Our New JAG: Yoga, crib sleeping and the holidays, oh my!

So much to write about so little time! The first encounter I'd like to share is the beginning of my mom and baby yoga class. I was skeptical at first knowing about the mothers who hang their babies upside down and swing them by their ankles and other poses that sound too dangerous for me but who am I to judge, right? Anyway I figured the stories I've heard were extreme cases and I just wanted time to bond with my baby! If you have been reading my blog, you'll know that my first experience of having bonding time to breast feed didn't go so well so I have been yearning for something that could be for just me and baby and I think I've found it. I am taking the yoga class through community education. I really adore community ed classes, so affordable with great teachers. Upon arrival to yoga there were about 4 moms already there who all knew each other from a new mothers class and I just hoped I would fit in and it wouldn't feel so clicky. Luckily they were all so welcoming and there ended up being about 8 moms and babies in the class total, all of which seemed very nice. The instructor is young with a two year old and has taken the class before teaching it. Most of the babies were around 4 months but Joaquin was two months and there was even a six week old. We began with baby massage and that was my favorite part as Joaquin just laughed the whole time! I was in love with his giggles and couldn't stop giggling myself! Then we began doing yoga poses over and around the baby and taking them in our arms for some other poses. This part lasted all of five minutes when Joaquin decided he was hungry and had a meltdown in the what could have been a relaxing class...maybe (It is full of babies). The instructor assured us that it takes most babies 3-4 classes before they make it the whole way through and my baby was only one of three or four other baby meltdowns so it really didn't seem that bad. However I sure hope it doesn't happen every week! I am looking forward to continuing the class. It really was so fun to play with Joaquin and to get some stretching done for myself. I also look forward to finding new mom friends in my neighborhood. My aunt is a former yoga instructor and the author of "The Idiots Guide to Yoga." She too took a baby yoga class and if the topic interests you, you can read her about her experience in the Yoga Chicago article here. http://www.yogachicago.com/mar08/yogastory.shtml

The next big even to report on happened last night! Well really it began in the day for our two month visit with shots at the pediatrician. Surprisingly Joaquin had the quickest recovery the lady administering the shots had ever seen as he barely cried! However he did cry a little more than normal throughout the day so maybe the pain finally kicked in. Anyhow at our visit with the pediatrician we talked more about Joaquin's sleep habits. We thought he was doing good getting 3-5 hour stretches at night but the pediatrician said we can expect him to sleep for a 6 hour stretch by two months old. We liked the sound of that and told her he has been sleeping in his bassinet by our bed in our room. She encouraged us to put him in his own room in his crib at this point and to not even have the monitor on. Her goal is for us to only wake up when Joaquin is all out crying and not just whining. I love this pediatrician because she is so good at assuring us we never have to feel guilty if we let him whine or really we never have to feel guilty with anything as we are trying our best as parents. So immediately we listed to her! Last night Joaquin slept in his room in his crib for the first time and only woke up once in the night! It wasn't a six hour stretch but it was progress. It was hard for me to have him be alone but I didn't even cry! We originally thought we would make the switch at about three months but I'm so glad we're starting now. I'm even looking forward to have our room back without the bassinet or baby things taking up space. I think it's best Joaquin get used to his own room now, the earlier the better in my mind as hard as it may be.

The last reflection I need to catch up on is the holidays. I won't write much about this but I'll just say there is nothing better than having a newborn at the holidays! We have had visitors from both sides of the family and have enjoyed showing off our new love. Here are some photos meeting the family!

Jesus and Joaquin with the nieces and nephews of my brother and sister in law on Christmas!