Caring for Newborns: How in the world do you do it?

Well, we took our first childbirth class last night. I really enjoyed it a lot! There are two other babies due within just a couple days of Isaiah so that's really exciting. Believe it or not, Will is excited about this class and he really liked it. In case you don't know him too well, he's not the type of person to like any kind of social gathering even if he's learning something from it. So for him to be excited about this class makes me very happy. It shows me that he really wants to know as much as possible about helping me through labor and being a good support buddy for me. He is also really excited about learning how to be a good daddy and take care of our little boy after he's born. He thinks he's not going to be a good dad, but I know he'll be a GREAT one! If someone is as eager to learn about caring for babies as he is, then they are bound to do a great job! I keep telling him that NOBODY knows how to care for a newborn baby until they've done it themselves. I've been working in childcare with infants and toddlers for 6 years and I still have no idea how to take care of a newborn, except for what I have read (and reading is nothing compared to real life experiences). Babies don't come to me until they are at least 6 weeks old and they are usually older than that. So it's something that we can learn together.

I have been reading this book called On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep by Gery Ezzo, M.A. and Robert Bucknam, M.D. and I highly recommend it. The authors emphasize the importance of having an infant on a flexible schedule to begin training their bodies to respond to feedings and nap times in a way that they will be sleeping through the night at 7 to 9 weeks of age. It is at 7 weeks old that their little bodies are capable of sleeping through the night but a lot of babies are not sleeping through the night until much older, making a full night's rest elusive for so many tired moms and dads. They emphasize giving your infant a full meal every time they eat so they aren't just snacking every hour to hour and a half, which will keep their tummies full until the next scheduled feeding (unless they show signs of hunger a little before the scheduled feeding, that's why it's a flexible schedule). The authors also give examples of different types of cries and discuss how important it is to recognize the cries so you don't assume they are hungry every time they begin to wimper and wail. There are some schools of thought which teach that every time the baby cries, he needs to be fed. That way he will feel loved because you responded immediately to his needs. But they don't need food every time they cry. Sometimes babies just have fussy times when they feel like crying for no reason at all, or they are tired, or starting to become ill, or have gas. It's philosophies like that that teach people to comfort themselves with food when they get older, which only leads to obesity. Some of the things I explained seem like they should be common sense, but there is so much more to this book than what I can possibly explain well. Anyway, this is an excellent book and I can't wait to see how it all works. I guess I won't know until Isaiah gets here! You can find the book at Barnes & Noble and Books a Million for only $13.95 but I think that most libraries have it. I borrowed mine from a friend but will end up buying it for myself just so that I can read the important parts again after Isaiah is born.

Baby bumpers, beds, and britches...

Since my last post, I have started working as a full-time babysitter for a family at my church, Will is working full time at Wal-Mart, trying to work on his thesis, and looking for a job, and I am 32 weeks pregnant! The only thing that hasn't changed is where we live. We still live in the same dinky, damp apartment and are trying to find space for all of Isaiah's things. I will be done working in a couple weeks and will have much more time on my hands for completing the task of doing a thorough cleaning (which hasn't happened in a long time!) and rearranging furniture to make room for the baby.

I'm not a very good organizer, however, and really have no idea how to get things arranged in the apartment. We have some ideas but I know that we are not using our space efficiently. We have three dressers which are packed with our clothes and need one more for Isaiah but with the bassinette, changing table, and other large objects, we don't know if we have room for another dresser. My point is this: I need help organizing! Does anyone have any tips or ideas on how to organize more efficiently? We have some cupboard space being unused in our kitchen, and some room left in one cabinet for things. How can we use our space more efficiently in the kitchen? It seems odd to put things like toys or clothes in the kitchen. I would appreciate any ideas!! Thank you!

We would also appreciate prayers for the job situation. As I previously stated, I will be done working in a couple of weeks and Will is working at Wal-mart. He has been looking for a job for months and hasn't even had an interview! Thank you very much for everyone's prayers and friendship.

Good times...

It seems that it is now almost April and we've been married for about 4 months! Where has the time gone? I recently got a job at Church Court Day School, where I worked a year and a half ago while visiting Will for a summer. I am a lead teacher in the toddler room and let me tell ya, it is not a breezy job! IT'S HARD WORK! The kids really keep me on my toes (and even make me lose my voice) but I love it! I come home exhausted and about ready to hit something but can't wait to go back. That's how you know you're doing something you love.

Will is still looking for a job but recently had a tutoring "gig" and will be having another this weekend. We're hoping that he can get enough "tutees" to make up for a part-time job. So if you know anyone in the Blacksburg area in need of a tutor in math, engineering science & mechanics or lower-level engineering classes, let us know!

I'm about 9 weeks pregnant now and have been feeling pretty good! I haven't had much morning (more like evening) sickness, and I feel energized and ready to take on the world! OK not quite, but close. Actually if it wasn't for the dumb cold I've had for about a week, I think I would take on the world!

And Then There Were Three!

It is now confirmed, we have a little one on the way! Our baby is due on October 26th and we couldn't be happier! I am six weeks pregnant and feeling pretty good. I don't seem to be getting too sick except for a few bad days here and there. We feel like we're not quite ready for it but we know that if God has blessed us with a child then He will provide for it as well. Please keep us in your prayers as we are dealing with insurance issues and trying to find a good doctor to bring our child into the world. Please also pray for jobs for both of us. Thank you! We'll keep you posted throughout the pregnancy!

What?! Virginia, you say?

That is correct, WE live in Blacksburg, Virginia now.

We awoke to -5 degree weather the day of the wedding. My friends and I needed to make a quick stop at Wal-Mart before getting to the church that morning only to find that three out of four of them in the area were closed due to heavy snow and ice on the roofs. The 59 inches of snow made it difficult for people to get around and some friends and relatives were not able to make it to the wedding. Those who braved the frigid air, frozen roads, and five-foot high snowbanks will forever be my heroes.

The wedding was beautiful and was everything I had ever dreamed and more. As far as I know, it went off without any major hitches. If there were any, nobody told me. I didn't feel nervous or anxious or scared before the wedding. I was able to stay calm and collected the entire day. When my friends and family were boo-hooing around me, I had a smile on my face. I thought I would be a nervous wreck but God gave me the ability to stay strong, excited, and happy the entire time without any stresses or worries. We will be forever thankful to our friends and family members who worked so hard to make that day special for us.

We went to Miami, Florida for our honeymoon. It was so much fun! It couldn't have been any better! We went to the Everglades, Key West, the Miami Seaquarium, spent an evening at the beach, went to a beautiful tropical garden, visited an old museum on the Biscayne Bay, and simply enjoyed being newly married.

After returning to Virginia, we got moved in to our new apartment in Blacksburg and have been working on getting settled in. I am currently looking for a job as a lead teacher at a childcare center and Will is in school finishing up his Master's Degree. We are very excited to see where God will lead us next.

A Long Time Coming...

I am terribly sorry for the long gap between posts! Since the last post, I have bought a gown and have made as many plans as necessary up until this point. With the wedding being eight and a half months away, the time is drawing nearer and there are many more plans to be made.

The combination of jobs, school, and preparing a new life together will have both Will and I very busy for the upcoming months. However, we are very excited to embark on this incredible journey together and ask that you keep us both in your prayers. I will be flying to Roanoke, VA in June to attend Will's sister Eleanor's wedding and we will be able to spend a week of quality time together. Our time apart will be difficult over the next 8 months, but I know that God has us in His hands and will be guiding us to make the right decisions in everything we do. Thank you very much for your prayers and support.

Irene and Will

Weather Worries

I'm sure many of you have heard of the outrageous weathere here in Spokane for the past week or so. Now I know what you could be thinking, "What if the weather doesn't cooperate next year and people can't get to the wedding? Will I have to venture out in a foot of snow?" First of all, let me give you at least a bit of comfort: This is not typical weather for us. Normally when it snows it may be a little at a time that might accumulate over a couple of weeks but the roads stay clear and it does not cause much havoc. Sometimes it may snow one day then slowly or even quickly melt within the next few days. Chances are, the weather will not be anything like what we had last week. Please just pray that God will provide us with tolerable weather and that with all the things to be thinking about, the weather will not be one of them. God Bless!!