Thursday, August 22, 2013

9 Months Old!

Wow time is flying-- I know I say that all the time but holy COW it really seems to be going even faster since Jackson hit 6 months.  And now here we are-- at 9 months.  He's been with us as long (well actually longer now) than he was in my belly!  He's also only THREE months away from turning a year old *sniff*.  Anyway, here's all about my little love bug at 9 months...

Weight/Length: 20lbs 12oz, 28 inches
Clothing Size: 12 months
Diaper Size:  Size 3
Feeding: Breastfeeding- still going great, nurses about 6 times in a 24hr period (those are good 5-10min sessions) and then occasionally he'll nurse a bit more here & there (more like snacks/comfort nursing, just a couple min)  He usually nurses when he wakes up in the morning, before his naps, once in the evening if he only takes 2 naps, and then before bed, and then 1 or 2 times at night.
Solids- usually eats 3 meals a day. He has mastered self-feeding so we are giving him lots more table food now. Usually I'll just cut up some pieces of whatever we are having.  He also gets purées still too depending on what is most convenient.
Milestones: Babbling TONS.  Says "mama" and "dada" (though I'm not sure he actually MEANS us), also says what we think is "Duke" (our dog-- it comes out more like "dut" though) lol.  He really wants to crawl but just hasn't figured it out yet.  He tries to scoot on his belly and gets mad cause he can't really get where he wants to go.  He "dances", bounces, and rocks while sitting.  He can stand if we help him.  One of the adorable things he has started doing lately is "sharing" his binky lol- he tries to put it in our mouths.  As of turning 9 mo he still doesn't have any teeth HOWEVER I can now feel/see one coming in!!!  I noticed the last couple days he was sleeping really restlessly at night, and sometimes during his naps too (which is unusual he normally is a great napper) and low and behold he finally has a tooth coming in!  It hasn't broke through yet but I look for it to very soon!
Sleep: Pretty good, we still parttime cosleep and I honestly don't see it changing anytime soon.  It works for us now.  We may try again to get him to sleep in his crib all night when he turns a year old but for now this setup works (albeit its a bit crowded).  Anyway he goes to bed around 8, sleeps till between 11-1, wakes up, nurses back to sleep in our bed where he stays the rest of the night.  Sometimes he will wake around 4 to nurse again (and goes right back to sleep) and a time or two he has slept straight through till when he's ready to be up for the day which is unfortunately lol, between 6:30 and 7. (I have no idea where he got his earlybird-ness cause I certainly am NOT)  Then he usually takes two 1 to 2 hour naps around 10am and 2pm.  Some days he will also take a third catnap around 5pm (but that's starting to fade out I think).
Likes/Dislikes:  He still likes pets/animals (especially our dogs), strings (like shoelaces or the straps on his high chair) and our iPhones. He also still likes the jumperoo. He loves to swing at the park and is a big fan of the water!  Dislikes include having something cool taken away from him and being alone.  Also something I haven't mentioned-- he doesn't like loud/sudden/strange noises and will get scared.





Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Completely Random Sort of Post

Ok so I have a few things floating around in my head so I figured why not do a random sort of post so hence- the bulleted list!


  • Co-Sleeping transition... ok this one I'm calling on all mamas who might read this blog-- right now Jackson part time co-sleeps with us, has been since he was like 4-5mo.  Anyway he does pretty awesome his first stretch of sleep in his crib in his room- which usually goes from around 8 until 12-1.  (Sometimes he will wake up earlier but that's not the norm).  I have been trying to put him back to sleep and then transfer to his crib but then he'll sleep for an even shorter interval and then it goes that way until I give up.  Most of the time I just put him in our bed during that first nightwaking because well- it's easier and I'm tired.  If I do that, he usually just wakes one more time to nurse, typically around 4.  So the part-time cosleeping arrangement gets us the most sleep... but on the other hand, our queen size bed is pretty crowded, and I'd love to get him to sleep in his crib longer.  Anyone have any suggestions?  I've tried putting him down before he's fully asleep and have him fall asleep in his crib with me sitting nearby and he does ok but I don't really notice a difference in his wake up pattern as opposed to me nursing him all the way to sleep and then putting him down.  We HAVE tried the Ferber method (where you check on them every 5 minutes and increase the time til they eventually fall asleep) and that does NOT work, especially after a nightwaking.  I have a VERY stubborn little boy who will just get more and more hysterical until he's coughing and then is even harder to calm down.  (Not to mention it rips my heart out).  We only made it to a 15minute interval before I decided that was just not for us.  Anyway, any suggestions would be helpful if anyone has any! :)  I think if I could get him through that first night waking and sleeping until around 4 even I'd be a happy camper.  I wouldn't mind bringing him into our bed then and nursing and cuddling till morning.
  • Makeup- yeah I need to go through my makeup drawer and throw out the crap I've had since high school.  And get some new stuff.  Recommendations on a good (cheap) foundation?  I don't like a very heavy feeling one, but I'd like to be able to have something to help cover up the dark circles and occasional blemishes.  Speaking of dark circles I'm open to concealer suggestions as well!
  • Money, money, money- So we are starting Dave Ramsay's steps to financial freedom.  We've watched most of the videos and have been ever so slowly working on our emergency fund.  I do plan on blogging our journey but we have yet to get a good start on it-- however that will change because after this weekend we will be SELLING OUR JEEP!  (*sad face*)  I love our Jeep and it is a great vehicle but between the gas and the payment we are just spending too much money on it.  Our plan is to sell it, get caught up on some of our credit card bills, then save for a mini van and pay for a mini van in cash.  So prayers are much needed not only for our finances in general but more specifically that we can sell our Jeep and get at least what we still owe on it (and possibly a little extra for the emergency fund?).
  • Countdown to School Starting- I can't remember if I shared this on here, BUT I officially have a *real* (part time) teaching job starting this year!  I'll be teaching pre-school at our church (two classes- 3s and 4s)  I'm excited (and a tad nervous) to start this new journey.  Our orientation is next Tuesday so I'm currently in the midst of getting the room ready and everything for that big day!
  • Cousins!- Another thing I'm super excited for-- my cousin Stefani and her family are coming to visit in just a couple more weeks!  I can't wait to see them! <3 li="">
Ok that's enough randomness for now-- until later! :)

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Top 10 Breastfeeding Tips!

Hey!  So in honor of World Breastfeeding Week (which actually comes to a close today...) I thought I'd share with you all some tips I've learned along the way.  As you know if you've been reading this, or if you know me, I've breastfed my baby boy since day 1. 




At this point (and really since a couple months in) breastfeeding is EASY.  But it wasn't always!  In the beginning it is very challenging.  (Read my past post on breastfeeding here) So I hope these things I have learned can help someone who is just starting out breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed in the future!


Ok so here we go!


  1. Educate yourself- This is so important.  Do as much research on breastfeeding as you can-- the more you know about all the benefits for mom and baby the more passionate you will become about it and the more passionate you are the more dedicated you will be and more likely to stick to it and power through.  Talk to friends/family that have breastfed successfully before.  In addition, take a breastfeeding class during your pregnancy.  Almost every hospital offers one, and you can also take one through WIC.  Taking a class will give you an overview, let you know what types of things to expect, and teach you some tips and tricks to try.  It also connects you with a lactation consultant which will be an AWESOME help to you.  If for whatever reason you can't take a class then be sure to connect with a lactation consultant and meet with her before having your baby.  And bring your hubby (or whoever will be helping raise your baby) with you too!
  2. Have support- Surround yourself with as many people as you can that will support you and your breastfeeding goals.  Your hubby can be a great support (That's why I said to bring him to the class with you), but it's also important to have people that have "been there" before.  For me it was my mom and my cousin Stefani.  They were able to answer my questions no matter how silly it seemed.  Your lactation consultant can come into play here too, both lactation consultants at my hospital gave me their personal cell phone numbers and told me to call or text ANY time I needed anything.  Even still, it's good to have friends/family as well.  If you have absolutely nobody other than your LC, then I would highly suggest joining a breastfeeding support group or the La Leche League.  You are going to have questions, and you are going to have times when you feel like giving up-- so you need someone to encourage you to keep truckin' and offer suggestions and advice.
  3. Trust your body & your baby- Sounds simple enough but it's harder than it sounds.  First I'll cover trusting your own body.  Know that it is actually EXTREMELY rare that you actually have low supply if you have never supplemented.  It might SEEM as if you aren't making enough but trust me- you are.  In the beginning babies tummies are SOOO tiny!  They are filled by just a teaspoon of colostrum, which is the perfect amount your body makes.  There will be times when you feel like you do nothing but feed and you might wonder if baby is getting enough-- he is.  When your supply regulates a few weeks-months in you all of a sudden won't feel "full" and you'll think your milk has dried up-- it hasn't!  As long as baby is gaining weight on their own curve and producing wet diapers then you are making enough milk.  Let that be your guide and don't supplement unless baby isn't doing the previously mentioned- because supplementing WILL cause your supply to go down.  Remember it's all supply and demand!  When I say trust your baby what I mean is feed baby when he's hungry.  Don't schedule feedings.  Learn hunger cues and respond accordingly.  Baby knows best in this case usually ;)
  4. Nurse baby ASAP after birth- I know this is more difficult with c-section births but most hospital staff are very accommodating to this if they know your wishes prior.  It's best to get help and get baby latched on during his alert period right after birth (before they go into their sleepy stage where it becomes more difficult to get baby awake enough to get a good feeding in).  I nursed Jackson within minutes of his birth and I think that made a huge difference!
  5. Make your wishes known to your partner, doctor, and the hospital staff- most hospitals are pro-breastfeeding and will do what they can to help you and encourage you.  Occasionally though you'll run on to hospital staff that will give formula, etc. without your consent.  Make SURE that they know you are breastfeeding and that nothing is to be given to baby without your consent and without a valid medical reason.  You don't want your efforts to be sabotaged just because they didn't know better.  It's a good idea to make sure your doctor and especially your husband/partner knows your wishes too so that they can be your advocate if necessary.
  6. Know your options-  If you are having lots of difficulty know that there are sooo many options out there to give your baby breastmilk if nursing isn't going as planned.  You don't immediately have to give up and switch to formula (disclaimer: I'm not knocking formula-- just that if you want to give your baby breastmilk it's important to know what options are out there!)  If you are having trouble with your milk coming in or jaundice, etc, ask about an SNS (Supplemental nursing system).  Google it for more info but it's a nifty way to supplement with your own pumped milk/colostrum or formula if needed without having to use a bottle and while still stimulating your breast to encourage the milk to come in.  If you are having latch troubles see a lactation consultant ASAP to get it checked out and follow her instructions for getting it fixed.  If you have damaged nipples (usually happens from too many bad latches) or flat/inverted nipples, ask about a nipple shield or breast shells.  There's lots of things that can help with your difficulties.  If worst comes to worst and you just cannot feed baby from your breast then you CAN pump and bottle feed your baby breastmilk.  Know though that exclusively pumping comes with a big commitment and carries its own difficulties but it IS possible! (If you choose to do that then you will need to rent or buy a hospital grade pump).  There is also donor breastmilk available as well.  I was blessed to not have to use any of the aforementioned things but I have had friends that have and they are truly thankful for their use so that they could give their babies the best food!
  7. Ask for help- It's ok, really.  We all have difficulties and challenges.  You are learning, and baby is learning.  Never be afraid to ask (and demand if you have to) help while you are in the hospital and also after you have gone home.  
  8. Invest in Lanolin cream and a pump- ok lanolin cream is going to be your lifesaver in the beginning.  Even if you have a PERFECT latch, point blank your nipples are gonna hurt like hell for a while.  They just aren't used to it and it takes a while.  Use lanolin after every feeding- trust me it helps.  As for a pump even if you are going to be a stay at home mom and plan to seldom to never give your baby a bottle, I would still get at least a manual pump.  First of all in the beginning you are super engorged and while you shouldn't pump a lot (causes oversupply), sometimes you HAVE to just so baby can get latched.  Also you might want a date night this century.  Or just a little break.  Or to give dad a turn in feeding.  You get the idea.  Not to mention when your little one starts solids it's good to be able to mix his cereal with breastmilk.  So definitely look into purchasing a pump and a bottle or two. 
  9. Know it gets easier-  Those first 6-8 weeks are so hard.  But know it gets easier day by day.  It seems like forever from now but pretty soon this will be a distant memory.  Take it day by day for a while.  Set small goals.  You can do this- our bodies were made for it!
  10. Take care of yourself- This is easy to overlook.  I know I did those first few weeks.  Turns out I wasn't drinking near enough water- I didn't get dehydrated thankfully but well let me just say postpartum hemorrhoid + iron supplements + lack of water..... and you get the idea.  Ouch.  Don't forget to drink plenty of water, eat plenty of food/snacks, and get as much rest as you can (definitely use the sleep when baby sleeps philosophy!).  Accept help when you can with household stuff and even watching baby for an hour or two so you can sleep.  My hubby would take Jackson in the early morning and let me sleep in the first few weeks.  Remember you have to stay healthy too!


Alrighty well that's my list of ten tips to get through those first weeks of breastfeeding.  If I left anything out feel free to add in the comments! :)

I can hands down say that breastfeeding is one of the BEST decisions I have made and I know I will nurse all my future babies as well!

Jackson's (late) 8 Month Update!

Well my baby went and turned 8 months old!

Weight/Length: 20.2lbs, 27inches
Clothing Size: about half and half between 6-9/9mo and 12mo, just depending on the brand
Diaper Size:  Size 3
Feeding: Breastfeeding- still going great, nurses about 6 times in a 24hr period (those are good 5-10min sessions) and then occasionally he'll nurse a bit more here & there (more like snacks/comfort nursing, just a couple min)  He usually nurses when he wakes up in the morning, before his naps, once in the evening if he only takes 2 naps, and then before bed, and then 1 or 2 times at night.
Solids- usually eats 3 meals a day. He has mastered self-feeding so we are giving him lots more table food now. Usually I'll just cut up some pieces of whatever we are having.  He also gets purées still too depending on what is most convenient.
Milestones: Sitting up great, can go from sitting to his belly and then can roll both ways. He hasn't started crawling yet. Babbling TONS more, he has said a few words but that happened after he turned 8mo so I'll save that for the next update :). Has a very strong object permanence now. Gets upset if you take a toy away from him, he's fascinated by the dogs, strings, and our drink cups. Still toothless!
Sleep: As of when he turned 8mo it was pretty good. Going to bed around 8pm and waking twice. (Usually midnight ish and that's when he will join us in our bed) and again around 4 (to nurse though sometimes he nurses when he wakes around midnight too). He's up for the day usually between 6:30 and 7.
Likes/Dislikes:  He is really liking pets/animals (especially our dogs), strings (like shoelaces or the straps on his high chair) and our iPhones. He also still likes the jumperoo. He loves to swing at the park and is a big fan of the water!  Dislikes include having something cool taken away from him and being alone.