Is it worth the discount!?

So back in the beginning of October I started a job at Old Navy.  It seemed like an ideal job because they were willing to work with my schedule.  I basically go in to work 5 times a week from 6am-8am to clean the store.  When I first started everything was fine, but now the longer I do it the more sleep deprived I am becoming.  Norah wakes up every 2-4 hrs which would be fine if I could sleep until 9am with her.  Instead I have to wake up at 5:30 to feed her before I go to work, and then I get home at 8:20, feed her again and then she is awake.  On top of being sleep deprived cleaning isn't very fun either.  And I just keep thinking I got a college degree so I could take out trash, mop floors, and scrub toilets!? This job is also the reason I didn't get to go visit my family for the holidays, I had to work a black friday shift from 5am-3pm.  The only reason I've stayed as long as I have is for the discount! I get 25% off at Old Navy and 50% off at Gap and Banana Republic!  This has been nice since I have a little bit of a shopping addiction, especially with buying clothes for Norah. So my question is, is it all worth the discount?

Thank you

I just want to take a moment and shout a huge THANK YOU to the inventors of this....

Norah used to not sleep unless I was holding her and it made life very difficult.  Now all I have to do is set her in this and she falls right asleep and stays asleep!! It is the best thing ever!!!

Flying with a Newborn

Well Norah just had her first flying experience.  I’ll admit I was a little nervous at first but it ended up turning out just fine.  However I learned a lot and I hope to help anyone else who may be traveling with a newborn in the near future.

Things to know when flying with a newborn

• You will need the birth certificate for identification
• The security guards will be extra friendly to you and your baby
• If you have a car seat put it upside down to go through the X-ray machine
• Using a diaper bag that can be worn like a back pack makes things really nice.
• You can take milk through security but you will have to make it available for them to test
• TSA.gov says that if the baby is in a sling you can leave her in when you go through security, 
• I didn’t try it but it seems like it would work nicely so you don’t have to lug a car seat around
• If the flight isn’t full they will let you just carry on your car seat and you will have to set it in the window seat, otherwise you can check it at the gate
• Carrying the baby in a sling is really convenient; the only thing is they will make you take the baby out during takeoff and landing which can be frustrating if your baby has just fallen asleep.
• Go ahead, ask for two drinks because you deserve it and the flight attendant is not likely to turn you down.
• If the baby gets squirmy from the air pressure give her a bottle or a pacifier.  Bottles work best because they make the baby swallow which is what will pop her ears.
• Don’t sit in the emergency exit seat, and don’t sit in the seats directly behind the emergency exit seat they will make you move which is not an easy thing to do when you have a baby a car seat a laptop and a diaper bag.  (FYI the first seat I sat in was the emergency exit seat.  Then a nice gentleman informed me that I couldn’t do that, so for convenience I moved to the seats directly behind the emergency exit.  Then the flight attendant told me I would have to move. Well the seats behind me were taken so I decided to move to the seats next to me.  Bad move, I obviously had to move again.  It was a mess!)

 Overall Norah enjoyed the plane ride :)

 

Nuevo Mexico

I spent all last week in New Mexico with family.  It started when my parents and brother and sister-in-law decided to come up for the BYU vs UofU football game.  I thought it would be fun to drive back to New Mexico with them and then fly back to Utah a week later.  So that is what happened.  I had to leave Jordan behind so he could do the school thing, but I was kind enough to make him meals to feed him while I was gone.  Norah and I took the 10 hour drive to New Mexico and she did amazing, she really only cried once thank goodness! When we got to Albuquerque I go to see lots of family and one friend.  The sad part is that I woke up on Tuesday feeling really sick and by Thursday I was in the urgent care being told I had a kidney infection.  I continued to be pretty sick until Saturday afternoon and then I left on Monday.  So I didn't get to do anything really, but I was around family which was so awesome.  I was so grateful to have extra hands to help with Norah while I sat around being sick. Here are some pictures...

Norah and Matea meet for the first time (cousins)

Grandad and his two newest grandchildren

Sonora, Norah's cousin, and the cutest 2 year old I have ever seen!!

Hagan, Norah's cousin

Norah got really attached to her grandad

Four cousins, missing three others

Matching!!

attempted faux hawk 

On my mind...

I have a BIG, beautilful, stubborn, demanding, darling baby that I love so much.
Losing weight is fun, I've lost about 45 lbs and I have about 20 lbs to go.
Residents of apartment complexes can be down right mean.  If you are a renter give your landlord a break, and realize that you are not the only one with problems.
Schedules get complicated when you add a baby to the mix
Baby K'tan carriers are the best thing ever and are a lifesaver for the mothers of babies who won't sleep unless they are being held.

Our friend Rachel Brinkerhoff is a very talented photographer and was kind enough to take some pictures for us...enjoy...

6 Weeks

Well tomorrow will be the six week mark since Norah's birth.  I can't believe it, its gone by so fast.  Things started out pretty hard but let me tell you, they just keep getting better and better.  For one thing I can finally sit comfortably, something that I will never take for granted again. and I'm exercising again which has been much needed!!  I've adjusted to having my sleep interrupted, it doesn't even phase me anymore.  My emotions have evened out and I can now think rationally.  And Norah just keeps getting cuter and cuter.  Today I got good footage of her talking and smiling.  Enjoy...( i can't figure out how to get the video to work, but you can check it out on facebook)

One week old!!

Well baby Norah is a week old today, I can't believe it!! She has been such a blessing in our home, and such a challenge! Wow those first few nights having her home were impossible, definitely the hardest thing I've ever done.  The first night home she only slept a few hours and wouldn't nurse.  I spent the whole night worried that I was starving my baby to death. So at 8am the next morning we headed over to WIC to see a lactation consultant.  Getting in the car and going out in public was the last thing I wanted to do, after all I had only gotten about 2 hrs of sleep, and I could barely walk from being so sore.  Nonetheless we made it to WIC.  We were unable to get her to nurse but WIC did provide us with a pump so I could be sure to get her some food.  The 2nd night home was a nightmare, Norah slept maybe a total of 2 hrs, and I slept a total of 30 min.  Norah just screamed and screamed and once again I thought I was starving my poor baby, I've never felt so helpless.  After a lot of prayers and a blessing from my sweet husband the Lord began to bless us.  He didn't make Norah nurse, or make me less emotional, but he sent tons of helping hands! Family came over and held the baby so we could sleep, they also came over and cleaned and made us food, members of the ward also provided us with food.  My mom and sister are now in town and I couldn't be more grateful. It really does take a village raise a child, or at least to take care of a newborn.  I'm so grateful for the blessing the Lord has provided our sweet little family with.  He continues to bless us daily.  And just an hour ago I finally got Norah to nurse!! I know we probably have a lot more work to do with it, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel!! :)