Coast to Coast with Lyn & Leigh

Lyn and I were chatting today and she was telling me that she’s got to do something about Grant’s afternoon nap - he has been getting woken up by Malia playing. She’s at the stage of ’sometimes she naps and sometimes she just plays,’ and up until now it’s been in the late morning.

I like to call it Quiet Time. Both my girls (6 and 4) have 1 hour in their rooms, where they just play by themselves or lay down if they’re tired. I love to walk by and hear them chattering about all their imaginary ’stories’ and games. If we miss it, I can tell! They get cranky.

Anyway, I think it’s time Lyn shifts Malia’s Quiet Time to coincide with Grant’s big nap. This way, after lunch, she’ll put Little G down at 1pm and do an activity with Malia - some kind of coloring/painting/cutting/etc. where she can somewhat control the noise level. Then at 2pm Malia will go to Quiet Time until 3pm, at which time Grant will be waking up. And with an activity in the afternoon, dinner and bath, they’ll both be ready for a nice 7 or 7:30 bedtime. Perfect for allowing Lyn and Michael a chance to breathe (or work!).

The key to Quiet Time? It takes simple rules and practice. You might start with a timer and go for 20 minutes. I also like to have a special tub of Quiet Time toys, books, Leap Pads and Learn Through Music. Be prepared to redirect them many times. But it’ll be worth it, and they’ll soon love that time they have all to themselves…

If you have your babies pretty close together, time wise, it’s smart to invest in a double stroller (especially if they are like mine, who are of the ‘run off’ variety). I wish I would’ve have the choices that are available these days! Mine was bulky, heavy, and a long front/back, which was awkward to steer. I did think about the side-by-side, but was afraid toddler would be grabbing at baby, and had friends who couldn’t go into any store without whacking into all the clothing racks.

Here’s a nice solution that can take you from toddler/baby to big kid/toddler. It’s a compact, lightweight front/back with a twist - the back portion has a harness/seat for sitting, and also a platform and handles for standing. It works with infant carriers as well. Check it out in further detail (it has a cool parent organizer and oversized canopy). Give eBay or Craig’s List a try if you want to save some coin (or ask your friends and scope garage sales).

What’s your pick?

Just got back from Kickboxing, and was thinking about how GOOD I feel now that exercise is a scheduled part of my life. I know it’s hard with babies/kids, but if you make the time, you will not only feel happier, but you’ll have more energy and more to give your family. I call it my ‘mental health hour.’ Now, little Haylie didn’t do gym childcare until she was about 2, so until then, I relied on brisk stroller walks and weekend aerobics classes when my husband was around. Now both girls love the gym, so I’m able to go more often. Even if it’s one hour a week that you can do - DO IT. If you must choose, try a Yoga class. It is so strengthening, relaxing and almost spiritual! You’ll feel taller, leaner, and more peaceful when you come home. If you love working out with others, check out your nearest Stroller Strides or Baby Boot Camp. You’ll make new friends and get fit. Whatever it is, just schedule it into your week and make it happen. It’s pretty cool when your daughters ‘flex’ their little arms and say, “I’m so strong, Mommy, just like you!” Show them how to be healthy. Talk about what you’re doing and how good it makes you feel. And as they say, ‘just do it.’

Growth spurts can really seem to get a baby out of their routine. I am NOT kidding you - I nursed Grant like 8 times yesterday! He was at his fussiest at bedtime (7:30). Basically what he did was three feedings in a matter of 2 hours. He got himself all tanked up and then he slept for 6 hours. I love cluster feedings!

We’ve all done it - a zillion pictures of that first newborn. With the second kid, it improves to an appropriate number, and perhaps better shots. With the third - unknown territory for me! Whatever the child, the first year passes so quickly (even though it might feel like a lifetime at month 1).

So how do you capture all those special moments? Let’s break it down based on personality, and hobbies you enjoy…

Scrapbookers (me included): I created a scrapbook for baby’s first year that I will always keep, and a smaller version that Alyssa will take with her when she leaves home (sob!). Included: preggo photo, ultrasound photo, hospital, birth, homecoming, first bath, once a month photos by teddy bear, holidays, baptism (if applicable), 1st birthday party, letter from Mommy, letter from Daddy. Give or take. The cool thing now is digital scrapbooking, cause you can just print out multiple copies for Grandparents, kid, etc.

Don’t scrapbook? Get one of those photo albums where you slide the photo in, and it has a space next to it to write a brief note or description. Or, check out How Fast They Grow, which has the digital scrapbook templates all there, so you just drag in your photos and write a blurb and you’re DONE.

Want an even FASTER way to chart the milestones (first food, etc.)? Get one of those Baby’s First Year Calendars that has the cute stickers that mark each little thing. Some of them even have a spot for a monthly photo.

Whatever you do, make sure it’s meaningful to YOU and your family. What do I wish I had more of? Cute video snippets of their baby giggles and gurgles. I still want to eventually get all my video bits put onto a dvd so I can play with them and make an iMac movie.

You can always make a ‘movie’ with your pictures, with captions and great music. I created a video of our family’s Hawaii pictures, and had copies of the DVD (you can design the cover, too!) sent to our family in California. It only took me an hour, and my friend Katie had one done of her baby’s first year, set to “What a Wonderful World.” Check it out at One True Media. They now make it easy to share via Facebook and YouTube.

Overwhelmed? Don’t panic. Just keep those photos in order (printed or digitally), back them up (if digital) on a regular basis, and keep a notepad to jot down important dates/cute things. Then, when you have the time (you will one day, I promise), you can have fun with these projects. 

During bath last night, as I was washing Alyssa’s hair and she was whining for a towel for her eyes, it occurred to me that I really should’ve started things differently. Instead of carefully pouring water on her hair all that time ago, I should’ve been gently dumping it on her head. She wouldn’t be so sensitive to water in her eyes (same goes for Haylie). And it’s even affected their swimming - neither girl can stand getting splashed in the face, and are hesitant to put their faces in the water even with goggles. 

You know what they say, hindsight is 20/20! Thought I’d mention it so that maybe YOUR kiddos will not be yelling for someone to please wipe their eyes every two seconds.

Clearly I haven’t taken a bath photo for awhile - I think this was almost 2 years ago, as Haylie still looks like a baby (here’s where I start to well up and think about my babies growing so fast)…

I was pretty much a pumping failure. I breastfed exclusively for 8 months with Alyssa and 6 months with Haylie, but I could never seem to get anything out with the pump! Hook a baby up, and it’d be practically running out of their mouths. But a pump? No. I’d work all day for just a measly few ounces. Lyn, on the other hand, is a pumping champ. I’m happy for her that she’s not like Cinderella with a 3 hour window - it is liberating, I’m sure! 

Whether you’re a pumper or ‘just barely’ like I was, breastmilk is like liquid gold. And because I love organizing and making a good process out of everything, I wanted to share Sensible Lines Milk Trays with you. I met these gals at Baby Celebration LA a few years ago, and it made such great sense. Kind of a ‘why didn’t I think of that?’

Their FDA-approved and ‘green’ plastic trays are specifically designed for freezing breastmilk. And get this- each ‘milk stick’ of frozen breast milk is 1 ounce and will fit through any size bottle opening. It makes it so easy to measure your milk and avoid wasting it. Perf, too, for working moms and caregiver situations. Their website is loaded with great info. on breastfeeding and properly freezing/storing breastmilk. Check it out here. We love supporting other Mommy-created and run businesses!

Little kids are always saying such adorable and funny things - especially when they’re YOUR kids! Today I was talking with Alyssa about school coming up, and how excited I am for her.  I said, “I wish I could be there with you!” and she said, “That would be fun! I wish someone just like you was born on my same birthday.”

I’ve come up with an easy way to save these cute tidbits: create a document on your desktop, and at the end of each day, jot down anything you’d love to remember. As I was writing this recent one down, I scrolled up to the other dates/sayings and got a chuckle out of it! Like when Haylie said it ‘just wasn’t the same without Alyssa in the car too,’ or when Alyssa wanted us all to marry the Wiggles so we could live in the Wiggle House together, or how Haylie says ‘Ub-its’ instead of ‘Is it’… when Craig was BBQing, she asked, “Daddy, ub-its meat?” 

So save your adorable things now! It helps if you scrapbook, as well, cause you can make a note of which layout you will use it with. Or just have it on record to print out and stick in their photo albums. Might also be fun at birthdays as a way to revisit the year. Cause they grow up too darn fast.

So Lyn calls me in a bit of a panic tonight. She and I are big ‘Baby Whisperer‘ followers, and she knows how important it is to ’start off how you want it to be’ (begin routines from the get-go). Anyway, for the past few nights Grant had been fussy at bedtime, and Lyn and Michael had picked him up and held him until he fell asleep. Luckily Lyn saw the red flag! She didn’t want him getting used to this and therefore depending on being held - this is crucial ‘learning how to sleep’ time!

We determined that he’s been happiest when held more upright, which also coincides with his increase in spitting up. Might be a bit of a tummy thing or growth spurt - who knows. But relying on being held to fall asleep is a slippery slope. It made me think of back when my babies got head colds. They were so congested and uncomfortable, that I resorted to putting their bouncy chairs IN THEIR CRIB, strapping them in, and letting them sleep peacefully more upright. Yes, I tried the under-the-mattress wedges, but they barely did anything, and my babies kind of slid off them. Perhaps this method would work in helping Grant get back his sleeping groove!

Now, we’re not recommending this long term or anything. But it’s getting Grant back to falling asleep by himself, in his crib, and slightly elevated for his tummy. Seems to be doing the trick - Lyn snapped this photo of him watching his musical fish. The vibrate is on low, which Lyn will click off in a bit, and after his first nighttime feed (when he’s been asleep awhile) she’ll take out the bouncy and lay him down. They’ll be able to transition away from this much easier.

Sometimes what gets you over the hump is not something you’d ever find in a book, but instead, from a fellow Mommy and friend…

The first 5 weeks have flown by and we are in the process of training Grant to be an A#1 sleeper. Here are my top 10 Tips for a blissful newborn sleeper (not without the help of my cross-continent newborn baby sleep coach expert - Leigh):

10. Make sure baby is not too hot or too cold.

9. Swaddle baby up good and tight.

8. Make sure to get a good burp out of baby.

7. When baby is overly tired and punching the air, literally ’shush’ baby to sleep.

6. Of course, make sure the diaper is dry.

5. Dream feed baby at 7:00 (that’s Grant’s bedtime). Turn out all the lights, change his diaper, swaddle him up and then feed him very quietly with no eye-contact or talking. Feed him until he falls asleep and then carefully lie him down.

4. For mid-night feedings, check diaper first, if dry, feed baby in dark with no eye-contact or talking. Repeat… Feed him until he falls asleep and then carefully lie him down.

3. For a baby that won’t quiet down for a mid-day nap either try running the vacuum cleaner or if your laundry is close to baby’s room pop in a load to create a steady ‘white noise’.

2. For the first few weeks, sleep positioners work great to help baby feel contained and secure (like in the womb)

1. Routine is more important than time - focus on the routine, and differentiate between nighttime and daytime. When it’s officially morning, be sure to open the windows and let light on baby’s face. Practice E.A.S.Y. (eat, activity, sleep, time for yourself) during the day, and dream feed at night. WARNING - at about 4 months, try replacing one nighttime feed with a binky or music - baby does not NEED to eat - it has become routine. And we certainly don’t want to ‘teach’ them to keep waking up at night!