Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving


Thankful Thursday - Thanksgiving 2010

This Thanksgiving I have many things for which to be thankful.

First and foremost is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I am also thankful for my husband and his awesomeness.
Thankful for the two beautiful daughters he gave me (although one is still baking).
I'm thankful for my wonderful step-children. They bring so much joy to my life.
I'm thankful that Andrew got his driver's license yesterday.

And last ... I'm thankful for maternity leave!! Woohoo!!!!! No more work for 17 weeks!!!!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Random Thoughts- 11/23/10

If you've heard me say this before, I'm sorry for repeating myself. But maybe someone else can provide some insight and answer this question for me.

It is very common to recommend that women walk around, A LOT, to get labor started, to help the baby move down, to help the contractions be more productive, etc. Walking is about all women who are 39+ weeks pregnant do. So why is it when a woman, who is to term, arrives at the hospital in labor, the first thing they do is put her in a wheelchair?

I refused my wheelchair when I was in labor with Audrey and the triage nurse couldn't fathom why.

Well ... all I had been doing the last 3 hours was walk and the first thing the L&D nurse is going to do is have me walk the halls. Why should I take NOW to sit?

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Audrey's 18 Month checkup

Had our well baby visit with Audrey today.

Doctor seems to think she's perfect developmentally. He's concerned about her still drinking from a bottle, but said to wait until after the baby is born to wean her. We also got lectured about a pretty bad diaper rash that is clearing up. I'm just glad he didn't see her on Monday.

Stats:
32 1/4" tall (up 1 1/4" since 8/18)
23 lbs 15 oz (up almost 2 lbs since 8/18)
Head is 46.7 cm (up 1.3 cm since 8/18)

Next visit is at 2 years. So far in advance that we couldn't make an appt.
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

18 months


May 17, 2009




P1060357


October 31, 2010




My little girl is growing up so fast.

She is 18 months old today.


  • She is mimicing and parroting everything the big kids and adults do/say.
  • She has her eyes glued to any TV that is on and even requests TV shows.
  • She knows/remembers people who she sees less frequently and recognizes people from photos.
  • She is starting to make 2-word sentences
  • She says Thank You without prompting about 50% of the time.
  • Climbs on everything, but has a hard time getting down.
  • LOVES to color and will ask to color if she sees any sort of writing implement
  • Identifies objects out of books - cat, dog, monkey, keys, baby, frog, duck
  • Can make dog and cat sounds
  • Can use a fork and spoon, but much prefers her fingers
  • LOVES to give kisses and hugs
  • Recognizes herself in photos and mirrors "Dat Audrey"
  • Misses her brother and sister when they are at their mom's
  • Knows her eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, ears, hair, head, hands, fingers, knees, feet, toes, legs
  • Likes to have other people smell her feet, and then giggles when we make a stinky face
  • Requests to wear shoes
  • Likes to play with the doggie
  • Loves her little slide that is out on the deck and will play with that for long periods of time
  • Can drink out of a cup
  • Says, "wuv you."
In just 16 days, she is going to be a big sister.  Yikes!!!

Monday, November 15, 2010

My Big Book Of Grievances - 11/15

sigh.......


I try to be a generally happy individual, but this morning I was just hit with a huge list of things that are irritating me.


1) cold sores ... they SUCK!!!!!  Have another new one growing.  Do you know how hard it is to keep 18 month old fingers away from a mouth with a cold sore??


2) heat.  Why on earth is our bedroom nearly 80* on November 15th???  It's supposed to be rainy and gross this time of year.  


3) waking up to pee at 4 am and not being able to fall back asleep until 20 minutes before the alarm goes off.  Blech.  I hate waking up that groggy and gross.  

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Thankful Thursday - Veteran's Day Edition

Today I am thankful for my husband and the many other veteran's I know who have served this country.  Thankful for the freedom that their service allows me to have.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Carnival of Breastfeeding - My Family History of Nursing

Welcome, Carnival of Breastfeeding readers!


Challenged by the Motherwear Breastfeeding blog, I'm posting about the history of breastfeeding in my family.


I successfully nursed my daughter for almost 14 months.  She weaned herself because my supply dropped off due to pregnancy.  I plan on nursing my second daughter after she is born (due early December).  Nursing to me was an incredible experience.  I loved that I had all I needed to meet her nutritional needs from the day she was born.  I loved the convenience of nursing, over a bottle.  It was so easy to nurse her when she was hungry or fussing, rather than making her wait to take a bottle.  I loved that nursing her meant she got exactly the amount of milk she wanted, as opposed to feeling obligated to finish a bottle.  Nursing seemed to take the guess work out of "how much" when it came time to feeding.  


I went back to work when my daughter was about 14 weeks old; I pumped when at work and nursed when at home.  It was a struggle to keep up my supply.  Had it not been for a good community of other breastfeeding mothers, I'm not sure I would've made it an entire year.


My mom nursed both my sister and myself.  We were born at probably the height of the formula production.  Technology must be better than natural, was the mindset of the world.  My mom decided that she was going to breastfeed, and she did.  I was unable to take a bottle, so my mom couldn't even supplement with formula if she wanted.  And even after I turned 1, I was intolerant to cow's milk, so she had to continue to nurse me.  It was very reassuring to her that she was doing the right thing. 


Many years later, I remember a conversation with my mom after obtaining information on the benefits of breastmilk and breastfeeding.  She was so proud of herself for sticking with her mother instincts and breastfeeding her children when formula was so popular.


My maternal grandmother nursed both my mom and my uncle for a few months, but she didn't like nursing.  I believe she also went back to work and couldn't nurse the two kids for extended periods of time, but I could be wrong.


My paternal grandmother had 5 children, 4 years apart each.  The first 4 children she nursed faithfully.  By the time her 5th child was born, she was well into her late 40s and busy with teenagers and elementary school children.  Because she was so busy, and had built in babysitters, it was easy to leave the baby at home and run to the store or a woman's group at church or wherever needed.  


I wonder, had, there been the availability of breast pumps then that there is now, would my grandmothers have breastfed longer?


For more stories on breastfeeding ... read the following.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Wordless Wednesday - on Thursday

I seem to be a day late on something with my blog posts.  Oh well ... you'll enjoy the photos the same today as you would've yesterday.


Random photos from this weekend.


Who's that monkey in the mirror???

Sisters ...........

Broncos cheerleader!!  Go Broncos!


She found the carseat in the garage and just had to play with it and check it out.  She even got in it at one point, but I didn't have my camera with me then.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for an understanding and flexible boss so I can work from home today and spend time with my baby girl who is running a fever.  :(