Week 2 ~ Camden Kingsley Loxton

Two weeks old today and our little boy has changed so much already.

2 weeks old and chilling like a BOSS! ( check the raver hands - lol)

Ladies out there...if you think as a female you have the ability to multitask...you have not yet become a mother...I have NOW only realised what the true meaning of the word multitasking  really is.

Yes, having a baby is so rewarding....You know the moment when you are peeping at him out of one eye at a 2 am feed wishing your life would end because you have not had proper sleep in days, being sleep deprived is no joke...and then he holds your finger with his tiny little hand ~ THAT right there is LOVE and makes all those 2 am feeds and screams worth while...yes, it is tough and NO-ONE is ever going to prepare you for it BUT it is rewarding and so amazing.

How Big?: 3.980 kg and 54 cm. Our boy is growing nicely according to the Sister we go to for his weekly check -ups.

Clothing Size: I spoke too soon. He is now fitting into the NB clothing and some of them are already a tight squeeze!

Eating: Every 3 1/2 hours to 4 hours. According to the Sister we are supposed to be feeding him 7 bottles of 80-100 ml every 3 1/2 hours or 6 bottles of 100-110 ml every 4 hours. Truth is, I have just given him 110 ml this entire week as he was lasting 2-3 hours on an 80 ml bottle. He gobbles down the 110 ml and still acts as if he is starving...little piggy, he even grunts just like one lol

Sleep: Good days and bad days...Sleep has been less this week, he has little cat naps and he is a lot more active already. At the moment he gets around 2 hours sleep at a time and that is often not solid sleep, he wakes up often. He has his moments where he might sleep for a solid 4 hours and these are the days that I am so grateful for, I manage to get a lot done around the house in those 4 hours and a little me time never hurt any new mother, even if it is just 15 minutes to sit on your own to drink a cup of coffee that is actually still hot while you breathe and (like my friend Karin always tells me) tell yourself you've got this! I sometimes think he has his days and nights a bit mixed up because often he sleeps like the dead in the day but at night he is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

I had my first time mom scare this week...the angel care monitor started beeping and this means there is no movement in his bassinet. I jumped out of bed almost ripping my c-section cut or internal stitches (it still hurts as I am typing this and it happened a few days ago) and grabbed him out of the cot. He was lifeless, like a rag doll...amazing that in a split second I managed to think of so many different scenarios but the one that I tried was, "Blow in his face" and it worked...he took one massive breathe and started crying. It happened again later in the week...my heart! I reckon he gets so lekker cozy that his breathing becomes so shallow and the monitor can't pick his movement up?!( well this is my theory and I am sticking to it). I am super paranoid about SIDS and I often wonder if having the monitor is just not making me more paranoid as some nights after I have fed him and struggle to get back to sleep I find myself staring at the monitor watching the movement icon tick away and the minute it looks like it slows down...my heart sinks...TYPICAL first time mom syndrome right?

Movement: His little raver hands are still at it, always on the go and now his head has started bobbing. We joke and say it is like he is bobbing to the music that plays from his little musical sheep that we have in his bassinet. We started "tummy time" with him this week and he screams blue murder most of the time. This boy of ours has a mind of his own and when he doesn't like something...you WILL know about it...he has a pair of lungs on him and he ain't shy to use them!

Milestones: First time Wayne bathed him this week! First time doing tummy time and he lifted his head really high every time, such a little champ! Nappy size change already, he is off the NB nappies and onto the 1's already. Went for his his first "breakfast date" with mommy, we went to meet two ladies that I have known since school and it was so nice to get out and he was so well-behaved ( High-five Camden). We went shopping with granny too.

Excitement this week: This may sound strange to some of you but I was so excited to hear that our little boy had gained all the weight and more that he had lost in the hospital after he was born....it put my mind at ease that at least we are doing something right. Gold star to us!

This week we seem to be in more of a "routine" even though things still seem so all over the place, I feel as though I am getting the hang of things. I have mastered the art of doing everything with one hand, I am pretty impressed if I may say so myself.

This week has had some rough days....babies cry, this is what they do but he is still such a good baby and when I think of the good days, I feel blessed.

Two weeks post-partum: I have now lost a total of 10 kg but I am still as swollen as a hippo - you must check these cankles! My hands...well they are still not functioning properly but I have good days and then bad days where I struggle to pick Cam up...I hope this is going to go away.

I am sad to say though, now that I am losing weight I can see the cluster of 5 stretch marks that I got on my stomach while being pregnant and I had a little cry about this...they look worse than when my stomach was stretched...Oh well, suck it up buttercup..sh*t happens...wear those stretch marks with pride.

Sleep deprivation is honestly no joke and it is enough to drive any normal person insane. You can hate me for saying this but I now sympathize with those mothers that "shake" their babies...no I have not shaken my child but I understand now why some woman do.

Wayne took me out to dinner this week too. It was so nice to get out and spend some QT with him, even though I cried at the table while talking to him telling him I felt like a bad mom and I may be failing at this. HAHAHA hormones!

Even though I am functioning on very little sleep and some days feel as though I just want to crack and give up, emotionally I feel good and no signs of baby blues.

Physically, things are a little better this week but I am still sore. I have not taken any pain killers this week though so that is a good thing and sure sign of healing. Bring on week 6 so I can get exercising!

Did I mention last week how awesome it is to sleep on my back...lol my bed feels slightly bigger without my massive belly taking up most of the space...now I am just trying to contend with Wayne who keeps hogging my side of the bed as well.

Until next week...

Camden's completed room in pictures

 

 

Newborn Shoot #2

There is just something about how cute and scrunched up a newborn baby looks. I will never forget Camden's chubby cheeks and baby fat rolls on his upper arms, or as Wayne called them "biceps".

All of that fades so fast, just in the first few days at the hospital Camden had already changed drastically.

I am so glad that Samantha from Sunkissed Studio managed to capture a few more newborn shots of Camden the Friday after we arrived home from the hospital.

Camden wasn't feeling as cooperative this day as he was on the Wednesday when we had a mini newborn shoot done with our Birth Photographer Marysol.

Nevertheless Sam did a brilliant Job yet again!

We just love our little Newborn Camden to the moon and back!

Week 1 ~ Camden Kingsley Loxton

I am not sure where time has gone!

Camden is one week old today and as much as I am in love, it saddens me that time just never stands still, before I know it my boy will be walking and talking and I feel as though there are never enough hours in the day to record everything or even take mental notes of all that happens in one day.

Photo courtesy of  CapeTownBirthPhotography.com

I really enjoyed writing my weekly bumpdates and well, I didn't want to just end my updates once my little boy had been born..yes, yes..I know these posts have taken me a while to do but truth is I don't even find enough minutes in the day to write these posts but I am sure as time goes by and I find my feet more, the posts will begin to flow again...just bear with me please.

I will try and do updates of Camden and how he is progressing as often as I can and I hope to add some post-partum fitness blogs (after my six week check up I am hoping I get the go-ahead to hit the gym, feeling like a junkie who needs their fix) along with posts on what life is like with a baby. I hope you guys have enjoyed following the journey thus far and I hope you will keep on enjoying them as my Lil boy grows up and our family progresses.

Now...where to start?! Be prepared, this first post is going to be a long one. Our first week, 3 days of which we spent in the hospital have been nothing short of amazing. We are SO in love with our boy.

How Big?: 3.890kg and 52cm

Clothing Size: This first week he has been wearing Prem baby grows. Strange...when I looked at these tiny little growers I thought there is no way our big boy would ever fit into them. He has this entire week but to be honest, they were rather tight by the time Cam's first week came to a close.

Eating: Breastfeeding was one of my biggest fears and it kind of grossed me out. The thought that came to mind when I thought of the act, was animalistic. I couldn't ever picture myself doing it. I breastfed in the hospital, no-one was able to assist me in the hospital and I couldn't get him to latch correctly (shame even my amazing birth photographer tried to help me in my drugged up state). The experience was the worst, so filled with anxiety as I wasn't sure if I was doing it right, was he getting enough to eat, why was it so painful...and then...he ripped the top of my right nipple off. I carried on breastfeeding even though the anxiety set in every time I looked at the clock and saw that feeding time was nearing. I would literally curl my toes over the end of the hospital bed and moan from the pain while tears escaped my eyes every four hours - torture. I still carried on because I wanted to at least try, so I sucked up the pain. On the Monday after we returned home from the hospital I went to see a nursing sister who showed me how to latch Cam correctly and it was pain free. We decided that I would give this another go and I went home and that night, burst into tears when I was not able to get him to latch and that same anxious feeling set in as he started to cry. I decided to start expressing my milk instead, my thought process was that even though he may be feeding from a bottle at least he would be having my breast milk, I would get to save what was left of my poor nipples and if I was doing this I wouldn't be such a bad mom after all, right?

To cut this LONG story short. I expressed for 45 minutes at a time to get 20ml of milk. I had milk coming out of one duct on each breast and then it dawned on me as to why the paediatrician had told me my son had Jaundice and it was likely due to him being dehydrated by me...well the mother of the year award goes to me...yes I know this isn't my fault but I felt terrible, I felt like a complete failure. I decided to dry up the little bit of milk I did have and put my boy on formula...Happy Baby, Happy Mommy!

He eats roughly every 3 to 4 hours. After I left the hospital, I decided to let him sleep and wake himself up when he was hungry. I decided to do what worked best for my boy and I and not listen to what everyone else told me I MUST do. Being in hospital for 3 days caused me so much stress...I hated every minute of being in hospital.

I record his feeds, diaper changes, sleep times etc on an app that my friend told me to get...Baby Connect, best thing I ever did as I kept forgetting when last I had fed the poor guy - mommy brain! Anyways I am getting a bit off the "eating" topic here.

Sleep: This first week he has slept like the dead, especially the first few days in the hospital...by Friday he was wide awake, more awake than any newborn I have met. He sleeps in his bassinet in our room for roughly 2-3 hours at a time and everyone tells you to nap when he naps...how does a person who struggles with sleep, do this...I can't nap so I am exhausted to say the least.

Movement: Camden is all about his hands, they never stop moving lol like a little raver. I don't think he likes to have his hands swaddled as he tends to perform if I swaddle them, so I try leave them out for him to "self soothe". He is such a strong little boy. He pulls his head and neck up if you hold his hands and boy does he have powerful little legs! Like our photographer said..." This boy will be running by next week, not crawling" lol

Milestones: A lot of milestones this week. First time peeing in the Gynae's face as she took him out of my stomach,first time in the car, first time at the shops,first time at mommy's work, first time pooping in granny's hand ( hahaha yes that happened). His umbilical cord also fell off on day 5..this was rather gross. This first week has been a HUGE learning curve for everyone. Having a baby is amazing but it is hard work...don't let anyone ever tell you this is easy...unless they are superwoman...they are lieing.

Excitement this week: HAVING A BABY! BECOMING A FAMILY! Ok besides that, we had two newborn sessions, one on Wednesday, which was a favour to us and one on Friday.

A behind the scenes shot of Wednesdays newborn shoot

Cam was rather impossible when it came to the shoot on the Friday but I know Sam from Sunkissed Studio Photography will do an amazing job with the photo's she was able to get on the day...I have seen one sneak peak and I fell in love already. I will post each Newborn shoot once I receive the photo's.

Are you as in love as I am...I don't blame you.

This week has definitely had some highs and lows. Postpartum hormones are no joke. Moments where I would cry for absolutely no reason at all. Breastfeeding was a nightmare and moments where our little guy would cry and you feel so helpless as you have no idea what is wrong and after checking his diaper, making sure he isn't hungry and checking his temperature...he still cries and you have no idea why. Lets not mention the first few nights at home when you can't sleep because you hear each and every noise he is making and you get up to check to make sure that he is ok...that is enough to make any sane person crazy.

We have some sort of schedule that we are trying to work with but nothing set in stone. I think once all the visitors die down ( we have had a house full of visitors every day) and things settle we will all start feeling a little more comfy with each other and things will start to come together.

I know some of you have been asking how I am doing, well here goes.

One week post-partum: During my entire pregnancy I gained a whopping 21kg. I had hoped I would be one of those skinny biatches who would only gain 12kg...no such luck. I ate healthy in the week and weekends I would allow myself to eat what I liked. Exercise after week 20 was a no go for me, the aches and pains I experienced during pregnancy due to my pubic bone was NO joke, it literally brought me to tears OFTEN and my fingers didn't function properly due to swelling and pressure from Carpal tunnel syndrome...they still aren't ok and I struggle to pick Camden up during the night as my hands and fingers just do not function. I have been told by my six week check up that they should be back to normal but if they aren't I may need to go and see a neurosurgeon..really?!

Anyway, this first week even after having a baby, I only lost 4kg. My entire body swelled up after I had Camden, I was looking at my ankles and thinking I was looking at someone elses ankles. It was so weird. I had, had hardly any swelling during my pregnancy yet the minute he was born..BAM the swelling set in and BIG TIME!

I have been told I may not drive, I may not exercise either. This is rather frustrating for me. I hate having to rely on people to take me places and I just want to get into the gym!

Besides all of this, considering I had a baby 7 days ago, I am feeling pretty good. Every day I feel better and I think I look a little better, the day I gave birth I still looked seven months pregnant.

Emotionally I feel good, yes I cry for no reason at random times in the day but I am not depressed at all and I have gotten the reaction from most people that they cant believe I just gave birth.

Physically, things are a little tougher due to having a c-section, a lot of what I wanted to do in the first few weeks of being a mom has now been put on hold. I am going to take a lot longer to heal than I had hoped but that is ok...there is an up side to all of this...I get to sleep on my back..after nine long months, sleeping on my back has never felt so good AND the day after I gave birth...my pubic bone pain just vanished!

I am taking these few weeks while I am healing to cherish every moment I can with Camden as I know this time is just going to fly by and I don't want to miss a thing.

Life has definitely changed but for the better. I could not imagine my life any other way...without Wayne and Camden...life would have no meaning.

 

New Born shoot # 1

Here are some of our pictures from the Newborn photo shoot that we did with Marysol from Blomerus Photography...she took our Birth pictures as well ( Birth Story and pictures...COMING SOON) and did us a favour by taking some pictures once we had returned home from the hospital.

Her work is amazing...how do we choose our favourite?!

We are SO in love with our Little guy and we feel so blessed to have him in our arms finally. Having the privilege to bear children is something you should always be thankful for. We thank the Lord every day for this beautiful gift, we feel complete.