Life In a Bubble

A few days ago while I was soaking in the tub, I was reading the latest "Fit Pregnancy" magazine.  I found an anti-balloon article.  I realized I am not the only one anti-balloon!  I became "bubble girl" about 9.5 years ago when my niece was born.  Hot dogs, balloons, small candy, peanuts - stay away from Noelle!  When my niece was three years old (okay - probably five), she bought Runts from a candy machine.  When she put one in her mouth, I immediately broke down in tears.  I thought she was going to choke.  My sister said "Kimmey - calm down, she has teeth."  Then about two years ago, I saw my three year old nephew with a balloon.  The water-works came on again.  I normally don't cry, but I couldn't help it.  Last month when I was over at a friend's house, her son was putting large amounts of banana in his mouth.   I had to leave the room.  


My family was worried my children would live in a bubble.  However this article proves I am not the only paranoid one!  I am going to keep this article forever.  I am proud to be anti-balloons, anti-hotdogs, anti-Runts, and anti-peanuts.  Noelle can try them when she is 10 years old and not a day sooner:)


Facts:
-Noelle loves bath time so much, she gets upset when we take her out.  She cries and cries!
-The breast pump doesn't work when you forget to attach a bottle to it (milk everywhere). Tired...so tired...
-Noelle rolled over for the first time this weekend!  Go girl go!


Love,
Noelle's Mommy

First Date Night...post baby!

Freddy and I had our first date night since the arrival on Noelle!  We could do anything...and we chose to go the movies.  We saw "Sherlock Holmes."  Before we had our little princess, everyone said "Go to the movies. You will miss it once your baby arrives."  Wow - wasn't that the truth.  Erin and Tommy were our babysitters.  I wasn't nervous to leave her, I was more nervous about how she was going to act.  I didn't want her to cry the whole time.  I wanted her to be the perfect little baby that she is!  Even though we have playdates with Erin every other Friday, I still made a long list of reminders for them:)  What have I turned into?!  I wrote down... times to give her a bottle and how much, when she goes to bed and how she likes to be held, gas medicine to give her and how to tell if she has gas, etc.  I probably was a little paranoid - but it was my first time leaving her.  I left my cell phone on vibrate during the movie just in case they called.  I wanted to call during the moive, but Freddy said "Relax, she's fine."  It was the LOOOOONNNNGGGEEEESSSTTT movie ever.  I kept checking my phone - did they call, what time is it, is this movie almost over?  I should have gone to a movie that was 1.5 hours vs. 2.25 hours.   Well the movie was finally over and Freddy said it was okay to call and tell them we were on our way home.  I didn't even ask Erin how she was doing?  How's the baby?  Is she sleeping?  Did she eat? Did she need me?  Did she cry for me?  Did she have gas?  Well she was an angel (of course) and everyone had a good time.  I think her mommy did pretty well too.

Thanks Erin and Tommy - you rock!!!
Love,
Noelle's Mommy

She's gonna be a star...

I know everyone thinks their child is the most beautiful being in the world and I am no different.  After a friend told me about their "baby agent", I decided Noelle needs an agent too!  She is going to be a star!  Gap - Babies R Us - Infomericals here we come!  This week, Freddy and I are going to take photos of her (head shots) and submit them to an agency.  Since she is over three months - she is eligible.  I am so excited.  Her college fund will explode!  Notre Dame is expensive, so we will need to start now.

I promise not to be a show mom (no pageants - only infomericals).  PLUS all of the money she earns will go straight into her college fund.

AHHHH!!!  Once we finalize her best head shots (it will be so tough, since all of them will be great), I will post them.

Love,

Noelle's Mommy

PS:  One of the great things about being preggo was not cleaning the litter box.

PSS:  Why does Oscar (the dog) feel the need to eat Kosmo's (the kitty) hairballs - gross!

Peeing on the walls!

As I change Noelle's diaper, I recall our first outing with her.  Since we live in NYC, we have to take public transportation to get anywhere.  When she was five days old, we went to Babies R Us to get a few necessities.  I didn't want to take the subway, so we decided to take the bus.  We left around 2:30pm - just as school was getting out.  We were on the bus with tons of kids.  I was in tears because I thought she was going to get swine flu (plus some girl was painting her nails next to us).  I couldn't talk to Freddy (the kind of emotions that if you say one word, you would start crying).  After 1.5 hours, we finally got there.  We had to transfer buses.  It was awful.  Noelle's diaper was wet, so I needed to change it.  I found they have the most amazing room "the Mother's Room."  I grabbed her, one diaper, wipes, and the changing pad and entered the room.  Freddy stayed outside with the diaper bag and stroller.  The Mother's Room was occupied with a few ladies with babies.  I went to the changing table and began to change her diaper.  I took off her diaper and she peed like a boy!  Pee went on the walls, all over the changing table, her clothes, her one and only diaper.  I was so embarrassed.  I attempted to clean off the walls and table.  I put her wet, new diaper on her and fled the scene.  I found Freddy and starting crying again.  I told him what happened and asked if he would change her in the men's restroom because I couldn't go back in the Mother's Room.  I felt like the worst mommy in the world!  I took her on a swine flu filled bus and couldn't successfully change her diaper in our first outing.  Also I didn't bring a change of clothes, so she had to stay in the peed-on wet outfit.  I now always bring the diaper bag with me just in case she decided to pee on the walls.

After three months, I feel much more confident on the bus, subway, and changing a little girl's diaper.  PLUS... Freddy is the bestest hubby and dad - he supports me when I have breakdowns in public.

Love,
Noelle's Mommy

Entertaining Miss Noelle

I love reading, so when I found out I was pregnant I went out a bought seven pregnancy books.  I also signed up for three websites to get daily updates. Now that the baby is here, I went out and purchased even more books.  PLUS I have three journals for Noelle (they are all different).  I am a little fanatical.  We also made the decision for me to stay home with her.  I now have the most important and fulfilling job in the world - Stay At Home Mommy!  Noelle is already a genius and we are saving up for her Notre Dame education (hubby is a Catholic boy from Indiana).  So what do we do all day?  Not much...  I try to keep her entertained and further her genius level.  The "books" say to give her tummy time (done within five minutes), wave a yellow or red toy - can only be yellow or red since babies prefer these colors - in front of her (done within five minutes), read to her (done in 15 minutes), try to get her to grab a ball - needs to be a textured ball not just a plain ball (done in five minutes), walk her around our home to get her familiar with her environment (live in a 1-bedroom NYC apartment, done in 30 seconds).  Now what?  According to the "books", our day would be complete in 30 minutes and 30 seconds.  Well the girl LOVES TV!  It doesn't matter if its the "Today Show" or "Law & Order" reruns.  I let her watch the colorful, noisy tube often.  One of the "books" even said that a one year old who watches two hours of TV a day knows six more words than children who do not watch TV.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to entertain a three month baby - please share!

Love,
Noelle's Mommy

Happy New Year! The flight home...

Happy New Year!  2009 was a great year.  We welcomed Noelle into the world.  2010 will be very memorable as well...many firsts...crawling, walking, talking, hugs, kisses, etc. 

We flew back from Green Bay today.  This was Noelle's 4th trip in her three months.  She has been an angel on the first three flights. Today she decided to introduce a new sound to us... the wail.  OMG!  I have never heard this screechy, extremely loud noise from her before.   I am glad we were able to make our presence known on the plane.  We were getting the nastiest looks from the fellow passengers. I know she is crying!  Don't make me feel worse than I already do.  I am TRYING to console her.  The girl was hungry and our bottle was frozen.  Freddy was trying to thaw the bottle and froze his daddy parts instead.  We asked for hot water and the flight attendant said there was none..?? We overheard passengers trying to change seats away from us.  Meanies.  We already feel like crap because our child is unhappy.  Lesson of the day... be nice to new mommies and daddies on airplanes.   Oh - and thaw your bottle BEFORE getting on the plane. Thank goodness for the traveling boob (more to come). 

Love,

Noelle's Mommy