Tootsies Are Tastier Than Tears

I promise to explain the title at the end!

My precious doll, seven weeks

I had begun a new entry a few days ago, one that examined all the new things Piper had discovered and had become by her seventh week in this world.  I had, and still have, every intention of finishing it, but it will be more like her eighth week by then.  Why the delay?  It's what I like to call that horrible thing most of us must do to survive...work!

Checking out Nana!

Yep, my maternity leave officially ended Sunday.  Monday I was back to work, and I would love to be able to say that all things went smoothly and everything is bright and shiny in my world.  But I made a promise to all my readers when I began writing, and that promise was to keep all things honest no matter what.  Here is some honesty...These past couple of days have been anything but easy, and they have come with more than one bout of tears.  I discovered the joys of motherhood right from the start, but now the realities are also coming to call, and while nothing can take away the sublime happiness Piper gives me, she herself can cause me more stress than I ever expected I could handle before.

She loves to play!

Piper has had a very difficult past week or so with stomach pains.  I thought that it was typical gas at first, then I discovered she had an ingrown fingernail.  After fixing that problem, she was happy as a lark for a full day.  Naturally, I then contributed her previous fussiness to that nail.  Oh if life was just so easy as an ingrown  fingernail! Unfortunately for both her and myself, her fussiness returned the following day, and with a vengeance.  And today was a downright tear jerker.

It's odd, she sleeps very well throughout the night and has been sleeping through the nights since she was three weeks.  She is a happy baby in the mornings, smiling and taking good mid-morning naps, but then around 2ish everything seems to change.  She becomes crabby, sometimes inconsolable, refuses to take her afternoon nap(s), and by the time the early evening rolls around I'm at my wits end.

It hasn't been easy going back to work with a grumpipuss.  I'm already a bit scattered from having to get back in the groove after being absent for about eight weeks.  Add to that trying to figure out how to do my job with a little one in tow who seems to have developed attachment issues, well let's just say it triples my scattered, disorganized stress levels.  I've felt pretty much lost and bewildered.  I know it's just going to take some time for us to find our groove in an environment completely alien to her and pretty much completely different for me now that I have her there.  By the way, in case you haven't picked up on it, I am able to take Piper to work with me.  It's one of the perks of working in a small family business.  Anyway, so we are both out of our element right now and trying to make major adjustments, to say the least.

Now throw in some very frustrating tummy issues, which I'm beginning to think may be more than just simple gas, and you get one very sad mommy who is beyond frustrated and anxiety ridden.  I want to have Piper at  work and be able to do my job.  I also want her to be a good girl and show that wonderfully happy side to everyone in the office.  I want not to have to hold her constantly because she is in pain and needs to be soothed.  I want to be able to cure her woes with a magic snap of my fingers.  Not being able to do any of those things to the extent that makes me feel like a good mother, well that is what brings on the tears.

I admittedly cried at work this morning, just for a bit, because I was stressed my boss would get mad because I wasn't doing my job 100% because I was having to pay Piper special attention.  This is probably silly as he is my uncle and everyone at the office supports having Piper there and have told me to quit stressing, that we will find our groove and all will be okay.  But it's hard for me to relax when she is in pain.

Now we're getting to the point of the title, I promise!

When I got home this evening she was wailing!  She cried all the way home, even though the car usually puts her to sleep, and there was just no consoling her.  I tried the gripe water and all things else gas-curing related, nothing seemed to work.  She eventually settled down while having her dinner, but started up again not long after.  Then I swaddled her and calmed her again, she fell asleep in my arms for a little while, and then she was right back to the wailing.  Eventually I put her in her pjs and went to lie with her on my bed.  We faced each other and I let her nurse some more.  This helped calm her down and she finally fell asleep, eventually letting me move her to her co-sleeper so I could finally get some dinner for myself.  She has been peacefully sleeping ever since.

Getting ready...

See, this is where I get baffled.  She has these painful, shrieking, inconsolable bouts of crying; or sometimes she opts for the calmer whines and quiets down as soon as she is picked up and paid attention to.  But in between all those, she is totally and completely happy.  She will smile and coo and is just the most delightful little creature in the world.  Then without warning, it's back to the pained screeching.

Take a sniff...

What I am thinking is that her stomach issues must come in waves.  I know when I have a tummy problem that's usually the way it goes, so to me it makes since.  Her tummy issues are then leading to the loss of naps, further leading into even more grumpiness from exhaustion.  At least she sleeps well at night though, right?  And my crying about all this, that is just from frustration that I cannot cure her and it makes me very sad to see her in pain wailing in misery.  I try not to let it get me too down, but it's tough as a new mother not to blame yourself for every little thing that comes along.

Test the waters...

She has a pediatrician appointment Thursday, so I'm hoping her doc can tell me what's going on and help get us on the path to ending all her tummy woes.  I have a feeling it will be GERD, which is gastroesophageal reflux disease.  That's pretty much acid reflux for babies. With her excessive spitting up after meals, bad hiccups, congestion, and choking quite a bit while trying to swallow...well it sure does sound like she has all the tell-tale symptoms.  If that is the case, I know something can be done with meds to treat it.  I'm praying it is nothing worse than that, but it is definitely not just your everyday run of the mill gas, that's for sure!  Found a great article regarding symptoms here.  Piper has way too many of these symptoms!

Try the other end...

I hope I haven't vented my woes too much in this entry.  Rarely do I stray from the lighter topics in life, as happy is more fun and more my style, but I really felt the need to get all of this off my chest.  I needed to air it all out to keep my fears and worries at bay.  Plus when Piper's older and being a little shit, I can make her go read this and remember the heartache she put me through as a new mother worrying about her constantly and crying when I couldn't fix her instantaneously if even not before she needed fixing to begin with.

Full on assault!

Wish me luck with her doc appointment Thursday, and I promise to keep everyone posted regarding the outcome.  Between now and then I vow to try and keep my spirits up and excessive worries to a reasonably controllable level...at least I'll try not to cry anymore!

Go for gold!

Oh, and why the title?  I got a new camera, a Canon T3i, and shot some great pics of Piper nibbling on her toes.  She is obsessed with them!!!  I figured since I was late on my previously scheduled post, and was going to be hitting on some pretty heavy stuff with this post, then happy toe-sucking baby pics were a must...always leave them with a smile, I say!  And no one wants to read a blog entry titled "I Cried Today At Work Because I Suck!" anyway!

Tootsies are tasty!

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Figured two more pics couldn't hurt!

Take a Trip to the Rainforest

Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Gym

I had a request recently to review this playmat, so I decided I better get on it.  For those who want the quick of it, it's awesome, go buy it!  For those who want the details before making a decision, well here goes...

As many of you know, there are literally hundreds of playmats out there to choose from.  Deciding on one can take a bit of time, and damn it if they all don't look like fun!  I went through pages of mats before deciding on this one, and it was really the theme that drew me in.  I love the jungle theme, as I spent a couple of years as an undergrad working with the great apes at our local zoo.  The fact that this sucker had a monkey on it...sold!

I love primates!!!

You can't really tell from the above pic, but the monkey has a curly tail that you can wrap around the bars of the playmat.  I have him sitting on top of the mat for the pic.  Isn't he the happiest monkey ever?  Piper also likes to play with this monkey while in her swing or high chair, so it's a very nice removable/portable toy.

Besides the monkey addiction I have, I'm an animal lover at heart.  The rainforest theme has many different animals to enjoy and the colors are bright and vibrant.  It's a very happy mat, as they all should be, and the variety of things to look at and engage with should keep any little explorer busy discovering new things with each developmental stage.  Here is a close-up look at the various items and other features that make this mat so enjoyable.

Giraffe and Elephant

I'll note here that the giraffe is part of one of the playmat's arch supports and is also where the battery pack is hidden.  By the way, this mat takes 2 C batteries, not included.  The elephant has a little ball-filled rotating noise-making spinning thing that Piper is very enamored with right now.  It also has shiny purple silk ears to engage the little one in textile exploration.  Piper's exploration of these is yet to develop, as she is just now beginning to get some control over her arms, but I'm sure she will love to yum on these.  Yum is a term we use in this household of rubbing one's fingertips along a item in a self-soothing manner.  Just a little tidbit in case I use the term again.  The elephant, as you can probably tell from the pic, is not dedicated to the giraffe.  It hangs on a carabiner type plastic hook which can be adjusted to at least 7 hanging and 3 floor positions.

Notice purple fabric hook at bottom of pic

When I say the elephant can be adjusted to 10 different locations, I mean via fabric hooks.  There are seven of these along the supporting arches; two on each arch quarter except the giraffe one, which only has the one shown in the elephant pic.  There are also three alongside the floor edges.  These are very handy in that you can mix up the locations of toys for variety to keep your little one intrigued.  You can also add additional toys if you like.  The product warning states to only use the toys that come with the mat, but I've already added some others that Piper enjoys.  The warning I'm sure is strictly to cover Fisher-Price's ass if by chance something goes awry with an added toy not sold with the mat...understandable but totally ignorable!

Parrot numero uno

Parrot, numero dos

There are two different parrot toys that come with this mat.  Technically one is a parrot and one is a Toucan, but let's not split hairs here.  The first one, numero uno, has a fun little spinning thing at it's base.  Piper has a fun time catching this one with her toes.  The second is a fabric parrot (Toucan).  I have temporarily moved this one and hooked it to the tray on her swing.  It's a good one to yum on, and it was just the right size to sit where she could reach it on her swing tray.  You just have to love toys that can be used in multiple play areas.  She really likes the nose of the Toucan as it is colorful and silky.  

Nothing is complete without a mirror!

All babies are totally vain, so of course a mirror is an absolute necessity for any playmat!  This one has a frog up top and is once again adjustable to various play stations.  Remember my obsession with primates?  Notice my camera case reflected in the mirror has a monkey on it!  It also has a dangly banana not visible in the pic.  I should mention that this mirror is very clear and there is no distortion or warping going on.  So many "toy" mirrors on baby items are more like fun-house mirrors because they are so warped.  I don't want Piper growing up thinking her head is all misshapen, so I was very pleased with the quality of this particular mirror.  I've caught her checking herself out quite a few times even though she is not quite to that self recognition stage yet.

The view from below!

This pic is of the butterflies that are on a twirly plastic thing in the middle of the mat arches at their crossing point.  Right above them is the light show box which has four colored lights, much like the old Simon game.  Although these butterflies are hanging on an arched plastic thing that can spin in a circle, it is not motorized.  This mat would be that much better if they did spin on their own, but alas nothing is perfect!  The light box above them blinks in various patterns to keep the variety interesting.  Piper seems to like staring directly up at all that is going on, so obviously someone did a good job on this design concept.  You may have also noticed the four leaves in this pic, they are strictly aesthetic to give that rainforest look, but they don't do anything.  I guess they could block out overhead light to make the light show that much more vibrant, so there's that.

The textile sun is cool...oxymoron?

Here is a pic of a piece of the floor mat.  The whole mat is very colorful with lots of interesting things to look at, but some objects also have a textile function.  The sun here has floating ribbons for rays, once again giving your little one something to manipulate with their hands.

Hello zebra and hidden bug under your crinkly leaf!

The pic above is another portion of the mat located in the corner opposite the giraffe.  The textile objects here include the tail of the zebra and the leaf.  The leaf, I'm raising it in the pic, is crinkly to the touch adding a bit of noise to the textile experience, and underneath is a hidden bug...brilliant!  I cannot wait until Piper discovers that bug, I imagine the surprised grin will be one for the ages!

Well, that about covers all the major aspects of this playmat.  Piper is discovering new things on it every play session, but right now her favorite thing is the elephant.  Here is a video of her contemplating it's existence.

She just loves that damn elephant!

That video reminded me that I need to talk about the awesome music this playmat plays!  For those of you can't see the video, sorry iPhone and iPad users, the music is done calypso style, which just plain rocks!  Giving the music an island flare not only fits with the rainforest theme, it also makes it enjoyable to listen to as an adult.  There is nothing worse than a child's toy playing repetitive music that sounds like crap and makes you want to jab ice picks into your ears.  This mat's music is not like that.  I actually find myself dancing around and singing to it, so there you go.  I'm not sure what all tunes are on it, but there are four different songs.  Frere a Jacques and Skip to My Lou are two of them, I'm not sure of the other two.  There is also a jungle night-sounds setting which is very soothing.  You can set the mat to play either the music or the night sounds, but the night sounds come on every other song for a few seconds on the music setting.  There are two different music settings, too.  One is continuous play which can last up to 20 minutes.  The other is intermittent which stops every few seconds and requires movement to reactivate.  There are also two different volume levels, which is a very nice bonus.

For those of you unable to see the video, here are a couple of pics of Piper enjoying that elephant.  If you cannot watch my videos via the blog due to your operating system, please feel free to jump over to my Youtube page and watch them there.

She really likes talking to it!

And it makes her smile!

Well, that about covers everything regarding this playmat.  I really do like it a lot and so does Piper.  It's a bit on the pricey side at $70 at Babies-R-Us, but it's totally worth it.  I actually received two of these at my baby shower, so I took one to the office for her to enjoy there.  I guess I could have exchanged one for something else, but I'm glad I didn't.  This way she'll have a little piece of home away from home, and she might not have liked another one as much, who knows!

I hope this review was helpful.  If you have any specific questions please comment below and I'll be glad to answer them.  In the meantime, please drop me a vote at Top Baby Blogs by clicking the button below.  Also feel free to join me on my other social media pages, which are linkable on the homepage under the Join Me tab or by clicking on the buttons below.  Hope you all have had a wonderful Memorial Day!

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I Feel Like Super Mom!

Today I deserve this badge!

I'm going to make this a real quick entry, because really all it's about is personal praise.  I figure that as I make my way down the road of motherhood, I should appreciate and take note of those days when everything seems to go right.  Today was one of those days.

Yesterday was a bit trying.  Piper didn't seem to feel all that well, was a bit fussy and contemplative all day, and the rash she has on her face (I believe it is a combo of eczema inherited from mom and heat rash) was quite bothersome to both her and myself.  Her schedule I have been trying to set got all out of whack beginning first thing in the morning, and we never quite were able to get into our rhythm.  Last night was particularly bad as I had to let her cry herself out at bedtime.  It was the first time I really stuck to my guns on the matter, but then again it was the only time I really was challenged to do so.  He temperament is such a bragging point, but last night she was just plain exhausted and nothing was going to soothe her but herself.  In the end, everything worked out and she calmed down and drifted off to sleep.

Piper with my nieces Larkin and Haven

 Lucky for me, this morning she woke up with a great big grin on her face, as she typically does.  I could tell this grin was special, however.  The day started with a smile and from that moment on everything was smooth sailing.  She played, smiled,, practiced her coos, ate well, and didn't fuss when going down for her afternoon and early evening naps.  Her perfect behavior allowed me to accomplish more tasks than expected.  I was able to organize several of the kitchen cabinets, which sounds easier than it was since it had been probably a few years since they had been organized to that extent.  She even sat happily in her high chair and let me finish the task after waking from her afternoon nap.  I didn't even have to feed her first!  I was also able to do the dishes, help my mom out with some of her accounts payable stuff from work she'd brought home to do.  If you remember, she is laid up in bed with a broken leg, so working from home is quite the overwhelming task right now.  Plus she had accidentally dumped all her paperwork out of all the folders yesterday just trying to shuffle everything around while in bed.  Reorganizing that alone was a bitch and a half.  Besides all that, I also kept her fed and her wounds dressed as I have done every day since she came home from the hospital.

Love them cheeks!!!

As you can hopefully tell, I had a full day in which everything and more that I set out to do got done.  There were no roadblocks, time management issues, half-completed tasks at the end of the day, and nothing but smiles and lovies from Piper.  It was just a damn good day that made me feel like I could accomplish anything.  The kind of day where the universe lets you feel like you are doing everything right and making everyone happy.  Those don't happen all the time, so I've learned to recognize them when they do.  And after a trying day like yesterday, it was a much needed change of pace.

Right now I am sitting in bed with Piper drifting off to sleep next to me in her co-sleeper.  The windows are open as the weather is perfect for just such a thing outside, my kitty is lying at my feet, and all is right with the world.  Who knows what tomorrow may bring, but right now I couldn't ask for anything more.

Can't get enough of her USMC camo with the pink tutu!

So that's it.  I didn't have much to say, but thought I'd share my happiness with you all.  Next time I'm having a really hard day, I can at least pull up this post and remember that between the hectic moments in life, here and there are moments of pure bliss where all stars are aligned and everything falls into place as it should, if even just for a little while.

Alright, I'm done being Hallmark card cheesy!  Hope everyone else gets to have a perfect day for themselves sometime soon.  If and when you do, make sure you recognize it before it's gone for it may be awhile before it happens again.

That grin says it all!

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