Currently..

                       

Loving: Blogging. I've found it to be relaxing! I've never been good at communicating (I'm too high strung). This has been a challenge  for me and  I'm  really enjoying it.

Watching: Organizational tutorials on YouTube! 

Thinking About: The pursuit of happiness and the meaning of success. To me success=peace. Are you successful? I think that its about time I follow Gods plan and not mine.

Anticipating: Changes. I can feel it in the air...I feel so different now that I've had a baby and I know that more changes are to come! That's life...it's in constant motion.

Wishing: That I would have taken my Real Estate exam right after the course. I was 6 months pregnant and couldn't swing it. Now...I'm going to have a lot of refreshing to do!

Wearing: My Marc Jacob watch! I finally got it fitted and I love it!

Making me happy: FALL!! I can't wait to take Ella to a few fall

festivals! We're going to Hunsaders and Baysides fall fest. I'm 

Making Ella's costume! Sooo cute... You'll see!

                

Rebuilding your supply.

Hey!

I went to the Breast Beginning Support Group yesterday and really enjoyed it. There is nothing like getting a group of Moms together and exchanging support/information. Listening to the group there were a few things that I felt would be helpful discussing here on the blog. First things first - Rebuilding the Supply. I have never had a supply "problem" but I do need to pay attention to my supply because I am breastfeeding for two babies. I give milk locally to a little baby boy. Therefore, supply is something that I have had to pay attention to. 

The key to building a strong supply begins shortly after birth of baby. Your body works on a supply/demand system. It's best to keep that in mind when your baby is attached to you constantly in the beginning, it's important to feed on demand as much as possible. At that moment you're setting the bar for supply. Now...what happens when that is compromised by hospital protocol, post natal recovery and nipple pain? Simple. Frustration. But there is a way to rebuild!

We are blessed with miraculous bodies that are made to support life. It's the way God intended it! Yes, you will have challenges, but overcoming theses difficulties will make breastfeeding even more rewarding! Trust me...

Rebuilding The Supply

.Drink plenty of water. Like a lot!

.Don't stress! Relax and know it will return. Think good/happy thoughts

.Eat more oatmeal. Did you know that oatmeal is a natural milk producing power food? This is also true for brown rice, alfalfa and barley. Eat more!!

.Perfect the latch. Sometimes low weight gain is caused by inefficiency. If baby's latch is "off" it can result in a baby that's not nursing often enough or not nursing well enough.

.Feed/pump often. If you have the choice to pump or breastfeed at a given moment BREASTFEED A working and breastfeeding relationship goes far more smoothly when it’s founded on plenty of nursing instead of plenty of pumping. You may have fallen out of the habit of those little “just because” nursings that aren’t about food, but those casual, quick nursings are what keep a milk supply robust. Try to breastfeed 8-12 per day.

.Pump after breastfeeding. Because your body works on a supply/demand system you can innate to your body to produce more milk by pumping after feeding. Avoid doing it for longer than 5 mins you don't want oversupply either!
.Have more breast-a-thons. A breast-a-thon includes staying home with your baby, skin-to-skin contact (lots of it) and breastfeeding often. Enjoy your baby, and enjoy being a mama.

.Eat more cookies! Lactation cookies that is! 

                       

Lactation Cookies

Major Milk Makin' Cookies

Recipe by Kathleen Major

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

1 3/4 c. oats

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3/4 c. almond butter or peanut butter

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 c. flax

3 T brewer's yeast

1/3 c. water

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 large eggs

2 c. (12oz) chocolate chips

1 c. chopped nuts of your choice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.

In a large bowl, beat almond butter, butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, brewer's yeast, flax and water until creamy.

Mix in eggs.

Gradually beat in flour mixture.

Mix in nuts and chocolate chips.

Add oats slowly, mixing along the way.

Place balls of dough onto greased baking sheets or baking stones.

Press down each ball lightly with a fork.

Bake 12 minutes.

Resources

.The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

.The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk: Foreword by Martha Sears, RN

Happy Birthday

Nate, 

Happy birthday! You are loved by two thankful ladies! You're such a good Husband and Daddy! I hope that you enjoy your day!

Dear Bird,

Dear Bird, 

You're getting so big! You're beautiful and smart. You can hold your head up now and you can stand with assistance. You look so cute bobbing around. You love looking around and checking out your environment. Everyday that I look at you I'm amazed. I can't believe that I could have had anything to do with something so beautiful! You're the perfect mixture of both your Daddy and Mommy! I love you.

Photo an hour.

Last Saturday I did a little project called "Photo an Hour"! I posted to Instagram (if you aren't following me....you should). Here are the photo's:

10AM Bridge walk with friends.

 11AM Bumbo time with baby.

 11AM Playtime with baby.

 NOON Dressed for the day. We were going to her friend Emma's birthday party.

 1PM Homemade lentil soup for lunch.

 2PM Storytime with baby.

 3PM Happy Birthday Emma!

 4PM Ella is having fun at the party! Can't you tell??? Haha! She dirtied her owl onesie ::tear::

 5PM Dinner time. This Momma made a yummy casserole!

 6PM Baby down for a nap. Momma time.

 7PM Took time to make lists..

 8PM and find recipes...

 9PM After bath time and Ella is down for the night I enjoy new catalogue that came in the mail!

Well...it proved to be alot of fun and I can't wait to do it again soon!

Two month update.

Personality: This month our little lady has really blossomed! She is so happy all of the time. She isn't upset or fussy unless something is actually wrong. I love taking her grocery shopping in her gauze wrap. She loves front facing and looking out at everyone!

Sleep: Ella is still sleeping with us. I love it! She has certain days that she likes to sleep. I think she's just growing...we have noticed that she sleeps better when mommy is around. She nurses about 1-2 times a night. 

Health: Talk about healthy. She has her two month check-up on the 17th. Last time she was in the 95%. I look forward to seeing how much my little booger has grown! I know that she's chunked up a bit :0)

Eating: She still eats on demand. I prefer it that way. Again she has no "set" schedule. I have noticed that she is on a bit of a schedule..she has kind of made one for herself. There are times when my oversupply gives her gas. I have to make sure and burp her well..

Appearance: She is soooo stinkin cute! She still has her Daddy's eyes, Mommy's nose and baby rolls! There are a few facial expressions that are SOOO Nate. Haha. Yesterday she was pooping and she looked like me. I have a pick of me pooping when I was a baby. Spittin image!

On a side note...I'm getting fit again!

How cute is this girl?

Yes...yes...yes. I do have the cutest baby in the world. 

P.s. I'm going to start using Vimeo for videos!

Friday Favorites

Hey Guys! I wanted to share a few things that I have been dreaming/loving lately!
1: Jane Birkin! Her style is simple chic and it's really made me want to simplify my wardrobe.
2: I am obsessed with all things Wilmer Ferguson. I have a few books for the bird and I also have this neat display board that I will be doing a review on later in the month. Ella loves them and I would def recommend!
3: This super cute print. I can't find who makes it so I may just have to "recreate". Dang Pinterest! You failed me on this one!
4: ALL THINGS Minnetonka. I'm getting a pair, she's getting a pair and he's getting a pair...or so help me!
5: thiefandbandit! I love their take on children's fashion! Very much my style!

Well...have fun taking a look! Let me know if you find anything similar to my style you think I might like. I'm always looking for Etsy vendors!

Death of the Jojo or Binky...whatever you call it.

I'm not trying to hate. Promise. However I wanted to share why I do not use a pacifier. I have had people ask and honestly for a while...I had no good reason. I had to sit down and do some research/soul searching. I have never been fond of them but had few good reasons why. Now I DO! I have found a few good resources (I have linked) regarding the matter. So...here are my top ten reasons:


10. Prolongs dependency and interferes with developing autonomy
09. Disrupts trust that mother will provide food and comfort
08. Baby may be or become allergic to latex.
07. Choking hazard
06. Encourages posterior-to-anterior tongue peristalsis
05. Limit skin contact-blocks sensory integration
04. Puts lips into unnatural shape, create muscle imbalance
03. Puts stimulation at anterior part of palate & mouth
02. Causes altered brain wave patterns (trance-like state)
01. Seperates sucking from food intake; unknown results
Bonus reason and furthermore- DEPRIVES BABY OF FOOD

**This is very biased. These are all the reasons I do not use a pacifier. I'm sure other mother have great reasons as to why they do. Please do your own research and make the choice thats best for your baby. EVERY baby is different.

Sources-1, 2,3

The most beautiful girl.

She kills me.

10 Things...

Hey guys!
After Ella was born there were a few items that I found very useful. I definitely couldn't have lived without my iPad. While I was nursing I could use my iPad to watch my favorite shows on Hulu, read some of the books I had downloaded and post pictures of Ella to Facebook :0) I also loved my Belly Bandit. I had one in a medium that I wore for a week and then I was in the size small. I really liked them and preferred wearing them at night. Now...after I gave birth to Ella I was a little hesitant about having any type of bowel movements. It can be a little scary after you give birth! Thats were the Colace comes in...very helpful! I also lost a lot of blood when Ella was born and the Floradix was a great iron supplement! Of course I utilized my Boppy every time I nursed! Oh! I love love loved my Tervis. I still love my Tervis. I don't go anywhere without a water! If you're nursing then you really need to stay hydrated and the Tervis is great! Another nursing must-have is my nursing tanks...Oh man! I don't know what I did before I had them. I suggest having at least 3-4...you will thank me!

Now...the other item that I think every new Mom needs and what was a huge help to us, was a meal train. We had close family and friends delivering us food. It was a godsend. I also had my mom-in-law come for a visit...she stayed with us and cooked a ton. She would freeze meals so when she left we had left overs. When she was here I would put Ella down in her bouncer to eat. She loved her bouncer and it gave me a free second to eat and visit. Her bouncer stayed next to the table.

one, two, three, four, six, seven, eight, nine and ten!!!

Oh! The peri bottles are a must-have. I had a cold herbal solution in mine. It def helped with healing. If you want the herbal mixture just email me!

She sleeps with her baby??

Absolutely! Ya know, I've heard all of the risks and opinions but I can honestly say that the benefits out weigh any of the "risks" that I have read about (for my family). I was going to write this post outlining my research but...thats not what this blog is about. This blog is about my life not research..hah!

So...the reasons that I LOOOOVE bedsharing:

Breastfeeding- By being there and anticipating the feeding, I can feed Ella before shes fully awake. I get to feed and tend to Ella right when she needs it. I don't have to worry about getting up, consoling and  getting her situated to feed. Ella loves it and feels close to me all night. It's also helped with my supply.

Day separation- Out of necessity I am a working momma. Being that I am separated from Ella during the day, I am finding that sleeping with my baby at night allows me to reconnect and make up for missed touch time during the day.

Reduces the risk of SIDS-New research indicates that infants who sleep safely nestled next to parents are less likely to succumb to the tragedy of SIDS. 

I sleep better- Did you know that mothers and infants are able to achieve nighttime harmony: babies and mothers get their sleep cycles in sync with one another.