Sleeping issues

Little girl likes to sleep only in certain places, we've learned.  She falls asleep well being held (of  course), does well on a recliner tucked into a corner on top of a plush blanket, likes the car seat, and also is comfortable on her belly on top of my chest.  No, these are not recommended sleeping positions by any organized committee.  The AAP and our pediatrician would be appalled to know what we've allowed.  However, sleep is welcome no matter how we can achieve it.

We have tried to re-create that nest-like feel in her co-sleeper, tried a wedge to keep her more upright (FYI it doesn't work too well since she ends up scrunched at the bottom of the wedge!) and attempted sleep flat on her back without success.  Troy finally came up with a solution and it's worked well for the past two nights.  He put a head cradle in her co-sleeper and made a nice, soft nest with a blanket.  She seems to like it, and when she flings her arms only hits something soft.  We hope the sleep will continue!

One MONTH!

Our little girl is one month old already.  She has changed SOOO much.  She was a tiny little thing when we brought her home and now she's sprawling out across the co-sleeper.  This month has flown by so quickly, it almost makes me sad and wish I could slow the minutes down so I can savor them more.  We need to take more pictures, as we can't seem to capture her well enough to represent her accurately.  What a bundle of joy she is to us!

Pulaski part II

We really enjoyed our weekend at Pulaski.   The perfect weather certainly helped.   It was great to catch up with old friends (even some from swingin' single Chicago days!!), meet new cousins, see other relatives and especially to hear some refreshing things.  We received exactly what we needed -- always amazing when that happens.  Are there a LOT of babies these days... or is it that we're now sitting toward the back with other parents of young ones?!  Thanks to Bryan and Celia for sharing the camper during the day!

Pulaski

We're going to catch a couple meetings this weekend.

More misadventures

Some call it excitement, others call it life.  As I was driving toward Troy's school yesterday afternoon, I exited the highway and noticed a somewhat loud noise.  Of course I had the classical music station going to keep Lucia calm and also the A/C cranked, so it wasn't too noticeable at first.  As I moved along the road toward Troy's building, it seemed the noise was becoming louder, and eventually I made it to the parking lot.  Sure enough, the tire had blown out.  Yep..... change of plans for the evening!  Thankfully I had extra diapers, milk, etc in my bag, so little miss muffet was fine.

At this point today, we have two new tires, wheels aligned and hopefully we're good to go! 

How does time go so quick??

It wasn't long ago that we (Lucia and I) awoke and it was 9 am.  Here it's already 3 and we've hardly done much more than 2 feedings and a nap.  I was figuring out that each feed takes a half hour, holding baby upright another half hour, then pumping another half hour.  (I could have seen 6 patients easily in that hour and half!!) So, with feedings every 2-3 hours, that leaves about half to one hour for a nap.  That's how the day goes so quick.

On the flip side, there's nothing better than a content baby who smiles at mama.  Awesome payoff for me!

How does this work?

I can tiptoe in the hallway and the floor might creak a little which causes the little girl to wake up out of a sound sleep.  BUT, we can be sitting in a very loud public place with speakers overhead blasting late 70s music and she continues her snooze without a flinch.

We can take her for a walk in her stroller and bounce over uneven sidewalks and rocky terrain and she'll sleep hard.  BUT, gently adjusting her blanket leads to a reflex arm flailing and crying.

HUH?!

It's 3 AM

and our daughter finally fell asleep.  Whew...

Cryin' over spilled milk

Two episodes yesterday of spilled milk -- one episode occurred because the lid was not tight enough on the bottle, and the second was spillage while transferring from pump to bottle.  WAHHHH!  That liquid gold is precious commodity and likely an ounce or more landed on the floor each time.  Oh well, mom survived the mess and cleanup, and of course baby didn't know any different.

Grandma Choi's quilt

Murphy's Law for babies

If you change a diaper, it will definitely be dirty again within five minutes

No, they don't offer frequent flyer miles

After the fourth visit in two weeks to the pediatrician's office, I asked today if they offer any frequent flyer deals.  I'm sure the receptionists have heard similar statements a million times but they all chuckled anyway.  The nurse said they expect to see newborns frequently.  The nice thing about this office is that they have many same-day appointments available.   Today after feeding Lucia I looked down at her umbilical stump which looked a little red and had minimal amount of discharge.  So, the peds office offered me an appointment 45 minutes from the time I called.  Uh, sure, we can be there.  Never mind that I am still in my pajamas, haven't washed my face and little girl needs a diaper change, dressed, burped, etc.  The stump looked ok to the doc after she cleaned it, inspected the previous silver nitrate application site and checked for oozing.  She understood my concern, told me to keep a close eye on it, and return at the first sign of worsening.  Yep, I'm becoming THAT parent.

Yes, I should be napping, but...

... there's so much to do and I am now wide awake.  Before all of you experienced moms jump on my case, I totally agree with you that when baby sleeps, mama sleeps.  In theory.  But the practical reality is that the kitchen is upside down, wastebaskets are overflowing and bottles need to be washed.  And me being me, I won't really rest until there's a little semblance of order.  I'm learning to whittle housework down quickly and so within an hour have my few chores all done.  Of course, just when I was going to sit and pump, little girl squawkbox wants out of her co-sleeper, and then decides she is more interested in sleeping in my lap and doesn't want to nurse right at this moment.  My mom delightedly tells me this is payback for all the misery I caused her my first 12 months!

Yesterday's doctor's appointment went well, with good weight gain and her excellent behavior for the pediatrician.  Who would ever guess this is the girl who keeps her parents up all night?!

We also stopped at my office afterward and showed off baby.  Everyone is so excited about her... thankful to work with a great bunch of folks.   The pregnancy virus has infected the office, though, as three co-workers are now expecting and due early 2011!  AWESOME! 

Hi ho, hi ho - It's back to school I go!

After over two weeks of experiencing the amazing birth-and-bring-home-your-baby experience, I am fairly content to return to school this week. I would prefer to stay home and watch this girl grow up all day every day, but there's some sense of reality that makes it feel ok to go back to work. This is my first semester assuming the role of graduate student and research assistant! I've signed up for the 4.5 year PhD track in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering program. I have a lot to prove before I refer to myself as a PhD student, however. My major academic concern is developing a strong base of knowledge in environmental processes, chemistry and biology. In addition, I need significant remediation in the higher levels of calculus and differential equations. I feel good about the program and the leadership of my advisor, however, and am confident I'll be able to work through these challenges.

Over the past year I have worked steadily (and with much assistance from some good friends* - Ken, Andrew, Jeff) on a water level measurement project we refer to as GaugeCam. While this project has helped me develop some leadership capacity, it has also exposed a whole set of leadership skills that I do not yet possess. I hope to develop those skills as I progress through the graduate school research requirements.

The GaugeCam project also exposed me to new ways of thinking. I have learned most by observing Ken, Andrew, Jeff and François (my advisor) as they assess and solve problems. Ken has modeled enthusiasm, tenacity and the value of spending 'x' minutes per day. Andrew has emphasized the value of organization, documentation and thoroughness. Jeff exemplifies a good mechanical engineer - creative but practical. And François has modeled a great balance of applying academic curiosity (and rigor) to practical applications. I have enjoyed observing these traits. Even more, I hope to develop and apply these abilities myself!

Yesterday, I read through this blog post, which details some of the circuitous path that brought me to the BAE program. It's been quite a ride, but I feel I'm in a very good place with all kinds of opportunity in front of me. Thanks so much to my supportive family in NC and OH, the Choi family and my mentor Ken. Most of all, thanks to my wonderful wife, Youngin. There is no way I would be embarking on this adventure without her first, encouraging me to trust myself, and second, sacrificing her time, energy and freedom to support me.

*I need to also acknowledge the help of Christian, who brough a lot of expertise to the project. Kendall has provided some interesting insights, and Kelly has helped as well. This semester, we hope to involve Zach, who is starting his undergraduate studies at NC State this year.

Sundry Sunday surmisings

Sixteen mosquito bites in less than five minutes while standing outside and talking to our neighbor yesterday equals sixteen places to consciously NOT touch.   Itch, itch, itch....

Wearing a pre-pregnancy shirt today definitely boosted my spirits.

The major milestone for today is the belly button remnant about to fall off.

Kudos to women who want to try single parenthood, but I am thankful for an awesome husband who helps me take a two hour mid-day nap!

Is there anything better than a big smile from your little girl?!

How to feel like celebrity

1) Dress up your beautiful baby in a really cute outfit.
2) Find interesting locations, like the NC Art Museum,  Panera Bread or the big mall.
3) Meet your beautiful friends or hang out with your spouse at these locations.
4) Place well-dressed baby in hip, new stroller.
5) Don over-sized sunglasses (aka Kim Jong Il look-alikes), and preferably wear them indoors.
6) Sit back as people ooh, ahhh, and comment over your baby.
7) Beware of flashing papparazzi camera lights.
8) Check PeopleMagazine.com for your photos.

10 days in Review

You know you're a NEW parent when...

1) you hear a squeak from the other room, and you both jump up and foot-race to see who gets to the baby first.
2) you fight over whose turn it is to hold baby.
3) three hours of sleep is "really good" and fifteen minute naps are "all I need."
4) you debate whether that's a "I'm hungry" cry, "change me" cry, or "my tummy hurts" cry.
5) taking a shower is the major accomplishment of your day.
6) you still don't feel guilty about missing work, and wish paternity leave lasted 5 years.
7) date night consists of a Sunday night run to Target for diapers while Grandma and Grandpa watch baby.
8) your husband forces you to drink water every hour, and actually cares whether you eat or drink.  No, I'm not fooled.... obviously it's all about baby.
9) diapers don't smell, and you been sprayed multiple times while trying to change one.
10) a dirty diaper speaks to the genius of your child.
11) night runs into morning and you have no idea what day it is.
12) your idea of entertainment is video chatting with your family, showcasing your baby.
13) your idea of a good movie is a 10 minute home video of your baby waking up by you shaking her leg.
14) you actually believe people when they tell you that your baby is beautiful, because you believe she IS beautiful.
15) running to the post office is the big outing of the day for you, and running to auto zone is the big outing for your husband.
16) you feel guilty for not holding your baby every second.
17) the laundry basket of clean clothes sits unfolded for more than a day.
18) you're still using the baby as an excuse for neglecting all responsibilities.
19) you're still eating through the food your mothers-in-law left in the fridge and you haven't even looked at the deep-freeze contents yet.  (We really are thankful, though!)
20) you now understand the pathetic father of twins you met at the pediatrician's office with sunken eyes, ragged t-shirt and zombie-type walk who uttered "water" as he put down the car seat and wandered back out of the waiting room.
21) you have no idea how your newborn will EVER wear all the clothes she has already.
22) washing bottles is your new hobby and you find sticky milk residue everywhere.
23) you wish you could realistically photograph and capture every second of your baby's life.... especially her facial expressions.
24) your new measure of success is your baby's weight gain.
25) you love your spouse even more because you've been blessed with an amazing little girl.

Baby Names - Guessing Games - WINNER

Ok, this might look rigged, but Charlene Gilmore hit the jackpot with her first guess in the "Baby Names - Guessing Games" contest! From the start, we had a Betty Blonde gift in mind for the winner(s). We'll either wait for the tote (pictured below - currently out of stock), or we'll have Charlene choose another item in the Betty Blonde store!

Congrats to Charlene and thanks to all who joined in!

Machine Vision Baby Photos

There are a few nerds out there who know what I'm talking about - you know who you are.

These photos were captured using an Imaging Source Model #41BU02.

What's in a name?

Thanks to everyone who has complimented Lucia on her name. Some of the items below were reasons we chose the name, while others are pleasant things we've thought of since choosing.

Lucia -

• Grandpa Gilmore's mother was named Lucille, which was also passed on to Aunt Dora as her middle name. This is why we've chosen the loo-see-uh pronunciation, so it has a little more of the Lucille sound. 

Lucille Gilmore, George Gilmore's Mother

•  We liked the meaning of Lucia, which is "light"
• Youngin remembers hearing the song Santa Lucia when she was young. Although I expected her to remember this song from being in a Spanish-speaking fishing town as a child, she actually remembers Santa Lucia because it's a popular song in Korea.
• We thought it would be fun for our child to have a song with her name in it.

Sora -

• Youngin's parents helped us find Lucia's middle name. Traditionally, Korean grandparents are involved in choosing baby names. They came up with a list of potential names for us and we settled on Sora.
• We liked the connection between Sora and my Aunt Dora's name.
• Troy looked far and wide for a bird name to use as our baby's name. Although Sora has nothing to do with "bird" in Korean, it is an English name for a bird in the rail family. Ok, so a sora looks a little like a skinny chicken, but it does qualify as a bird.
• We had fun finding a meaning for Sora. As Youngin's parents explained, the Korean language has only one character for the "so" sound and one character for the "ra" sound. The characters simply represent the sound, and have no meaning independently. However, there are 150-200 Chinese characters representing the "so" and "ra" sounds. Since each Chinese character has a specific meaning, there are many possible meanings to the combination "So-ra". Initially we liked something that translated loosely to "sparkling laughter". However, the type of laughter could be translated as a happy laugh or a mocking laugh. With the help of Grandparents Choi, we settled on Chinese characters representing (again, loosely translated) "honesty and prosperity". Below you can see our best attempts to write these characters. The first set of characters are Chinese and the second set are Korean.

Home at last Part II

We were discharged from the hospital with a bili blanket as Lucia's level had been slightly high.  Yesterday after her doctor's appointment, the level rose higher than expected, though still below any danger.  So as a precautionary measure, we were in the hospital overnight for Lucia to be treated with bili lights and blanket.  The level came down nicely this morning and we expect to be headed home later.

Home at last

After a long stay in the hospital, meeting multiple caregivers, and becoming acquainted with our little one, all of us are finally home.  Ahhhhh.....

Thanks to all of you who have emailed, called and commented on our blog and facebook.  I would love to respond to each one individually but after not sleeping for 5 nights, I'll shamelessly use this forum to express my heartful gratitude for your sharing in our journey.

Lucia Sora Gilmore

Happy grandmas and a tired mama

It WAS a big day!

Friends:

Our baby is here!

More later...

The big day?

If we stay on the current trajectory, we'll be able to tell you Baby G's name today!

We've got another excellent nurse again for this afternoon. Up until today we've enjoyed the help of Stanley, Venus, Agnes, Tammy, and Ann Kathrine . You know you're in good hands when you end the shift hoping to 'have this nurse again tomorrow'.