Belly Button Day

Some time ago, on Facebook, I started wishing people a "Happy Belly Button Day!" instead of a Happy Birthday. Why? It seems everyone says Happy Birthday, and it gets a little boring!

So today's blog is in honor of belly buttons.

You see, it seems that really it is one of those "life" questions. Perhaps I'm slightly inaccurate in wishing everyone a happy belly button day? After all, little Mark's belly button was only "visible" (i.e., the umbilical cord fell off) only after about 2 weeks (almost to the hour). Was the cord falling off the belly button day? Or the day the cord was cut? My mom calls the cord a "Belly Ribbon" - which I like as well. Although the word umbilical should have been in my post a ways back on cool words. I digress.

The issue reminds me of which came first, the chicken or the egg? Or when does life begin - at conception, or at birth? Not necessarily important questions, but things to ponder all the same.

In the meantime, I'll continue wishing friends a happy Belly Button Day. It's fun and different. Perhaps it will stand out against all the other Happy Birthday wishes!

Today is a big birthday - - 1 cousin (CSS), 3 Austin friends (JD, AH, EC), and 1 local coworker (RB) are all among my facebook friends celebrating their birthday today, the last day of the month of October! So Happy Halloween to all - - and Happy Belly Button Day to the 5 friends celebrating a birthday today!

Exploding Water Fountain

There are some things with a baby that I expect. One is the exploding water fountain. However, when it actually happened for the first time (after 2 weeks), it made me laugh. Out loud. I'm surprised I didn't wake the rest of the house.

What is an exploding water fountain? When you are changing a little boy's diaper - and the water fountain begins (peeing) and gets diapers on one side of the changing table, followed by an explosive poo that wipes out the changing table pad, the diaper genie, the blind, two diapers at once, and even the wall in the changing room.... That's what I call an exploding water fountain! It required a brief wash cloth bath, a change of clothes, and some additional clean-up work after baby was fed and back asleep. Now, I'm sure these "episodes" may get old after a while - - but I somehow managed to find great joy in the first episode. After all, it is my fault. I already posted that baby's many talents include pooping and peeing!

In other news, we managed dinner OUT last night with Grandma, as a thank you for helping! We went to one of our favorite local joints (Tyler's Tap Room - I got a beer!). It was a bit of a wait, but Mark slept through the entire event! It was also his first time in a noisy place - - and he didn't wake up once.

A confession...

I am stubborn. Not just a little - sometimes, a lot. And sometimes to my detriment. This has often come up in different areas of my life.

For example, when my mother was spending time with my (then boyfriend) and I in Austin, she was surprised at our argumentative-style of conversation. She asked me later if it bothered me, and I told her that I was glad I had met someone who was also a bit stubborn, because I didn't have to worry what he was thinking. It's worked out for us!

Also at work- I've had to learn to let go a little. My boss phrased this as "digging in" - - and suggested that I try not to dig my heels in as much sometimes. I think this is something I'll always have to deal with and struggle with, but at least if I can recognize it, I can make some small steps towards improvement.

So what does that have to do with today? Well, I put my pre-pregnancy (non-maternity) jeans on today. Yes, they are a little tight. But the button is buttoned. I also put my ring on my ring finger. I'm not sure that I could get it off if necessary - - but it is on. And there is definitely something rewarding about that!

Success!!

For those who have been following the last few days, I am happy to report success in the nursing-bra shopping! Although I got a handful of target brand for now, I feel like I'm desperate enough for SOMETHING to nurse in that those will get me past at least this first few weeks! Thanks to JD and MB for suggestions on finding something that fits well and is a little more permanent!

Unlike most of the days since baby was born, today has felt a lot more about ME. Of course, part of that is adjusting to the nursing (buying bras!) And another part was a spa appointment - manicure/pedicure. My first one in a while. I wanted to take my mom as a thank you for coming and staying with us for 2 weeks (although she preferred a massage). I like spoiling my mom - - Unlike most women I know, I'm not sure my mom has anyone else to do it for her. She's been the caregiver/nuturer her whole life! And she's spent countless hours the last couple of weeks making me dinner or lunch, bringing me something to drink, and keeping our kitchen clean and dishes done! (Not to mention laundry, diaper changes, and more...)

The target trip today felt like a success, since I knocked out my remaining "need" list. I had a receipt from when we purchased the remaining items on our registry (which I later received a 10% off coupon for) and brought in the receipt- they applied it for me retroactively! I was very thankful, since it wasn't insignificant (after our "major" shopping trip a few weeks ago)... After target, we stopped by starbucks, too!

Did I mention the weather today was absolutely gorgeous? Spent a bit of time on the back porch. I definitely am enjoying the beginning of fall- brisk air, and trees changing colors. The seasons in North Carolina sure are beautiful!

Tomorrow is scheduled to be a bit more low-key - - no exciting adventures planned. Later this week, baby may be going out to dinner with us for the first time! Stay tuned...

Adios!

Name?

What's in a name? We didn't study/learn this before we picked out little Mark's name. We literally just picked it because we liked it! Only later, did I learn the following:

Mark
Latin: Warlike, of Mars ( the god of war); The biblical Mark, sometimes called John Mark, was a missionary companion to Peter and Paul and writer of one of the four Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus.

Jacob
Hebrew: Supplanter or seizing by the heel; Jacob appears in the biblical book of Genesis as the youngest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin to Esau. Jacob''s sons were the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel, and he received the name Israel from God later in life. James is a common variant of this name.

So, I guess we've got a fighter! And my husband's name isn't Isaac. I'm actually a little surprised at how biblical the name is - I knew that Mark was one of the apostles, but I hadn't though of Jacob in the same way. Anyhow... No changing it now! And no regrets.

In other news, today's big adventure took my mom and I to Kinkos, Walmart, and Sams while daddy got baby duty. We were out a bit, and I may have overdone it a bit. Did you know that Walmart does not sell Nursing Bras? Grr... Still a big item on the "need" list. Another day or two, maybe!

You'd think I hadn't been to Sams in MONTHS based on all the stuff we bought! Of course, it was our first "big" diaper purchase. We aren't totally out yet, but we did make the diapers from the diaper cake I received at work functional! We've now got changing stations upstairs and down. And tonight, for the first time, the diaper managed to explode on me while feeding - but didn't get the babie's onesie! Crazy.

As borrowed from a friend's blog... Peas out!

It's done!

Today was another day full of adventure. Daddy went back to work part time, even though it was an evening of little sleep. And for mom, the little sleep continued part of the way into the morning!

After a quick lunch, we met dad at the doc's office for baby's circumcision. Poor Mark. He handled it like a trooper. While we were there, a 10-year old boy named Nelson asked the staff why there was a baby crying. They said they couldn't say because of confidentiality, so I chided in and said I could tell him that the baby was being circumcized since I'm his mother. He asked, "What's that?" - - which in retrospect, perhaps I should have anticipated. Luckily the boy (Nelson) was there with his mother who chimed in and said "It's something that is done to boy's private parts." Nelson was really cute- he said, "Well by the sound of the screaming he sounds really cute." I got to introduce them as we were walking out - although we didn't let him get too close (I think he was there for flu like symptoms).

Anyhow - - so it made me think about sex education for a child as they grow, as well. I was offerred the opportunity to watch - - but politely declined, saying that was a daddy job. Dad got to see the procedure, and we got care instructions. Although I'm not 100% certain, I do believe it was a Jewish priest who did the procedure. Considering almost every pediatrician does it, and this person was one of only a small handful of recommendations, I am overall pleased. Trust me - I don't like many doctors (although admittedly, it is much easier to accept when I am not the patient!) - - but I thought this was a decent experience. Luckily, dad was around too.

After that incident, we made our way to the fire station and had our car seats inspected and installed. It's a free procedure, and it helps with my peace of mind. Now, I can confidently cart my kiddo around in my car!

A busy day - but a few more may also be ahead. I still haven't made it to get those nursing bras! Tomorrow is another day.

Thanks for reading!

Big Day!

Another big day at the Williams household!

This time, we had our appointment for photographs with Phreckles Photography! Planning to get out of the house at a certain time (with a newborn - for the first time) is not something to be taken lightly! We had to get baby fed and clean, as well as take showers (which included the oh-so-rare putting on a teensy bit of makeup for me, and drying my hair- luckily mom is in town, I thought I owned a hair dryer but somehow couldn't find it the one time I wanted to use it!) I suppose as parents we have many more years of this to look forward to - - and hopefully it gets easier with time!

I digress..

It was one of those nights with less-than-needed sleep, which meant mom, dad, and baby all made it to the photographer's studio (after mom "memorized" the address wrong..duh.. luckily we found it and weren't too late). Photo session went fairly well - we hope! Mark's eyes were open for at least a fairly decent portion of the pictures. A "sample" of pictures will be available soon (and posted on the blog kept by the photographer at www.phrecklesphotography.com). We'll see what she came up with! For some of the photos, I coordinated "matching" outfits. Brown shirts and jeans (although we didn't put jeans on the newborn for photos - a onesie was good enough!) Hopefully, we don't have the next photos to be uploaded onto one of my favorite funny photography websites (www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com).

We grabbed lunch on our way home - - and took a much needed nap. Driving through State Fair traffic on the last day of the fair was the most "direct" route, but probably also the most traffic of anywhere in the entire city on Sunday morning!

This evening, friends are bringing over dinner which is very nice. Mark looks forward to visitors (but generally naps through them). Hmm... I suppose I should come clean and say it's me that probably looks forward to visitors the most!

At least one more animal (see last post) that I call Mark frequently: Monkey! I think it's the loooong arms and legs... and such cute feet! Perhaps I'll scan in the midwife certificate one day and post it (it includes little baby foot prints).

In other news... I'm already down 25 pounds in just over a week (yay!!!) and feeling a little stronger (although still healing and still a little tender) every day. Breastfeeding still stinks - but I'm holding out for 2 weeks to see if it becomes better/more natural. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

More excitement coming this week. Hopefully to entail shopping (need nursing bras!), circumcision, and a visit to the fire station to check the car seat. Stay tuned to find out more!