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Video: Baby Talk With NEWS9's Shelby ZarotneyShelby Zarotney's Blog - December 2007
Shelby Zarotney joined NEWS9 in 1998 and is an anchor and reporter. Shelby anchors NEWS9 Midday and co-anchors NEWS9 Live at Five and NEWS9 at Six. On November 13, 2007, Shelby and her husband Gary welcomed their first child into the world.
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PICTURES: Arwyn Sophia - 1 Month Old
Changing Before My Very Eyes...Friday, Dec. 28th, 2007I just wanted to say how amazing it is to see my baby grow and change almost right in front of me!! When Arwyn sleeps, I see a facial expression that looks different from when she is awake. The baby asleep and the baby awake almost look like two different people. I can really see my husband in her facial shape when her eyes are closed, and can see more of my influence when they're open.Huh.... its all so miraculous.Babies, when they're born, they're so perfect. That word, "perfect...." its got such power behind it, doesn't it? I myself, as an adult, would never claim to be perfect. In fact, claiming that, most people believe (including myself) is a direct challenge to our Creator. But when a baby is born, when you look at that baby asleep or just in a calm moment, we're so quick to say that he or she, is "perfect."So I asked my husband this today..... and we pondered the whole idea... .but I asked him, "when does a human become imperfect?" Now, without getting into religious beliefs of different kinds, I simply meant that a baby, when its born, is just perfect, is without the influence yet of the human experience. Its that basis I asked my beloved when are we not perfect anymore? Gary replied, "when we become influenced and in a sense, corrupted by the society in which we live."Such a heavy and complicated topic to ponder as I gaze at my 6 week old child. There will be so much she'll face, so much she'll be challenged with and will have to make decisions on how to lead her life. The influences our children are exposed to seem to multiply about every 5 years, it seems. She's growing right in front of me, and here I am thinking about 5, 10 and 15 years down the line, when she'll be influenced by so many things at school, in the town in which she lives, via the computer, the television, music..... gosh, just everything. Its enough to make any parent's head spin!!!I know for right now, the focus is just to enjoy her..... and believe me, we are doing that. Every hour with her is such a joy. But I know, and my husband knows, we will want to protect her from every single thing that could potentially bring her harm. I guess that's the challenge of being a parent..... knowing they'll face tough things in life, having the courage to be there to parent them as best we can, and being the one to make it all right when things do go wrong.For now, I stand over her crib, looking at all 8 pounds of her and make sure she's warm enough.... make sure her blanket is a comfort to her and that the pacifier is close by in case she wakes up "freaks out" and needs it. Right now, that's my job. How honored I am to have it.God Bless,Shelby Zarotney
Happy Holidays: Get Ready, Get Set... Travel!!! - December 28th, 2007Hope your holiday season is blessed and you've been enjoying time with family and friends. Gary and I have been so busy since last Sunday!! Holiday travel "B.C" (before children) was no sweat..... we just packed our bags and off we went!!! Now that we are a family, its not so simple. I know many of you will understand the image you are about to read.Ready-- set-- pack!! Ok-- I've got her outfits for each day (Christmas dresses, one purchased by my mother in law, the other bought by Gary--and Wynnie's got to wear both. Ok, one will be for Christmas Eve, the other for Christmas day-- good, everyone's happy. Now to the really important stuff, bottles-- (I don't want to nurse in front of everyone) burp cloths, extra diapers, towel (in case she explodes and needs a bath) wash cloths, bathing needs and lotion --- Goodness, am I done yet? Oh yeah, "Hey Gary, can you pack her pack-n-play, swing and carrier, you never know what we'll need."There's so much more-- and all this was done Sunday night, before we had to leave. Gary and I ran around the house like we were in a circus show, packing more stuff for our little angel than we really needed. Just for her alone, the amount of stuff looked like we were going away for a month!!!And we hadn't even gotten to our bags, let alone the presents for everyone!!! Whew!!!!!! I mean, I knew this would be quite the undertaking, but I didn't expect it to be the way it was. Our vehicle was so full when we were done.... I really should have taken a picture of it all. Thank goodness there was just enough room in the back seat to put Wynnie, sleeping soundly in her carseat, in the back. No worries about her safety, she was "cushioned" on either side, flanked by presents for her cousins, extra blankets in case she was "tundra-like" cold, and one of the 3 bags I brought for myself.Here's the really funny part..... all along on Monday morning, Gary and I were diligently working as a team and packing the vehicle. We bought a Rav4 just a couple of months ago, before we had Arwyn... realizing we'd need a bit more room. Well, Rav4's have these great back doors that open to the side, but you've really got to close them tight.... or else. And yes, the "or else" happened to us. We both thought the other had closed the back door. So, with all of our stuff (seemed like we packed the entire house) Arwyn safely in her seat, and the two of us belted in, we pulled out of the garage and driveway to begin our holiday journey.Gary started to go up the hill and all of a sudden, we heard bottles, boxes and other items fall out of the vehicle and bounce all over the street!!! I'm not kidding you on this one.... I yelled (a few explicatives-- Gary promptly stopped the car) and we jumped out, the car parked sideways in the street, totally blocking traffic, and began chasing baby bottles that were rolling down the street.Thankfully, we collected all of our items quickly and before traffic bottled up (really, before anyone could see us running around, bending over and grabbing our belongings) repacked it all right there in the middle of the street, hopped back in and were on our way.About 10 minutes later, we allowed ourselves to laugh about the whole thing. And I said to Gary, "And this, sweetie, is with just one child. Imagine if we ever have more."Christmas next year, definitely at our house.The best thing (at least one of) about this Christmas, is, of course, having Wynnie with us. She's now able to really gaze and focus on bright things and on people. She stared at the Christmas trees and did so well with everyone holding her. But the beginning of our journey....I really wanted to share with you. I am sure its one you can relate to in one way or another.We made it back home after the festivities, alive, still packed to the roof but with cookies in hand too. Gary's mother, aunt and grandmother make the best cookies..... we've been eating them nonstop the last 3 days now. And Wynnie's been taking these last couple of days to recover from the trip by...... you guessed it, sleeping-- a lot.I love the Holidays.God Bless,Shelby Zarotney
She Did It; She's Sleeping In The Crib!!! Saturday, December 22nd 2007I wonder if where and how we sleep now, as adults, has much, if anything, to do with where and how we slept as children and even babies.When Wynnie was first born, getting her to sleep in either her crib or pack-n-play was near impossible--- ok, it was impossible. We were left with allowing her to sleep in her car seat carrier. Anyone we talked with, doctor, nurse or lay person, told us not to worry, that what's most important is that she is sleeping. If sleep came in the car seat, so be it. So that quelled our minds and made us feel more comfortable..... but Wynnie, the last couple of weeks, didn't look so comfortable in her car seat, sleeping there hours on end.So this last week, I was diligent. I made it a priority for her daytime naps to be in the crib. The little tyke, I am sure, needed to stretch our her limbs a bit.... .and she did. After each feeding, I would rock her as I always do, then gently, oh ever so gently, lay her on her side in her crib, all bundled in her blanket and she would fall fast asleep.Some sleeping "sessions" as I call them, lasted upwards of 3.5 hours, others, about 20 minutes. Kind of depended on her mood at that particular time and, I think, her level of comfort. Finally, by Thursday, she was sleeping easily in her crib for day naps and even at night. I also found, giving her a bath before feeding her and putting her down at night, really helped relax her.Though she can't talk yet, its amazing, the communication I feel with her. Getting to know your baby is really an amazing process. Even Gary feels it too. He knows when she's uncomfortable, when she wants to coo at him, when she's hungry or needs changed. Watching him become more and more comfortable and confident is really sweet.Although Arwyn is sleeping in her crib, rest assured, we still have the carseat next to her bed, on the floor...... just in case. I'd love to put it back where it belongs, in the car, but for now, its still our standby on the off chance, in the middle of the night, we need a few hours of sleep and she's just not having it in her crib.Now, the next step, getting her reacquainted with that pack-n-play because over the holidays, we'll be traveling a bit and will need to bring it along. Dare I try her sleeping in that today???? I might just do it.You know, all the "firsts" go by so quickly. Her first night sleeping at home, first time she was in her swing, first Thanksgiving, first night sleeping in her crib.....and now, first Christmas. I am really trying to savour all of those moments. Gary is awesome at capturing them via the camera. We'll need to charge up the video camera for Christmas.Keep hugging and kissing your kids. I know I will do that for mine. Keep encouraging them and helping them become confident, respectful and happy members of society. They are so delicate, yet so strong.Happy Holidays and God Bless!!!Shelby Zarotney
The Journey of Motherhood...Tuesday, December 17th 2007 I have pretty early memories of my mother; preparing dinners, waiting for me at the end of the day as I got off the school bus, helping my brother and sister and I resolve a dispute, discussing family matters with dad and deciding how to handle them, watching her at work and thinking, "My mom can do anything." Now, as a mother, myself---- I can't help but wonder, how did she survive the journey of motherhood?One of my absolute favorite memories of my childhood with her were little outings we went on. No matter where we would go, my mom always seemed to strike a conversation with someone--- whether in the grocery store, department store or the park-- it was as if she knew the person all along. Mom also had a knack for adventure and if she didn't know where she was going, if we were perfectly lost, we never would have known it-- mom made it into a game and always said later, "You never knew we were lost, did you? See, we just learned another way to get around."Mothers are so special, so all-inclusive. It makes me wonder, are we all just built that way or does it ooze out of us over time during motherhood and like aged wine, we get better with "it" as time goes by.I think all mothers have that "take charge- take care of everthing" element within us, but the degree to which we use it, to which we tap into it differs from woman to woman.Now, in my adult life, as a first time mom, my mother and I have the most amazing role in common and its wonderful to see her interact with my daughter-- her 4th grandchild, as she does the other 3. I watch her and am inspired by her, impressed by her and so happy for her, to have another baby she can cuddle with, spoil and more-- then give her back when its time to go home. That's the beauty of grandparenting, I guess.About Arwyn...... well, these days she's getting a little fussier. I guess that's to be expected. I'm getting used to operating on 2.5 hours of sleep. Friends of ours who's daughter is 2 weeks older say "hang in there, the end is almost near and soon she'll be sleeping a straight 3.5 to 5 hours a night straight!" That day--- I am eager for. In the meantime, I'm taking it day to day.When Gary and I got married, we knew children would be part of our journey together as a couple, down the road, but having Arwyn..... I never imagined, as I look at our wedding pictures and just pictures of the two of us over the years, I never imagined the intense love we would feel for our baby and in turn, feel for eachother.While I was pregnant, I dreamt about the baby I would have, but never, in my wildest dreams, did I, or was I able to, dream up a baby quite like this one. She is so precious to me, to us. I am thankful more and more everyday to be walking this journey we call Motherhood.God bless the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, friends, godmothers and women who want to be all those things. This is a vocation that is surely, the ultimate one, full of sacrifice, but also--- and what we all should remember, full of grace.
The Crib Is Your Friend...Mon., December 10th 2007Already, its just under a month now that Arwyn's been on this earth. 30 days since I gave birth to her, wow!!! On one hand, I feel like she's been here for months, not just 1, and other the other hand, I feel like the last 4 weeks have simply FLOWN by!!!Well, when Gary and I brought her home, we had her crib all set up, ready for a baby to sleep in it and just in case, had the pack-n-play set up in our room--- on the off chance we couldn't help but look at her all night to make sure she was still breathing!!For starters, our room won out, we couldn't handle the thought of her being away from us, not even for a second--- but then came time for her to sleep. We put this 2 day old baby on her back in the pack-n-play in our room and settled down for sleep. But Wynnie had other ideas....that poor child screamed bloody murder about 60 seconds after we put her down and she didn't stop for an hour. Finally, after lots of rocking, holding, singing and talking, we took the advice from my sister in law, and put her in her car seat.You guessed it, about 5 minutes later, Arwyn was asleep and stayed that way for hours. One nap turned into another, then another-- and before we knew it, weeks later, we're still carting her all over the house in her car seat when she's sleeping. The poor girl probably thinks she's constantly going on a trip!!! So now that she's a whole month old, its time to get serious :)We want her to be comfortable in her crib, to feel safe, held and secure just like she does when we rock her or when she sleeps in her car seat. (Although, you can bet that car seat is always close by, in the event Gary and I actually want more than 15 minutes of sound sleep so we can get through the day)Its just after 11 Monday morning and already I feel successful, she's been sleeping in her crib since 9 and just now she started crying--- but its the kind of cry that if she keeps on going, she'll really wake herself up. So 2 hours is pretty good, I think. Better go and rock her, or maybe pull out the old safety and rock her back to sleepyland in her car seat. The thing's been in our house more than its been in the car!!! :)Gotta Run!!
Yes, She Cries; But Finally, She Coos!!!!! Sat., December 8th 2007Ah the sound of a baby's cry-- its enough to make you WANT to cry. Sometimes they elicit your cry out of joy, amazement or (let's admit it) just pure fatigue. My Wynnie-girl, when she was first born, had this adorable newborn cry--- its the kind that sounds so delicate, so vulnerable. Now, still adorable but much louder--- she is delicate and is vulnerable, but boy does she let you know when something is wrong.So, Gary and I have come to know, very well, her different cries and what they mean, what she is telling us needs to be done in order to make her life more comfortable--- and we are more than happy to comply. Just last night, Arwyn decided if she's going to be up, well then everyone in the house needed to be awake too. (And if it weren't for the season, and if windows were open, I'm sure the entire neighborhood would be up with us at 3 am too!!!:) ) For one of her particular feedings last night, Gary gave her a bottle--- its time they get together where he can rock with her, look at her and she at him. Its time they get where he can really get to know his daughter, and for that I am grateful. During this particular feeding (as he told me this morning over breakfast) she didn't cry, she didn't whine-- rather, she cooed. Arwyn conversed with her dad in the way all babies know how to--- by cooing. Now, I had heard it once the week prior and waited for her to do it again (its always when you're waiting for something, that it doesn't happen on your time schedule) but she didn't. But at 3 in the morning, according to Gary, you would have thought he was having a complete conversation with this 3 1/2 week old. So this morning, over breakfast, he was telling the story about his daughter cooing at him in the wee hours of the am, and just as he was doing so, Arwyn decided to "share" her version of the discourse between her proud papa and herself during that early morning feeding--- and she began to coo!!!!There are 2 toys that dangle from the top of her carrier that she now is able to focus on and even touch. Over the last few days, she's been touching the toys and when she does, Gary and I encourage her by telling her "Good job" and "Yeah, Wynnie." This morning, when she started showing interest in the toys, she cooed and we were delighted!! Its sounds so cute!!!The coo is not a cry, its now a whine, its like her own way of telling us she's happy about something. I don't want to wish moments or days away, but her coo is like the first door into her world of language, and I am so excited to hear what her voice will sound like, how she will talk and the ornary things that will come out of her mouth.Being a mother is certainly, a learning experience everyday, I am so thankful to be in the midst of this amazing opportunity. I can't wait for Arwyn to coo again.
Precious Gifts Mon., December 3rd 2007So here I am, just a few hours before Arwyn is officially 3 weeks old. I thought, after giving birth to her, that my desire to watch another "Baby Story" would just disipate since I now know what its like to have a child. I thought in my head, "I don't need to watch those in order to gear up for labor and delivery--- I've done -that- and now, I'm on the other side of things--- I am a mom." But to my surprise, today during one of Wynnie's naps (where I just let her sleep on my chest-- couldn't pass up the opportunity for her to hear my heartbeat while she soundly slept) I flipped around and felt the draw to watch another "Baby Story" then a "Special Delivery."What I saw instantly brought me to tears, and I looked down at this small child of mine, sleeping, depending on the arms that are wrapped around her to protect her, and began to pray to God. I began thanking Him for her and for her health. Here's why.It happens in about 1 in every 2,000 births; babies who's intestines never make their way inside the child's body. These babies are born with, sometimes, up to 20 feet of intestine scrunched up in a ball on the outside of the stomach. In these births, time is of the essence. Operations must happen immediately to place the intestines inside, and in many cases, doctors first have to empty the bowels before getting all of that inside. By emptying the bowels, that helps shrink down the size of the intestines so they can fit inside.But let me tell you, I watched this baby being born today during the program, and her body, so small, so vulnerable-looking, then I saw 20 feet of intestine, wrapped up in a ball resting on her stomach and thought, "How in the world can doctors possibly get that safely inside the baby?" What's more, the procedure has to be done immediately, so we're talking about an operation on a day old child. That's why I looked down at my baby and kissed her head and began to pray.She was born with no physical challenges. Now I know it is not for us to ask, why, but sometimes, that's just what I want to do. Rather than asking, why, I am reminded by these types of examples to love my daughter with all my might and to be the best mother to her I can.We all face challenges in our lives, we know its a part of life and how we work through those challenges--- what ever they may be, is, I believe, the real test.The parents in the baby program who's little girl had the operation were so steady, so positive. They stayed strong for their child. Children are such precious gifts, in WHATEVER form the come to us and it will always and forever be our responsibility to be with them, nurture and protect them, no matter what they face, or how early.I still almost have to pinch myself, realizing over and over again that Arwyn is mine, that she's my flesh and blood, and my husband's and we have this miraculous opportunity to raise her. I am more appreciative everyday for that, and am amazed by her constantly.One viewer who is responding to these blog entries quoted R. W. Emerson and I'd like to share that quote with you now, "Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God."So to that I say, in those quiet moments with our children, is one way in which we might be able to hear Him.Thank you for responding to my blog entries. I look forward to hearing from more of you and reading the stories you want to share.God Bless
Sleep: "I Know It Was Around Here Somewhere" Sat., December 1st 2007I told my husband last night, "Ok, let's make Wynnie's last feeding before we go to sleep, around say 10 pm, that way she'll sleep longer through the night and will wake up around 3 or so." Gary approved of this plan, so that's what we did. Now, Wynnie likes to really take her time eating, so feeding her around 10 means she won't be asleep until 11 or so. Our master plan was to get a bit more shut-eye than we had been over the last few days. See, my newborn is finally realizing how to operate as a human being, so those restful nights we had early on when she was just days old---- oh yeah, they're out the door--- gone are our nights of 6 or 7 hours of sleep, STRAIGHT. Oh, now, I knew this was coming -- (just didn't think it would really happen)Arwyn slept until about 2:30, and somewhere through my dreams about work mixed in with a trip to a family reunion, I could hear the cries of a baby. In my dream state I thought, "I think I hear a baby crying. Could it be my little angel?" Gary, --God bless his heart-- heard her in enough time to get up out of bed before I could, and gave her a bottle. She finally fell back to sleep around 3:30, but-- you guessed it, about 2 hours later, that infant cry, that beautiful now much louder-sounding cry returned, so this time I got up and nursed her.As I gazed down at this angel from above, I looked at her, my eyes coming into better focus through the dimness of the nightlight we have in her room, and just stared at her very delicate features. I thought to myself, "sleep used to come easily, but no more, right Wynnie? You've got different plans for mommy and daddy." But you know, in those moments, minutes--- ok, in that hour, I rocked with her, fed her and felt the bond between parent and child grow ever stronger. God fashions these middle-of-the-night feedings in such a way that you are awake enough to care for your child, smile at her and feel the love grow ever stronger, yet once their eyes grow drowsy and slowly close, getting back to sleep yourself takes, oh less than 10 seconds. You need that quick journey back to sleepyland, because the next, "feeding series," as I now refer to them, will begin in about 2 to 3 hours.When Wynnie woke up again around 5 or 5:30 this morning, I fed her, then we all fell back to sleep. She stayed asleep until about 9:15--- so considering, I would say Gary and I slept in, although we were up a few times during the night. Oh yeah, where she finally slept, I must share with you. I gave her that last feeding, but everytime I put her down, she seemed quite unhappy so Gary, with the gentle touch that he has, scooped her up and laid her on his chest. He slept sort of sitting up, his head resting against the wall, holding her. Though we may have lost sleep for a little while, we've gained precious family time--- I've gained images of my husband that I'll never forget, images I find touch me so that I fall in love with this man over and over again.I too have discovered, once we are up for the morning, that intense fatigue I felt hours before, seems to melt away. Our bodies and minds, I guess, know how to compensate for the lack of sleep, and know how to expertly "forget" about the hours of lost sleep.I am so excited for each phase, each next step in raising Arwyn, yet at the same time, I am drinking in every moment with her, savouring the sweetness that she is, and hoping it all doesn't pass too quickly. I know, no matter how much sleep we "lose," we're gaining precious time with her and in that fog of fatigue, I still don't forget that.I just want to close this blog by making note of all the moms (and dads) out there. To the parents who are married, to the parents who are widowed, raising children on their own, to single parents, the very young to the older parents, to the parents who lost their way and are working hard to make it back, to parents who've lost children and no answer will ever be enough for the question of, "why," to parents with children where for some reason there is distance between you, and to parents raising children who are physically or mentally handicapped----- I salute you all, I pray for you and I say, never, never give up and as someone once said to me, I say to you, "Remember to always see the world through your child's eyes. See what they see and you'll be able to connect with them and communicate with them in ways you never knew."May God just bless our children and keep them safe.
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Click here to send Shelby an e-mailClick here to visit our Ohio Valley Moms For Moms page PICTURES: Arwyn Sophia - 1 Month Old
Changing Before My Very Eyes...Friday, Dec. 28th, 2007I just wanted to say how amazing it is to see my baby grow and change almost right in front of me!! When Arwyn sleeps, I see a facial expression that looks different from when she is awake. The baby asleep and the baby awake almost look like two different people. I can really see my husband in her facial shape when her eyes are closed, and can see more of my influence when they're open.Huh.... its all so miraculous.Babies, when they're born, they're so perfect. That word, "perfect...." its got such power behind it, doesn't it? I myself, as an adult, would never claim to be perfect. In fact, claiming that, most people believe (including myself) is a direct challenge to our Creator. But when a baby is born, when you look at that baby asleep or just in a calm moment, we're so quick to say that he or she, is "perfect."So I asked my husband this today..... and we pondered the whole idea... .but I asked him, "when does a human become imperfect?" Now, without getting into religious beliefs of different kinds, I simply meant that a baby, when its born, is just perfect, is without the influence yet of the human experience. Its that basis I asked my beloved when are we not perfect anymore? Gary replied, "when we become influenced and in a sense, corrupted by the society in which we live."Such a heavy and complicated topic to ponder as I gaze at my 6 week old child. There will be so much she'll face, so much she'll be challenged with and will have to make decisions on how to lead her life. The influences our children are exposed to seem to multiply about every 5 years, it seems. She's growing right in front of me, and here I am thinking about 5, 10 and 15 years down the line, when she'll be influenced by so many things at school, in the town in which she lives, via the computer, the television, music..... gosh, just everything. Its enough to make any parent's head spin!!!I know for right now, the focus is just to enjoy her..... and believe me, we are doing that. Every hour with her is such a joy. But I know, and my husband knows, we will want to protect her from every single thing that could potentially bring her harm. I guess that's the challenge of being a parent..... knowing they'll face tough things in life, having the courage to be there to parent them as best we can, and being the one to make it all right when things do go wrong.For now, I stand over her crib, looking at all 8 pounds of her and make sure she's warm enough.... make sure her blanket is a comfort to her and that the pacifier is close by in case she wakes up "freaks out" and needs it. Right now, that's my job. How honored I am to have it.God Bless,Shelby Zarotney
Happy Holidays: Get Ready, Get Set... Travel!!! - December 28th, 2007Hope your holiday season is blessed and you've been enjoying time with family and friends. Gary and I have been so busy since last Sunday!! Holiday travel "B.C" (before children) was no sweat..... we just packed our bags and off we went!!! Now that we are a family, its not so simple. I know many of you will understand the image you are about to read.Ready-- set-- pack!! Ok-- I've got her outfits for each day (Christmas dresses, one purchased by my mother in law, the other bought by Gary--and Wynnie's got to wear both. Ok, one will be for Christmas Eve, the other for Christmas day-- good, everyone's happy. Now to the really important stuff, bottles-- (I don't want to nurse in front of everyone) burp cloths, extra diapers, towel (in case she explodes and needs a bath) wash cloths, bathing needs and lotion --- Goodness, am I done yet? Oh yeah, "Hey Gary, can you pack her pack-n-play, swing and carrier, you never know what we'll need."There's so much more-- and all this was done Sunday night, before we had to leave. Gary and I ran around the house like we were in a circus show, packing more stuff for our little angel than we really needed. Just for her alone, the amount of stuff looked like we were going away for a month!!!And we hadn't even gotten to our bags, let alone the presents for everyone!!! Whew!!!!!! I mean, I knew this would be quite the undertaking, but I didn't expect it to be the way it was. Our vehicle was so full when we were done.... I really should have taken a picture of it all. Thank goodness there was just enough room in the back seat to put Wynnie, sleeping soundly in her carseat, in the back. No worries about her safety, she was "cushioned" on either side, flanked by presents for her cousins, extra blankets in case she was "tundra-like" cold, and one of the 3 bags I brought for myself.Here's the really funny part..... all along on Monday morning, Gary and I were diligently working as a team and packing the vehicle. We bought a Rav4 just a couple of months ago, before we had Arwyn... realizing we'd need a bit more room. Well, Rav4's have these great back doors that open to the side, but you've really got to close them tight.... or else. And yes, the "or else" happened to us. We both thought the other had closed the back door. So, with all of our stuff (seemed like we packed the entire house) Arwyn safely in her seat, and the two of us belted in, we pulled out of the garage and driveway to begin our holiday journey.Gary started to go up the hill and all of a sudden, we heard bottles, boxes and other items fall out of the vehicle and bounce all over the street!!! I'm not kidding you on this one.... I yelled (a few explicatives-- Gary promptly stopped the car) and we jumped out, the car parked sideways in the street, totally blocking traffic, and began chasing baby bottles that were rolling down the street.Thankfully, we collected all of our items quickly and before traffic bottled up (really, before anyone could see us running around, bending over and grabbing our belongings) repacked it all right there in the middle of the street, hopped back in and were on our way.About 10 minutes later, we allowed ourselves to laugh about the whole thing. And I said to Gary, "And this, sweetie, is with just one child. Imagine if we ever have more."Christmas next year, definitely at our house.The best thing (at least one of) about this Christmas, is, of course, having Wynnie with us. She's now able to really gaze and focus on bright things and on people. She stared at the Christmas trees and did so well with everyone holding her. But the beginning of our journey....I really wanted to share with you. I am sure its one you can relate to in one way or another.We made it back home after the festivities, alive, still packed to the roof but with cookies in hand too. Gary's mother, aunt and grandmother make the best cookies..... we've been eating them nonstop the last 3 days now. And Wynnie's been taking these last couple of days to recover from the trip by...... you guessed it, sleeping-- a lot.I love the Holidays.God Bless,Shelby Zarotney
She Did It; She's Sleeping In The Crib!!! Saturday, December 22nd 2007I wonder if where and how we sleep now, as adults, has much, if anything, to do with where and how we slept as children and even babies.When Wynnie was first born, getting her to sleep in either her crib or pack-n-play was near impossible--- ok, it was impossible. We were left with allowing her to sleep in her car seat carrier. Anyone we talked with, doctor, nurse or lay person, told us not to worry, that what's most important is that she is sleeping. If sleep came in the car seat, so be it. So that quelled our minds and made us feel more comfortable..... but Wynnie, the last couple of weeks, didn't look so comfortable in her car seat, sleeping there hours on end.So this last week, I was diligent. I made it a priority for her daytime naps to be in the crib. The little tyke, I am sure, needed to stretch our her limbs a bit.... .and she did. After each feeding, I would rock her as I always do, then gently, oh ever so gently, lay her on her side in her crib, all bundled in her blanket and she would fall fast asleep.Some sleeping "sessions" as I call them, lasted upwards of 3.5 hours, others, about 20 minutes. Kind of depended on her mood at that particular time and, I think, her level of comfort. Finally, by Thursday, she was sleeping easily in her crib for day naps and even at night. I also found, giving her a bath before feeding her and putting her down at night, really helped relax her.Though she can't talk yet, its amazing, the communication I feel with her. Getting to know your baby is really an amazing process. Even Gary feels it too. He knows when she's uncomfortable, when she wants to coo at him, when she's hungry or needs changed. Watching him become more and more comfortable and confident is really sweet.Although Arwyn is sleeping in her crib, rest assured, we still have the carseat next to her bed, on the floor...... just in case. I'd love to put it back where it belongs, in the car, but for now, its still our standby on the off chance, in the middle of the night, we need a few hours of sleep and she's just not having it in her crib.Now, the next step, getting her reacquainted with that pack-n-play because over the holidays, we'll be traveling a bit and will need to bring it along. Dare I try her sleeping in that today???? I might just do it.You know, all the "firsts" go by so quickly. Her first night sleeping at home, first time she was in her swing, first Thanksgiving, first night sleeping in her crib.....and now, first Christmas. I am really trying to savour all of those moments. Gary is awesome at capturing them via the camera. We'll need to charge up the video camera for Christmas.Keep hugging and kissing your kids. I know I will do that for mine. Keep encouraging them and helping them become confident, respectful and happy members of society. They are so delicate, yet so strong.Happy Holidays and God Bless!!!Shelby Zarotney
The Journey of Motherhood...Tuesday, December 17th 2007 I have pretty early memories of my mother; preparing dinners, waiting for me at the end of the day as I got off the school bus, helping my brother and sister and I resolve a dispute, discussing family matters with dad and deciding how to handle them, watching her at work and thinking, "My mom can do anything." Now, as a mother, myself---- I can't help but wonder, how did she survive the journey of motherhood?One of my absolute favorite memories of my childhood with her were little outings we went on. No matter where we would go, my mom always seemed to strike a conversation with someone--- whether in the grocery store, department store or the park-- it was as if she knew the person all along. Mom also had a knack for adventure and if she didn't know where she was going, if we were perfectly lost, we never would have known it-- mom made it into a game and always said later, "You never knew we were lost, did you? See, we just learned another way to get around."Mothers are so special, so all-inclusive. It makes me wonder, are we all just built that way or does it ooze out of us over time during motherhood and like aged wine, we get better with "it" as time goes by.I think all mothers have that "take charge- take care of everthing" element within us, but the degree to which we use it, to which we tap into it differs from woman to woman.Now, in my adult life, as a first time mom, my mother and I have the most amazing role in common and its wonderful to see her interact with my daughter-- her 4th grandchild, as she does the other 3. I watch her and am inspired by her, impressed by her and so happy for her, to have another baby she can cuddle with, spoil and more-- then give her back when its time to go home. That's the beauty of grandparenting, I guess.About Arwyn...... well, these days she's getting a little fussier. I guess that's to be expected. I'm getting used to operating on 2.5 hours of sleep. Friends of ours who's daughter is 2 weeks older say "hang in there, the end is almost near and soon she'll be sleeping a straight 3.5 to 5 hours a night straight!" That day--- I am eager for. In the meantime, I'm taking it day to day.When Gary and I got married, we knew children would be part of our journey together as a couple, down the road, but having Arwyn..... I never imagined, as I look at our wedding pictures and just pictures of the two of us over the years, I never imagined the intense love we would feel for our baby and in turn, feel for eachother.While I was pregnant, I dreamt about the baby I would have, but never, in my wildest dreams, did I, or was I able to, dream up a baby quite like this one. She is so precious to me, to us. I am thankful more and more everyday to be walking this journey we call Motherhood.God bless the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, friends, godmothers and women who want to be all those things. This is a vocation that is surely, the ultimate one, full of sacrifice, but also--- and what we all should remember, full of grace.
The Crib Is Your Friend...Mon., December 10th 2007Already, its just under a month now that Arwyn's been on this earth. 30 days since I gave birth to her, wow!!! On one hand, I feel like she's been here for months, not just 1, and other the other hand, I feel like the last 4 weeks have simply FLOWN by!!!Well, when Gary and I brought her home, we had her crib all set up, ready for a baby to sleep in it and just in case, had the pack-n-play set up in our room--- on the off chance we couldn't help but look at her all night to make sure she was still breathing!!For starters, our room won out, we couldn't handle the thought of her being away from us, not even for a second--- but then came time for her to sleep. We put this 2 day old baby on her back in the pack-n-play in our room and settled down for sleep. But Wynnie had other ideas....that poor child screamed bloody murder about 60 seconds after we put her down and she didn't stop for an hour. Finally, after lots of rocking, holding, singing and talking, we took the advice from my sister in law, and put her in her car seat.You guessed it, about 5 minutes later, Arwyn was asleep and stayed that way for hours. One nap turned into another, then another-- and before we knew it, weeks later, we're still carting her all over the house in her car seat when she's sleeping. The poor girl probably thinks she's constantly going on a trip!!! So now that she's a whole month old, its time to get serious :)We want her to be comfortable in her crib, to feel safe, held and secure just like she does when we rock her or when she sleeps in her car seat. (Although, you can bet that car seat is always close by, in the event Gary and I actually want more than 15 minutes of sound sleep so we can get through the day)Its just after 11 Monday morning and already I feel successful, she's been sleeping in her crib since 9 and just now she started crying--- but its the kind of cry that if she keeps on going, she'll really wake herself up. So 2 hours is pretty good, I think. Better go and rock her, or maybe pull out the old safety and rock her back to sleepyland in her car seat. The thing's been in our house more than its been in the car!!! :)Gotta Run!!
Yes, She Cries; But Finally, She Coos!!!!! Sat., December 8th 2007Ah the sound of a baby's cry-- its enough to make you WANT to cry. Sometimes they elicit your cry out of joy, amazement or (let's admit it) just pure fatigue. My Wynnie-girl, when she was first born, had this adorable newborn cry--- its the kind that sounds so delicate, so vulnerable. Now, still adorable but much louder--- she is delicate and is vulnerable, but boy does she let you know when something is wrong.So, Gary and I have come to know, very well, her different cries and what they mean, what she is telling us needs to be done in order to make her life more comfortable--- and we are more than happy to comply. Just last night, Arwyn decided if she's going to be up, well then everyone in the house needed to be awake too. (And if it weren't for the season, and if windows were open, I'm sure the entire neighborhood would be up with us at 3 am too!!!:) ) For one of her particular feedings last night, Gary gave her a bottle--- its time they get together where he can rock with her, look at her and she at him. Its time they get where he can really get to know his daughter, and for that I am grateful. During this particular feeding (as he told me this morning over breakfast) she didn't cry, she didn't whine-- rather, she cooed. Arwyn conversed with her dad in the way all babies know how to--- by cooing. Now, I had heard it once the week prior and waited for her to do it again (its always when you're waiting for something, that it doesn't happen on your time schedule) but she didn't. But at 3 in the morning, according to Gary, you would have thought he was having a complete conversation with this 3 1/2 week old. So this morning, over breakfast, he was telling the story about his daughter cooing at him in the wee hours of the am, and just as he was doing so, Arwyn decided to "share" her version of the discourse between her proud papa and herself during that early morning feeding--- and she began to coo!!!!There are 2 toys that dangle from the top of her carrier that she now is able to focus on and even touch. Over the last few days, she's been touching the toys and when she does, Gary and I encourage her by telling her "Good job" and "Yeah, Wynnie." This morning, when she started showing interest in the toys, she cooed and we were delighted!! Its sounds so cute!!!The coo is not a cry, its now a whine, its like her own way of telling us she's happy about something. I don't want to wish moments or days away, but her coo is like the first door into her world of language, and I am so excited to hear what her voice will sound like, how she will talk and the ornary things that will come out of her mouth.Being a mother is certainly, a learning experience everyday, I am so thankful to be in the midst of this amazing opportunity. I can't wait for Arwyn to coo again.
Precious Gifts Mon., December 3rd 2007So here I am, just a few hours before Arwyn is officially 3 weeks old. I thought, after giving birth to her, that my desire to watch another "Baby Story" would just disipate since I now know what its like to have a child. I thought in my head, "I don't need to watch those in order to gear up for labor and delivery--- I've done -that- and now, I'm on the other side of things--- I am a mom." But to my surprise, today during one of Wynnie's naps (where I just let her sleep on my chest-- couldn't pass up the opportunity for her to hear my heartbeat while she soundly slept) I flipped around and felt the draw to watch another "Baby Story" then a "Special Delivery."What I saw instantly brought me to tears, and I looked down at this small child of mine, sleeping, depending on the arms that are wrapped around her to protect her, and began to pray to God. I began thanking Him for her and for her health. Here's why.It happens in about 1 in every 2,000 births; babies who's intestines never make their way inside the child's body. These babies are born with, sometimes, up to 20 feet of intestine scrunched up in a ball on the outside of the stomach. In these births, time is of the essence. Operations must happen immediately to place the intestines inside, and in many cases, doctors first have to empty the bowels before getting all of that inside. By emptying the bowels, that helps shrink down the size of the intestines so they can fit inside.But let me tell you, I watched this baby being born today during the program, and her body, so small, so vulnerable-looking, then I saw 20 feet of intestine, wrapped up in a ball resting on her stomach and thought, "How in the world can doctors possibly get that safely inside the baby?" What's more, the procedure has to be done immediately, so we're talking about an operation on a day old child. That's why I looked down at my baby and kissed her head and began to pray.She was born with no physical challenges. Now I know it is not for us to ask, why, but sometimes, that's just what I want to do. Rather than asking, why, I am reminded by these types of examples to love my daughter with all my might and to be the best mother to her I can.We all face challenges in our lives, we know its a part of life and how we work through those challenges--- what ever they may be, is, I believe, the real test.The parents in the baby program who's little girl had the operation were so steady, so positive. They stayed strong for their child. Children are such precious gifts, in WHATEVER form the come to us and it will always and forever be our responsibility to be with them, nurture and protect them, no matter what they face, or how early.I still almost have to pinch myself, realizing over and over again that Arwyn is mine, that she's my flesh and blood, and my husband's and we have this miraculous opportunity to raise her. I am more appreciative everyday for that, and am amazed by her constantly.One viewer who is responding to these blog entries quoted R. W. Emerson and I'd like to share that quote with you now, "Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God."So to that I say, in those quiet moments with our children, is one way in which we might be able to hear Him.Thank you for responding to my blog entries. I look forward to hearing from more of you and reading the stories you want to share.God Bless
Sleep: "I Know It Was Around Here Somewhere" Sat., December 1st 2007I told my husband last night, "Ok, let's make Wynnie's last feeding before we go to sleep, around say 10 pm, that way she'll sleep longer through the night and will wake up around 3 or so." Gary approved of this plan, so that's what we did. Now, Wynnie likes to really take her time eating, so feeding her around 10 means she won't be asleep until 11 or so. Our master plan was to get a bit more shut-eye than we had been over the last few days. See, my newborn is finally realizing how to operate as a human being, so those restful nights we had early on when she was just days old---- oh yeah, they're out the door--- gone are our nights of 6 or 7 hours of sleep, STRAIGHT. Oh, now, I knew this was coming -- (just didn't think it would really happen)Arwyn slept until about 2:30, and somewhere through my dreams about work mixed in with a trip to a family reunion, I could hear the cries of a baby. In my dream state I thought, "I think I hear a baby crying. Could it be my little angel?" Gary, --God bless his heart-- heard her in enough time to get up out of bed before I could, and gave her a bottle. She finally fell back to sleep around 3:30, but-- you guessed it, about 2 hours later, that infant cry, that beautiful now much louder-sounding cry returned, so this time I got up and nursed her.As I gazed down at this angel from above, I looked at her, my eyes coming into better focus through the dimness of the nightlight we have in her room, and just stared at her very delicate features. I thought to myself, "sleep used to come easily, but no more, right Wynnie? You've got different plans for mommy and daddy." But you know, in those moments, minutes--- ok, in that hour, I rocked with her, fed her and felt the bond between parent and child grow ever stronger. God fashions these middle-of-the-night feedings in such a way that you are awake enough to care for your child, smile at her and feel the love grow ever stronger, yet once their eyes grow drowsy and slowly close, getting back to sleep yourself takes, oh less than 10 seconds. You need that quick journey back to sleepyland, because the next, "feeding series," as I now refer to them, will begin in about 2 to 3 hours.When Wynnie woke up again around 5 or 5:30 this morning, I fed her, then we all fell back to sleep. She stayed asleep until about 9:15--- so considering, I would say Gary and I slept in, although we were up a few times during the night. Oh yeah, where she finally slept, I must share with you. I gave her that last feeding, but everytime I put her down, she seemed quite unhappy so Gary, with the gentle touch that he has, scooped her up and laid her on his chest. He slept sort of sitting up, his head resting against the wall, holding her. Though we may have lost sleep for a little while, we've gained precious family time--- I've gained images of my husband that I'll never forget, images I find touch me so that I fall in love with this man over and over again.I too have discovered, once we are up for the morning, that intense fatigue I felt hours before, seems to melt away. Our bodies and minds, I guess, know how to compensate for the lack of sleep, and know how to expertly "forget" about the hours of lost sleep.I am so excited for each phase, each next step in raising Arwyn, yet at the same time, I am drinking in every moment with her, savouring the sweetness that she is, and hoping it all doesn't pass too quickly. I know, no matter how much sleep we "lose," we're gaining precious time with her and in that fog of fatigue, I still don't forget that.I just want to close this blog by making note of all the moms (and dads) out there. To the parents who are married, to the parents who are widowed, raising children on their own, to single parents, the very young to the older parents, to the parents who lost their way and are working hard to make it back, to parents who've lost children and no answer will ever be enough for the question of, "why," to parents with children where for some reason there is distance between you, and to parents raising children who are physically or mentally handicapped----- I salute you all, I pray for you and I say, never, never give up and as someone once said to me, I say to you, "Remember to always see the world through your child's eyes. See what they see and you'll be able to connect with them and communicate with them in ways you never knew."May God just bless our children and keep them safe.
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