Gunnar's Mother is having a giveaway! I've linked up to her giveaways before because she's fabulous but this one is especially cool because the product is something I can support! You know we're all about making eco-friendly choices (cloth diapering, acting like a hippie in general) around MoA so hop over to Kirstin's site and enter to win these great reusable baggies!!!
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Mother of Ambition will be having some giveaways too. Within the next couple of months there will be some good ones so stay tuned! And, if anyone is interested in sponsoring MoA and giving a product to one of my lovely readers, please check out the PR and Disclosures page!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Drama Queen
My daughter is a drama queen. Today was a rough day to say the least. I already know that Emma is a needy baby but today was extra special!
When a baby is reaching a developmental milestone, they often struggle sleeping and get a little fussy or moody. Yeah, my daughter takes that to a whole new level. Today, she was crabby after breakfast (her favorite food, bananas!!!) and wouldn't cheer up all day! We played, we nursed, we walked, we sang, we nursed, we showered, we played with the dogs, we nursed, we went to the mall, we nursed, we refused to eat dinner, we got ready for bed, we nursed, we went to bed, we woke up 45 minutes later, we nursed, we finally went to bed. WTF???
I read in the Sleep Easy Solution that, when a baby becomes increasingly mobile they need more snuggle time. I'm blaming Emma's crawling and crazy desire to pull to standing every chance she got today on her being a Crabby Pants and wanting to nurse every 30 minutes all.day.long. I know from experience that my boobs will forgive me but I'm pretty burnt out all over after our day today.
It's on days like today that I have to remember that nothing matters but keeping her healthy, safe, and as happy as possible. The chores can wait. Dinner can easily be frozen pizza (again). I'll just keep in mind that my daughter is darling and her fussiness is not her fault (nor is it mine for that matter). Then, I look at pictures of her at her cutest...
When a baby is reaching a developmental milestone, they often struggle sleeping and get a little fussy or moody. Yeah, my daughter takes that to a whole new level. Today, she was crabby after breakfast (her favorite food, bananas!!!) and wouldn't cheer up all day! We played, we nursed, we walked, we sang, we nursed, we showered, we played with the dogs, we nursed, we went to the mall, we nursed, we refused to eat dinner, we got ready for bed, we nursed, we went to bed, we woke up 45 minutes later, we nursed, we finally went to bed. WTF???
I read in the Sleep Easy Solution that, when a baby becomes increasingly mobile they need more snuggle time. I'm blaming Emma's crawling and crazy desire to pull to standing every chance she got today on her being a Crabby Pants and wanting to nurse every 30 minutes all.day.long. I know from experience that my boobs will forgive me but I'm pretty burnt out all over after our day today.
It's on days like today that I have to remember that nothing matters but keeping her healthy, safe, and as happy as possible. The chores can wait. Dinner can easily be frozen pizza (again). I'll just keep in mind that my daughter is darling and her fussiness is not her fault (nor is it mine for that matter). Then, I look at pictures of her at her cutest...
And all is well. I'm confident tomorrow will be easier... it just has to be!!!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Cloth Diaper Series: Diaper Rash
This is the fourth post of the Cloth Diaper Series. In case you missed it, here are posts 1-3:
Cloth Diaper Series: How it Started...
Cloth Diaper Series: Our System
Cloth Diaper Series: How to Cloth Diaper
Every baby gets an irritated bottom at one point or another. Cloth diapers greatly reduce diaper rash. Disposable diapers contain chemicals (crystalline? really?) that can cause great trauma to those sensitive private baby areas. I read last week that Pampers awarded the parents of babies who were burned by DryMax $1,000 each and paid their attorney fees. I cannot imagine putting a diaper filled with dangerous chemicals on my baby. Seriously.
Anyway, one of the reasons we cloth diaper is that both Ryan and I have incredibly sensitive skin and we knew that our daughter would be blessed with similar issues. The research shows that babies who are cloth diapered have significantly less diaper rash. Diaper rash was actually very rare until disposable diapers became the norm. Rashes still happen with cloth but, trust me, it's different and way easier to deal with.
Everybody knows about Desitin, A&D, and Aquaphor but it's harder to find natural, effective, cloth diaper safe solutions to diaper rash. I firmly believe in these 3 ways to take care of any irritation that Emma gets on her bottom. Teething and trying solid foods changes the pH of a child's waste which can lead to skin irritation. At the first sign of redness and inflammation, we do one of three (or all three) of these. Whether you use cloth or disposables, here are my solutions to the bothered booty!
1. Air. By far, the best deterrent for rashes! When I know that we'll be home for a couple hours and I can keep an eye on her, I'll put Emma in a fitted diaper (see the Cloth Diaper How To Post) without a cover. Fitteds are made of cotton, hemp, or bamboo which breathe beautifully. If you don't use cloth, leave that baby naked!!! As much as you can! Even if you have to toss them in an empty bathtub with some toys to protect your floors!
2. Coconut oil. Love, love, love coconut oil! It's anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungal. It's good for your skin, hair, nails, and tummy (got rid of the Giardia I contracted in Mexico with Coconut oil tea!). I use coconut oil as a barrier on Emma's bottom every night. It moisturizes while protecting the skin from the wet diaper.
3. CJ's BUTTer. Trust me on this. This natural diaper cream is cloth diaper safe but can be used on so many other things. The scents are lovely and it works very well. Made from all natural, completely safe ingredients. Love it! They sell sample sizes which are very generous and a great chance to try different scents on the cheap!!
I hope this helps a parent in need of a safe solution for a desperate baby's bottom. I know how hard it can be to deal with difficult skin issues and have tons of other solutions for any kind of problem so please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions!!
Cloth Diaper Series: How it Started...
Cloth Diaper Series: Our System
Cloth Diaper Series: How to Cloth Diaper
Every baby gets an irritated bottom at one point or another. Cloth diapers greatly reduce diaper rash. Disposable diapers contain chemicals (crystalline? really?) that can cause great trauma to those sensitive private baby areas. I read last week that Pampers awarded the parents of babies who were burned by DryMax $1,000 each and paid their attorney fees. I cannot imagine putting a diaper filled with dangerous chemicals on my baby. Seriously.
Anyway, one of the reasons we cloth diaper is that both Ryan and I have incredibly sensitive skin and we knew that our daughter would be blessed with similar issues. The research shows that babies who are cloth diapered have significantly less diaper rash. Diaper rash was actually very rare until disposable diapers became the norm. Rashes still happen with cloth but, trust me, it's different and way easier to deal with.
Everybody knows about Desitin, A&D, and Aquaphor but it's harder to find natural, effective, cloth diaper safe solutions to diaper rash. I firmly believe in these 3 ways to take care of any irritation that Emma gets on her bottom. Teething and trying solid foods changes the pH of a child's waste which can lead to skin irritation. At the first sign of redness and inflammation, we do one of three (or all three) of these. Whether you use cloth or disposables, here are my solutions to the bothered booty!
1. Air. By far, the best deterrent for rashes! When I know that we'll be home for a couple hours and I can keep an eye on her, I'll put Emma in a fitted diaper (see the Cloth Diaper How To Post) without a cover. Fitteds are made of cotton, hemp, or bamboo which breathe beautifully. If you don't use cloth, leave that baby naked!!! As much as you can! Even if you have to toss them in an empty bathtub with some toys to protect your floors!
2. Coconut oil. Love, love, love coconut oil! It's anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungal. It's good for your skin, hair, nails, and tummy (got rid of the Giardia I contracted in Mexico with Coconut oil tea!). I use coconut oil as a barrier on Emma's bottom every night. It moisturizes while protecting the skin from the wet diaper.
3. CJ's BUTTer. Trust me on this. This natural diaper cream is cloth diaper safe but can be used on so many other things. The scents are lovely and it works very well. Made from all natural, completely safe ingredients. Love it! They sell sample sizes which are very generous and a great chance to try different scents on the cheap!!
I hope this helps a parent in need of a safe solution for a desperate baby's bottom. I know how hard it can be to deal with difficult skin issues and have tons of other solutions for any kind of problem so please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions!!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Cloth Diaper Series: How To Cloth Diaper
This is the third post of the Cloth Diaper Series. Today I'll discuss the different types of diapers and how they're used. In case you missed it, here was post one and two:
Cloth Diaper Series: How it Started...
Cloth Diaper Series: Our System
Here are the different types of diapers we use:
Prefolds: The cheapest option typically costing between $1 and $3 a piece. In order to create a full stash of prefolds, you'd want to get about 24 diapers with 6 covers to do laundry every other day. The covers don't need to be washed with every change, obviously. They can be wiped clean usually and washing them quickly in the sink is a breeze if it's not laundry day. The kind of diaps our parents used. Just cotton layers sewn to be more absorbent in the middle. The easiest to clean the hardest to learn to use! They need to be folded and a cover must always be used to make them waterproof. There are lots of different ways to fold a prefold.
Angel Wing Fold:
Trifold:
Fitteds: Fitteds are my favorite. They're like prefolds in that the whole thing is absorbent (making them very absorbent) but they are shaped like a diaper and most have snaps or velcro to fasten them. Some have an absorbent core (take longer to dry) and others have snap in or lay in inserts. Fitteds can be affordable ($10 a piece) or crazy outrageous expensive (there are some work at home moms who make fitteds with "limited edition" fabrics and charge an obscene amount for them). These are usually made from cotton, bamboo, or another natural fiber. They require a cover to be waterproof but can be worn for a couple hours without any moisture reaching the outer layer usually. Leaving a fitted coverless when we're hanging out at home is a great opportunity for Emma's bum to air out! Here are a couple:
This one is sized, it's a medium. It will probably fit Emma for another month or two and I'm sad about it! It has a very soft, sherpa interior and is very absorbent!
Pockets: Pockets are Ryan's favorite. We have mostly one size pockets. One size means that there are snaps in the front that can shorten the rise of the diaper so that it can fit 10-30 pounds(ish). They can be cheap (ebay has some from China that are $5-6 a piece but for the record I have one and hate it) or expensive (the Bum Genius that were gifted to us go for about $18). These are a waterproof shell with a pocket. Inside the pocket, you stuff an insert. Most pockets come with microfiber inserts. Microfiber has its downfalls. It's hard to get stink and laundry detergent build up out of microfiber and some people really hate the way it feels. You can buy tons of different inserts made of pretty much any material though. Another issue that some people have with pockets is the stay-dry lining. It's usually fleece or something like fleece that feels dry to the touch. Some babies have sensitive skin and can get a rash from this. Pockets have either velcro or snap closures. Ryan prefers velcro because it's just like a disposable diaper but he got used to snaps pretty fast. Snaps last longer and are harder for a little one to learn to take off on their own (which happens with Emma sometimes when she wears velcro). After diapers are clean and dry, I stuff all the pocket diapers and put them in a drawer so they're ready to go. It's all one piece once they're stuffed. I double stuff for nighttime and we almost never have leaks with the Bum Genius One Size stuffed with the regular insert and a doubler. Easy peasy.
Here's a Bum Genius 3.0 One Size pocket diaper. I have it set on the middle size for Emma right now. You can see the snaps on the front that can make it smaller.
All In Ones: We don't have any all in one diapers. They're the most expensive and take a long time to dry. They're just like disposables in that they're all one piece. Honestly, we had some all in ones for Emma when she was smaller and I hated waiting for them to dry. Pockets are the same after they're stuffed and, since you remove the insert, dry quickly so we decided to not buy any more all in one diapers after the first few.
Covers: You'll need covers if you're using prefolds or fitted diapers. Covers can be made of any waterproof or water-repelling material. We have Econobum
With all of these diapers there are "sized" or "one size" options. The sized option means you'll go through stages with your baby. You'll have small, medium, and large diapers (some companies do only small and large and some have a newborn size as well) that you'll rotate. Many people like the sized option because they can sell their used diapers for close to what they paid for them since there is very little wear and tear when used for a few months only. One size diapers are typically a bit more expensive than sized diapers because you're paying for some extra material, snaps, and sewing. Used diapers can almost always be resold even if they're in less than perfect condition so, if you want, you'll make some of your investment back after your babe is potty trained (which research shows happens earlier when you use cloth diapers).
Okay, this post covers a lot. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions! There will be a couple more posts in the Cloth Diaper Series this month so stay tuned for our laundry routine and other goodies!!
Cloth Diaper Series: How it Started...
Cloth Diaper Series: Our System
Here are the different types of diapers we use:
Prefolds: The cheapest option typically costing between $1 and $3 a piece. In order to create a full stash of prefolds, you'd want to get about 24 diapers with 6 covers to do laundry every other day. The covers don't need to be washed with every change, obviously. They can be wiped clean usually and washing them quickly in the sink is a breeze if it's not laundry day. The kind of diaps our parents used. Just cotton layers sewn to be more absorbent in the middle. The easiest to clean the hardest to learn to use! They need to be folded and a cover must always be used to make them waterproof. There are lots of different ways to fold a prefold.
Angel Wing Fold:
Lay the baby in so that the cover is positioned where a diaper should be. Fold up the front of the diaper laying in the cover. You want it to be about even with the front edge of the cover.
Fold in both sides leaving the back like little "wings". The wings will wrap a bit around the baby's hips and provide a little pocket to collect any goodies that might come out! The front of the diaper is now several layers thick to absorb urine.
The thick front part folds up and rests in front. Then, the cover comes up and secures. No pins needed. The cover keeps everything in place.
Trifold:
Fitteds: Fitteds are my favorite. They're like prefolds in that the whole thing is absorbent (making them very absorbent) but they are shaped like a diaper and most have snaps or velcro to fasten them. Some have an absorbent core (take longer to dry) and others have snap in or lay in inserts. Fitteds can be affordable ($10 a piece) or crazy outrageous expensive (there are some work at home moms who make fitteds with "limited edition" fabrics and charge an obscene amount for them). These are usually made from cotton, bamboo, or another natural fiber. They require a cover to be waterproof but can be worn for a couple hours without any moisture reaching the outer layer usually. Leaving a fitted coverless when we're hanging out at home is a great opportunity for Emma's bum to air out! Here are a couple:
This one is sized, it's a medium. It will probably fit Emma for another month or two and I'm sad about it! It has a very soft, sherpa interior and is very absorbent!
Another sized fitted (a medium) with velcro closure. Love the peace sign print on this!! The core is absorbent and doesn't come out which means it takes a little longer to dry.
Pockets: Pockets are Ryan's favorite. We have mostly one size pockets. One size means that there are snaps in the front that can shorten the rise of the diaper so that it can fit 10-30 pounds(ish). They can be cheap (ebay has some from China that are $5-6 a piece but for the record I have one and hate it) or expensive (the Bum Genius that were gifted to us go for about $18). These are a waterproof shell with a pocket. Inside the pocket, you stuff an insert. Most pockets come with microfiber inserts. Microfiber has its downfalls. It's hard to get stink and laundry detergent build up out of microfiber and some people really hate the way it feels. You can buy tons of different inserts made of pretty much any material though. Another issue that some people have with pockets is the stay-dry lining. It's usually fleece or something like fleece that feels dry to the touch. Some babies have sensitive skin and can get a rash from this. Pockets have either velcro or snap closures. Ryan prefers velcro because it's just like a disposable diaper but he got used to snaps pretty fast. Snaps last longer and are harder for a little one to learn to take off on their own (which happens with Emma sometimes when she wears velcro). After diapers are clean and dry, I stuff all the pocket diapers and put them in a drawer so they're ready to go. It's all one piece once they're stuffed. I double stuff for nighttime and we almost never have leaks with the Bum Genius One Size stuffed with the regular insert and a doubler. Easy peasy.
Here's a Bum Genius 3.0 One Size pocket diaper. I have it set on the middle size for Emma right now. You can see the snaps on the front that can make it smaller.
Here's another One Size pocket diaper with snap closure instead of velcro.
All In Ones: We don't have any all in one diapers. They're the most expensive and take a long time to dry. They're just like disposables in that they're all one piece. Honestly, we had some all in ones for Emma when she was smaller and I hated waiting for them to dry. Pockets are the same after they're stuffed and, since you remove the insert, dry quickly so we decided to not buy any more all in one diapers after the first few.
Covers: You'll need covers if you're using prefolds or fitted diapers. Covers can be made of any waterproof or water-repelling material. We have Econobum
With all of these diapers there are "sized" or "one size" options. The sized option means you'll go through stages with your baby. You'll have small, medium, and large diapers (some companies do only small and large and some have a newborn size as well) that you'll rotate. Many people like the sized option because they can sell their used diapers for close to what they paid for them since there is very little wear and tear when used for a few months only. One size diapers are typically a bit more expensive than sized diapers because you're paying for some extra material, snaps, and sewing. Used diapers can almost always be resold even if they're in less than perfect condition so, if you want, you'll make some of your investment back after your babe is potty trained (which research shows happens earlier when you use cloth diapers).
Okay, this post covers a lot. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions! There will be a couple more posts in the Cloth Diaper Series this month so stay tuned for our laundry routine and other goodies!!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
I'm Too Sexy
Please stop reading this post if you are not interested in my sex life, sex after childbirth, or female issues after having a baby! Dad, you can stop right here... trust me on this one!
Some days, I really don't feel sexy. Most days though, I feel like I still got it. It's funny, I think back to Ryan's and my first few years together... I felt sexy pretty much all the time. The newness of the relationship, my pre-baby body, all the booze we were drinking... you can attribute my sexy feelings to whatever you want, but whatever it was, I felt sexy. I felt pretty sexy through most of pregnancy as well. My already large chest got larger, and as my belly got bigger and harder, I felt a new comfort in my body which made me feel pretty darn hot. Unfortunately, Ryan had the typical first time dad sex during pregnancy fears but that didn't stop me from feeling hot during that time, I loved being pregnant!
After having Emma, I got tired... and sore... and soft in certain areas... and did I mention I'm tired? It's hard to feel sexy when you feel like a zombie. Seriously. My tailbone still hurts at least once a day, a little reminder of how Emma was trying to come out facing up, banging the back of her head against my back with each contraction. Breastfeeding also reduces the level of Estrogen down there (and everywhere else) which leads to the necessary addition of lubrication which makes sex less spontaneous, thereby making it less sexy, thereby making me feel less sexy... whatever, I'm a woman, I'm irrational sometimes, it's allowed.
Jenny McCarthy wrote in her book (which I do recommend for anyone who is pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant) that she was afraid sex after childbirth would feel for her husband like "throwing a hotdog down a hallway". I'm not even joking, I had the same fear. After coming home from the hospital, I ventured down there with a mirror. I figured I had to know what it was doing in order to know when it was getting better, right? (I needed some stitches after tearing and was honestly curious what that looked like, am I weird?) Looking at my poor, stretched out area was probably a bad idea. It made me really self-conscious and nervous for the sex that would come 6 weeks later.
6 weeks go by. I look again. Better, but not the way it was prior to childbirth. Yeah, nobody really tells you how things (everything, let's be honest) don't go back to the way they were before childbirth.
At 6 weeks, I went to my post partum check up and my midwife says, "you healed okay, not great, just okay". Are you kidding me? What the hell does that even mean? Is it like a hallway down there? Echo, echo, echo!!!....
Turns out, with lots of lube, post partum sex can be just as good as pre-baby sex. And on days when I'm not too tired, I feel sexy again, cushy tummy and all. Taking good care of myself makes me feel sexier so I try to remember to do that and I've added sexy tummy-covering lingerie to my wish list hoping that will help me feel more confident too.
While it's all different than it once was; body, frequency, location (can't wake the baby!!), I'm still too sexy only now it's for a whole new set of reasons! Being a mother empowers me. I feel stronger and more feminine than I ever have and that is hot if you ask me! So, to all you mommies, you're too sexy too! Trust me on this one!
Some days, I really don't feel sexy. Most days though, I feel like I still got it. It's funny, I think back to Ryan's and my first few years together... I felt sexy pretty much all the time. The newness of the relationship, my pre-baby body, all the booze we were drinking... you can attribute my sexy feelings to whatever you want, but whatever it was, I felt sexy. I felt pretty sexy through most of pregnancy as well. My already large chest got larger, and as my belly got bigger and harder, I felt a new comfort in my body which made me feel pretty darn hot. Unfortunately, Ryan had the typical first time dad sex during pregnancy fears but that didn't stop me from feeling hot during that time, I loved being pregnant!
After having Emma, I got tired... and sore... and soft in certain areas... and did I mention I'm tired? It's hard to feel sexy when you feel like a zombie. Seriously. My tailbone still hurts at least once a day, a little reminder of how Emma was trying to come out facing up, banging the back of her head against my back with each contraction. Breastfeeding also reduces the level of Estrogen down there (and everywhere else) which leads to the necessary addition of lubrication which makes sex less spontaneous, thereby making it less sexy, thereby making me feel less sexy... whatever, I'm a woman, I'm irrational sometimes, it's allowed.
Jenny McCarthy wrote in her book (which I do recommend for anyone who is pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant) that she was afraid sex after childbirth would feel for her husband like "throwing a hotdog down a hallway". I'm not even joking, I had the same fear. After coming home from the hospital, I ventured down there with a mirror. I figured I had to know what it was doing in order to know when it was getting better, right? (I needed some stitches after tearing and was honestly curious what that looked like, am I weird?) Looking at my poor, stretched out area was probably a bad idea. It made me really self-conscious and nervous for the sex that would come 6 weeks later.
6 weeks go by. I look again. Better, but not the way it was prior to childbirth. Yeah, nobody really tells you how things (everything, let's be honest) don't go back to the way they were before childbirth.
At 6 weeks, I went to my post partum check up and my midwife says, "you healed okay, not great, just okay". Are you kidding me? What the hell does that even mean? Is it like a hallway down there? Echo, echo, echo!!!....
Turns out, with lots of lube, post partum sex can be just as good as pre-baby sex. And on days when I'm not too tired, I feel sexy again, cushy tummy and all. Taking good care of myself makes me feel sexier so I try to remember to do that and I've added sexy tummy-covering lingerie to my wish list hoping that will help me feel more confident too.
While it's all different than it once was; body, frequency, location (can't wake the baby!!), I'm still too sexy only now it's for a whole new set of reasons! Being a mother empowers me. I feel stronger and more feminine than I ever have and that is hot if you ask me! So, to all you mommies, you're too sexy too! Trust me on this one!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Hit That Ball!
Today Ryan, Emma, and I met up with some friends from Ryan's work to practice softball. By practice softball, I mean they played catch and batted the ball while I tried to avoid getting a sunburn and keep Emma from eating the dirt.
Ryan and I have been exercising and walking the dogs more than we used to in an effort to encourage our bodies to let go of the baby weight so he was excited to see where his skills would be on the softball field. He shined!
Emma had fun too. Both by herself and with our friends, especially Brandy!
A superfun Saturday with sun, softball, and socializing with friends! Even after a really rough nights' sleep due to Emma reaching the crawling milestone (yay!!!), we got out and about and had a great day!
I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!!
Ryan and I have been exercising and walking the dogs more than we used to in an effort to encourage our bodies to let go of the baby weight so he was excited to see where his skills would be on the softball field. He shined!
Emma had fun too. Both by herself and with our friends, especially Brandy!
A superfun Saturday with sun, softball, and socializing with friends! Even after a really rough nights' sleep due to Emma reaching the crawling milestone (yay!!!), we got out and about and had a great day!
I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!!
Friday, June 24, 2011
My Baby Eats Real Food
Do you have a problem with that? Some people do... I've been asked countless times why Emma doesn't get rice cereal! First of all, it's none of your business and second of all, rice cereal is probably part of the reason the country is obese!
I'm of the mindset that, if I'm not eating it and it's not beneficial in some way to Emma, why would I go buy it for her? I don't drink juice so Emma doesn't get juice. I don't eat rice cereal so why would I buy it for my daughter? I eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and proteins that are great for Emma to eat so why wouldn't I just give her what I'm eating (within reason, of course)?
Yes, I gave my baby a whole carrot! She didn't actually eat the whole carrot, she chewed on it (I think it felt good on her inflamed gums), sucked on it, and tossed it to one of the dogs. Yes, I gave Emma a kale leaf. She crunched on it for a while, sucked it till it was nice and wilty and handed it over to Harley (the dog) to polish off. This morning, I had blueberries with my poached eggs and Emma got to eat a couple. She sunk her teeth into one while I held it, breaking the skin, then slowly chewed the inside goodness out while I held it for her. The blueberries, she did not share with the dogs!
So Emmaline eats REAL FOOD. Is there a problem with that? I feel as though her varied, healthy diet will help her learn to try and love new foods later in life and who could ask for more from their child? Emma already enjoys bananas, avocados, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, peas, oatmeal and now carrots, kale, and blueberries. That's more than some parents can say about their toddlers so I'm feeling pretty good about it!
Emma still breastfeeds like crazy so I know her nutritional needs are being met, that's not why I want to feed her a variety to foods. I want her to experience and enjoy food like Ryan and I do! We love to eat and try new foods and I would love for her to go for some sushi in a few months, strawberries sooner than that, and some green beans would be great next week! Why not start her fun with food now?
So, the next person who tells me she needs to eat rice cereal better watch out. I'm carrying a whole carrot in my diaper bag and I'm not afraid to use it!
Yes, I gave my baby a whole carrot! She didn't actually eat the whole carrot, she chewed on it (I think it felt good on her inflamed gums), sucked on it, and tossed it to one of the dogs. Yes, I gave Emma a kale leaf. She crunched on it for a while, sucked it till it was nice and wilty and handed it over to Harley (the dog) to polish off. This morning, I had blueberries with my poached eggs and Emma got to eat a couple. She sunk her teeth into one while I held it, breaking the skin, then slowly chewed the inside goodness out while I held it for her. The blueberries, she did not share with the dogs!
So Emmaline eats REAL FOOD. Is there a problem with that? I feel as though her varied, healthy diet will help her learn to try and love new foods later in life and who could ask for more from their child? Emma already enjoys bananas, avocados, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, peas, oatmeal and now carrots, kale, and blueberries. That's more than some parents can say about their toddlers so I'm feeling pretty good about it!
Emma still breastfeeds like crazy so I know her nutritional needs are being met, that's not why I want to feed her a variety to foods. I want her to experience and enjoy food like Ryan and I do! We love to eat and try new foods and I would love for her to go for some sushi in a few months, strawberries sooner than that, and some green beans would be great next week! Why not start her fun with food now?
So, the next person who tells me she needs to eat rice cereal better watch out. I'm carrying a whole carrot in my diaper bag and I'm not afraid to use it!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The First Period
After giving birth, a woman always wonders when her period will return. When will I start ovulating? When are we at risk of getting pregnant again? When will the post partum bleeding stop and my period come back?
Ugh, if only there was a rule here! Something us girls could count on! It's such a pain that every body is different and you never know when your body will get back into fertility mode. Even after your cycle starts back up, you never know how regular it will be. Take me for example...
I thought that since I exclusively breastfed Emmaline since the moment she was born that my period would take a while to come back. A while meaning 6-12 months. I've read about women not starting their period for 2 years after giving birth and breastfeeding, why couldn't I be like them, right? Wrong. I got my first post partum period when Emma was 4 months old! WTF??? Since my post partum bleeding lasted 7 weeks, that wasn't much time away from that issue (and those products which we will discuss in another post).
So, my period returned. Fine, whatever. I've been doing Natural Family Planning (read more about that here) and assumed I could start that right back up again. Wait... NFP means taking your temperature every morning after sleeping through the night... Does Emma sleep through the night? Not so much... Since we're not ready for Baby #2, here came the condoms...
The big reason I don't like being away from NFP is that I miss knowing exactly what my body is doing and when! By taking my temperature everyday and following the other NFP symptom tracking, I knew when to expect a "down" day, when I might get a cramp, and when my period would start... down to the hour sometimes! Plus, and perhaps you don't know this but, the post partum cycle is pretty unpredictable. Prior to pregnancy, I had a 27 day cycle. I'm telling you that when my period didn't start on day 28 I KNEW I was pregnant! I had half a beer on Saint Patty's Day knowing that the next day I'd take a test and our lives would change forever (STFU and don't judge me for drinking 1/2 a Guinness the day before peeing on a stick). Anyway, since having Emma, my cycles have been anywhere from 41-45 days long! Can you imagine being used to a 27 day cycle and then having this crazy long time between periods that is inconsistent??? It sucks... so. bad. It sucked so bad and had me so freaked out that I spent $5 on Amazon to buy 25 pregnancy test strips so that I could test every month till Emma is 2 if I wanted to! I have tested... twice... don't worry, we're not pregnant!
So, for me, the post partum period itself isn't so bad (although it lasts 1 day longer than it did prior to pregnancy), it's the waiting for it to make its appearance that's so crazy! Anyone else have an irregular cycle after giving birth? I know you feel my pain!! And, for the record, the box of 25 pregnancy test strips was one of the best purchases I've made since Emmaline was born!
Ugh, if only there was a rule here! Something us girls could count on! It's such a pain that every body is different and you never know when your body will get back into fertility mode. Even after your cycle starts back up, you never know how regular it will be. Take me for example...
I thought that since I exclusively breastfed Emmaline since the moment she was born that my period would take a while to come back. A while meaning 6-12 months. I've read about women not starting their period for 2 years after giving birth and breastfeeding, why couldn't I be like them, right? Wrong. I got my first post partum period when Emma was 4 months old! WTF??? Since my post partum bleeding lasted 7 weeks, that wasn't much time away from that issue (and those products which we will discuss in another post).
So, my period returned. Fine, whatever. I've been doing Natural Family Planning (read more about that here) and assumed I could start that right back up again. Wait... NFP means taking your temperature every morning after sleeping through the night... Does Emma sleep through the night? Not so much... Since we're not ready for Baby #2, here came the condoms...
The big reason I don't like being away from NFP is that I miss knowing exactly what my body is doing and when! By taking my temperature everyday and following the other NFP symptom tracking, I knew when to expect a "down" day, when I might get a cramp, and when my period would start... down to the hour sometimes! Plus, and perhaps you don't know this but, the post partum cycle is pretty unpredictable. Prior to pregnancy, I had a 27 day cycle. I'm telling you that when my period didn't start on day 28 I KNEW I was pregnant! I had half a beer on Saint Patty's Day knowing that the next day I'd take a test and our lives would change forever (STFU and don't judge me for drinking 1/2 a Guinness the day before peeing on a stick). Anyway, since having Emma, my cycles have been anywhere from 41-45 days long! Can you imagine being used to a 27 day cycle and then having this crazy long time between periods that is inconsistent??? It sucks... so. bad. It sucked so bad and had me so freaked out that I spent $5 on Amazon to buy 25 pregnancy test strips so that I could test every month till Emma is 2 if I wanted to! I have tested... twice... don't worry, we're not pregnant!
So, for me, the post partum period itself isn't so bad (although it lasts 1 day longer than it did prior to pregnancy), it's the waiting for it to make its appearance that's so crazy! Anyone else have an irregular cycle after giving birth? I know you feel my pain!! And, for the record, the box of 25 pregnancy test strips was one of the best purchases I've made since Emmaline was born!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
My Baby is Needy
I've made a discovery... Emma is a needy baby.
I've been providing daycare for a friend of mine who was in between providers for about 7 weeks. Her daughter is about 3 months old and was turned away from a daycare for "crying too much." I was a little nervous taking on the responsibility of another baby a couple times a week. Having two under one year in my house sounded pretty scary but it has given me an incredible perspective and insight into Emma and her personality.
My girlfriend's baby, let's call her Becky, is a breeze compared to Emma. Not just compared to Emma now (now that she's mobile and curious and has absolutely no fear of anything whatsoever) but compared to Emma ALWAYS! When Emma was Becky's age, she needed to be held all the time. Not just held but walked around the house, you literally could not sit in one place for more than a couple of minutes because she'd get bored. Emma wanted to nurse every hour during the day from the time she was 5 or 6 weeks until she hit about 5 months! And she still wants to nurse every 2.5-3 hours despite eating solids like a champ most days! Up until last week when we started sleep training, Emma needed to be held for naps, nursed to sleep most of the time. And Emma's cry! Oh gosh, my baby's cry! She is so.damn.loud! This girl is going to be a singer or a baseball umpire, she's got the chords to do either at this point. Also, Emma learned around 3 months how to YELL at us. Not just cry but YELL! No tears, no sadness, just anger!!! Ryan and I pretty much assumed most babies were like this. My mother said I was similar so...
Then, we started watching Becky. Becky happily sits reclined in the Boppy pillow while you smile and talk to her. No need to walk around with her, bouncing her, singing to her all day long. She loves to snuggle and will rest with her head on your shoulder indefinitely. Her cry is soft and more like polite complaining compared to Emma's wail! She naps great, pretty much anywhere, the swing, the boppy, the crib, being held, wherever! She takes a bottle beautifully and can sit still long enough for me to have a sandwich. Who could ask for a better baby?
Seriously, Ryan and I had doubted whether having another child was a good idea after being home with Emma for a couple of months because she is so demanding. After watching Becky TWICE we BOTH said, "babies can be like this?" "Let's definitely have another!". Ha!
So, while having two under one year in my house a couple times a week is a little bit of a circus, I really don't mind. Becky is a sweetie and she's a breeze compared to what I'm used to so I can't complain! Thank you, Becky, for showing us that babies are not always as needy as our Emmaline!! We would have had no idea!
I've been providing daycare for a friend of mine who was in between providers for about 7 weeks. Her daughter is about 3 months old and was turned away from a daycare for "crying too much." I was a little nervous taking on the responsibility of another baby a couple times a week. Having two under one year in my house sounded pretty scary but it has given me an incredible perspective and insight into Emma and her personality.
My girlfriend's baby, let's call her Becky, is a breeze compared to Emma. Not just compared to Emma now (now that she's mobile and curious and has absolutely no fear of anything whatsoever) but compared to Emma ALWAYS! When Emma was Becky's age, she needed to be held all the time. Not just held but walked around the house, you literally could not sit in one place for more than a couple of minutes because she'd get bored. Emma wanted to nurse every hour during the day from the time she was 5 or 6 weeks until she hit about 5 months! And she still wants to nurse every 2.5-3 hours despite eating solids like a champ most days! Up until last week when we started sleep training, Emma needed to be held for naps, nursed to sleep most of the time. And Emma's cry! Oh gosh, my baby's cry! She is so.damn.loud! This girl is going to be a singer or a baseball umpire, she's got the chords to do either at this point. Also, Emma learned around 3 months how to YELL at us. Not just cry but YELL! No tears, no sadness, just anger!!! Ryan and I pretty much assumed most babies were like this. My mother said I was similar so...
Then, we started watching Becky. Becky happily sits reclined in the Boppy pillow while you smile and talk to her. No need to walk around with her, bouncing her, singing to her all day long. She loves to snuggle and will rest with her head on your shoulder indefinitely. Her cry is soft and more like polite complaining compared to Emma's wail! She naps great, pretty much anywhere, the swing, the boppy, the crib, being held, wherever! She takes a bottle beautifully and can sit still long enough for me to have a sandwich. Who could ask for a better baby?
Seriously, Ryan and I had doubted whether having another child was a good idea after being home with Emma for a couple of months because she is so demanding. After watching Becky TWICE we BOTH said, "babies can be like this?" "Let's definitely have another!". Ha!
So, while having two under one year in my house a couple times a week is a little bit of a circus, I really don't mind. Becky is a sweetie and she's a breeze compared to what I'm used to so I can't complain! Thank you, Becky, for showing us that babies are not always as needy as our Emmaline!! We would have had no idea!
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Fathers in My Life
Ryan is an incredible father to Emmaline. He is patient, loving, and excited to be a part of her life. I couldn't ask for a better partner in creating, caring for, and loving the little girl we brought into the world.
The other father in my life is my own, of course. My dad (both my parents, really) has set a great example for me. He found a passion that could translate into work and has been very successful in his endeavors. Who wants to spend a third of your life doing something you don't love to do? My father is also a very generous, compassionate man who I know will always answer the phone when I need him.
The other father in my life is my own, of course. My dad (both my parents, really) has set a great example for me. He found a passion that could translate into work and has been very successful in his endeavors. Who wants to spend a third of your life doing something you don't love to do? My father is also a very generous, compassionate man who I know will always answer the phone when I need him.
It's also been really neat to see my father become a grandfather. He's doing great!
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