Outing on the Missoni bandwagon

Our little bears' den was running low on some supplies, so last week we strapped our precious cargo into the car seat, grabbed the pretty stroller, and headed out the door to Target. (Thank you for all the gift cards!)

Before we even reached the aisles for items on our list, I somehow found myself surrounded by Missoni products. I wasn't one of the people up before opening a la Black Friday and didn't realize why their website was down until later. But there before me was one last pair of rainboots. It was meant to be. While I was trying it on, baby and husband beside my happy self, a Target worker put back a small Missoni box that also looked promising. I snatched it up before the herd of college sorority girls made their way to the end of the aisle. It was smaller than my normal shoe size, but it also fit! It was meant to be.

Meanwhile, Mr. Woo kept himself busy taking pictures of Selah's first time in her stroller. It was an exciting moment for all of us. I did feel a little guilty using money from returned baby gifts (there were lots of doubles and items that we weren't planning on using), but I found the "perfect" Cal wear for our little bear. (Picture coming later!)

Later we had the blessing of babysitters (Thank you, Nolie and Nat Kat!) so that Hubby and I could take a 45 minute breather and go on a little date. We went to Kohl's to use a free $10 card that came in the mail (yippee!) and then grabbed ice cream at Tuckers (get Tin Roof!) before our time was up. We came home with our four-decibels-higher "Selah, did you miss Mommy/Daddy???" only to find her sleeping soundly. Don't worry, she missed us when it came time for a diaper change, especially the 3:00 A.M. ones. Yes, I often change her diaper several times within the hour.

I look forward to holding a hot cup of Starbucks in my hand. Oh wait, I can put it in the "parent cup holder" attached to the stroller. No, I'll hold it. Plus, Mr. Woo has claimed dibs on pushing. He said it's his "man's job." I guess that leaves me with control of what goes in the shopping cart... ;)

The Princess & The Pea

The first three weeks

It's been such a whirlwind I feel like I'm going through my own hurricane in our otherwise cozy home. Little Selah's gone through quite the journey as well. She's three weeks old now and has been through quite a run.

• Birth weight 6lbs 4oz
• Has latching/feeding issues
• Hospital informs us she has jaundice
• Pediatrician comes in again and decided she does not have jaundice
• Weight drops 12% to 5lbs 9oz after coming home
• Another testing indicates she does have jaundice level of 12
• Frequent visits to lactation consultant
• Jaundice starts to go away
• Cries for hours at a time, especially at night
• Frenulum snipped
• Lactation consultant says not snipped enough
• Poops and pees well
• Able to sit/sleep in her swing (sometimes)
• Birth weight slowly goes back up with supplemental finger feeding
• Diaper rash forms
• Mommy and Daddy try the "magical" works of the pacifier
• Exclusively breastfeeds
• Weight is currently 6lbs 8oz(!)
• Feedings somewhat every 2-3 hours
• Sleeping most of the night outside of feedings.

Mama Bear is having a slow recovery. I stopped bleeding after a few days but made the mistake of squatting (to unbuckle Selah from the carseat sitting on the ground) and started bleeding again. Motrin has been helpful for my aching body, but I'm looking forward to feeling myself again - hopefully soon. All hospital staff we visit keep telling me to sleep whenever she sleeps, but that advice frustrates me as my baby doesn't seem to like to sleep when I do. This job is so humbling. I like to tell myself, "Just suck it up," in difficult situations, but this is like nothing I've been through before. It's endless work, and then some more! But my sweet hubby reminds me to look at her face and see that it's all worth it. I'll admit, sometimes I just look at him with a blank stare because I'm so exhausted but this is the time to preach the Gospel to myself. And if there's no time (or brain) for that, the time to apply the Gospel is now - for her sake and mine. If it's not constant feedings, it's going to be something else for the next 18 years, right? UPDATED - Mama has mastitis in both breasts now and is on antibiotics on top of the Motrin.

Papa Bear returned to work last week. He's sorely missed as he's been so helpful in changing diapers, burping after feedings, and consoling her cries. So I started full-time (or is it double-duty?) day and night so the poor man can get some rest before bringing home the bacon. Hearing the car locking honk is like a chorus of angels in unison - "Daddy's home!"

Which leads me to PRAYER REQUESTS... Please pray that I would: (1) be joyful and thankful in serving my little one unto the Lord and (2) be teachable as I have much to learn and a long way to grow. Motherhood is brutal, but I'm learning much. :)

“By faith we will slip our cable for another day’s cruise, and sail forth with Jesus into a sea of tribulation. Winds and waves will not spare us, but they all obey Him; and, therefore, whatever squalls may occur without, faith shall feel a blessed calm within. He is ever in the centre of the weather-beaten company: let us rejoice in Him. His vessel has reached the haven, and so shall ours.” -Charles Spurgeon