A Day In The Life Of Cambria's Mommy...

Being a Mom is everything and nothing that I imagined that it would be. I am more in love with my daughter than I ever thought I would be and yet I am way more stressed and overwhelmed at all of the 'duties' that Motherhood brings than I ever thought I would be as well.

What does a day in the life of Cambria's Mommy look like? Let me share with you...

Each day there are a couple things that are CERTAIN to happen. The first thing is that I will wake up, get Cami up, change her, feed her and then once she's asleep I clean and make bottles. Who ever knew that cleaning bottles and making new bottles for future feedings would be so time consuming? Some days it feels like I am in the kitchen nonstop doing nothing but dealing with bottles. It's so worth it though - our little girl LOVES her food!



Another thing that is CERTAIN to happen each day is that Mommy will find 5 minutes somewhere (sometimes I really have to search for those 5 minutes) to make a pot of coffee in the morning. If I did not make my pot of coffee for the day I am not sure I would survive. I missed my coffee so much while I was pregnant and now that Cambria is bottle feeding I can now resume my coffee intake....ahhhh!!! There's something special about sipping a cup of hot coffee while watching an adorable baby play, sleep or even cry. Heaven on earth!!



Another thing CERTAIN to happen each day is at least one load of laundry. Although this is not something that I really enjoy, it needs to be done. Some days it's baby laundry, some days it's adult laundry and some days it's both. It does seem that the laundry has doubled when little Cambria arrived though. Who knew an 8 pound human being could be so messy?!



The last thing that is CERTAIN to happen in the daily routine of Cambria's Mommy is LOTS and LOTS of snuggle time with Cambria. I sneak in as many snuggles, kisses and quiet moments with Cambria as I possibly can. This could also be one of the main reasons why not much else gets accomplished all day long (except those things mentioned above). I keep telling myself that I must take advantage of my maternity leave and my time home with my daughter and that every moment snuggling and playing with her is probably the most productive way that I could be spending my time. I MUST cherish these moments!!




There you have it - A day in the life of Cambria's Mommy! It doesn't appear that much goes on each day, but boy on boy - being a Mommy is the most difficult yet rewarding job EVER!!!

(*Please note how I did not write that one thing I do daily is take a shower. As ashamed as I am to say this, there are SOME days where I never make it to the shower. I know that eventually I will be able to pull it together to get back to my daily showers, but for now I'm okay with being a little stinky - especially when I don't have to leave the house. Some days I would just much rather snuggle with Cambria than put her down and hop into the shower...can you blame me?!)

A Day In The Life Of Cambria...

Here is what a typical day in the life of Cambria looks like.

Cambria usually wakes up for the day anywhere between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM. This morning it was 8:00 AM unfortunately. Once she's awake she immediately wants to eat her breakfast, so she does.



Once she has a full belly she is ready for some play time. She usually kicks around on her playmat for a good 15-20 minutes looking at all of the pretty things and listening to the butterfly sing to her.




After playing, Cami usually gets VERY sleepy. She eventually falls asleep and takes a nap. She enjoys napping in her swing, bouncy seat or Mommy's arms. Mommy tries not to hold her too much (although it's hard) because I know it's not good for her to get used to being held all the time.



Eventually when Cami is fast asleep, Mommy takes her from her napping spot and puts her into the sling. Once Cami is safely and snuggly in her swing, we go for a walk around the block in order to take Gus out. Sometimes Cami LOVES her swing and sometimes she doesn't love it so much. It has DEFINITELY been a lifesaver though in order to make Mommy's life easier when Gus boy needs to go potty.




Once we are finished walking Gus, Mommy returns Cami very carefully back to her napping spot. This must be done VERY carefully so as to not wake Cami up. Usually once she is back in her napping spot Mommy has about 30 minutes - 1 hour to spare before she wakes up and wants to repeat the above routine all over again.

I would say we repeat this routine about 5 or 6 times during any given day. Oh the life of baby Cambria!

(*Disclaimer: Cami DOES get her diaper changed multiple times during the above routine too, I just neglected to add it in. Usually the diaper change happens between the feeding and the playtime.)

Stay tuned for another sequel post to this one coming soon titled "A Day In The Life of Cambria's Mommy..."

SHE'S HERE!!!

Okay - so I am well aware that I am REALLY delayed in posting that our baby girl has arrived. Motherhood has been no easy task, but I am determined to keep up with my blog (notice the change in blog title from "Patiently Waiting For Cambria" to "Patiently Raising Cambria").




Cambria Leigh Sakshaug was born on October 15th at 5:11 PM and she weighed in at 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 20 inches long. I was induced at 6:30 AM on October 15th and after waiting it out and going 'natural' as far as I could, I graciously took the epidural around noon and it was smooth sailing from there. I pushed for about an hour before our precious baby girl was born. I can't even begin to describe the love, joy and overwhelming feeling that overtook me as soon as I laid eyes on her. I think my exact quote on the phone to my mother was, "She is the most perfect little girl in the entire world"...I still stick by that quote!!

The past two and a half weeks have FLOWN by and I can't believe that our baby girl will be 3 weeks old in two more days. Becoming a mother has been the most difficult yet rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. I can't count the number of times that I just look at my daughter and cry out of pure love. I love her beyond words and just looking at her and knowing that my husband and I made this perfect little miracle is the most amazing thing that I have ever experienced.

Here is a picture of Cambria at 2 weeks old. I find it hard to believe how much she has grown already. Unfortunately I know there's nothing I can do to stop her from growing so quickly, so instead I will just have to make sure that I have the camera ready at all times to capture all of her precious baby moments the best that I can.




Stay tuned for LOTS of Cambria updates!!

38 Weeks...

Dear Cambria,

As of today I am 38 weeks and 6 days pregnant with you. It is hard to believe that tomorrow I will be 39 weeks pregnant! Obviously since I am writing this letter, you are still hanging out and enjoying your cozy and tight space inside of Mommy. Mommy is SOOO ready to meet you though and I even get emotional just thinking about seeing you, getting to know you and kissing your soft cheeks in a few short days!!

Yesterday I went to the Doctor and she was shocked to see me still pregnant. She told me that I am now a solid 3 centimeters dilated and about 90% effaced. She explained, again, that my exam was very favorable for me to go into labor on my own. Unfortunately because you are a BIG girl, the Doctor's don't want me to wait past Thursday to deliver you. So - if you don't decide to come either today or tomorrow on your own then we're going to the hospital on Thursday morning to get things moving and help you along on your journey out!

Everything seems a little surreal. Mommy and Daddy have waited for 9 LONG months to meet you. Over the past 9 months Daddy and I have prayed every day together for you to stay safe and cozy inside Mommy and to grow to be big and strong so that you can join us in October. When I now think about the fact that you are fully developed, lungs and all, and are all ready to come out and meet us I start to tear up. What a miracle you are and what a miracle God has blessed Daddy and I with!

Over the next few days Daddy and I will continue to pray. We will pray that Mommy has an easy labor with no complications and that you are delivered quickly and absolutely perfect and healthy so that we can begin the next chapter of our lives together. I can only imagine that first time Daddy and I lay eyes on you in a few short days. I think you can rest assured that there will not be a dry eye in the room. We are SOOOOOO anxious to meet you!

Enjoy your last few hours/days cramped up in Mommy's tummy. Times are about to change and we promise to make your world a WONDERFUL place!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

P.S. - The picture is the last finishing touches to your nursery. We finally found the perfect wall letters to hang above your crib. There is now NO doubt whose room it is. Now we just need you here so that you can sleep cozily in your room that Daddy spent so much time getting ready!!

Maternity Leave, Here I Come!!

It's official - my desk is empty and clean and my round table in my office is filled with my sub plans for my first week out. I am officially on maternity leave!! I will be honest in saying that I'm a little nervous about being away from work for SO long. The longest I have been away from that building in the last 4 years was during summer breaks when I was gone for four or five weeks at a time. This will be weird being gone for an entire 9 weeks and knowing that while I'm gone, the show must go on. I know my kids are in good hands though.

Now I can rest, relax and impatiently wait for our little Cambria to arrive now that all of my work at work is finished until I return in December or January (I'm not really sure when I'm going back yet...my bank account tells me one thing but my heart tells me another. The saying is to always follow your heart, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say I'll end up taking as much time as I possibly can to stay home with my daughter and the bank account will have to suffer.) The burning question is - will she wait until Thursday when I am scheduled to be induced or will she decide she wants to come on her own time before that? Whenever she decides, Mommy is definitely on maternity leave now and ready to be a Mommy full time for a few months!!!

Final Eviction Notice Served!

Okay Cambria, your eviction noticed has been served to you. The Doctor has set an induction date of October 15th due to your size unless you decide to arrive before then.

According to the Dr. she seemed to think that it would be surprising if I made it to October 15th without having you before then. I don't trust that though - they said the same thing last week and we're still hanging in there together. I feel better at least now knowing that if you don't decide to come on your own in the next week that you will be evicted whether you like it or not!

Come on, Daddy and I really are good people and we promise to make your world a REALLY cozy and wonderful place! Please come......PLEASEEEEEE! I'm begging you. I can't wait to meet my angel!

37 Weeks...

Dear Cambria,

I am now 37 and a half weeks pregnant with you and waiting gets more difficult by the day. Last Thursday we had our first trip to Labor and Delivery. I called the Doctor because I was having some pretty common signs of pregnancy - including regular contractions and nausea. The Doctor told me to go to Labor and Delivery and get checked to see what was going on. We found out that you looked great - you had a heart rate of 125. We also found out that Mommy is having regular contractions - every few minutes. Although I am having constant contractions, nothing had changed with my progress so they sent me home to continue with the early labor. I was just happy that everything was okay with you and that I was allowed to go home and continue on with my normal daily routines until you get here.

Daddy and I continue to wait patiently and wonder when you will decide to grace us with your presence. Mommy is VERY uncomfortable and ready to have you out with us. Doctor Hodges said that if you aren't here by my appointment this Tuesday that we will discuss induction since you are already a little chunk. :-) All I want in the end is a happy and healthy baby, so I will do whatever the Doctor thinks is necessary to make sure you're delivered safe and sound.

That's about it for this week. I hope that you will arrive before I have to write a 38 week letter, but only time will tell. The picture above was taken this morning of Mommy. I am a little embarassed because it's not the greatest picture of me, but it sure does show off how big you are! Come join us soon - we're all waiting!!!

Love,
Mom and Dad