Traveling By Car With An Infant

Last Thursday- Sunday we were at a wedding in upstate NY. We made the decision to drive the 5 hours there instead of flying since I am terrified of airplanes, and refuse to go in the smaller ones, which is what we would have had to take. I knew about this wedding well before I gave birth to Landon, and have been worried about the long car ride with an infant ever since. As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about! Landon was AWESOME and I feel much better about taking him out in public and for long car trips. I am by no means an expert, but I wanted to share some tips that worked really well for us:

• Know that the trip will take longer than you think. A 5 hour drive turned into 7 hours with the stops, but it wasn't bad at all. Also, you will be packing a TON of stuff! Landon had his own suitcase and then some!
• Sit in the back with your baby in case he/she gets upset and needs soothing.
• We stopped every 2-2.5 hours. I didn't want Landon to go too long between feedings because if he doesn't get enough calories during the day, he will be up all night. I also didn't want him sitting in dirty diapers for a really long time.
• If you are breastfeeding, pump a bottle or 2 before you leave and put it on ice in an insulated bag so you can bottle feed at 1 or 2 stops. I didn't do this on the way up, and it was kind of hard to nurse in the car. I am not comfortable nursing in public, even with my cover, so I had to do it in the backseat of the car. By pumping a few bottles, I was able to feed Landon a bit faster. I would feed a bottle one stop, and then nurse the next so I didn't get engorged or screw up my milk supply. I also did the bottle feed/nursing alternating at the rehearsal dinner and wedding so I didn't have to leave as much.
• If you're going out to dinner, bring a bottle of breast milk so you don't have to go nurse in the car. Again, if you're cool with nursing in public, then you don't have to worry.
• A HUGE fear of mine was changing Landon in a public bathroom. We stopped at a few McDonald's restaurants on the way to the wedding and back home because we knew they had baby changing stations. Sometimes the changing tables aren't the cleanest, so what I did was put a Pee Wee Pad under my nice changing pad so it didn't get all germy and gross. The Pee Wee Pads are disposable, so you just toss them when you're done. You could also put them on top of your changing pad so it doesn't get covered in bodily fluids.
• Bring several plastic shopping bags to put soiled clothes in. Landon decided to poop all over one of the McDonald's changing tables, and I had to change his onesie. He also got poop on the changing pad, so I was glad to have bags to put this stuff in so it wouldn't make a mess if my diaper bag. I also used the bags for the washcloths I used to cover Landon's boy parts so he peed on those instead of me.
• Have 2 changing pads in case your kid likes to poop on them like mine does. I was so glad we had a spare that we also used for the hotel changing station we set up in the room.
• Bring at least 2 extra onesies in your diaper bag in case of leakage or poop/pee accidents while changing a diaper.
• Not all restaurants/public places have baby changing tables. My opinion is that it should be a law that every women's room have one (men's rooms should too, but definitely women's rooms). I had to change Landon's diaper in the car, on a small bench in the bathroom at the rehearsal dinner, and on a tiny corner shelf at the wedding reception. Be ready to change a diaper anywhere.
• Landon currently sleeps in a pack n play in our room. We brought this pack n play with us for him to sleep in at the hotel. I strongly believe that he slept just as well in the hotel as he does at home because he was familiar with the bed and felt comfortable there.
• Bring some sort of toy. I regretted not bringing our activity mat, but I did bring a toy with a mirror to tie to his bed so he could look at that, and I had a rattle which he enjoyed playing with.
• We brought an entire plastic box of wipes and used almost all of them. We weren't gone too long, but we needed way more than I expected. We also brought a ton of diapers. We did have some leftover, but you can never be too careful. I also had about 10 diapers in my diaper bag just in case. Sometimes Landon likes to poop the second after I change him into a fresh diaper. Again, you can never be too careful. Overpack that stuff!
• Also overpack onesies. We didn't need every single one we packed, but it was good to have extras just in case. We also brought an extra sheet for the pack n play and a couple of sleep sacks.
• If you are nursing, bring your pump! I didn't think I'd need mine, but I am SO glad I had it and used it several times. Along with that, I brought a new sponge and dish soap to wash my pump parts and bottles.
• We didn't bring Landon's tub, but we did bring a bunch of washcloths, 2 towels, (in case he peed on one) and his bath shampoo/body wash. Jeff got in the tub with him and we bathed him that way. I did forget his special cup that prevents water and soap from getting into his eyes, and the duckie that tells us if the water is too hot, but that wasn't a huge deal.
• If your baby likes to be worn, bring your carrier! Huge lifesaver for me at the rehearsal dinner. Also, don't forget your nursing pillow if you use one!

Here is Landon at the hotel playing with his rattle:

Show Us Your Life: How Did You Tell Your Husband/Family You Were Pregnant?

I've decided to link up to Kelly's Korner's Show Us Your Life this week because I love the topic. I think I've posted this before, but here it is again:

I didn't do anything cute to tell my husband I was pregnant. I took the test around 4:30 when I got home from work because my period hadn't come even though it was due that day, and I usually get it in the morning, so I figured we were trying so, why not test? I was in total shock when 2 lines appeared pretty fast! I still had a couple hours before Jeff was due home from work and the wait was TORTURE! When he finally came home, I was at the door to greet him and he was on the phone with his mom! I told him to get off the phone immediately and he did because I never act like that. I blurted out that I took a pregnancy test and it was positive! He was shocked, gave me a big hug and asked to see the test. He though the fact that the second line was fainter was a bad thing, but I assured him a line was a line. He wanted me to take another test the next morning, which I did. I actually took 2 different brand tests, both turned positive almost immediately. Once that happened, I think it really hit home to Jeff that we were going to be parents!

First BFP. I took this pic before Jeff got home.

The second tests I took the next morning.

Telling our family was fun! We had plans to see my parents at Outback for their birthday the next day, so we decided to tell them in person. Before leaving for dinner, we called Jeff's mom first, he told her our news, and she was very excited, then we called his dad and stepmom. We had just seen them the weekend before, so it was kind of funny to call them and tell them I was pregnant and obviously was when we were visiting them but didn't know it yet! At dinner, I told my parents that I got a positive pregnancy test 2 days in a row and my mom thought I was kidding at first! She had to look at me to see that I was dead serious Both she and my dad cried, it was really cute! Then I called my brothers, who were up at UCONN and told them they were going to be uncles! They were super excited, and my brother Warren commented that he hoped it was a boy and it's cool that I can be the designated driver for the next 9 months hahaha!

We told a few close friends a week or 2 later, then told everyone else, including our extended families, around Thanksgiving time. I think I was 10 or 11 weeks when we spilled the beans. I was going to wait until 13 weeks, but we had seen the heartbeat several times, everything looked good, and I just knew this pregnancy was going to make it.

While we don't want to have that news to share again for a few years, it was really fun telling everyone and seeing them get all excited! Now we have this adorable little boy to love:

What I've Learned So Far

Since so many ladies are pregnant/new moms right now, I thought I'd share what I've learned so far. Hopefully it will help someone, but all of this stuff is just my opinion.

• Get a My Brest Friend pillow. It's sturdy and has been a lifesaver for me while feeding Landon. It's especially helpful if you have a big baby like I do (he's 11 lbs 10.5 oz now!)
• Breastfeeding is REALLY hard at first. I wanted to give up basically every day and I cried over it a lot. Having a supportive husband was a huge help, as was a nipple shield. I still use it, but hopefully can get rid of it soon. It made a huge difference in Landon being able to latch. I still had pain though, which is normal at first.
• If you are breastfeeding, invest in an electric pump. The hands-free ones are pricier, about $100 more, so don't get one of those. Get a normal electric pump (I have the Medela backpack one) and a hands-free bustier, which is like $20.
• I love the Lily Padz more than the disposable nursing bra pads. They're reusable, waterproof so you can swim in them if you wanted, and they stop the leaking milk pretty well. I have had a few leaks, but those were my fault for not putting them on exactly right. 
• A lot of people love those sleeper gowns for babies. We HATED them! They were a huge pain in the butt to put on, and Landon leaked poop on one and taking it off made a big mess. We just put him in a onesie, then a Swaddle Me blanket at first (get those. So much easier than trying to swaddle with an actual blanket). Now we use a sleep sack. Landon seems to like his arms to be free and he doesn't wake himself up, so it's fine.
• Don't bother with a pretty changing pad cover. Get a changing pad that has a wipeable surface. I can't count the number of times Landon has peed or pooped on the pad, and it's so easy to just wipe it down. Don't give yourself more stuff to wash, because believe me, you will have plenty as it is.
• Landon isn't huge on pacifiers, but when he does take one, he likes the Avent Soothies. The hospital gave us one, and we bought several more. Very nice for when he's really upset.
• Buy lots of burp cloths, but save the pretty ones for when you're in public. Just get the plain white ones for the house. You cannot have too many of these.
• Get some sort of play mat. We have a Baby Einstein one and I can get a good 20 minutes to get stuff done while Landon is entertained by his "friends" dangling from the mat and the mirror.
• We hate Huggies diapers. Pampers Swaddlers are working best for us right now.
• Get some sort of bouncy seat or vibrating chair. We have the Fisher Price My Little Lamb seat and it's wonderful! Landon naps in it during the day sometimes and it allows me to take a shower while he's in the seat at the doorway of the bathroom so I can keep an eye on him while I get ready.

I think that's all I have for now! As Landon grows, I will continue to blog about what does and does not work for us. Feel free to chime in and let me know what you love or what you've learned so far!

Happy 4th of July!

Two Years

Today is our second anniversary! I can't believe it's been two years already! We've had a very busy, wonderful two years of marriage and I look forward to many more! This year is even sweeter because we have our baby boy :)

Landon is 1 Month Old!

Dear Landon,

You are already 1 month old! I cannot believe how fast the time is going!

At our last Dr. appointment you weighed 10lbs. 9oz. (you exceeded the Dr's expectations of being around his birth weight of 9lbs. 10oz.) and was 22in. long. We go again on Tuesday and I'm guessing you're over 11lbs, but not 12lbs. yet. You fit into 0-3 month clothes in Old Navy and Baby Gap, 3 months in Carters, 3-6 months in the Gerber onesies, and a size 1 diaper. You never fit into newborn clothes or diapers.

You love being worn in the Ergo carrier and your My Little Lamb seat. I love it too because it allows me to shower every day! You're not really a fan of his swing yet, maybe you never will be. You're sleeping less during the day and going anywhere from 3-6 hour stretches at night. You did 6 hours last night and I feel well rested today because of it! You have been nursing during the day every 1-2 hours, which is hard, especially because you fuss between feedings sometimes, but I know it will get better in time. I'd rather you do that all day than at night. You also loves your Baby Einstein play mat and we tried tummy time yesterday. It went OK. You didn't love it, but we have to do it! You are really starting to like baths more, and I can't wait until you are old enough to splash around and play with your bath toys.

Tummy time before the crying began.

You like to sleep on my chest and did so for over an hour the other day. It's so sweet!

Landon, even though I've only been your mom for a month, I've really loved it so far! I'm really enjoying my time with you and you keeps me very busy! I have no idea where the hours in each day go, and I am so grateful I get to spend all of this time with you. You're the best and mommy and daddy love you very much!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

1 month old

1 week old