I am Heather Faith (some call me Heather, some call me Faith and some even call me both!), 29 year old SAHM to Isabel Rose. My dh is Jonathan and we have been married for 6 years now. He is my best friend, a wonderful husband and an outstanding father!

My pregnancy was wonderful! In fact, I’d be pregnant all over again in a heartbeat! I loved it! It was the best time of my life. I felt great and dh & I were as close as ever. And, call me crazy, I’d even do the L&D over again! I thought it was such fun!! Even after 3 hours of pushing to squeeze out a 9lb. 10oz child!

Isabel was HN from the minute she arrived. I just didn’t know what that was yet. She held her head up from the instant she came out of the womb. And the first night in the hospital, dh & I were already asking for help from the nurse so we could get a little sleep.

Isabel did have colic for the first 3 months or so (it was a blur…not sure exactly how long it was!). We walked the floors with her every night. I would finally get her to sleep, a lot of times not until 4 or 5 am, and then slowly ease onto the sofa to try and catch a couple hours of sleep. She’d sleep on my chest for a while and then be up and at ‘em again. Those times when she’d pop right back up would reduce me to tears at times. How many nights I danced in the kitchen with the water running and singing Frank Sinatra songs I cannot even begin to count!

Of course, once the colic settled down everything seemed better! And it was better but not what we expected…lol! Luckily, I had discovered Dr. Sears during my pregnancy and had read his pregnancy & birthing books so I ordered his Fussy Baby Book online as soon as I could and it saved my life! Just knowing that someone out there recognized the characteristics of my child made me feel so much better! We were able to begin to learn how to parent Isabel. Now, just having the book did not keep us from comparing our baby to all of our friends babies and questioning what we were doing wrong from time to time. But we learned and finally made a vow to each other (dh & I) that we would no longer make comparisons and that we would parent the way WE saw best. It was too hard on us and our relationship to continue on that way. That was THE best decision we’ve ever made.

Isabel wore us down to nothing day in and day out. She did not like the swing, car seat, crib, stroller, etc. She would tolerate the Baby Bjorn some but honestly did not even like it when she was forward facing (loved it once she could face out). We found she liked the bouncy seat for a few minutes at a time and more, as she got older. We were thrilled with 5 minutes a day. Our whole perception was warped at this point…lol! She wanted no one but me and that was because my breast was attached to me! We co-slept out of need to survive and have continued because we enjoy it. Naps were never her thing and still are not. There was one day I can remember when she was about 6 weeks old, she went 15 hours with only one 30 minute nap on me. I was shocked! The stories about infants needing sleep did NOT apply to her.

This could go on and on as all of our stories could. I can say that she is now a much happier girl than she was 3 months ago and I know my dh & I have both adjusted so much. We love her with all of our hearts and honestly could not imagine her not being HN. It’s just who she is and we’ve come to love that in her! She’s full of spunk and energy and amazes us everyday! Those who see her comment on her liveliness and it makes us proud! Seeing her smile in the morning is all I need to make it through one more day.

I can say that the bulletin board was a huge find for me. I have met some great friends and I honestly would not have such a positive outlook without them. It’s one of the best things that has ever happened to me!

Heather Faith & Isabel 9/2/00

Visit us online: Heather and Isabel