Mother's Day Fun

I'm not going to to recap my Mother's Day but wanted to share a few tidbits.

First, when I picked Paige up from school on Friday, she had a little Mother's Day present for me - a macaroni necklace she painted and made in class! BUT she decided to keep it for herself. The bag said 'To: Mom From: Paige' but she told me it said 'To: Paige From: Paige' and that it was a birthday present for herself. 

I teased her all weekend as she wore the necklace and refused to give it to me, but she stuck with her 'birthday present' story. She also told me Monday night that it WAS a Mother's Day necklace that she made...for herself. #ouch 

Then, Friday afternoon I took all 3 kids to Target alone. Also known as hell on earth. Why on MY weekend did I do this to myself? I don't know honestly, they suckered me into it.

Saturday, Brent had a work event. Normally that would be really annoying but not so when he works with 2 of his best friends whose wives I happen to love and have been friends with for a LONG time. [We also had book club Friday night so I saw my girls Friday too!]

Work wives!

I left earlier than everyone else from the work after-party {because I stayed up way too late on Friday night}, so I was in much better shape Sunday morning than Brent.

Isn't this just SO typical of a husband? {grin}

We had a very nice day - church, nap, flowers and treats from my family, evening spent with my mom and sister.

This picture...love this girl, her sass, and her fashion sense!

Biggest news of the weekend though...I had my LAST nursing session with Paige Mother's Day night! I decided that would be a fitting ending day. And last night, I was able to put her to bed with ZERO fussing. I kept reminding her that milk was gone and if she got upset, Daddy would finish her bedtime. And it went perfectly! Woot, woot!

A Long and Winding Road

Well, another phase of my Mommy life is winding down. Paige and I are on the tail end of our breastfeeding journey. My goal with Paige was to nurse for 2 years and then wean down after that. So here we are - she's 2! 

I'm honestly ready {the last 6 months have been kind of trying for me with breastfeeding} but also it's another 'never going to happen again' motherhood experience for me. Last pregnancy, last birth story, last everything. Luckily, I knew going into everything with Paige that she would be our last, and I've felt so much peace about every 'last' with her. But this one is kind of the last of the 'baby' experiences, so I've been thinking about it a lot more.

In reality, it will be nice to 100% own my body again, to make our bedtime routine go faster, to not have any more wounds, to not ruin all my bras, etc., but it's also such an amazing experience, and I recognize how lucky I am to have had 3 extremely successful breastfeeding relationships.

I really want to make it another month or so and get winter behind us, so I'm not in a huge rush, but it's also weird the finality of all these lasts with Paige. Motherhood is such a huge bag of mixed emotions, am I right???

In the first update I did after Paige was born, when she was a week old, I joked about having 1 week of breastfeeding behind us and only 103 more to go. And here we are, past that mark and barreling toward a future of no more babies. Hold me!

I'm so thankful I have pictures from Paige's birth of our first time nursing together. I will cherish them forever.

Weaning the Unweanable

Trent was such an easy kid to wean. He never cared breast vs. bottle, he just wanted his milk. The timing was really great too for when I wanted to wean {he was about 14 months}. I was going through an inspection at work that was going to mean 2 weeks of 60+ hour work weeks. Brent was going to be flying solo, and we used those 2 weeks as the perfect opportunity to wean. I was usually gone when Trent woke up and home after he went to bed, so there just wasn't any opportunities for me to breastfeed {those being the only times we still were at that point}. When the inspection was over, and I was around again, he never really cared about breastfeeding anymore. It was SO easy.

Drew? Not so much. Girlfriend has, at worst, hated bottles and, at best, been indifferent to them. But me? She LOVES to nurse. I wanted to nurse past 2 for a multitude of reasons, and we're now past that point. And it has been a battle since the first minute we started the weaning process. 

When she turned 2, I was still pretty much nursing on demand, and she might nurse 6-8 times/day. My first step was to not let her nurse every chance she wanted and started to get more strict - when she woke up, before/after nap, at bedtime. We did that for a while, and I started to notice I could distract her after naps with other things, so it was pretty easy to get rid of that session. Then I realized she wasn't really nursing at bedtime much, so Brent and I have started switching off who puts her to bed, and I just stopped cold turkey. Sometimes she asks and will cry when I tell her 'You can have milk in the morning', but I can distract her with singing or another book. Same thing at her nap.

But the morning session? I have NO clue how/when we'll stop that one. This is the one time a day she REALLY still nurses - for a good 20 minutes. She asks for it first thing and afterwards will smile and say 'My milkie'. Yes, it is, little girl, but not for much longer!

Spring Break has been a little tough as we've together a lot more, and she's been asking for it more, but I bribe distract her, so I'm hopeful that once we get past this week, we can work out a plan for cutting the morning out. But I won't lie and tell you I'm not nervous...because I am!

If you made it this far through this post, you are a saint. Mainly I just wanted to document my thoughts around this process and remember how sweet my girl is and how much I've enjoyed the past 2 years nursing and bonding with her!

Our last nap nursing session...she was home sick, and I was trying to be on a conference call, and she was ready to nap. I nursed her during the call, and she fell asleep {she hasn't done that in AGES}. Such a precious memory.

Review Extravaganza: January, February, and March

Karen is doing a super fun link-up that I somehow missed the first week of, so I'm starting off late. Essentially it's reviewing your year 3 months at a time. So with that I'm presenting January, February, and March 2014.

January

January started off strong {and will every year} with us celebrating Drew's birthday! She turned 1 on January 2.

We celebrated with a Winter One-derland party.

I finally sleep-trained Drew...sorta...because she's been back to waking up at night for several months...

That's about it for January, ha.

February

I shared about starting a blog dedicated to essential oils. Love me some Young Living!

Mayer, my sister's youngest, turned ONE! We celebrated with a Happy Hour. {Do we know how to party or what?}

I posted super cute pics {and a video!} of my kids on Valentine's Day.

I shared my plan to nurse Drew until she was 2. We are soooo close!

Trent started seeing a behavioral therapist who we still see and love!

March

Drew played peek-a-boo with my mom, and my heart exploded.

I told a funny story of Brent accusing me of lying.

Seriously, I have the cutest children. Need more proof?

And that was the first quarter of my year!

iPhone Photo Dump...Just the Kids

Lots of randomness that is just too cute to not share!

Drew has decided she loves to crawl under her bed from the side and then come out the front. She loves to hide from me there too, ha!

I shared my experiences with extended breastfeeding on AMB and unsuccessfully tried to capture a pic of me and Drew. But considering I have approximately 0 pictures of me breastfeeding Trent, I will cherish this picture forever!

Just in case you were worried if I stopped taking sleeping pics of Trent... I didn't.

And now one of her sleeping...while holding her hair which she does ALL the time.

Her obsession with pencils {and especially eating the erasers} is maddening!

 Because nothing is as good as hose water. 

And washing mom's car is super fun...until it's a chore.

Dad's hard hat sure is fun!

 Watching a show together, my heart exploded here.

My Breastfeeding Journey...Year 2

I remember being pregnant with Trent and registering, and I put a formula dispenser on my registry. Because everybody used formula, right? I didn't even think about what that meant honestly. My mom had breastfed me and my sister but so many moms I knew used formula. {And I don't say any of this as a knock against formula. It is just not what I choose for my children.}

Once Trent was born and I started learning more about breastfeeding, I decided I WOULD nurse him for a year. There would be no need for a formula dispenser. And through hard work, sheer will and determination, great supply and a great relationship with Trent, we nursed for 14 months. I also donated almost 1,000 ounces to the Mother's Milk Bank of Austin. I felt so accomplished and proud of what we'd done.

While pregnant with Drew, I started learning a lot more about breastfeeding and decided my goal with Drew would be 18 months+ to help fully develop her immune system. I learned how it hasn't really been that long that breastfeeding has been 'accepted' again {my mom apparently would have been in the minority with me and my sister}. And that makes me sad because the benefits of breastmilk are just phenomenal. Even for a toddler!

Amazing benefits to a toddler

Did you know that UNICEF has long encouraged breastfeeding for two years and longer, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is now on record as encouraging mothers to breastfeed at least one year and then for as long after as the mother and baby desire. Even the Canadian Paediatric Society, in its latest feeding statement acknowledges that women may want to breastfeed for two years or longer and Health Canada has put out a statement similar to UNICEF’s. {via}

In addition to the chart above, in the second year of life, 15 ozs of breastmilk provides {via}:

29% of energy requirements

76% of folate requirements

94% of vitamin B12 requirements

60% of vitamin C requirements

I love my milk {and spaghetti too}!

When Drew actually got here, I was so worried breastfeeding wouldn't work. It had been such an amazing relationship with Trent, and I didn't want to think it had just been luck, but I was worried nonetheless. Other than a few setbacks {thrush, reflux, low weight gain, refusing bottles...#nobigdeal}, our breastfeeding relationship has been amazing. Drew loves to nurse. LOVES. Now I worry she nurses too much, but then I remind myself how silly that is. I guess a mom has to have something to worry about? {grin}

A Dad's Thoughts on Breastfeeding:

So Drew and I are entering new, uncharted waters for me. About this age, I was weaning Trent. I had stopped pumping, we were using frozen milk at school and drinking whole milk too. Now, Drew nurses whenever she wants on the weekends {which is sometimes still every 2-3 hours} and nurses in the morning, after school and before bed during the week with 2 sippy cups of breastmilk at school. I am still pumping once or twice a day {although producing about half as much as I was at our peak} and have yet to use frozen milk, so I still have a TON in my parents freezer. I did donate around 600 ounces to moms in need through Eats on Feet.

My goal is now 2 years of nursing, and after that it's up to Drew. Eventually I want to stop pumping {but I get too uncomfortable still...and am still getting clogs, wtf} and we'll use frozen milk at school until that runs out and then probably switch to almond milk. Brent has been 100% supportive {and why shouldn't he be...see chart above, ha}, so I have high hopes we'll be successful!

P.S. - That formula dispenser has actually been used. As a snack holder!

Nobody Got Time For That

Drew started day care July 1 and began crawling on August 2. It was only a matter of time before her first 'real' infection. 

She got coughed on at a baseball game on Sunday evening by a 14 month old. Might just be coincidence but a stopped up nose began 12 hours later. I kept her home from daycare Monday and Tuesday, but by Wednesday she seemed better. WRONG.

Last night she wouldn't let me lay her down at all. We were up from 10:45 - 4:15 with the exception of an hour. So this morning we hit up our new pediatrician {we switched because our old doctor was leaving the practice we went to and we picked a new place a little closer to home} and got the 'minor ear infection' diagnosis. She didn't push a prescription {although she wrote one} and said I could wait 48 hours to see if it gets better on its own...so that's what we're doing.

I'll be hitting up my favorite pharmacy this afternoon to get some hippie stuff to try and help. Praying she gets better fast because her baptism is this weekend. Yippee!

On another note, Trent started Pre-K this week at his school. Here was his reaction to my attempt at a cute first day of school pic. Thanks, son.

Visuals

Had a training yesterday in Dallas. A bunch of partners were there. And I had faint outlines of blue sharks on my arms and legs from Trent's new stamp kit that 2 showers couldn't get off. I also had a Spider-Man band-aid on a cut. #boymom

Oh yeah...this is happening at our house right now. Full-on moving. #babygirlslowdownthisgrowingupbusiness

I also had to pump in the car on the way to said training (because it was in Dallas). Luckily a co-worker was driving, but I was still in the passenger seat covered by my nursing cover with my dress around my waist for a half hour. #breastfeedingisglamorous

I'm lazy to upload all the pictures from the best baby shower ever that I co-hosted this weekend, but feast your eyes on this gorgeousness and visualize the rest of the pictures to come. #weknockeditoutofthepark

Thrush is a 4 Letter Word

I might not particularly enjoy applying Nystatin to Drew's mouth 3 times a day.

I also don't like washing bras and towels after a single use.

Repeatedly applying medicine to my nips {TMI?} and letting them air dry has lost its charm.

But the kicker? 

Having to pour out my pumped milk. DEVASTATING.

You might wonder why I'm still pumping. Well, I want to keep my supply up to ensure I get enough stored for when I go back to work. But due to this nightmare of thrush, I haven't been able to put anything in the freezer in over a month.

Goodbye liquid gold...

This mama is sobbing your trip down the drain

Liquid Gold

I got a call from the Austin Milk Bank last week. It was a sort of final call (for now) since I'm done pumping for Trent. I truly enjoyed donating milk for premature and sick babies and felt so blessed to have such an abundant supply that I was able to donate. I hate hearing stories from friends of the struggles they had with supply or having a baby who doesn't latch easily. We all know I had my own issues after Trent arrived but nursing was never a problem, and for that, I feel so blessed. Nursing was one of my favorite parts of the newborn/baby phase! I found out that I donated 988 ounces to the Milk Bank. That's EIGHT GALLONS people. Holy smokes. I had no idea I donated that much. I'm excited at the thought of being able to donate again in the future and think I've set a goal for the next baby - I'm going for 1,000 ounces!! {grin}

Until Next Time...

I'm retiring the pump!!! I still have several hundred ounces of frozen milk, so I think we'll safely make it until Trent is 1. {grin} It's been a pleasure knowing you, Mr. Pump, but I'm so happy to be able to put you in the BACK of the closet!!

I'm Tired

I'm tired of pumping. I finally feel confident that I have an abundance of frozen milk to last until Trent is 1. I know I won't stop just yet, but I'm anxious to stop. It's just gotten old. I'm so proud that I've made it this far and will be able to go his full first year on breast milk alone. {Disclaimer: No judgment to other mothers who didn't. Just happy with myself.} But now I'm nervous about how to actually go about the process. I guess I'll just start pumping for less and less time each time that I do pump??? I'll still nurse morning and night (don't even want to think about weaning yet), but how will I prevent clogs while eliminating the pumping? EEK! Isn't it amazing how there's ALWAYS a new question/worry with parenting?!?! Good thing babies are so dang cute!

Seriously?

This ad is apparently causing a ton of controversy in Ohio. You know why? Wait for it... Because the baby is drooling breast milk. People are seriously offended. Stuff like that makes me so upset because women should be proud of breastfeeding not made to feel bad about it. What else should this baby be drooling? Is it me or is that just totally ridiculous?!?! I'll stop before I really get going on my breastfeeding soapbox. ;)

A Funny Story About Milk

As we get closer to Trent's first birthday, I keep evaluating my milk supply. I am constantly counting how much I have frozen and how long that will last us as I try to figure out when I can stop pumping. I love nursing, but being a working mom makes it really difficult to pump...so I'm looking forward to not having to lug around that bag every day.

But anyway...back to my funny story about milk...I was reminded of this as I have milk on the brain. {grin}

This was back on our trip to San Francisco. I had to pump while there (duh), so I requested a fridge be put in my room. So during the day while at my training, I would pump, and I brought some frozen milk from home with us. Well, one night I'm looking at my laptop on the floor of my room (which connected to my parents' room), and my dad walks into my room. He says, "I really want a glass of milk." and walks over to the fridge. Um, WHAT?!? I thought he had to be setting me up for some funny joke. But no...he walks over to the fridge and opens the door and pulls out...a pint of COW'S MILK that he had bought that day at a convenience store down the street!! I was so shocked at first thinking he was talking about MY milk. Not sure if anyone finds that funny, but I still laugh when I think about it. :)

Stream of Consciousness

I am obsessed with 'The Office'. I'm almost through Season 2. I love Netflix. Trent was exposed to hand-foot-and-mouth disease this weekend. I hope he doesn't get sick. After pumping today, I spilled a ton of milk on my lap. I look like I peed in my pants and smelled like sour milk for the rest of the day. I'm glad I could come home and watch more of 'The Office'. Is it Friday yet?

To Relieve 'A Case of the Mondays'

Picture this: I am currently sitting on the floor of my client's bathroom (it's a one-seater) pumping. The dress I'm wearing is not as stretchy as I thought, so I had to take it off to pump. That's right, I'm sitting on the floor without any clothes on. Luckily, I'm wearing a long sweater over my dress, so I have that on. So, right now, my total outfit is: knee-high boots, underwear, nursing bra, sweater. Trent owes me...big time.

On the wall in the women's restroom at another client: 'Women are like teabags. You never know how strong they are until you put them in hot water.' WHAT? Please do not compare me to a teabag. Thanks.

Happy Monday!
milking

It Finally Happened

Someone walked in on me while pumping today (at work). How was your day?

Card Carrying...

...nurser! I just love the Milk Bank more and more.

I got this card and thought it was too cute. Apparently, it's the law that a woman be allowed to nurse in public. Seeing that made me think. I have nursed Trent in public and have a super cute nursing cover. But it's still awkward. As Trent gets bigger, he likes to grab the cover and pop his head up randomly. If I haven't already exposed myself, I wouldn't be surprised if I do someday. While I know it's totally normal to need to nurse in public, it's still not my favorite thing in the world, and that is kind of sad. I wonder what it will take to make all women comfortable to nurse in public? What's the most unique place you've nursed? Mine would have to be Alcatraz!

TMI?

So I debated sharing this story...but finally decided it was just too funny not to. It might be in the 'oversharing' category...but I think that's one of the things I do best. :) Moving on. Friday morning I woke up at 3:00 AM (my child was talking to himself in his crib) to a clogged milk duct and a weird tingling/burning in my nipple (I can't really think of a better word to use for nipple but it kind of makes me feel dirty - ha). It felt like it had been rubbed raw, maybe from the 4 times of pumping I had to do that day from being at work all day?? There's really nothing to do for a clogged duct at 3:00 AM (or at least nothing I'm willing to do at 3:00 AM), so I tried to go back to sleep. Very tough given the discomfort I was feeling. Anyway, Trent woke up a little after 6:00 AM, so I quickly nursed him to help relieve some of the pressure on the duct....OWWWWWWWW!!! I definitely rubbed the n----- (better?) raw! Then I found my heating pad thingy that I use for clogged ducts (thanks Mom!) and heated it in the microwave and AHHHH relief. 30 minutes later I'm about to take a shower. What are those red marks all over my breast? Oh geez...did I burn myself with my heating pad thingy? Apparently so. Get out of the shower, where's the lanolin (haven't had to use that since about 2 weeks after Trent was born)? Find the lanolin...geez...it is most definitely Friday! I went to work with red welts on my breast (covered up of course), lanolin slathered all over my n----- and some intense discomfort. Reason 1,805,630 why Trent better put me in a good nursing home when I'm really old! Oh the joys of motherhood! How did you end your week?

Wordless Wednesday

Alternatively Titled: Moo!!!

P.S. - I have about twice this much at my parents. :)