Anxiety

Hello, my name is Brittany and I am a type A person. I liked order, control, and routine. I actually get a weird euphoria from making a list, checking things off said list, and completing tasks. I've never been a fan of change and am ridiculously predictable. I'm also emotional, sensitive, and tend to get overwhelmed easily. All that to say that I really struggle with anxiety and it has only gotten worse as I get older and as life gets more complicated, challenging, and overwhelming.

I actually had no idea I even dealt with anxiety until my senior year of college. I double majored and really wanted to graduate on time (and get the heck out of that place...I was so done!), so I ended up taking 18 credit hours my last 2 semesters. Crazy, I know, but I was determined to pull it off. In October of my senior year, I was more stressed than ever. My course load was overwhelming and the tension sat heavily on my shoulders. One day that fall, I had a particularly bad day. A few things happened that added to my already high stress level and everything finally culminated. I was late to class and found myself almost running to get there on time. I sat in my seat and my thoughts began to race. I had so much going on, so much to do...how was I going to pull this all off? It was just too much for me to handle. All of the sudden, my heart started racing, my hands started shaking and began to go numb. I couldn't catch my breath and it felt like someone was sitting on my chest. I was really scared, but I couldn't stop what was taking place. After my class ended, I simple Googled my symptoms and quickly found out that I had just experienced my first ever panic attack.

When I realized that all of my anxiety and stress had actually caused a panic attack, I knew something had to change. I mean nothing in my life was that bad. I quickly realized that I never needed to get so worked up about something that I would lose control of my body's reaction. But unfortunately, that is where the problem lies for me. Getting worked up, anxious, overwhelmed...it's just in my nature. My thoughts race and soon they are out of control. My body is tense and my vision is only focused on the issues at hand. I naturally do these things when I am stressed. And I get stressed quite quickly. The more I thought about it, I realized I had dealt with anxiety my entire life but had just never put a name to it. Flashbacks of moments throughout my life went through my head and I realized that I had experienced anxiety since I was a child. Now that I knew what I was dealing with, how was I going to fix it?

At first I just told myself I needed to relax. Then I went through a period a few years ago where I was going through a lot of life changes. I had graduated college, was living at home, was at a loss as to what I wanted to do with my life, and I was in a new, exciting but quickly becoming serious relationship. All of these changes scared me to be quite honest. I seriously debated getting on anti-anxiety medicine. I really didn't want to, but I also didn't want to be on edge on the time. I needed peace of mind and I was willing to do just about anything to get it. In the end, I never got on the medication. There is nothing wrong with doing that, but I felt like my type of anxiety was a battle that I could fight on my own. If only I had the right tools and the will to withstand giving in to it.

The more I studied, I realized that anxiety was also a spiritual battle for me. It was a way for the devil to get to me and bring me down, and boy, did it work. Slowly I would completely lose focus on what God was doing in my life and what He was trying to teach me. I would get so consumed that gratitude, appreciation, and perspective completely left me. I would get so sucked in to the lies that I would forget God's perfect and peace-giving truth. This anxiety, well it was disabling me from being productive, happy, and serving God in the way I should -- filled with joy and peace. I wanted to be able to focus on what really mattered and let the rest fall away. But that, for an anxiety-prone person like me, takes a lot of work. I have to fight my natural tendencies and really, I have to fight myself.

Anxiety is something I still deal with today. It's an issue that has recently come up again in my life due to all the changes, crazy schedules, lack of sleep, and just general busyness of my life. What I came to accept is that everyone's life is busy. Everyone has their plate full. It's just finding a healthy way to deal with it that is the key. So for me, I am constantly trying to:

• Calm down and take a breath
• Slow my thoughts -- they tend to be racing
• Keep perspective --these are first-world problems, after all
• Remember my blessings -- I have SO many! My life is awesome.
• Accept that life will go on if everything is not done
• Things don't have to and will not be perfect, and that's okay
• Relax, watch tv, or take time to not think -- turn my brain off for a while
• Get out and take a walk, run, or spend time with my family -- they are what truly matters to me
• Read my Bible, meditate on scriptures, pray, and let God fill me what the joy and peace He promises
• Enjoy life -- I only have one life, I need to enjoy it!

This is a small insight at my struggle with anxiety. This is me being transparent and honest. I hope that this post encourages someone in some way. Hopefully it at least serves as a reminder that if you too struggle with anxiety, you are not alone. We are all in this together. These internal battles are hard to overcome, but it is possible. One step at a time.

Little Wins

It's been a while since I've written anything on my blog that wasn't baby related...and I realize that. I haven't been the best about documenting my life, experiences, thoughts, struggles, etc. on my blog in the past few months. In all honesty, it is because I've felt swamped. I haven't been able to put into words everything I've been feeling, doing, and experiencing. There's just been so much! Between the new roles and responsibilities I now have in my life combined with the old ones, I've felt overwhelmed and just downright exhausted. There are days where I feel so happy my heart could explode, but there are also days (especially recently) where I get down on myself and don't feel like I'm doing a very good job. There's just so much to get done: cleaning, laundry, sleep training, working, pumping, feeding, playing, cooking....combine that with the sleepless nights and some days I just crack. (Anyone else get emotional when exhausted?) I start to feel inadequate and that I'm just not enough.

Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband who constantly reassures me that I am a great mother and wife, even when I feel like that's far from the truth. I get negative (way too quickly) and forget what is actually going right. I tend to get so consumed in the struggle that I don't look up and remind myself of the positives, blessings, and accomplishments, no matter the size. (There are a ridiculous number of positives, by the way.) Lately, I've been very stressed, and not quite sure how to deal with it all. So, after talking a lot with my mom, I was reminded to count the little wins. (Don't you love how moms have a way of saying something so simple yet empowering?) I'm trying to make more of an effort to stay positive, stay motivated, and remember what I AM accomplishing. At the end of the day, I sometimes think of all I didn't get done that day, of the number of times Grayson had a meltdown, of my to-do list fails. But you know what? There's so much that goes RIGHT each day. There's so much progress that is made. There are lots of lessons learned. And hey at the very least, I survived, right? And I need to start seeing it. Changing my way of thinking is a work in progress, but I am trying.

Grayson's 4 Month Update!

Welcome to Grayson's 4 month update! Our little man is growing and changing so quickly. We fall more in love with him every day. Not going to lie, this past month has been somewhat challenging. And I have fallen into the horrible habit of comparison and mommy guilt. I struggle with comparing Grayson to other babies and then feeling bad about myself that he may not be doing certain things yet. I am trying to remember each success no matter how small and trying not to get too down on myself as I navigate being a parent for the first time! I'll be the first to admit that this month has brought times where I am completely clueless as to what to do, but I'm learning :)

Weight & Height: Grayson just had his 4 month check up so his measurements are up to date! He is measuring 78% for height (25.75 inches) and 69% for weight (15 lbs 14.9 oz). I can definitely feel the difference when I pick him up now. Grayson is giving mommy an arm workout! He's a growing and healthy baby boy!

Feeding: Grayson's feeding schedule is pretty much the same as last month. He still eats about every 3-4 hours and can go a little longer between feedings now. We have been trying to cut out his snacking, so that he has more solid feedings. Josh is better at it than I am because he is a little more restricted with his supply of milk I have pumped and left for him to use on the days I work. I, on the other hand, am able to feed Grayson any time I want and tend to give in to that when he is being really fussy. These days the trouble comes from trying to decipher the difference from when Grayson is hungry or just grumpy! We still haven't started solids as of yet and I am still exclusively breastfeeding. I am a little torn on what I am going to do. But I'm thinking by 5 months, we will definitely be ready!

Sleeping: Sleep is all over the board for Grayson. I hate to say that, but it's the truth. I have felt really discouraged recently with Grayson's sleep schedule. Unfortunately he still wakes fairly often during the night. He struggles to sleep for long periods of time, usually 3-4 hours at a time (sometimes more and sometimes less). Last night he did a 5 hour stretch, so that was nice! I am getting better about not always feeding him when he wakes up and giving him his pacifier to soothe him back to sleep. That works about half the time. Some nights he does great and only wakes once a night and other nights it's 2-3 times. He usually isn't up for very long, but I struggle to go back to sleep quickly, so that's tough. I get discouraged when I hear about other babies who sleep through the night, but that just isn't our child. I honestly think Grayson is just one of those kids who won't sleep through the night until he's a little older. And that's okay. It's a constant work in progress! But on an exciting note, he successfully transitioned into his crib! Grayson officially sleeps in his own room! As much as I thought I would be sad about that, I am kind of enjoying it. He may not sleep through the night, but he is doing awesome in his crib! I am trying to focus on the little successes in the sleeping department :)

Clothes: Grayson wears size 3-6 months now in most things. He can still fit in a few 0-3 month clothing items especially pants (poor baby has his mama's short legs!). He is growing like crazy though and sometimes only wears certain outfits a few times before he can't fit in them any more. We were blessed to be given bags of little boy's clothes from one of my co-workers! Grayson will have cute little boy's clothes for a very long time :) He is still in a size 2 diaper, but we are pushing it. I have a box of Pampers to finish off and then we will be off to size 3!

Mood: Our little guy has begun teething, so he has been quite moody and fussy this month. His mood kind of cracks me up because he can be giggling and smiling and within seconds start to cry. He's a little emotional ;) Grayson is now a little ticklish, so I can get some good laughs and smiles out of him. He is much more free with his grins and will give them to you now without you having to work so hard! You can also distract him when he is upset now. I often dance, sing, or make crazy sounds to distract him from crying and he soon forgets what he was upset about! Because he is teething, he has been a little fussier and more clingy than normal. I also think he realizes who Josh and I are at this point and sometimes gets upset if other people (who aren't mommy and daddy) are holding him. I'm thinking this is a phase that will soon pass! Overall, he's a such sweet little boy. Sometimes I look over and see him just grinning while watching me and it makes my heart melt!

 

Milestones: No more screaming during tummy time because Grayson can lift his head up!, grabbing toys and reaching for what's in front of him, sleeping in his crib, and scooting around in a circle on his back (he is no longer in the same place you left him!).

Loves: Mommy & Daddy, kisses from Cedric, funny sounds, chewing on anything he can get his hands on, sitting up and standing with assistance, other children, his carrier, loud environments with a lot going on (he loves to observe), chatting up a storm and watching tv!

Dislikes: Nothing specific comes to mind, just whatever rubs him the wrong way in the moment! :)

Things I Want to Remember

• First Easter

• Taking Grayson hiking at Kennesaw Mountain and Sweetwater Creek Park -- He did so great! He loves being outdoors and is always completely silence and in awe on our hikes, taking in all the sights, sounds, and colors. We took him in the jogging stroller at Sweetwater and the Baby Bajorn carrier at Kennesaw Mtn. I really like the carrier and he seems to as well. Our family has really enjoyed these hikes lately as a way to enjoy some fresh air and quality time together.

Meeting his great-grandparents and his first flight -- what a special weekend! Grayson did really well on both flights back and forth and he also really liked the airport. He was observing the entire time and taking it all in. I am so thankful Grayson was able to meet his great-grandparents (my grandma & grandpa). We were also able to plan a strategic visit with my brother who planned his layover in Atlanta while we were coming back from our trip! It is really special for my family to meet and spend time with our son.

He can now use new toys!

Working Mama Blues

Here I am, sitting here during my last hour of work, completely restless and ready to go home. My number one motivation for getting out the door and on the road you might ask? My baby boy! Going back to work after having my son, Grayson, has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I knew it would be difficult, but the weight of that decision was more than I ever anticipated. After planning (and attempting to execute) to go back to work full-time 6 weeks after having my son, I barely lasted 2 days before I reduced my hours. Those two days were a nightmare. Yes, that may sound dramatic, but if you are a mother, then you probably understand how difficult it really can be to leave your baby, especially for the first time. I literally felt sick to my stomach at the thought of those precious 6 weeks of maternity leave coming to an end. It was truly the first time that Grayson and I had ever been separated in almost a year. Yes, he was only 6 weeks old, but I had also carried him for the 9 months prior. I felt his every move and held him safe and secure in my belly, taking him everywhere I went (and loving every minute of that). I only left him for a few hours during those 6 weeks after his birth. Partially because I just didn't want to, but also because I knew those 6 weeks were so precious to this working mama. I knew that was our uninterrupted time together and that no one could take that away from us. I once heard someone say that having a child is like having a part of your heart outside of your body and I believe that's true. The bond I feel with my son is unlike any other. When we are apart, I just feel like something is missing. All I am thinking about is how long until I get to kiss his little cheeks again. In a nutshell, being a working mama has been an ongoing struggle in my life.

Ironically, I had a completely opposite stance before I got pregnant with Grayson. I had nothing wrong with women who felt called to work in the home and be stay-at-home moms, but I believed that life just wasn't for me. I felt like I wanted to do "more" with my life than "just be a mother." I felt like I would be giving up on all my dreams and aspirations if I stayed at home raising my babies. I knew it would be tough to work, but I wanted to do it. (I also knew staying at home probably would never be financially possible for our family, so I didn't even entertain the thought of it.) Well fast forward a little bit, now that I have an almost 4 month old baby, and my thoughts on this subject are completely different. As you always hear, a child changes your life, but little did I understand the full repercussions of being a mother until my son entered my world. Grayson has changed my life and turned my world upside down. The love I feel for him is like no other and he brings out a side in me that I've never known before. My heart is so, very full. Since he has arrived in our lives, I've wanted nothing more than to spend my days with him. I felt such a calling to be his mother and such a fulfillment by caring for him and dedicating my time to his little life. I wanted to witness every milestone, teach him all I know, kiss his boo boos away, snuggle and ready him stories, sing songs and dance like crazy just to make him laugh...and so much more.  Suddenly, being "just a mother" was more than I had ever dreamed. And working, well that felt like a weird form of torture taking me away from my baby.

Luckily, I have found a compromise. A nice balance in my life. I currently work 3 days a week and I am very blessed to have that opportunity. I try to see the positive side of it and am so thankful I am not gone 11 hours a day every day. But those 3 days a week that I am gone are long and challenging. This is the new reality of my life. Balancing working and being a mother. And guys, it's tough. It's been a huge burden, but I am getting through it. Many women have told me that they believe this is a nice outlet for me and it's good for me to get out and be around adults. I try to remember that on the hard days. There are days where I am content with working and days where the "mommy guilt" creeps in. I'll feel like I've been gone way too long and missed way too much. I'll feel like Grayson won't remember who I am and he won't know me. That was a huge fear for me in the beginning. I didn't even like the idea of anyone else changing his diaper and feeding him. As daunting as those tasks can be, I'm his mommy and I wanted to do it for him, poopy diapers and all. I'm a lot more used to working now and having to leave my son a few days a week, but there's always that part of me wanting to kick and scream "I don't wanna go!" like I did when was when I was a kid. It's such a tug-of-war.

THIS. This is what has been on my heart lately and what I've been wrestling with. Being a mother...it isn't easy. And these choices we have to make for ourselves and our children aren't either. There is no clear cut answer to the question of being a working mom vs. a stay-at-home mom. There is no right or wrong decision, only what works best for you and your family. Through this experience, I have come to have more respect for each side: working moms and stay-at-home moms. Just moms in general. What a big, big job raising up these little people. What an incredible love we feel for our children and a burden to always give them our best. What big decisions we have ahead of us as we learn what's best for them and what's best for us. We are all in this together, navigating the unknown path ahead, wanting to be the best moms we can be for our babies. And in that, I find encouragement.

Grayson's 3 Month Update!

Yep, it's that time again. Another month has passed (cue the tears!). Grayson is officially 3 months old and he is no longer considered a newborn, but an infant. He's growing up, ya'll! (Yes, I know I sound ridiculous, but I'm a cheesy mom now. I can't help it!) This month has been my favorite as of yet. Grayson is growing and changing so much and it feels like each day he is learning something new. He is at such a fun age! He is so much more aware of his surroundings and a much more calm and content baby because of that. He loves to smile, laugh, and "talk" to us. Grayson is such a joy in our lives and I've really enjoyed his 3rd month!

Weight & Height: Grayson is currently 13.5 pounds and growing like a weed! He has really chunked up this month and it's so cute. The baby rolls are accumulating and I love them, as well as, his chubby cheeks. I'm not sure of his height, but I do believe he is longer than last month based on how his pants are fitting.
 

Sleep: Hallelujah....do you hear the angels singing?! This has probably been the biggest improvement for Grayson this month and I am so very thankful. He has gone from only sleeping for one 3-4 hour period each night and then waking every 2 hours to only waking up once for about 10 minutes for a quick feed each night. Grayson even slept through the night (11pm-6am) once this week! His sleep schedule is much more consistent which is so helpful to have something to loosely depend on. He goes to bed between 10pm-11pm each night, wakes around 3am for a quick feed, and then wakes up again between 6am-7am. He may stay up for about an hour and then goes down for a long morning nap until about 10am. This might not seem like much, but it's a vast improvement over last month. Grayson has been practicing taking naps in his crib and is just an overall better sleeper. He still loves to fall asleep in my arms, but he will also fall asleep pretty much anywhere. He still loves sleeping in his car seat, but he even fell asleep on his play mat (and took a 2.5 hr nap!) this week. I can put him in his Rock 'N' Play when he is getting sleepy and instead of crying, he will slowly put himself to sleep and is learning to self-soothe. It's great! As of right now, he still sleeps in his Rock 'N' Play next to our bed, but we are slowly working on crib training and transitioning.

 

 

Clothes: Grayson is in-between sizes right now. Most of his 0-3 month clothing is a little snug or fits just right while his 3-6 month clothing is still pretty big on him with plenty of room to grow. He is still in size 2 diapers. 
 

 

Feeding: I am still exclusively breastfeeding him and he has yet to try any solids including rice cereal. Grayson and I are both doing well with breastfeeding and I am very pleased with how smoothly it's gone since I have been back at work. Pumping takes a lot of time and dedication, but we haven't had to supplement for any of his feedings which is awesome. I'm very thankful my body has allowed me to keep this up! I plan to start him on solids once he gives me an indication that he's ready. As of right now, he is very content with breast milk and is actually going longer between feedings (average 3 hours) during the day.

Mood: If I had to describe Grayson's mood this month, it would definitely be content. He is so much more aware of his surroundings and is constantly checking everything out around him. This helps so much because now if he is fussy, I can distract him with music, a bright colored toy, or lights. He will whine if he is bored of the same activity and then is content again when we move on to something different. Grayson isn't shy about how he feels and will let you know if he doesn't like something! He still has his moody days where you have to work for a smile, but other days he is constantly grinning from ear to ear. He also laughed for the first time this month! I love his giggles.
 

 

Milestones: Sits up with little assistance, holds head up very well, stands up while you hold his hands, laughs, talks loudly, grabs on to everything within his grasp, and rolled over twice!
 

 

 

Loves: Smiling, "talking" to us, sitting up and standing with assistance like a big boy, mom's milk (he eats A LOT), shoving his hands in his mouth, yanking and sucking on mom's hair, mommy and daddy's bed, funny sounds, being talked to, and recently sucking his thumb (I think he is definitely getting close to the teething phase!)

 

Doesn’t like:  Tummy time (the only time I have ever seen a tear roll down his face was during tummy time...so sad!) and being cradled like a baby (Grayson wants to sit up and see the world!)

 

Things I Want to Remember:

 

• How much hair Grayson has! He came out with a thick head of dark hair when he was born and it has only gotten thicker with time! I actually have to brush it and "style" it after he gets out of the bath. It's probably the first thing people notice and comment about him.

 

 

 

• Running my first 5k after having Grayson! I was really proud of myself for getting out there after taking almost a year off from running. I was so thankful to have my family there to support me! (Check out Grayson's bear suit!)

 

• Grayson's first time wearing shorts! This child loves his car seat and rides in the car. They knock him out almost every time.

 

• Grayson's first time sitting up in the stroller like a big boy! He loves going on long walks with mommy, daddy, and Cedric.

 

 

• Grayson sleeps like a rock! It cracks me up.

 

• The time he took a 2.5 hour nap on his play mat. All that playing wore him out!

 

• The first time all of Grayson's cousins were in the same place since he has been born! He loves them already!

 

 

Baby Essentials for the First 3 Months

I'm back for another "Mommy Monday" post! Grayson turns 3 months old this week (cue the crying!) and I read that he is no longer a "newborn". After 3 months, he is now considered an infant. With that in mind, I wanted to share what got us through the newborn stage. It's a wonderful, but also really difficult stage where you are adjusting to parenthood and clueless as to what works. It's all trial and error. At least that's how it was for us! Anything that gets you through the sleepless nights, crying, and overwhelming moments of being a new parent, you are ready to hear about! When I was registering for baby items while I was pregnant, it was easy to get overwhelmed by all the different options. I didn't know what I would ACTUALLY need and use out of the sea of baby things at Babies R Us. I made a list of 10 baby essentials for the first 3 months that worked well for our baby and hope something on this list will be helpful for you and your newborn as well:

1. Swing -- Our swing was a lifesaver for the first 3 months, but especially the first 2 months. Newborns love constant movement and the swing provides that for your baby without you having to sway back and forth for hours. Grayson would be very unhappy and once you stuck him in the swing, he was content and/or he would fall asleep. It was a nice break for those fussy days!

http://www.target.com/p/graco-glider-petite-lx-gliding-swing/-/A-14777247#prodSlot=medium_1_17&term=swing


2. Play mat -- Once Grayson hit the 1 month mark, he wanted more stimulation. The play mat was perfect for that! It's bright and colorful and gives him plenty to occupy himself with. He loves to kick around on the play mat and swat at the different objects. I can lay him on his play mat and he is content for a long period of time. This has been really helpful when I want to get things done around the house!

http://www.target.com/p/skip-hop-activity-gym-woodland-friends/-/A-14929688#prodSlot=_1_1

3. Sleep Sack -- A friend recently let us borrow a few of these and they are quickly becoming a favorite. The sleep sacks are perfect for preventing something bad happening to your baby with his/her blanket. Babies, especially Grayson, tend to pull a blanket over their heads and faces which is definitely a safety hazard. These sleep sacks act like blankets but are more form fitting and keep the baby warm and safe. 

4. Gas drops -- I never knew how much gas affects a baby until I had a gassy newborn who was miserable. The gas drops were especially helpful for us the first month when Grayson was extremely uncomfortable due to gas. I believe that they helped provide him some relief and he loved the taste. (He would stop crying every time I gave him the gas drops!)

http://www.target.com/p/hyland-s-baby-gas-drops-1-oz/-/A-15730951#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=gas+drops

5. Vaseline -- Because I had a winter baby, he suffered badly from chapped lips. His poor little lips would get ridiculously chapped the first 2 months and gobs of straight up Vaseline was the only thing that really helped. Also, if you have a little boy, you need a bunch of this stuff for about a month following his circumcision.

http://www.target.com/p/vaseline-100-pure-petroleum-jelly-baby-13-oz/-/A-10993905#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=baby+vaseline

6. Rock 'N' Play -- This is one of my top baby essentials for newborns. My mother-in-law gave us a Rock 'N' Play that she already had just in case we were interested in it and little did I realize how much Grayson would use it. He has slept in this thing almost every night since he was born minus the nights he refused to be put down and slept in my arms. Grayson loves that it is enclosed and isn't as wide open as a crib or bassinet (giving him that swaddle feel). The Rock 'N' Play fits right next to our bed and doesn't take up much room. You can rock it back and forth, hence the name, to calm your baby while still being half asleep (which I consider a perk!). It's also portable, so you can bring it on-the-go. I love it and so does Grayson!

http://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-newborn-rock-n-play-sleeper/-/A-15263603?lnk=Rec|pdp|top_sellers|plph1


7. Sleepers -- I had always heard that onesies were a baby staple, but being that Grayson was born in January, most onesies still required pants and socks. Do you have any idea how hard it is to put 3 different clothing items on a newborn?! Grayson hated and I mean hated to have his clothes changed. I soon discovered that I loved sleepers and especially sleepers that had zippers instead of buttons. They are quick, easy, one piece, warm, and don't upset your baby as much as pulling a onesie over his/her head does. Grayson wore mostly sleepers for his first 2 months!

http://www.target.com/p/just-one-you-made-by-carter-s-newborn-boys-striped-bunny-sleep-n-play/-/A-16729804#prodSlot=_1_15

8. Burp clothes -- Boy, does my child know how to spit up! The pediatrician even called him a "happy spitter-upper" because he spits up so much, but still gains weight and doesn't have acid reflux (thankfully). Burp clothes are an essential in our house. They are stationed everywhere throughout the house and in the diaper bag. You just can't have enough especially if your child is anything like mine.

http://www.target.com/p/burp-cloth-set-just-one-you/-/A-16639733#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=burp+cloths

9. Pacifier -- I was one of those parents who was kind of anti-pacifier before my child was actually born. It took less than a week for me to go back on that! One of the only skills that newborns actually have straight out of the womb is sucking. They suck for comfort and stimulation. It's actually good for newborns to practice that skill. A pacifier is great to do just that -- pacify your child. Grayson is not dependent on a pacifier, but it sure is nice to have sometimes! We use the pacifier to comfort him, hold him off if he's hungry and I can't quite feed him yet, help him sleep, and keep him content if he's getting fussy. If he starts to cry in a public place, I pull that paci out and it quickly soothes him. The pacifier is something I always check to make sure I have before I leave the house. Grayson also prefers the soothie pacifiers which I found out this weekend are actually more safe, so that's a perk!

http://www.target.com/p/philips-avent-bpa-free-soothie-pacifier-0-3-months-green-2-pack/-/A-13956486#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=pacifier

10. Britax stroller and car seat -- This travel system is a big ticket item (thankfully we received it as a gift), but I believe it's worth the money. It is one of the safest travel systems out there and it is so convenient and easy to use. I prefer the travel system, so that you can pop the infant carrier in the stroller quickly without having to disturb your child. The stroller is light and easy to transport. It folds up in one quick movement. The car seat is also excellent and very good quality. This travel system is perfect for a mother on-the-go. I can get Grayson in and out of the car by myself without a lot of stress and struggle.

http://www.target.com/p/2014-britax-b-agile-travel-system/-/A-15067950#prodSlot=medium_1_2

Having a newborn is tough and requires a lot of adjusting. I hope this list helps any mothers who currently have a newborn or who are currently expecting and overwhelmed by all the options out there. And if it doesn't, find whatever works best for you and your child! At the end of the day, if you have a healthy and happy baby, you are doing something right! :)