The Schrader Project: Soothie Saturday

So on Saturday, after a very rough night, we decided that it was time to introduce the pacifier. Enter the infamous little green Soothie. I had actually taken back all pacifiers given to us except the green Soothie because, quite frankly, I hoped to never want or need to even take that one out of the package! I was hoping to get through infanthood sans pacifiers... However, after several pediatricians told us that she was NOT eating for 3 hours straight, I was simply being used as a pacifier...and after the nurse, and some literature, informed us that babies need non-nutritive sucking until about 6 months (when they are capable of self-soothing)...and after many mom friends ensured me that their babies were not ruined and breastfeeding was not damaged by giving their babies a pacifier...I made the decision to spare myself anymore 3 hour feeding sessions...at least when I really needed to get some stuff done around the house (we're still "moving in").

Well, Miss Zoey looked at me with a crinkled brow and the "WTH?" look like, "Um...excuse me... I don't know what this thing is you're trying to put in my mouth, but it's not mommy's booby." She still, and it's Monday, is not a fan of the Soothie. She'll use it, for a minute or two, but if she's really hungry or really wants me...she makes it known. LOL I'm fine with that, though, because if I can just get a little break in between feedings then that's enough. I think she senses my dislike for pacifiers, too, and just wants to make me happy! hahahahaha She actually "threw" the thing about three feet in front of her; well, she threw her hands forward and caught the edge of the Soothie, shooting it away from her. But what an arm! I think she's going to be a very good little athlete. At the 6-month mark, those babies are trash! I hope I didn't put that out in the universe to only jinx myself...???

On the infant hygiene front, she is doing really well! It's motivating to have "catches" during the day, and it's soooo funny to see how excited Bryan gets when she goes in the potty for him. In fact, this morning I held her over the potty, realizing she hadn't pooped all night = weird. She proceeded to use the potty with a huge smile on her face like she had been holding it all night! LOL At least, that's my interpretation.

We had a great weekend. I'm glad that Bryan went back to work on a Thursday. That way he only worked two days before the weekend came around. I just really enjoy his company and miss him so much when we're apart. I know, mushy, right? Well, it's the way we feel...hehe The days go by really fast...so that's good and bad. I don't want them to go by TOO fast because there's so much I want to enjoy and take in each day.

Bryan got some work done on his bike, and he was able to move some ceiling fans and light fixtures around. I think next weekend he'll try to start the exterior window screens. Our house gets so much light from all the windows and skylights, which is awesome - I never turn on any lights during the day - but it also gets the inside really hot, and I don't want to have to crank the a/c on all day. Bryan's becoming quite the handy man!

We actually went to Applebee's this weekend because we were craving dessert. We ended up splitting an appetizer and enjoying an adult beverage and got too full for dessert! But it was so incredibly nice to enjoy each other's company while someone else did the cooking and waiting on us...with a content, asleep baby.

On Friday, we picked up the Photoshopped pictures we told the photographer to doctor up. This was a good experience because we realized that we can, and will in the future, do a better job with a photo shoot. We have an excellent camera that just needs a lense upgrade, which we've been meaning to get around to anyhow, and we both have experience with photo editing software. I realize that you have to take hundreds of photos to get a handful of the "perfect" ones, but we were a little disappointed there weren't more pictures that we liked from the bunch to even want to get Photoshopped. And we could do a better job with the staging and props and positioning, we think. At any rate, we did have fun with the photographer, and he was excellent to work with considering she had to stop three different times to feed...lol He was very understanding and willing to do whatever we wanted...it was just that we expected more creativity from him. They did a good job with the photos we wanted edited, and Bryan and I designed an announcement this weekend that we have ordered. When those come in we will be mailing them out to everyone.

Our very good friend, Dirty Jimmy, was gracious enough to send us this Dutalier glider/recliner. Let me tell you...it is A-W-E-S-O-M-E! Thanks, Jimmy!