Friday, April 27, 2012

reasons why i can't wait to stop pumping/breastfeeding

* i can get rid of my nursing bras

* i don't have to wear pads that go along w/ the bras

* we can get a babysitter and maybe have a date night once she can be put to bed by someone else

* i can have more than 1 drink at a time

* no more pumping at work

* harper will hopefully be eating what we are eating by then

* did i mention that i can have more than one drink?

* i can drink caffeine again


so it has been almost 9 months since i started breastfeeding. i have been pumping for about 4 months. overall, i have enjoyed breastfeeding because there is nothing like being able to be that close to your child and knowing you are providing her with all that she needs to become a healthy, happy baby. but man oh man, it is tough. i am blessed that she took to it on day one in the hospital. those are the toughest days, usually when most mothers give up. you are faced with trying to feed a newborn and process everything else at the same time. most babies lose weight, become jaundice and are expected to thrive on breastmilk alone. having the babies latch on is also an entirely different challenge you are faced with. talk about some painful moments in the beginning. i used to look at other mothers feeding their children formula in a bottle, jealous of how easy that must be. not having to worry about if you could find a place to breastfeed in public, the pain you experienced every time she latched on, the pain from being engorged and being able to share the duties of feeding. when we used to feed every 3 hours, i used to think that it would never end. every 3 hours, over and over and over again. and it was all you. as much as amy wanted to help in the middle of the night, she couldn't.
pumping became my enemy at one point. i was having trouble at first and mostly psyching myself out. i just couldn't comprehend tyring to pump in between feeding harper every 3 hours. mentally i was exhausted. having a personal lactation consultant was definitely helpful. thanks kriss! once i began to go back to work, the pumping turned out ok. i pump twice a day at work, but still needed to supplement her bottles with some formula. lately, i haven't been successful when i pump. it has been very frustrating. could it be from the stress of the upcoming trip? or am i mentally blocking myself again? or maybe i am not drinking enough water. it is 94 degrees outside today, after all. i'm hoping to stop pumping after all of our vacations, around july 1st. then we will be transitioning her to real milk at that point. i can see the light. i will continue to breastfeed her in the morning and evening. there is going to be one big celebration on the day i stop breastfeeding. it may involve me drinking the entire day so i think we may need a babysitter. : )
i do know one thing. i am doing this for harper and that is one big enough reason to power thru all of the challenges i am faced with.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

lolo and lola

harper is enjoying the time with her lolo and lola. she is sad that it took them 8 months to meet them, but is enjoying her time with them. they love to sing and dance with her. mom is constantly loving on her...well, actually annoying her in a cute way. she likes to pinch harper's nose. sometimes she will laugh and other times she will grunt at her. it makes us laugh. i think they too are enjoying her time with little miss. come to think of it, i don't think i have ever seen my father hold a baby. in the mornings i usually hand harper off to amy after i feed her so i can finish getting ready for work. it is their fun time in bed before she gets ready for school. since lolo and lola have been here, they have been taking her and entertaining her in their room. i like hearing the laughter from my parents in the guest room when they are with her. it's nice. i hope she gets to see more of them.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

harper's first easter!

harper had a wonderful easter. she was able to spend time with her grandfather and grammy (bob and rhoda), gran (merrily) and meet her wisconsin family (john's sister and family). she got showered with lots of lovely easter gifts, of course. grandma marie made a really cool giraffe for her that everyone tried to steal. she now has lots of cute outfits for the summer too.
we went to our annual easter celebration out at sibby's and shelley's. wonderful as ever. the weather was picture perfect, great food and surrounded by family and friends. it certainly was different this year with harper, making sure she ate, got her nap in, etc. luckily, the grandparents offered to stroll her around while she napped so amy and i could eat. she had a super cute dress and bonnet on. you couldn't resist wanting to take a picture of her. it was like the paparazzi was out in blanco snapping pictures of her.
overall it was a busy but fun weekend. i'm still tired but have to prepare for the upcoming visit from MY PARENTS!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

my first official wave

dropped harper off at daycare as usual ths morning. hugged and kissed her goodbye and handed her to miss jill, but today i walked away and waved at her. she gave me the cutest wave goodbye...it almost made me cry! she still looks like she is dribbling a basketball, but it is super cute.

Monday, April 2, 2012

family time!

harper will be meeting many more of her extended family over the easter holiday weekend, but she will be able to see Gran, Grandfather and Grammy again too. it is going to be a busy but fun time.
this past weekend, she met her (2nd) cuzzin Paolo. she can't wait to try new foods and hang out with him on his annual jerry jeff walker concert visits to austin. he even invited us all out to his cabin getaway in north carolina...yay!
told her to be nice to him and maybe he will make some of his homemade tasty ice creams on his next visit.