Four Months Already??

So, I have started a post about our week long vacation to Georgia probably ten times. I was already to tell you all about how Gracie was an angel on the plane, how our rental car (a Chrysler 300 in red) got us the weirdest looks in ATL.  That her baptism was one of the most beautiful ceremonies ever and there were VERY few dry eyes in the house after my father teared up giving the mothers blessing. How the after party at my parents house was a huge success. How we rode home to Colorado Springs with a suspected murder on the plane, and lastly how when we got back to the airport we found out our car was dead and had to bug our friends once again to come save us. When it hit me that my little girl turns 4 months old tomorrow. I feel like it was just yesterday I was packing for the hospital to go have her. Part of me can't believe she's that big already, but then I look at her with huge gummy smile and just think of all the amazing things she does and I can't believe it's only been 4 months. Every parent thinks their child is the most wonderful kid on the planet and to be honest we are all right. Our kids are the most amazing. She means the world to me and I can not wait to see what exciting things she pulls off this month! 

To the moon and back.

TWO POST IN 24 HOURS!! I know whatever will you do with yourselves!! Just kidding!

Happy Easter Everyone!!

As you all know this is Gracie's first and so far it has been great. She was showered with gifts from everyone in the family and was an angel this morning at mass. She's been a little cranky off and on though out the day, but who wouldn't be a little grouch with teething trying to push though your gums? One of the ways I get her to clam down is by reading to her. I think the pictures and my voices help distract her. So I went over to the easter book table and picked up a couple books she got today.

In the years that I have worked with children I have read a ton of books and you can't help but fall in love with a few of them. My favorite has got to be Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. For those of you not familiar with this book it is about a little bunny (Little Nut Brown Hare) who is trying to play the I love you more game with his daddy (Big Nut Brown Hare) or at least I assume it's his daddy they never really say what he is to the little bunny, but they do refer to him as a he. I have read this book probably 1,000 times to other children. I can do it without looking at pages. The book ends with my favorite line of all time from a parent to their child. Little Nut Brown Hare has fallen asleep after telling his daddy that he loves him all the way to the moon. Big Nut Brown Hare then tucks his little one into bed and leans in close and whispers in his ear

"I love you to the moon...and back."

I don't know what about this moment of reading that line for the first time to my daughter sitting on my lap that got to me, but I just teared up. Steve of course catches this right away and starts asking what's wrong. Which just leads to me full on crying. I've always dreamed of reading my favorite books to my kids one day, and there was a time there when I was told that that would never happen. So maybe that's what got to me. Here I am Easter 2012 reading to the most beautiful girl in the whole world, my little girl!

Mommy loves you Gracie...to the moon and back!

Family Update

I know I have been REALLY bad about updating all of you on how we are doing here in the Bostwick household. Something I really need to get better on, but I am sure you can all understand how hectic it can get with a infant around. I believe the last time I actually wrote a blog about how things were going Gracie had just turned 1 month. So here's a quick update on what has been going on.

February was busy month for Grace and I. On the 8th Grace took her first plane ride back to Mommy and Daddy's home state of Georgia where she got to meet her Grandpa Pete and 2 Uncles for the first time. She was an angel on the plane even during our two hour lay over in Atlanta. Although the actual trip was amazing I had such a good time being back home with friends and family (it could have only been more prefect had Steve been there) things ended pretty badly with me. I returned home with not one but different infections (I won't go into details), but these two infections actually ended up causing some major breastfeeding issues and but the time Grace was 12 weeks old I could no longer nurse. This actually broke my heart a lot worse then I thought it would and not just because formula cost more than blood. It was also around this time that we found out that those horrible rashes Gracie was getting was because she is allergic to most disposable diapers. So after A LOT of trial and error and almost having to go to cloth diapers we finally found at least 2 that she can wear without breaking out. Steve's February was pretty much filled with the same old same old work and flying. And of course we rounded the month off with Grace turning 2 months old on February 20th.

March was another pretty busy month for us. Steve and I celebrated our two anniversary on the 6th. I can honestly say that although sometimes we can't stand each other he is my best friend and I could not ask for a better man to be married to or be the father of my children. Gracie rolled over for the first time this month both from tummy to back and back to tummy. She also moved into her own room and I survived the transition. (Although recently there have been a couple mornings that Steve has found Grace and I in the guest bed, but that's usually only when she wakes up at 5 am and doesn't want to get back to sleep in her crib.) Grace also threw mommy for two more rings this month. While daddy was away on another week long trip out of country Grace decided she was going to try standing. I was letting her look over the back of the couch like I normally do when she's a curious mood and she just bears all her weight on her legs and stands there holding on the the back of the couch for about 45 seconds. I have a picture to prove it (in her 2 month album on FB.) The second doozy she threw at me this month was TEETHING. Thank God for my 15 plus years working with infants and toddlers because I picked up on that one fast and was able to find her something to help. So far we haven't had too many rough days, but as I am writing this Steve is laying on the bed with a little girl that just doesn't seem to be able to get comfortable enough to sleep. Grace turned 3 months on the 20th and Steve celebrated his 25th birthday on the 25th! Yay for lower car insurance.

April is already giving both February and March a run for their money. On the first I was reunited with some really good friends who I have not seen in almost 13 years!! We lived in Turkey together and lost touch after moving, but I am so looking forward to getting back together with them soon. The military proves to be a smaller and smaller world every base we go to. Tomorrow will be Grace's first Easter and I am so excited to take pictures of her in her little Easter dress!! Then on wednesday we leave for a family vacation back to GA! Next Sunday Gracie will be baptized by her Grandpa Pete in the same church her daddy and I were married in. I can not wait to see everyone again and celebrate my little Grace's baptism. Anyone wanna bet against me that Grandpa Pete gets a little choked up during the baptism?? Yea I didn't think so.

Well that's all for now. I will definitely try to keep you guys up to date better, but for now this mommy has a fussy 15 week old who doesn't look like she will be sleeping any time soon! So good night and wish me luck!!

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TMI blog warning ahead of time!!!!

I feel guilty at times when I get down about how I look now a days. I know first hand how hard getting pregant can be and what a blessing having a child truly is. Grace isn't named Grace for nothing, but when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror tonight I just shook my head. I NEVER had the prefect body, or even close for that matter, but I was pretty much content with what I was working with. My stomach had a little extra flap then what I wanted, but I had swimmers legs and little white girl booty. Now those love handles have turned into a 22 inch tire and my once tan belly is now painted proudly with service stripes. I no longer see the curves I was once happy with, now my butt and thighs just seem to run together. My calves have finally returned to a some what normal looking shape, but they are a far cry from the defined muscles they once were. I keep hearing you can't be serious Katie she's not even 4 months old of course your body is going to look different still, but it's still upsetting. I know that with a little work I can be in better shape then I was before I had Grace, but finding the time with her around seems impossible somedays. The weather hasn't been a really big help either, hopefully it will get easier this summer when I can get out of the house more with her. I knew I would look different after I had her, but I don't think anything could have prepared me for how different. I will never be able to wear a bikini again that's for sure and not because of my size, but because of those proud service stripes I mentioned before. MY GOD! At least my tattoo didn't stretch right? LOL

Don't get me wrong I love my daughter to death and anything that having her did to my body is worth it. I'd do it over hundred times even if I was told I would gain 100 pounds, but sometimes that that side glance in the mirror just gets annoying.

When well intentioned crosses into offensive.

Tonight Steve and I had to make a Target run after eating dinner with some friends. Due to the wind Steve dropped Grace and me off at the door. I went in and got Graces carseat situated on top a shopping cart. Mind you this is something I NEVER do while shopping with her alone. I am too afraid of her falling off when my head is turned, but since Steve was with us I knew one of us would be with her at all times. As I was looking up something on my phone (my hand still holding on to the carseat) a lady about mid thirties walks up and asked if she can be nosy. I give her what I sure was a WTH look and she took that as a yes. She begins by asking what kind of carseat that island then tell me my Chicco isnt very safe. I know it's not top brand but I love it! She then proceeds with her lecture about how resting the carseat on the seat portion of the cart is completely unsafe and that I should have it in the basket. At this point she tells me the tragic story of her friend who lost a child just last week from her sons carseat falling off the cart while she was getting something off the shelf. I don't say anything at this point because I feel like she's is just trying to be helpful. I tell her how truly sorry I am for her friends lost and thank you for the advice. This is where she crosses the line. Apparently she mistook my politeness for a cry for help. She reachs out and picks up Grace 's baby blanket and tells me that I have her strapped in wrong. I am sorry lady but you just went from well intentioned to offensive! I snatch the baby blanket back from her place it into the cart because god only knows where her hands have been. She then reaches for Grace's cheek saying "you'd just feel so guilty if anything happened to this sweet thing." ok now she has crossed a whole different line. Not only did you insult my parenting but now you are touching my child!!!! Thank God Steve walked up and I just stared walking. If I had stayed for even another second I probably would have caused a scene. I can't tell Gyou the number of times I have seen parents do things that I do not agree with but I would definitely not tell the

That. It's their child they can raise them the way they see fit! Grace is safe, happy, and healthy to me that's all that matters.

The Mommy Time Out

The first couple of months of Grace's life I had this feeling that I had to be with her 24/7. I felt as if NO ONE could possibly take care of her right and that if I wanted things done right with her doing it myself was the only way. I have since then learned that all I am accomplishing is running myself into the ground and making my time with Grace much more stressful. I have also learned that believe it or not her daddy is not only perfectly capable of taking care of her, but he's pretty damn good at it. SO I have learned the art of the MOMMY TIME OUT. Even if it is just me sitting quietly in our room with the door shut and a good book in hand. The art of the mommy time out being helpful is NOT to do anything house related either. It is totally me time!! The first couple of mommy time outs I spent it folding clothes, doing dishes, or cleaning house. I quickly learned though that when I was done I didn't feel like I had gotten a break at all. So finally I got the hint it's not really me time if I don't take it to take care of me. In the short couple of weeks I have been doing mommy time outs I have found that I not only have more energy though out the day, but I enjoy my time with Grace that much more. Something I didn't think was possible.

Nature's Cure All

So for the past 48 hours I have been battling one of the worse cases of diaper rash I have seen in the past 15 years I have been around babies/toddlers. Pretty much since we brought Grace home she has had a slight diaper rash from her extremely sensitive skin (she is her father's child), but recently this was made worse be two things. The first was that until last week I was eating dairy which apparently Grace is sensitive too as well (like her daddy) so the process of getting that out of her system consisted of lots of poops which means lots of diaper changes. Which brings me to the second reason, because I was going though like 20 diapers a day I switched to the cheaper version of pampers (baby dry) well it turns out Grace's butt doesn't like those either. So, last night her booty was BRIGHT red and in some spots actually bleeding from how raw she was. I tried EVERYTHING to find her some relief but nothing helped. Every time she went to the bathroom she screamed bloody murder which just broke me heart. Finally after soaking in a warm bath (we didn't have any baking soda or oatmeal bath at 10 pm) she stopped crying. So I started some internet research just to see if there was anything I do to help her get though the night. I found some CRAZY things that I just wouldn't try if you paid but I also found something very interesting that I figured hell it's worth a shot and it can't hurt her anymore then she already is.

What I found was an article written by a midwife about serve diaper rash treatments and guess what it said? BREAST MILK...yes, I said BREAST MILK not only takes the sting out of the rash but helps heal it. So as I said I figured why not? I pumped a little into a bottle and patted it on her little butt then let her air dry for about 20 mins. Sure enough when I put some Aquaphor on she didn't even stir. So last night was spent getting up to change her diaper every 2 hours (so she didn't sit in a dirty one too long) patting BM on her butt and covering it in Petroleum Jelly. This morning after another soak in a warm bath and some more BM coating I was able to put Burt's Bee Baby Bee diaper cream on her which is my personal favorite because of it's staying power. Then by this afternoon I was able to put her Rx cream from the doctor on without it burning her. It is now 930 at night and I just soaked her in an oatmeal and baking soda bath and I am happy to say that her butt is now just a slight shade of pink with a few red spots and she no longer cries when she goes potty.

So WHO KNEW?? Breast milk...really!