Saturday, June 22, 2013

Day 17-21: June Blogging

Day 17: Three random things that can instantly make your day

1 - My daughter. That's a given. When she smiles at me it brightens my entire day.
2 - My husband! And his silly self. He is always making me laugh. 
3 - Hearing good news. Or just hearing that something went the way we planned it to go. This doesn't happen often haha. 



Day 18: Something you are embarrassed to love 

Food. I love food. That is solely the reason why it is so hard for me to keep losing weight. Bad carbs and junk food are my weakness. But I am getting better at it! 

Day 19: A goal you are working towards 

Weightloss... My goal seems a little unreal and far fetched and it's going to take a while but I really wanna lose like 100 pounds. I'm trying to stay off the scale because it is discouraging. But I am working out every single day & trying to stay away from the junk!



Day 20: A random act of kindness
Something someone has done for you or something you've done for someone. 

My husband and his friend both into a 10 week academy to become a state correctional officer. It is about 90 miles away. His friend knows we are struggling with money right now and keeps offering to drive Steve. I think it is amazing and you really don't find friends like that these days.

Follow me on Instagram!
@samcamagram

Follow me on Twitter!
@mamasamcam

Expect a few blogs from me today. I've been slacking I'm sorry! 
- Samantha

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Day 16: Something that makes me awesome

This one is probably the toughest one thus far. I'm not that great at complimenting myself so I really wouldn't be sure at picking something that makes me awesome.

I'm a good friend. I think that's awesome. Good friends are hard to come by. And I've made mistakes in the past when it came to friendships but I think I am a great friend. Unless of course you stab me in the back. I will probably forgive you but it'll never be the same. 

If you're interested in partaking in the June blogging project it isn't too late! Just catch up... here is the graphic :) note that I will be making a MOM'S July blogging list. So keep an eye out for that. 


Follow me:
Insta: @samcamagram
Twitter: @MamaSamCam

- Samantha 

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Day 15: Top photos I've taken




 - Samantha 

Day 14: Something you are looking forward to..

A short term excitement is definitely June 23rd the day my husband comes home from his National Guard annual training! I'm excited to see him :) So is baby Abigail. Unfortunately he isn't home for his first Fathers Day but that's such as life...military life that is. 

A long term thing I'm looking forward to is getting a house. Steve starts his correctional officer job on the 24th of this month and we will finally be on the track to getting a house! No more apartment living. I hate the city. 

- Samantha 

Day 13: What's in your purse, wallet, pocket

Purse days are pretty much over. I shove everything into my diaper bag!


• antibacterial hand wipes
• Dreft stain remover pen
• baby lotion 
• hand sanitizer 


• stroller netting


• diapers
• wipes
• extra change of clothes
• diaper changing pad 


• bottles, pre filled
• bottle sterilizer microwave bag 
• formula 
• formula dispenser 


• my wallet 
• extra pacifier!


• not pictured: burp cloth(s) and Abigail's acid reflux medicine (Zantac)

I wanna see what's in your bag! Comment and let me know if you do it :) 

- Samantha 

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Day 12: Favorite color with a photo showing it

I'm a pink girl for sure!


My best friend (left) and I (right) both wearing pink. 


My beautiful daughter. 


My husband and daughter :)


The pretty cake at the baby shower!

Pink pink pink! Everything pink. I'm sure my husband just adores it ;) 

- Samantha 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Day 8-11: June Blogging

Day 8: Your top three favorite blogs to read and why

Unfortunately I do not have favorite blogs yet. With just joining the blogging world I haven't gotten the chance to sift through and find my favorite blogs...But I would love to read more blogs & follow more blogs so please feel free to comment with any of your blogs! 

Day 9: Your favorite quote or saying 

"No one will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only ones whoknow what my heart sounds like from the inside."


Day 10: 10 on 10 photos with or without captions


I'm genuinely confused by this so if anyone understands this please fill me in so I can come back and do it..


Day 11: A photo of your handwriting 



On Twitter and Insta I posted for my followers to favorite, retweet, and like to kick my butt into gear. It ended with those results. I was pretty sore for a couple days. Success! 

Instagram: @Samcamagram
Twitter: @MamaSamCam

Thanks for stopping by :)
- Samantha 

Monday, June 10, 2013

New Mom (inexpensive) Must-Haves!

Registering for my first baby at Babies R Us was like putting an untrained person in front of a lion. I was like..WHAT. THE. FUDGE. do I do?! What do I scan? What the hell is a swaddle? What do I need a Boppy for? What's the difference between a bouncy & a swing?! My husband and I were ALLL confused. 

It all starts to make sense when the baby is finally here. 

There are a few items that are inexpensive but get use on a daily basis in our home.. 

If you will be using disposable diapers GET A DIAPER GENIE. They mask any smell you shove in there. I mean the biggest baddest of all poops are safe in that baby. You can get a Diaper Genie anywhere they sell baby supplies: Wal-Mart, Target, Babies R Us...etc. For about $30. Also don't forget to pick up the refills! We are only on the 3rd refill pack and my daughter has been home for over 2 months. 


Another REALLY cheap item we use every day is the re-usable microwave sterilizer bags. 


We sterilize Abigail's nipples and bottles in these bags after every single use. They're so much easier then preparing boiled water and they are way cheaper than the heavy duty microwave sterilizers. AND biggest perk is that you can take them with you on the go. Going out with the baby to a family or friends house and you have a dirty bottle bam pop it in the microwave (after rinsing) and they're clean in under 5 minutes. 

Another cheap and easy purchase is the formula dividers. Which can later be used to put snacks in (Cheerios, Puffs, etc) They are about $4 at any store: Wal-Mart, Target, Babies R Us, CVS...etc. 


We pre-measure the formula for her bottles so it is super quick especially when you have a baby melting down because she is hungry at 3am!

I won't go crazy into every little item we have but I will definitely be doing pros and cons of a ton of products we use. 

Do you use these products as well? 
 
- Samantha 

Friday, June 7, 2013

Day 7: If I could have one super power..

..it'd be the ability to time travel. I just love the concept all together. Although I wouldn't want it to be like that movie The Time Traveller's Wife. I would want control over what year I could visit and when I could go back to the real world. 

If I couldn't time travel then it'd definitely be the ability to fly. For obvious reasons, gas prices are ridiculous ;) 

- Samantha 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Day 6: Three ways to win my heart

Although someone already has won my heart. Here are the three ways he did it :)

• he makes me laugh, all the time
• he loves me unconditionally, makes me feel special
• he is always there for me, no matter what he listens and comforts me 

I love you Stephen, my best friend :)

- Samantha 


Day 5: Home

My home is in Fall River, Massachusetts. And right now what we call home is a small two bedroom apartment...


Basically our home is a mixture of Army throw up and baby throw up. They're taking over. Ahhhhhh!

- Samantha 











Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Day 4: Someone that makes you happy

This may be a cliché blog because my husband makes me happiest. Although he pisses me off more than anyone haha. But you'd be a liar (or a newlywed) if you said your husband doesn't aggravate you. 

Steve is the peanut butter to my jelly, he's the spring to my step, blue to my sky, milk to my cookies, bubble to my bath. He makes me laugh, he makes me happy.

How many moms will be able to tell their children they went to prom with their daddy? I'm lucky to have him.

- Samantha

 

Monday, June 3, 2013

Day 3: What you wore, in detail

As most of y'all know I am a stay at home Mom. So I never really get dolled up to be at home. Especially on Mondays, it's the day that my husband heads back to work and usually Abigail is a handful... today there is no reason for me to be dressed like I am. Considering Abigail was only awake for like 4 hours all day. Which is extremely bizarre and extraterrestrial like activity for her haha. 

I'm wearing a sports bra, grey. A black t-shirt that is like a support our troops shirt. "America's best are not in America" kinda thing. White Under Armour shorts. Mainly because today I did a little workout at home. If we go out later to find Abi a bathing suit I will most likely throw on some jeans and a shirt because its pretty gloomy out there :)

That is all. 
- Samantha 


Sunday, June 2, 2013

June Blogging!


So I robbed this awesome blogging challenge from Kristen Glass' blog (http://thewifeandlifeoftheglassclan.blogspot.com). Figured it would give me something different to do this month!

Day 1: Something beautiful to you

This one is easy. My daughter. She is the most beautiful person I have ever laid my eyes on. She is perfect in every way. I don't know how I even deserved such a perfect little beautiful blessing in my life. God really spoiled my husband and I. Abigail Lynn you are Mommy's entire world!

May 28th, 2013

Day 2: Your morning routine

I used to have a morning routine. Now I wake up when Abigail does.... Which is usually between 4am and 6am.
  • Change Abigail's diaper
  • MAYBE get a chance to use the bathroom, if she isn't having too much of a melt down
  • Prepare Abi's formula
  • Feed her
I have an extremely eventful life ;) I don't mind....I love that bonding time with my baby girl.

- Samantha

Monday, May 27, 2013

Memorial Day Thanks

Today we honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. The fallen men and women who gave their life for our freedom. To the men and women in which every day is Memorial Day. We honor those who left behind family, friends, children, and spouses because they chose to put our country first. For today would not be today if these men and women did not fight for our great nation. Not a cookout, parade, or fireworks will bring them back to us. But today we remember their braveness, courage, and selflessness.

So take some time today after all the madness and summer festivities to remind yourself and your family why we have no work today. Take some time to admire our heroes, because that is what each and every single one of them are..

Great thanks goes out to each soldier, each marine, sailor, and airman that serves in our country's armed forces. 

God bless America. Our great nation. 
- Samantha


Thursday, May 23, 2013

Help me! My baby won't stop crying!

I'm no expert but my husband & I have been dealing with a colicky baby for 8 weeks now. I would love to share some little tips & tricks that either may or may not have helped us over the past two months! Honestly sometimes nothing works but when you're desperate you'll try almost anything (safe of course!)

Our baby girl has gotten much better since the first few weeks. Instead of 6-7 straight hours of fussing and crying she now has a couple 20 minute spells daily. 

Here are some things I have found helped/didn't help, but might for your baby because every baby is different!

Of course you got your typical few things:
Swaddle - a tight swaddle is comforting to most babies. 
Swing/Swaying - self explanatory... I would vigorously sway back and forth no matter how painful it left my back, sometimes it is the only thing that soothed her. 
Shhhh - loudly! So they can hear it over their crying. Babies like obnoxiously loud sounds like white noise. 
Sucking - if you haven't already try introducing a binkie, 9/10 times Abigail wants her binkie. Something about that sucking that is soothing to them. 
Stomach/Side - monitored of course. They recommend not putting babies on their belly to sleep but laying down and having the baby on you is a safer alternative...this will especially work if he/she is having belly aches. 

Now here are some other things we've tried. Like I said, some have worked for us & some have not..

• car rides
• loud white noise (they have it on YouTube if you're willing to blare it on your phone/computer)
• gripe water (this mainly works for my daughters hiccups)
• "colic calm" (a $20 purchase that works for many babies! Just not mine)
• vacuuming
• infant gas drops
• running the water/shower
• rubbing in a downward motion between the baby's eyes (down towards the bridge of the nose)
• gently push legs up, like a bicycling motion 
• a warm bath using lavender scented lotion afterwards, or lavender scented body wash (they do have hypoallergenic lavender body wash/lotion)
• change your bottles! (Dr. Browns & Playtex are made special so no air gets in when the baby is feeding)
• a dab of sugar on the tip of the binkie 
• belly massage
• in a formula fed baby try changing to a formula with whey hydrolysate (like Good Start) or a low allergy formula with the milk proteins broken down for them (like Nutramigen or Alimentum) - switching Abigail to Alimentum was one of the best decisions we have made thus far. 

Also if you're concerned your baby has acid reflux or lactose intolerance contact the pediatrician. That is what they're there for!

I hope something works for you. I know there's a light at the end of this tunnel & you should know that too!
- Samantha

Monday, May 20, 2013

Recipe Time! Buffalo Chicken Dip

Being a new Mom I haven't had much time to try any new recipes & now that Abigail's colic is subsiding a little more each week I had time to make some buffalo chicken dip last night! We went to my good friend Amy's graduation party & her Mom made this amazing dip, I know y'all will enjoy :)
Buffalo Chicken Dip*
2 Chicken Breasts (or 5-6 Boneless Chicken Tenders)
2 Cups of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
3/4 Cup of Hot Sauce (we prefer buffalo)
1 Cup of Ranch Dressing
2 8oz. Blocks of Cream Cheese (softened)
- Boil chicken.
- Mix together the hot sauce, ranch dressing, and cream cheese. Add in the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Cut the chicken really fine, food processer will work, or you can use your hands like I did...the less chunkier, the better.
- Add the chicken into the mix.
- Bake in dish on 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. You don't want it to be giggly on top.
Then enjoy! :)
(This recipe could make enough for a party, or a few nights of snacking!) Lemme know if you try it.
- Samantha

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

My Birth Story

My pregnancy was somewhat of a rough ride. The morning sickness lasted for what seemed like forever (about the first 5 months), I got diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes (GSD) and was put on bedrest for the last month because of high blood pressure. I did not feel like I had any kind of "pregnancy glow" going on. And anyone that told me I did, I still swear they were lying! In many GSD cases your doctor will set up a date of induction if you hadn't naturally given birth by then. My date of induction was at 39 weeks & 2 days (March 27th 2013).
This baby did not want to come out! I couldn't stand being on bedrest, I just wanted her to be here already... All her clothes & toys were waiting for her, and so were her Daddy & I! The last few months of pregnancy I was ordered to go to my OBGYN office 2x a week for Non-Stress Tests (NST). Let me tell ya, for any one that had to have them knows that they suck! You sit there for 20-60 minutes all uncomfortable in a chair with belts strapped to your belly. One strap measured contractions & the other kept track of the baby's heartbeat. The point of the test was to basically make sure the baby wasn't in stress. They would give you a little thing with a button on it & you'd have to press the button every time you felt movement. I can't even tell you how many NSTs I failed, they had to put me in the Bio-Physical Profile (BPP) sono's about once a week because I kept "failing" my NSTs.
Anyways, the doctor & sono techs measured the baby to be around 8+ pounds, and I was 1cm dilated, nothing insane but it was exciting! We would be definitely be going through with the induction that Tuesday.
Monday night I did not sleep! I couldn't. All I kept thinking about was I would finally be able to meet my baby girl. Tuesday morning I called to make sure my room was available, it was. We got our stuff together & headed over to the hospital!
When we arrived the ladies in labor & delivery were so nice and welcoming.. I got my robe on & laid in the bed. Right there I didn't know how long of a process this would be. I was checked for any dilation progress & I actually back tracked. I wasn't even 1cm any more!
My doctor gave me Cytotec. It is a pill that I orally took that was supposed to jump start the induction. All you can feel is a constant stretching in the uterus, it got painful & I had been ordered the epidural. The epidural wore off after a couple of hours, this is when they checked my dilation & I was barely 1cm-2cm dilated after hours of being in labor.
They then put the Pitocin in my IV....this was really supposed to speed it along. The epidural was no longer working & I could feel every single stretch & pain and contraction. Abigail was so low and smooshing her head into my pelvis, not a comfy feeling at all! I had never felt this much pain in my entire life. I was up all night crying and crying and crying...My husband & sister tried so hard to comfort me but I was like straight up exorcist woman.
They broke my water for me. I thought that would speed it along, I was wrong. I was in labor having these pains with no medicine for 30+ hours.. And the worse part is I was barely 4cm dilated at this point!
It was time for me to just go with the c-section. I was a second away from ripping the Pitocin IV out of my arm, the nurses were not agreeing with me but still called my doctor. My doctor (Dr. Yu) came around noon-time Wednesday (the 28th). I was so happy to see her! She asked me if I wanted to keep going with the induction & hell no I didn't.. Then this nurse in the background was saying for me not to do the c-section & I went postal on her. I thought about it afterwards and I was pretty mean to her, oops.
I was taken into the surgical room & at this point my pains were so horrible. I was shaking and couldn't even breathe well, the anesthesiologist was trying to insert the spinal tap & I couldn't stay still...after 30 minutes I felt my whole body go numb. I praised him for taking me out of that misery LOL!
Dr. Yu cut me open & then my husband (Steve) came in and sat with me while they took the baby out. I heard her little cry & I cried, looked over and sure enough Steve was too. We were sooo anxious to see her! They all were saying how big and beautiful she was, even with her pin head from being smooshed in my pelvis.
On March 28th 2013 at 1:23 pm my life began.
Abigail Lynn was the prettiest baby girl I had ever seen. At a whopping 8 lbs 6 oz and 20 3/4 inch long.
Afterwards, Dr. Yu and the nurses all admitted I probably would have ended up in the c-section even if I didn't want to, Abigail was face up & a big baby. I'm happy I went through with the c-section. And at least I tried to have her "naturally". I would've preferred natural birth because almost 50 days later I am still recovering from my c-section..
She was worth every single ache & pain. She is my whole world :) I would love to hear about your birth story!! Mine was a little long & I cut out a ton of it but I think this part of pregnancy is so amazing and emotional I would type it up so eventually Abigail can read :)
Share your story! Follow me so that I can follow you back...I need some Mommy blogs to follow!
Time to go be with my baby, thanks for reading.
- Samantha


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Today, I am thankful..

My life has never been storybook perfect. My life still isn't perfect, but I have found an amazing man to grow  old with and we were blessed with a perfect baby girl. And for that alone, I am thankful. I think this blog will be a place where I can come and maintain my sanity. Have patience with me, I still need to customize a banner and whatnot so I don't look like a complete newb in the blogger world. 
- Samantha

The two loves of my life.