As a new mom, I’m always on the move in the house or outside and my time online is not what it used to be.  Like most people, I’m reliant on my email to keep me updated on everything and anything going on that is relevant to me.  I have a blackberry for work which I love like most major companies there are firewalls and permissioning that prevents employees from viewing personal email accounts on these devices or on company computers.  As a result, from the minute I leave the house til I am home, I am in a virtual blackout when it comes to my personal email.  I already have a mobile phone which I am locked into a two year contract for and since my need is strictly email, Darren thought I should get a Peek as it was voted the #1 gadget of the year by Wired Magazine and is on Oprah’s list of perfect holiday presents for 2008.

So, my Peek arrived yesterday and last night I set it up.  It took literally two minutes to activate my account and a few minutes later email started flowing in.  The device looks and feels much like a blackberry and many of the functions are identical.  For me, it has been the easiest transition to a new tech toy I’ve ever had.  While it is simple and very affordable ($89.95 for the device and $19.95 a month with no contract ever), the Peek is truly functional with a sleek and stylish design.  I opted for the black cherry color but it comes in black and aqua blue too.

For anyone that is interested in literally a ‘peek’ at their email, this is the perfect device.  Heavy tech users beware – this is a simple device with limited features but new functionality is continually being looked at.  Earlier users including myself would love to see the addition of instant messaging and a calendar and the folks over at Peek are looking into both.  The device also does not synch with your email account so no matter what you delete on your Peek it will still be sitting in your inbox on your computer.  For anyone that is interested, email accounts supported include Google Mail, Hotmail, AOL and a several others but it does not support exchange server emails.

Simple, sleek and very functional, I am a fan!

Today I am six weeks old.  Since I am still too small yet to blog on my own, I’ve asked my Mom to write this for me.  I’ve learned a lot and thought I’d share a few little tid bits with those of you that are interested:

• I sleep, eat and poop every three to four hours.   When I was first born the doctor didn’t think I was gaining enough weight so Mom has had to feed me Similac Neosure to put on the pounds, well maybe ounces.  Now, I’ve got little chubby legs in the works and meat on my tushy so everyone should be happy.
• I like to sleep in my bouncy seat but the swing and I aren’t that compatible.  Maybe I take after mom and dad and get a little motion sick at times….or maybe I just need to grow into it.
• I have developed a healthy set of lungs that can be heard throughout the house when I need to get some attention.  How Daddy manages to sleep through my occasional ranting and raving is beyond me.
• My mom has a routine down pat but sometimes I like to be a little high maintenance and have her hold me a lot at night so I fall asleep.  I know I’m keeping her awake but I love being close to her.  Looking at her in the eyes I know she enjoys our private snuggle time too.
• I love when my Daddy comes home and first thing he says when he walks in is ‘hello family’.  We are a cute little family filled with love so it’s no surprise he loves coming home to us.  Plus Mommy still manages to cook some nights so that’s an added bonus.
• One of my favorite activities is staring at the Dave Matthews Band posters in our living room (coincidence on the name – I’m not so sure…I need to ask Daddy about that one when I can talk).
• I’m getting really strong and love when Daddy puts me on my chest and I try to crawl upwards.  I some times manage to make a few little strides.  I also love when Daddy tickles my tummy and makes funny noises.  I know he’s still learning the ropes and doesn’t like dirty diapers so I’ve spared him the task of making a poop when Mommy is out but I think I need to orient him very soon.
• I love listening to Mommy talk to me and show me things although I have not yet made sense of what she is saying.
• I’m a big fan of my Fisher Price bath tub….I love when Mommy is washing me and I can look in the mirror and wonder ‘who is that cute baby’?
• I’ve developed baby acne and have some very dry skin on my face but mom switched to Aveeno Baby Creamy Wash and Cetaphil to help cure the problem.  It’s only been a day or so but already it seems much better.
• I have the best sets of grandparents and great grandparents who spoil me with love and affection, not to mention clothes and toys.  I have a crib in each of their houses so I can sleep like the ‘little prince’ I am when I get tired.
• I have quite the little wardrobe already.  Just like Daddy I love clothes so its only appropriate that I have myself all decked out in Ralph Lauren a lot.
• And the last thing I’ve learned is that my Mommy and Daddy love me to pieces and can’t stop kissing and hugging me.  I’m really lucky to have them – I think I’ll keep them :)

Last night Darren, David and I gathered with our parents to participate in a Jewish ritual known as a pidyon haben.  It is believed that every first-born child who is male belongs to God, and his parents should “redeem” him by making a symbolic payment.  We had a short ceremony facilitated by our rabbi to commemorate this tradition.  David was a good boy while Darren and I recited some special prayers and Darren exchanged five silver coins for our baby.

For those that have never heard of a pidyon haben, below is some information I found on this Jewish ritual.

First-Born Sons Belong to God

Pidyon HaBen is only held if all of the following are true about the male baby:

• He is the first-born child of his mother.
• His parents are neither Kohanim or Levites.
• He was born in natural childbirth (not via C-section).
• His mother did not previously have a miscarriage after more than 40 days of pregnancy.

The child is redeemed via a symbolic payment to a Kohen. In biblical times the payment equalled five silver shekels. Today, the payment is generally five silver dollars or a small article of silver.

During a Pidyon HaBen ceremony, the father recites two blessings. The first praises God for commanding the redemption and the second, Shechiyanu, thanks God for giving them life and bringing them to this time. The father then hands the money to the Kohen. The Kohen holds the money over the baby’s head and says, “This instead of that, this in commutation for that and this in remission for that.” Then he prays for the child and recites the traditional priestly prayer. A festive meal (seudat mitzvah) is often held following the ceremony.

On Friday, David was one month old, his first little milestone.  The past month has certainly changed our lives forever and while we are still adjusting to a new routine, we are enjoying every moment of our new ‘family’ status.  Over the last few weeks we’ve received so many great pieces of advice from friends and family.  I seem to have a good routine down for the most part and David is cooperating by keeping to it.  He eats and sleeps most of the day and only wakes up once at night.  The last few days he has had more waking time.  When he is up his eyes are focused and alert as he is making sense of his surroundings.  While he does have a fussy moment here or there, he has made our transition to parenthood as smooth as it could be.

Much to the dismay of many other first time mother’s I seem to have it together or at least I like to think I do.  I received some very humorous advice from an old high school friend who claimed I was putting mother’s of newborns to shame since I shower every day, wear makeup and have sent out all my announcements and thank you’s.

While I may not be following all the ‘rules’ for new mother’s I thought I would share them to give comfort to all of the new mother’s learning the ropes….

1. Showers only happen occasionally
2. Thank you’s go out only ten at a time
3. Sweatpants ARE formal wear
4. Laundry should be going 24hrs. a day
5. Pretzels are once again a food group (like in college)
6. Your house should be covered in baby stuff (no one should be able to see the color of your carpet)
7. When your baby is asleep, you don’t nap because you are desperately trying to make heads or tails of your house

The one lesson we’ve learned that everyone can relate to, is that once you have a child your time is no longer your own.  We should get it back in 2026 when he goes off to college.

On Wednesday, David will be 4 weeks old.  I can’t believe it…a whole month has gone by and it’s December already.  People always told me that kids grow up so fast and if this month is any indication of how quickly it seems that time passes, he will be all grown up before I know it.  Scary.  David’s first month of life has been wonderful.  We feel so lucky to have a happy, healthy little one who has been a delight so far.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that his good behavior continues.

For David’s first few weeks of life, he has been showered with love and affection from our friends and family.  We have had lots of visitors in and out over the past month – all to meet the ‘little man’ as I call him.   While he has spent most of the last four weeks doing what all newborns do – eat, sleep and poop he has had some waking time where he has been spoiled to death by everyone.  On Thanksgiving everyone couldn’t get enough of him!

Since coming into the world at 7lbs, 13oz and 19.5 inches, he is now weighing in at 8lbs. 15 oz and 21.5 inches.  Surprisingly though, the doctors thinks he should be a little ‘fuller’ so we’ve been giving him special formula to bulk up a bit.  Hopefully he won’t be too plump at his next visit.

I still can’t believe just about a month has gone by!  It’s been the best month of my life and we are so happy with our bundle of joy.  We can just sit and stare at him for hours and when he is awake we love playing with him and seeing the world through his little eyes.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as well as Darren’s so needless to say we are really looking forward to today.  Growing up my family’s ritual was to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade on television and then prepare the Thanksgiving meal.  My father was the chef for the day giving my Mom a break.  This tradition began the year I was born as my birthday was near Thanksgiving and my mom was still recovering from having given birth.  My parents had a baby nurse who was from Puerto Rico and she taught my Dad how to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal with a touch of her spanish heritage thrown in.  As I got older I became my dad’s little helper and loved every minute of it.  I learned all the tricks of cleaning, preparing, cooking and even carving the turkey.  He taught me how to prepare the stock for the stuffing which is my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal.  I even used to sneak a taste or two of the stuffing while we were making it but my favorite part was tasting the crispy skin as the turkey was being carved.  Yummy!  After years of watching and assisting, I mastered the meal and some years I took the reigns and did most of the preparation.  Thanksgiving day was spent with my cousins and as each person got married our table expanded but once everyone started to have children we began to go our separate ways and have been creating new Thanksgiving memories and traditions with our new families.

This Thanksgiving is extra special for me and Darren as it will be baby David’s first Thanksgiving.  We couldn’t be happier to be spending the day with both our families and we are excited to star to build our own Thanksgiving memories with our son.  As David grows up we hope he loves the turkey and stuffing as much as Darren and I do.  We are both saving up our appetite to enjoy the meal.  It’s by far the best holiday of the year!

To all our friends, family and readers, we wish you a very happy thanksgiving!  And for anyone that is brave enough to hit the stores tomorrow for Black Friday, we wish you the best of luck.

Time to watch the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…..

Since coming home from the hospital we had a baby nurse staying with us to help take care of baby David while I healed and Darren returned to work.  Erica was an absolute savior for me and David loved her.  She taught me how to feed, change, bathe and burp him and put him on a great schedule of eating every 3-4 hours. She also took care of his healing after the bris and cleaned his belly button until the umbilical cord fell off.  Last Friday was her final day with us and I cried when she left.  There I was, all alone with the baby for the next seven hours before Darren came home.  When he arrived, the two of us looked at each other and realized our evenings out and mornings of sleeping in were long gone.  We went to bed Friday night wondering what kind of night was ahead of us and we quickly found out….feedings at 12:30am, 4:30am, and 7:30am.  Lucky for us, David is a very good boy who eats and sleeps well so we aren’t up all night trying to get him back to bed – not yet anyway.

Darren has been an amazing father, helping out in any way he can.  He hasn’t had much experience with babies so he’s a little uncertain about what to do but he’s learning and doing a great job.  My only experience is with my nieces so I have a sense of what I am doing but when it is your own child you are responsible for everything every minute of the day. While it is only a few days of taking care of David on our own, I am really enjoying motherhood.  He’s an absolute delight and I love the bonding time he and I are sharing, even at night.  I am sure I will have my moments where I am less than thrilled by the evening feedings but so far I don’t mind at all.

David is in amazing hands.  Sherri was a born mother, and has instincts that Martha Stewart, Oprah, and Rachel Ray would be amazed of.  2am feedings.  4am feedings.  7am feedings.  Sherri’s there and as patient with David at that time as in the middle of the day.

I’m learning.  Changing diapers and feeding don’t come natural to me but she’s a great teacher and I know I’m in good hands :)

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon – the David Matthew Herman World Tour is coming to a town near you.

Yesterday was David’s bris, a jewish ritual of circumcision.  Darren and I approached the day feeling nervous and uneasy since we knew what was going to happen to our little boy but we respected the tradition and held the ceremony surrounded by our family and friends.   We were really touched by the large number of people that came to witness this ritual and welcome David into our family.

The afternoon ceremony began with me holding our son as Darren stood by my side.  Our mother’s walked the baby into the room where the mohel performed the ritual while being held by Grandpa Edwin who had the honoarary title of the Sandek – a title I think he was a little apprehensive about but then again who wouldn’t be considering how close he would be to the ‘procedure’.  After the circumcision which Darren witnessed (I sat further away and cried), he was given his Hebrew name, Doran Meir, which means a gift of light while being held by Grandpa Richie and Great Grandpa George.  David’s hebrew name is in loving memory of Darren’s great grandmother Dora and my grandfather Meyer.  The ceremony concluded with Darren and I standing with the mohel, our son, and David’s great grandparents as the mohel spoke about the ritual and the significance of David’s bris and future bar mitzvah date.  Then David was walked out by Grandma Lorraine and Grandma Bobbie and into the arms of our baby nurse who whisked him away to be taken care of.

David was a brave little boy the entire time and took it like a true champ.  I on the other hand cried more than he did.  Today has been a tough day as he is uncomfortable and trying to recover but he will heal in a couple of days and yesterday’s event will be a distant memory for him.  For me and Darren however, we will remember this experience vividly.