tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post8799981708814910414..comments2024-03-26T19:48:49.664-04:00Comments on Brooklyn Limestone: Things I Wished I Knew Before Bringing Home BabyMrs. Limestonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159249562273770481noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-83343781946135197652013-05-13T11:51:21.250-04:002013-05-13T11:51:21.250-04:00I know this is late to reply to your reply - I did...I know this is late to reply to your reply - I didn't mean you were constantly negative, not at all! If I thought you were a constant source of negativity, I wouldn't love and read your blog so much. :) <br />I meant the moms I meet in real life, ones on the web, etc - seems to have a fairly negative vibe when it comes to doling out advice for future-moms. I didn't think this post was even that negative and I get the overall positive intention after talking about things you wish people had told you. I just meant that maybe you have nicer friends, because all I was being told by people I know is negative stuff. jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-70917275918107943802013-05-08T14:39:25.716-04:002013-05-08T14:39:25.716-04:00This is absolutely spot on. I remember being so s...This is absolutely spot on. I remember being so shocked and pissed that none of my friends ever told me the truth about those first months and how hard they are. The sleep deprivation is a killer. After the first two months, I began to dread nighttime because I knew it would be at least 8 wakings and hours spent getting him back to sleep. And we completely over-parented, which is sorta funny looking back. Lord, I hope we're way more chill if we're blessed enough to have a second baby. But I love that you are telling it like it is. I have to think it would be easier to be a first time mother if you're lucky enough to have some honest preparation.Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14620335605509560453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-32231083397576971552013-05-04T23:35:51.297-04:002013-05-04T23:35:51.297-04:00My theory is that you forget everything because yo...My theory is that you forget everything because you're so sleep deprived. It took me a year the second time around to have enough sleep to regain my short term memory!Hannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18416332641505948246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-48717812847215405642013-05-02T23:02:09.250-04:002013-05-02T23:02:09.250-04:00Every word rings true. I love that you can laugh a...Every word rings true. I love that you can laugh at yourself and some of the up's and downs of being a mum. My son is now 3&1/2 and only started sleeping throught the night 1 month before his 3rd birthday. Due in the most part to an undiagnosed dairy intollerance. Of course you WILL sleep again, but in those sleep deprived times, it doesn't feel like it. I remember thinking, I know people say it gets easier, but will I loose my mind before then? I was trying so hard to be a wonderful mum, that I often ran myself into the ground. Due to a number of phsical issues with both baby and myself I was unable to breastfeed, and so decided to "express feed" my son. When he WAS sleeping, I was breast pumping. ALL DAY AND NIGHT LONG, to get him that precious milk and establish a supply. I was surviving on a few hours of broken sleep. I learnt some valuable lessons along the way. To be kinder to myself and cut myself some slack. Sometimes it's OK to take the path of least resistance. You do what you need to do for your baby and yourself. Everyone's journey is different. I hope that next time around, I will be wiser, I will ask for more help, I will be more relaxed and I will make life easier for myself. I look at my son now and think, he is one of the coolest people I know. I am so lucky that he is in my life. I am lucky that every day, I get to help him become more of "himself". Even if sometimes that means we disagree or lock horns, it's ok, he is his own person with his own ideas. And until he can know enough of the world to make wise descisions, I will keep him safe. Even when he doesn't like it! He has taught me so much about myself, which is one of the things you don't quite expect. Parenthood reveals your strenghts and weakness to yourself in a way that not alot of other things can. I am so grateful for this journey, the good days and the bad. There are always new challenges and things are constantly changing, the good news is that we adapt and get better equipped at handling those challenges and day to day life begins to feel easier.Love that Partyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885637722433241332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-40051771426499177042013-05-02T21:05:18.154-04:002013-05-02T21:05:18.154-04:00I love this post - I had my son 6.5 months ago and...I love this post - I had my son 6.5 months ago and there is a black hole in my memory the first 6-8 weeks. All I remember is that he nursed for 2 hours, and then half an hour later I would have to turn around and nurse him again! He was one slow eater who would fall asleep in the middle! The feedings gradually became one hour and then 30 min and then 10 min and now he drinks milk from a bottle holding it himself and trying out veggies! Where does the time go? I want to hold on to these fleeting moments because I am so thankful for this blessing. Every time he looks at me and smiles my heart melts. I am truly scared that these moments will pass by in a fog that will eventually evaporate away...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15945713159114543431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-66287867656663623542013-05-01T13:13:27.208-04:002013-05-01T13:13:27.208-04:00OMG!!! that was hilarious. The only advice I coul...OMG!!! that was hilarious. The only advice I could give is record everything if you can and cherish every moment you have. The house will eventually will get cleaned and you will eventually begin to feel better. Take help if offered, even if its long enough for you to take a shower. Take it!!! The first year is the hardest after that its cake :)Michelle Vierahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03574998510729324573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-45291830229702667602013-05-01T13:13:04.712-04:002013-05-01T13:13:04.712-04:00OMG!!! that was hilarious. The only advice I coul...OMG!!! that was hilarious. The only advice I could give is record everything if you can and cherish every moment you have. The house will eventually will get cleaned and you will eventually begin to feel better. Take help if offered, even if its long enough for you to take a shower. Take it!!! The first year is the hardest after that its cake :)Michelle Vierahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03574998510729324573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-38762310771983724752013-05-01T12:21:44.095-04:002013-05-01T12:21:44.095-04:00It's been 7 years since I had a newborn but al...It's been 7 years since I had a newborn but all of the things you listed is exactly how I remember it. Especially 1 - 6. Enjoy this time even if it does make you a little nuts! There is nothing better than staring into the face of the sweestest thing you've ever seen.Sarah's Fab Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04289676949470575955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-84252650544910339052013-04-30T22:54:34.835-04:002013-04-30T22:54:34.835-04:00I have 5 little (and not-so-little) ones and with ...I have 5 little (and not-so-little) ones and with each one I've had the thought "what do I do with a newborn?" You truly cannot hold onto details in that hazy sleep-deprived state. Now that my youngest is 20 months I just keep hoping he'll stop waking up to eat at 5 am!Maryannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05674022115623396106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-57203302201138056012013-04-30T22:54:01.926-04:002013-04-30T22:54:01.926-04:00I have 5 little (and not-so-little) ones and with ...I have 5 little (and not-so-little) ones and with each one I've had the thought "what do I do with a newborn?" You truly cannot hold onto details in that hazy sleep-deprived state. Now that my youngest is 20 months I just keep hoping he'll stop waking up to eat at 5 am!Maryannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05674022115623396106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-38758989488137414892013-04-30T17:02:08.838-04:002013-04-30T17:02:08.838-04:00great list! i'm expecting in December and this...great list! i'm expecting in December and this whole baby thing is still a mystery. I would love to know the MUST HAVEs and the USELESS baby things you need, especially for the first few months. From large items in the baby room to the small little things would be of great help.toya o' boyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810257595822861359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-28353520783414000192013-04-30T13:38:19.570-04:002013-04-30T13:38:19.570-04:00I'm definitely going to keep this around for l...I'm definitely going to keep this around for later-- I've always been surprised that with all the pregnancy information out there, there isn't as much talk about "after" pregnancy (i.e., the newborn haze you had). Of course, I'm still a few years away from all that. Thanks for the honest account of your experience!<br /><br />ErinMrs. Great Indoorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11067541195408476086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-59620272666588488102013-04-30T09:00:17.240-04:002013-04-30T09:00:17.240-04:00So...so ... SOOOO true! :) My little man is now d...So...so ... SOOOO true! :) My little man is now days shy of 6 months old. And although he is #2...that first month or so seems hazey. It all passes. And the one peice of advice that I have received over the last couple of years that always holds true: Babies - just when you think you have it figured out, they change!! Oh and this also applies to kids in general (I have 13 and 10 yr old bonus kids). Enjoy it though. :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-65432305025416206362013-04-29T11:53:00.886-04:002013-04-29T11:53:00.886-04:00Sorry to be a White Knight but every single one of...Sorry to be a White Knight but every single one of the points made in this post are true... at least for me, and I'm sure many, many other new moms. My son, Charlie is 15 months old as of today, and let me tell you, it's still work getting him to sleep at night. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones whose baby sleeps soundly in their crib from the first night home. (Ha! I wish!) Maybe you're equipped with nipples of steal and your baby will breast feed like a champ. (Not me!) Maybe they'll take naps at the exact time that you'd like to take a shower. (Shower? What's a shower?) Maybe you'll have REALLY good shoulder muscles and you won't feel like you got run over by a MACK truck from holding them 24/7 for the first week.(Nope, again!) <br /><br />The point is that it is hard. REALLY hard, for some people. BUT, those memories will fade away. You'll still remember praying for your newborn to sleep, or begging out loud "for the love of God, and all things holy, please just latch on!" But the baby tornado that sweeps you up off your feet, flips you upside down, and slams you back to the ground will pass, and the sun will shine again. And a few weeks in, you'll just be laying on the couch with your little boo boo on your chest and they pop their head up and look you in the eyes (the experience you didn't get to have when they were born because they were on the other side of a blue sheet being pulled out of you) you will fall so deeply in love and cry the happiest tears. And that moment will make all those hard times worthwhile.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00263887715058223720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-38935014555693963172013-04-29T10:05:31.058-04:002013-04-29T10:05:31.058-04:00I cabn't wait to read your MOST USELESS BABY B...I cabn't wait to read your MOST USELESS BABY BUYS list...I am expecting in September and have attempted to make a damn registry 3 times!!! We walk into a Baby Store look around for a few minutes and leave...ha! I just don't know where to start!!!Elvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02239010501695758053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-42286407449776644632013-04-28T21:48:54.345-04:002013-04-28T21:48:54.345-04:00My baby girl is 17 months old and all of this is ...My baby girl is 17 months old and all of this is totally true! You will get to sleep again!Cjkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09548433542870854687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-88862672064903824412013-04-28T20:08:11.307-04:002013-04-28T20:08:11.307-04:00This is the best ost I've read about new paren...This is the best ost I've read about new parenting. Everything is spot on. #7? Too funny and true. I agonize over the silliest little things because I don't want to ruin Henry for life. And I would add that you will wonder if anyone else loves their kids as much as you love yours. Or maybe that is just me. Since having Henry, I find myself thinking about this a lot. Like, how can anyone love their babies as much as I love Henry. Kim @ NewlyWoodwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14306871325108889905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-19630715226259701832013-04-28T11:18:39.710-04:002013-04-28T11:18:39.710-04:00Just had to reiterate, this is all SO true! I have...Just had to reiterate, this is all SO true! I have a two-year-old, and I'm due with my second boy in two weeks. To those who commented to say that the post is negative, sorry, it's the reality of those first few weeks! And, as Mrs. Limestone says, there are also so many wonderful parts. It is just incomprehensibly hard. Having done labor & delivery and the post-partum time once before, I would be happy to skip to when this new guy will be six weeks old. And that is because I am so, so, so excited and happy to hold him and meet him!!!!Anne Garciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04182350670675237647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-13667709733184151962013-04-26T14:16:19.983-04:002013-04-26T14:16:19.983-04:00This is all SO true! I love the way you write - ex...This is all SO true! I love the way you write - exactly what I am thinking but of course more eloquent. Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16058805190279375144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-21183744256783586152013-04-26T12:05:41.205-04:002013-04-26T12:05:41.205-04:00Oh, the sleepless nights. I remember praying. Pray...Oh, the sleepless nights. I remember praying. Praying HARD for God to just make him sleep a little longer. I thought if I prayed, prayed, and prayed some more, that he would sleep. Nope! Charlie was over a year old (he turned 1 on January 29th) by the time he slept though the night. Before that he was waking up at least 10 times each night and going through up to FOUR bottles per night. I was pumping and bottle feeding for that whole year, so I would pump just before bed at 10pm and then wake up at 5am to keep my supply going. Pure exhaustion! BUT you do forget about how hard it was. <br /><br />I was a whopping 10 lbs when I was born and my mom pushed me out without any drugs. She said it was insanely hard, but the second I was out she felt incredible and forgot about all the pain. I think that applies to most struggles in parenthood. Once the hard part is over, it all seems less difficult in retrospect. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00263887715058223720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-75819044842087694172013-04-26T11:42:49.408-04:002013-04-26T11:42:49.408-04:00Oy vey! It's an informative post sharing one ...Oy vey! It's an informative post sharing one woman's personal experience in a lighthearted and humourous, but truthful manner. Are you really coming here to read because you're looking for a virtual gentle hug? Goodness, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. And not that sister needs anyone to rush to her defense, but come on?! Calm it on down now.Ms. Brighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13547593560321585996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-64267540975743595462013-04-26T10:37:06.663-04:002013-04-26T10:37:06.663-04:00All so very true! I forgot so many baby things bet...All so very true! I forgot so many baby things between child #1 and child #2 - basic stuff that I should have remembered. And now my daughter is just 6.5mo and I've already forgotten her infant days. I saw my friend's 1mo old baby recently and had already forgotten that my baby was once that size. Isn't motherhood wonderfully insane? :)Laura@JourneyChichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03666125309714547644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-47959537932056144262013-04-26T08:42:14.921-04:002013-04-26T08:42:14.921-04:00Ive been very lucky in that she is more than happy...Ive been very lucky in that she is more than happy to play by herself for a little while. So while our dinners aren't quite as relaxing as they once were, we definitely can eat together and enjoy. Who knows how that will change once she is eating solid foods but I'm hoping her temperament doesn't change too much :)Mrs. Limestonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159249562273770481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-19426675505450703182013-04-26T08:39:51.020-04:002013-04-26T08:39:51.020-04:00Of course you are entitled to your opinion but I d...Of course you are entitled to your opinion but I don't think a few statements in a single post discussing how I felt during the first few weeks would define me as "constantly negative". Not everyone will have that experience but I did but there would be no way to share my experience without conveying how overwhelming it felt at times. <br /><br />I still think that if you read the entire list, its not negative overall. The newborn phase is so quickly over and you forget it all that its hardly a big deal in the scheme of things. If I had known that going in, the whole thing would have been a lot easier for me. Thus the reason for my post.<br /><br />As for the emotional vulnerability of pregnant women - I simply don't assume that all are in such a fragile state that they can't read this without being scarred. But thats just my opinion. I'd love to hear your version of what you would have liked to know before having a baby as well - perhaps your list will be more helpful.Mrs. Limestonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159249562273770481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356705.post-40762368188950328642013-04-26T06:10:41.248-04:002013-04-26T06:10:41.248-04:00Well I just read your post and I started laughing ...Well I just read your post and I started laughing reading every little point you made. My eldest is 9 and I can actually relate to everything you are saying. The one that got me was the sleep depprevation after all. I remember one night lying in bed (in Melbourne's cold winter) at 2am feeding my son while watching the most ricidulous 1 hr info commercials on the bedroom tv to keep awake. Had I half a brain I would have got a tape machine and at least had something to entertain myself during the half an hour breast feed. I distinctly remember watching my then husband (now ex..thank goodness) sleeping and I was laying there thinking if I actually had $1M (I don't and probably never will) but if I did have $1M in the bank at that moment in time I would have paid that much just to get one full nights sleep like I did before baby came home............that's how hungry I was for just one nights sleep...........ahhh to go to bed and know you can just go to sleep until morning (OMG) it's worth it's weight in GOLD. I also do know that people/doctors etc. only prepare you for pregnancy and having the baby whereas it's when the baby comes home there are simply no instructions apart from crying means hungry, windy, tired, wanna burp or fart........... I did go to a "day sleep school" to learn how to get my baby to sleep after about 4 months when he never went to sleep during the day and I would be pushing him in the pram in my lounge room for an hour while I watched Dr Phil on TV. Same in the evenings however the night I came home from sleep school (ie they have qualified people helping you to show you how to get them to sleep and help them settle themselves etc.) I got James to sleep in the evening in 10 mins...I sat there thinking WHY on earth is this not mandatory training/help one month after baby comes home...I had to seek it out. Anyway your post did make me laugh because honestly I don't think we can ever be prepared for that first baby the way our life is turned upside down from a couple to a baby........however the good thing is now that your family is now in kid mode and the 2nd baby (no pressure...I'm just saying) the 2nd baby just fits right in because now you are in family mode, routines, family activities so as much as a shock the first baby is (on a scale of 1 to 10 I would say a 15) however on a scale of 1-10 for the 2nd one....it's an easy 2 as you are actually more prepared, relaxed (even though I was like you...I've read stuff how hard could it be, newborns just eat and sleep so there will be plenty of time to do things).........aaahhh not so but as you say the tremendous amount of JOY a baby brings....money can't buy that either. I totally enjoyed your post.....She is adorable and I love your nursery. Regard Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278810299840471966noreply@blogger.com