few feet between my baby and the phone would make me more comfortable but I guess it’s up to you! Anyway, he’s a cute baby and I wish you the best!
How nice that you’re starting to get enough of a routine that you can make yourself meals again! I bet that’s one of the hardest parts, is losing that sense of consistency. Glad you slept well last night and hope you can keep resting!
I’m so curious about the placenta pills – a friend of mine is also doing that. Do you find it helping w/ energy, hormones, etc?
I love this! looks like you both are adjusting really well – love to see how your whole family is working as a team! just beautiful!
That french toast looks amazing!!!
Going to bed early really worked for me too. I found it difficult to nap enough during the day. If your baby is anything like mine he will start to like baths and diaper changes about week 3. I hope it is sooner rather than later for your sake. So glad to hear everything is going well.
I’m so excited to head over and read his birth story- I’m still working on Jacksons…. Happiest baby on the block seems to be working really well for you! Yay- what a blessing that must be! …..I miss my little one when he sleeps too- or when he goes more than 4 hours without waking– I’m ready to see him again!
The part in the middle of this post where you say you’re going to write his birth story this weekend…you already did, right? That post on Berf is amazingly detailed and seriously put me back to the throes of my own birth. It was just an incredible post, Kath!
And I am thrilled for you guys that you have the nursery bed and the palace bed. My husband was not one who could be trusted to sleep with one eye open. He was an out-cold guy so I was the one-ear open sleeper for…a couple years 🙂 But he was a great bouncer! He bounced our daughter in his arms on our exercise ball for hours sometimes!
I really enjoy reading your new family happiness. You are both enjoying this experience and I love what you are sharing.
I’m guessing… placenta? : ).
Was it hard at all to get the hospital to let you take your placenta? Do a lot of women do this now? It seems like it is worth trying for the potential benefits, but curious if hospitals ever have rules on it.
You know, I am still yet to try a fig. I’m not sure what is holding me back. I will buy some next week and give them a go.
*gasp* the itty bitty hairs on his head are too cute! My mom always used to call that ‘peach fuzz’.
that’s quite a holler he’s got going on! You should rename the “Baby Kerf” section “Raisin’ Mazen”!
I have a bath time suggestion for you- try swaddled bathing! Works wonders to keep babies calm and warm. I work in the NICU and this is how we bathe all our babies. Loosly swaddle baby-wash face first then unswaddle one extremity at a time- wash- then cover back up. Hope this helps!
Leafy greens are already doing wonders for his complexion!
White noise actually puts me and Dustin to sleep, too! We have the apps as well. It’s very soothing. I also like rain and thunderstorms and wind; especially useful in hotel rooms.
I would be very nervous about putting a cell phone next to my newborns’ head as well. What would be a better option would be an actual noise machine. They sell them at Target in the baby section for about $20. It has several different types of music, and also includes a white noise function.
Another thing is a big box fan. Both of my kids have them in their rooms (and have since birth) and they love them. I just turn it away from them so it doesn’t blow directly on them, but they still get the noise. Works great!
I have a white noise machine that I bought through a therapy supply catalog. I am a social worker– it’s the kind you put outside your door while in session to protect confidentiality and it works wonders in the nursery as well!
We have one, just haven’t used it yet, but I’m using it right now for naptime!
Wow! Looks like Mazen has a good set of lungs! He is such a ‘sweet pea’! Sleep is key to staying ‘sane’! I ended up sleep deprived…it was not a pretty picture! Enjoy your little one and hubbie!
White noise saved my life! For real. It’s amazing how much deeper and longer it helps my little one sleep. We still use it now that she’s 14 months. My dad worries that I’m training her not to be able to sleep without it, but I figure she’ll outgrow it like pacifiers and many other things.
Thank you for your honest and lovely pictures, there is so much beauty going on in your home, and it is very comforting for a two maybe three-someday baby couple! My sister kept a bed in her nursery too and it worked out awesome for them;) So happy to see your happy family and please hunt down that delish looking soup recipe!!
Funny how different babies have different liking’s! My mum told me that when I was young, I loved being bathe. I’d spend quite a time in the tub and enjoyed splashing water followed by wails and cries when my mum wanted to get me out of it.
I grew up favouring vegetables though, and I’m sure Mazen would take after your healthy eating lifestyle.
Invest in a white noise machine…at 10,9, 6 and 2 they are still one of the best investments we ever made…The phone is great for on the go but at home its also helpful bc it blocks out other noise during nap time too.
I know I’m late to say congrats and I’m sorry. You have such a beutiful family. Glad everyone is healthy and happy. I have really enjoyed following your pregnancy, the birth, and I look forward to this stage. I don’t have kids so this has been very interesting. I think you are doing great with all the changes. Though they are good ones I’m sure it is a change which can be hard.
On a side note for white noise I use a fan it is a large box one. Also since I have to try to sleep during the day black out shades. They are super cheap at home depot but very helpful.
Looks like you are still eating marvelously. No need to let that slip. Mazen is quite handsome!
LOVE that you are able to share your baby and continue blogging about food too! Sounds like you guys are doing wonderful as new parents! Not easy to juggle everything, but you guys make it look easy! Team tagging is a great idea and besides Matt being so helpful for you, it’s a wonderful connection for his son! Your days will really fly by with a little one – enjoy!
Hi Kath, which “happiest baby on the block” did u read? Was just checking it ou & a few different versions came ou. Many Thks.
So nice that you’re having company!
I am loving figs these days! Great idea to add them on top of french toast! YUM!
Love reading your updates! My little one is turning 7 month next week and started crawling this past week. It goes by fast. I don’t comment a lot just enjoy your posts and love all your baked goods. At night i write a food blog, but during the day i work in wireless technology. And i just wanted to let you know that what i know from cell phone radiation i will not put my cell phone close to my head or my little ones body. I always use an ear piece and try to keep the cell phone away from my growing baby, that radiation is not good for us. I just thought i would share with you since you said you tuck your cell phone into your wrap. If you are doing that turn off the wireless and put it into airplane mode.