Sleepless in...Winnipeg

How to teach Aryana to sleep has been occupying my thoughts lately. She is so squirmy that she constantly wakes herself up. We swaddle her as tight as we can (and believe me Ben can swaddle her tight) but she still wiggles out of it. She also tends to awake the second we put her down in the pack-n-play. This has resulted in a few nights of frustration and screaming. So we've resorted to letting her sleep in our bed. Which is strongly discouraged by literature and my pediatrician. From talking to people with children I only know one family who did not share their bed with their child in the first 3 months.

The plus side to this is I don't have to leave the bed to nurse her and I can pin down her arms so she doesn't wake herself up. But she tends to soothe herself with sucking so she'll stay latched for hours. I'll wake up an hour later and she's still latched to me. She will not take a soother. Ben and I forced her once and I felt terrible. I held down her arms while Ben held the soother in her mouth. She screamed bloody murder but after awhile she did take it for a bit. She also tends to gag on her own spit when we try to give her the soother.

We've researched different techniques to help get a baby to sleep on their own. They would be helpful if one technique did not always contradict the other. One article said the baby should be put down drowsy but awake so the last thing they remember is their crib. The baby should NEVER fall asleep nursing (did this author ever have a child?). Another article said the baby should be held for 30 minutes into their sleep cycle because then the baby is in a deep enough sleep she will not awake when you put her down.

Hopefully, we'll figure out what works best for Aryana soon. It would be nice to have a couple hours of sleep in a row, without her in our bed!

Speaking of which...Aryana awakes.

Another Year has Gone By

I turn 28 years old today. It is weird that I'm so close to 30 now. I remember when I thought the fifth year volleyball players were old (they would have been 23). I always tend to reflect on my life around my birthday. I must say I am very happy with where I am in my life's journey.

I have played sports at a high level and lived away from home on my own. I have earned a university degree. I have a professional career. I am married to the most incredible man. We have purchased a home together. And I have recently begun my journey as a mother.

I don't have many regrets. I do look forward to travelling a little more but I am a home body. Which is why, I think, I didn't go insane while I was on bedrest. I like the comfort of my own bed and making my own food and having the people I love around me. But I would love to see the beauty of the Canadian landscape, experience the history of Europe, and go down under in Australia (and stop by New Zealand). I think our next trip will be to Disney World with Aryana. Ben has had such great experiences there he wants to share it with his girls.

But my immediate future is focused on sleep, squeezing in meals, rushing to take a shower and hoping I have a moment to tidy up. I wouldn't change anything. I get to enjoy Aryana's smiles and listen to her stories (I swear she is trying so hard to talk already). She's trying to talk to Ben in the picture below.

Daddy's Little Girl

It's 5 a.m. Aryana is fed, burped and changed and STILL screaming. After a few minutes Ben volunteered his services. I passed Aryana to him and not only did she immediately stop screaming, she SMILED!

I'm not sure if parental preference can appear at this early age but she sure loves her daddy! I have a much more difficult time soothing Aryana, unless she is hungry. (I'm one up on Ben there.)

Ben has this week off from work. I'm really excited. He hasn't taken any time off work since she was born. I'm looking forward to slower mornings and a little more free time. I hope to finish all the thank you cards for the showers. But, it's a little bitter sweet because Ben has to study for his exam at the beginning of May. So he may go to the library for a day or two. Well, I'll take what I can get!




Aryana was dressed up for Easter in a Ralph Lauren dress. Thanks Michelle!











She's a pretty happy baby.









She's developing dimples as she is getting chubbier!

Baby Shower

My sister in law put together a baby shower to honor little Aryana this past weekend. I must say it turned out amazing. I tried to say a thank you speech but ended up crying instead, so I thought I could write what I intended to say (and a little more).

Thank you to...

My mom: She helped me in so many ways throughout my pregnancy and continues to be a great help and support. She was able to tolerate my moodiness when I was frustrated at not being able to do things myself when I was pregnant. She provided a beautifully clean house for the shower and helped prepare the food and decorate.

Linda: For supporting Ben and I and also hosting a shower in January.

Karen: One of the most creative and organized people I know. She hosted a great shower. She was so generous with her time and providing a lot of the food for the shower. The basement was decorated so beautifully.

.

Auntie Barb: For cooking delicious hors'dourves for the shower and serving everyone during the shower. I would also like to mention Joanne and Carolyn who provided Aryana with a pack-n-play, swing, cloth diapers, A LOT of clothing and other miscellaneous things.

Uncle Gerry: For helping set up the basement for the shower and preparing and serving the food at the shower.

.

Chris: For helping to decorate the basement and assisting Karen with whatever she needed to do.

My dad: For helping greet the guests, working behind the scene and cleaning up.

Anyone who brought dessert and other food, you know who you are.

Everyone for their prayers and support throughout my pregnancy. Our prayers were answered. Ben and I are blessed with a healthy baby girl. Thanks to those who attended and for your generous gifts. Aryana will not be wanting for anything. In fact, I think I'll have to change her 3 times a day to make use of all the clothing she has.

The best surprise was my sister, Michelle, flying in from Calgary to attend the shower. She also helped with the set up for the shower and took pictures on the day. (I don't have any pictures of the shower to share.)

Aryana is a really great baby. Ben and I have had a few sleepless nights but overall she's a joy. She is much more alert now and is beginning to smile. She is very vocal and always seems to be making noise.

She does not take a soother very often.

Stealing a Minute

Well, I'm certainly not as bored as I was when I was on bedrest. Somehow nursing, changing diapers and burping fills my day (and night). Aryana likes to be held which limits what I can get accomplished. If I put her in her crib she'll sleep for 30-40 minutes, if I hold her she will sleep for 2 hours. I'm am currently holding her and typing with one hand. Fortunately Ben has a computer chair that swivels so I'm able to rock her at the same time.

Aryana had her first trip to both her Boyko and Postma grandparents on Tuesday. It's weird that it was also her last visit to the Postma residence. She was great when we were out but she kept us up to 2:30 a.m. when we returned home.

I'm proud of her already, she is a champion pooper! 95% of the time she poops when we take her diaper off. Needless to say our cream colored carpet is now spotted with orange! I think hardwood flooring would be a good investment!!!

She also yawns like a lioness. She opens her mouth as much as she can and sticks out her tongue.

Ben is always so excited to see Aryana when he returns home from work.

I still think she is so cute.

Time Flies

Time sure flies when you are taking care of a child. If you asked me what I do all day I couldn't say much but I'm busy. Between feedings and changing diapers and soothing Aryana and trying to sleep a little, there isn't much time for anything else. But I love it.

Aryana is only 2 weeks old but she is able to focus and follow objects in close range. She is very alert after her feedings and is very entertaining with the faces she makes. We took her to the pediatrician for her 2 week check up. She now weighs 8 pounds (she was 6 pounds, 14 ounces when we left the hospital) and is 22 inches long (an inch a week, not too bad) and her head circumference has increased by a centimeter. It was certainly reassuring that she is getting enough food and thriving.

Well she's crying for food and I'm on call. I'll leave you with a few pictures.

Our Little Miracle

Ben and I welcomed Aryana Faith Postma into the world on Friday, February 27, 2009 at 3:35 a.m. She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20 inches long. She was healthy and beautiful.

My labour was REALLY fast. Everything we learned in prenatal classes meant nothing. To quote Ben, "The classes sure didn't prepare me for that." My first contraction was at 11:00 p.m. on Thursday night and were only 4 minutes apart. After an hour I called St. Boniface triage and they instructed me to stay home as first labours are usually long. So I took a bath for an hour, then I could no longer cope because the contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and lasted for 1 minute. So Ben drove me to the hospital and we arrived there at 1:45 a.m.

The triage nurse took her sweet time getting my forms ready. I could have hit her. I was finally admitted around 2:15 a.m. Another nurse took my history and chastised Ben because he brought in our luggage. She told him, "You shouldn't have brought the luggage yet. You don't even know if you're staying." I was lying on the bed, unable to walk because my contractions were less than 2 minutes apart. I was thinking there was NO WAY I was going home. Finally the nurse checked me out and I was 7 cm dilated. NOW they started listening to us and rushed me into a delivery room. (My only complaint about my treatment was they did not seem to believe me about how fast things were progressing with my first labour.)

There was no time for my nurse to take my vitals or hook up the fetal monitor. They called the doctor in. To be honest, a lot is a blur from there. After 15 minutes of pushing, a crying baby girl was placed on my belly. Both Ben and I were relieved and elated.

Her first picture.

Taking her home.

Below is a short video of Aryana. She likes to toot and poop (be sure your sound is on.).

She is a fantastic baby. Things have improved so much over the past week. She is slowly catching onto nursing and will sleep in 2-3 hour stretches. It's hard to believe the long 20 weeks have passed and we can now hold our little bundle of joy.