Many may not grasp this kind of excitement...BUT, I am oh so excited. Ido believe I have foundout why I have a fussy baby who spits up a lot with green poo! (Breastfed babies usually have yellow poo.) I think I have a fore/hind milk imbalance! This means my baby is getting too much of the sugary, carb packed milk that is meant to satisfy thirst, and not enough of the fatty, protein packed milk that fills him up. I think I started switching breasts too often, not giving enough time to let him get a good supply of that thick, fatty goodness! Yesterday, I fed him on one breast for 3 hours. (NOT 3 hours straight, but any time he was hungry in a 3 hour period, he got the same side.) It has worked WONDERS already! He is spitting up soo much less, and is happier longer. I am still nursing about every hour, but hopefully things will level out, and we can space it out longer.
Since this is a nursing blog, I figured I would reiterate how much I love doing what I feel my body is MEANT to do. Even if it is every hour. (A perfect excuse to sit on my butt!) I feel like this is the perfect food for my baby! I love love love doing it! I would STRONGLY reccomend it to ANY MOMMY! Also, there is tons of support on FB, and the internet, and I am sure in person..(I haven't figured this out yet.) My favorite blog is this, http://leakyboob.blogspot.com/ She is amazing in my opinion!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Happy Fall!
I don't know why, but I have never been a 'fall person'. Maybe because fall gives way to the dreaded winter. Maybe because it indicates the end of summer. Or the end of sun until 10 p.m. Or, more than likely, it is a little bit of all of these things. But Cierra, she LOVES fall. So, I made it a point to include studying fall in our school lessons this month, and already, my appreciation for this season has grown. It is such a beautiful season. I look out my window and see bright yellow leaves everywhere!!
In celebration of the new season, we went on a 'fall walk' today, and gathered different kinds and colors of leaves. It has been slightly windy, and the leaves are blowing EVERYWHERE! Then we came home and glued the leaves on to construction paper, and colored all around it. They are our 'I love fall' pages! We also made cinnamon rolls the other day, and in the spirit of the season, we dyed the food coloring bright orange! I am excited for the plans that I have for this season! I only wish that we had trees in OUR yard (or just a yard would be great!) so that I could rake them up and jump into them with the kids....**SIGH**....Maybe next year?! I hope so!
HAPPY FALL! Go out and appreciate this season for what it is: GORGEOUS!!!
In celebration of the new season, we went on a 'fall walk' today, and gathered different kinds and colors of leaves. It has been slightly windy, and the leaves are blowing EVERYWHERE! Then we came home and glued the leaves on to construction paper, and colored all around it. They are our 'I love fall' pages! We also made cinnamon rolls the other day, and in the spirit of the season, we dyed the food coloring bright orange! I am excited for the plans that I have for this season! I only wish that we had trees in OUR yard (or just a yard would be great!) so that I could rake them up and jump into them with the kids....**SIGH**....Maybe next year?! I hope so!
HAPPY FALL! Go out and appreciate this season for what it is: GORGEOUS!!!
Monday, September 27, 2010
So far today:
Lots of stuff has happened that I want to remember. Funny little things that my kids have done. It is true that every moment can become a memory. I am doing my very best to savor these years. To enjoy my childrens precious childhood. Here are some things:
1. Blayke told me that he loved me "so very much". This was followed by a kiss that he wiped away saying, "EWW! SLOPPY KISSES!" (Thanks Woody, for teaching my sweet boy this! LOL!)
2. After Blayke barged in on her in the bathroom, Cierra got tape, paper and a pencil and made a new bathroom sign, it reads: "Do not come in I am going to the dathroom rite now." (She still mixes up her d's and b's). She then told me I could FINALLY go to the bathroom in private. (YEA, we will see! LOL!)
3. Konnor got his tooth in yesterday, but you can now SEE the little bugger. I am a little nervous about this, as I am still a nursing mama!
4. Blayke made a set of stairs on the lite brite, and told me, "These are VERY dangerous." The kid cracks me up!!!!
And last but not least, Blayke has decided blessings need to be said for EVERYTHING WE EAT, and blessed his smarties!
I love these little people. They are so amazingly smart!!
ON ANOTHER NOTE: We are OH SOOOOOO excited to be going to Idaho in about a month. I will miss Woody very much the month that we are there, but "absence makes the heart grow fonder", right?! I have all of my school lessons for Cierra prepared, (Talk about a task), and feel good about being able to stay on task while in Idaho.
1. Blayke told me that he loved me "so very much". This was followed by a kiss that he wiped away saying, "EWW! SLOPPY KISSES!" (Thanks Woody, for teaching my sweet boy this! LOL!)
2. After Blayke barged in on her in the bathroom, Cierra got tape, paper and a pencil and made a new bathroom sign, it reads: "Do not come in I am going to the dathroom rite now." (She still mixes up her d's and b's). She then told me I could FINALLY go to the bathroom in private. (YEA, we will see! LOL!)
3. Konnor got his tooth in yesterday, but you can now SEE the little bugger. I am a little nervous about this, as I am still a nursing mama!
4. Blayke made a set of stairs on the lite brite, and told me, "These are VERY dangerous." The kid cracks me up!!!!
And last but not least, Blayke has decided blessings need to be said for EVERYTHING WE EAT, and blessed his smarties!
I love these little people. They are so amazingly smart!!
ON ANOTHER NOTE: We are OH SOOOOOO excited to be going to Idaho in about a month. I will miss Woody very much the month that we are there, but "absence makes the heart grow fonder", right?! I have all of my school lessons for Cierra prepared, (Talk about a task), and feel good about being able to stay on task while in Idaho.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Another update!
So, Konnor is growin' up WAY too fast! He is a PRO at rolling over. He has also figured out how to maneuver to get to anything his lil' heart desires! I am sure that before we get back from our trip to ID, he will be a master crawler. He is such a sweet little man. I sure do adore his sweet chubby little blue eyed face! Oh, and he has been getting in a tooth FOREVER, of course, it hasn't happened yet...I feel bad for the little guy, because the gum is quite swollen.
Blayke is growing like crazy as well, and is quickly catching his sis. (Like THAT is hard to do.) He is talking so well. He tells me things are 'his favorite'...Today it was the yellow leaves. They were his favorite. He also asks, "What that means?" about everything! He loves to watch Cierra do her schoolwork on the computer, and the program we are using with her has a preschool program that we are enrolling him in next year. He loves to bless the food as well, and does quite well, but likes his sister to help him.
Cierra is becoming more and more of a little lady! She lost her 3rd baby tooth a couple of days ago, and got 5 dollars!! (Stinkin' inflation!) She put the tooth in a bag, and wrote a note to the tooth fairy. I wanted to keep it, but daddy insisted on playing tooth fairy, and got rid of it! (MEN!) She came down dressed in her witch costume the night that she lost it and told me to call her The Toothless Wonder Witch! I laughed and laughed. She is still her smart, sassy self. She loves doing homeschool, and LOVES to read and write in her journal. (I plan on her having one every year, and giving them all to her later.) I love to read what her little mind comes up with!
Woody and I are doing well. A few small rocky patches, but we know Satan is working on us hard, but we also realize that he has only the power we give him. Other than that, we are doing so well, and, regardless of what is thrown our way, I have the faith that we will be ok!
There aren't many other noteworthy things to report, so I will close now! Hope everyone is well!
Blayke is growing like crazy as well, and is quickly catching his sis. (Like THAT is hard to do.) He is talking so well. He tells me things are 'his favorite'...Today it was the yellow leaves. They were his favorite. He also asks, "What that means?" about everything! He loves to watch Cierra do her schoolwork on the computer, and the program we are using with her has a preschool program that we are enrolling him in next year. He loves to bless the food as well, and does quite well, but likes his sister to help him.
Cierra is becoming more and more of a little lady! She lost her 3rd baby tooth a couple of days ago, and got 5 dollars!! (Stinkin' inflation!) She put the tooth in a bag, and wrote a note to the tooth fairy. I wanted to keep it, but daddy insisted on playing tooth fairy, and got rid of it! (MEN!) She came down dressed in her witch costume the night that she lost it and told me to call her The Toothless Wonder Witch! I laughed and laughed. She is still her smart, sassy self. She loves doing homeschool, and LOVES to read and write in her journal. (I plan on her having one every year, and giving them all to her later.) I love to read what her little mind comes up with!
Woody and I are doing well. A few small rocky patches, but we know Satan is working on us hard, but we also realize that he has only the power we give him. Other than that, we are doing so well, and, regardless of what is thrown our way, I have the faith that we will be ok!
There aren't many other noteworthy things to report, so I will close now! Hope everyone is well!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Why I believe breast is best!
Have I ever mentioned how much I **LOVE** breastfeeding? Like, truly, deeply love it. It is such an amazing thing to me...That my body, and my body alone has nourished this chunky little piece of heaven! For 5 months...Well, 14 months really, if you include pregnancy.
Besides the bonding, there are SO many health benefits! For both Konnor and I. (A lower risk of ovarian, breast and uterine cancer for me, just to name a few. Studies point to higher IQ's, less illness, and more empathy for Konnor. Again, that is just a few of the health benefits.) And, Oh my gosh! Have you ever taken a good whiff of a breastfed baby?! Seriously, as strange as it sounds, THEY SMELL SOOOO GOOD! (I know the differnece, as I have had 2 basically formula fed, and 1 breastfed.) I ***LOVE*** smelling Konnor.
I don't argue with or judge people who formula feed..Uh..Hello, I did so my self on 2/3 of my children. But I was not as knowlegable about the benefits of breastfeeding, I was always under pressure to give the kids bottles, and had fairly little support the first two times around. This time, I did LOADS of research. Seriously. And I became determined that I would breastfeed this baby, for as long as we are both happy with it. (The benefits of extended nursing are another post!) I feel that the choice between formula and breastmilk isn't a "right or wrong" choice, but a choice about maximizing a child's health and potential! Sure, formula is good, but breastmilk has been proven TIME AND AGAIN to be better! (I read that the IQ defecit of a formula fed child is 5 points as compared to a breastfed child. The defecit of a child whose mother did cocaine prenatally is only 3 points!) And, personally, I want what is best for my babies!
Ohhhh, and lets talk convenience...Breastfeeding is the most convenient thing I have done. REALLY! If you do some research, you are really supposed to heat water to 70 degrees before you put formula in it, because formula is not, contrary to popular belief, sterile. YOU have to sterilize it. Not to mention, packing it, carrying it, throwing it out when it goes bad....And the cost...Oh my! Breastmilk is ALWAYS ready, always the right temperature, always suited for my babies need. (Did you know that the make up changes according to time of day, and even for the babies gender?! Breastmilk for boys has a highter fat content!) One of the best parts of breastmilk, It is free...Who doesn't love free stuff?!
Ok, enough about that...I am truly NOT on a soapbox, and believe it is every families choice of how to feed their child, but I wish I had known half of what I know now when I had my other two, as I suffer from a bit of guilt for not feeding them THE BEST!
One more thing, we are THE ONLY mammal that drinks another mammals milk! Just food for thought.
Besides the bonding, there are SO many health benefits! For both Konnor and I. (A lower risk of ovarian, breast and uterine cancer for me, just to name a few. Studies point to higher IQ's, less illness, and more empathy for Konnor. Again, that is just a few of the health benefits.) And, Oh my gosh! Have you ever taken a good whiff of a breastfed baby?! Seriously, as strange as it sounds, THEY SMELL SOOOO GOOD! (I know the differnece, as I have had 2 basically formula fed, and 1 breastfed.) I ***LOVE*** smelling Konnor.
I don't argue with or judge people who formula feed..Uh..Hello, I did so my self on 2/3 of my children. But I was not as knowlegable about the benefits of breastfeeding, I was always under pressure to give the kids bottles, and had fairly little support the first two times around. This time, I did LOADS of research. Seriously. And I became determined that I would breastfeed this baby, for as long as we are both happy with it. (The benefits of extended nursing are another post!) I feel that the choice between formula and breastmilk isn't a "right or wrong" choice, but a choice about maximizing a child's health and potential! Sure, formula is good, but breastmilk has been proven TIME AND AGAIN to be better! (I read that the IQ defecit of a formula fed child is 5 points as compared to a breastfed child. The defecit of a child whose mother did cocaine prenatally is only 3 points!) And, personally, I want what is best for my babies!
Ohhhh, and lets talk convenience...Breastfeeding is the most convenient thing I have done. REALLY! If you do some research, you are really supposed to heat water to 70 degrees before you put formula in it, because formula is not, contrary to popular belief, sterile. YOU have to sterilize it. Not to mention, packing it, carrying it, throwing it out when it goes bad....And the cost...Oh my! Breastmilk is ALWAYS ready, always the right temperature, always suited for my babies need. (Did you know that the make up changes according to time of day, and even for the babies gender?! Breastmilk for boys has a highter fat content!) One of the best parts of breastmilk, It is free...Who doesn't love free stuff?!
Ok, enough about that...I am truly NOT on a soapbox, and believe it is every families choice of how to feed their child, but I wish I had known half of what I know now when I had my other two, as I suffer from a bit of guilt for not feeding them THE BEST!
One more thing, we are THE ONLY mammal that drinks another mammals milk! Just food for thought.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Brown cows in Watford City! YIKES!
Today we had the opportunity to visit a couple of places in our little town that we haven't been to yet. We started out with a morning drive, and then went to a little local pharmacy that has a little soda fountain and got the kids root beer floats. Or as they call them at the pharmacy "brown cows". It was sooo stinkin' cute in there! We all enjoyed it. It was like we went back in time. All of Watford City kind of feels like that. It is such a nice little town. After our floats, we went to the Long X trading post. It is this cool little building, and has a museum in it. The lady told us, and I don't know how accurate it is, but it makes sense, that McKenzie County wasn't open for homesteading until the 1900's because it is surrounded by water. We saw a lot from the early pioneers. Really neat stuff. My favorite part was when I showed Cierra an old writing desk. She looked at me, confused, and said, "Well....It isn't big enough for a computer." I laughed and explained that computers weren't around then.
Well, I better go, Woody is trying to pull out C's loose tooth! YIKES!
Well, I better go, Woody is trying to pull out C's loose tooth! YIKES!
Friday, September 17, 2010
A Not-So-Secret Mommy Confession.
I love my children. I love being home with my children. I love teaching my children. I love reading to my children. I love singing with my children. I love cuddling my children. I love hugging and kissing my children. I love baking with my children. BUT....I hate playing with my children. I get bored in like 2 seconds playing Barbies, cars, blocks or anything of that nature. Maybe it has to do with being the oldest. I have always liked hanging out with people who are older than I am. I don't remember ever being a huge 'toy kid'..
I do try to make up for this thing that I see as a fault. I read tons to them. They know dozens of songs. (Some we have made up). And when they are playing with their toys, they play in whatever room I am in.
Also, I have found out, I am not the only one! This makes me feel a little better. However, I do still harbor jealousy for those moms who have the patience to sit and play with their kids for hours..
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