16 Weeks Brooklyn Clare

Our princess! Can she get any cuter?! She wakes up with a smile on her face! 

16 Weeks

Weight:  I'm not sure we will find out in a couple weeks.

Sleep: It's hit or miss. Some nights she sleeps until 4am and then other nights she's up a lot. She's getting a tad better taking naps in her crib. Jackson is getting his molars so even when she sleeps he doesn't. I'm tired!

Diet: Exclusively breastfed. I lost another 4 ounces this week from my stash. I did see a huge difference in my supply when I ate more so apparently I wasn't eating enough calories. Even with the increase in calories I was still off. I'm debating started solids earlier than I would like to help my supply/stash last longer but we will see.

Clothes: Mix of 3 and 6, size 2 diapers but her little chunky legs say she might need a size 3!

Visitors: No one new this week

Out and About: No where new

Baby Gear Love:  

The stroller blankets from Pottery Barn!! They are thick, warm and soft. Totally worth the money.

Crying:  She had a random night of crying but since then very little. She is one really happy baby!! 

Milestones:  
She can roll both directions and is a rolling machine!! She has found her voice which is hilarious.  She screams happy screams a lot. She has a giant crush on daddy now which is so freaking cute. He can get her to laugh much more than mommy can!

Medical: Nothing new.

Postpartum: I haven't checked my weight so who knows. I start loosing my hair about a week a go. Yuck!

Christmas Eve 2014

This Christmas season was crazy busy but so much fun! We didn't get to do all the things I had planned but lets face it we have three month old, I just went back to work, and then we all got sick. Life happens.

We introduced the Elf on the Shelf this year (man is that a lot of work). Jackson was so cute everyday, "where the elf? Where is he? Oh he move!!" "There he is!"Our elf was really boring this year and often forgot to move to a new hiding place but luckily Jackson didn't mind. Jackson named him "Blue" by the way.

We went to Disney the first weekend for Mickey's Christmas! This needs a separate post all on its own!

We decorated cookies with Jackson's best friend Emma. Still more eating than decorating :)

We went to see Santa, who apparently is a big scary man still to Jackson…maybe next year??

Look at his handsome bow tie made by mama :)

Brooklyn just looked extremely worried the whole time!

Before heading to mass we sprinkled reindeer food out in the front lawn. Holy cow I have to remember this for next year it was ADORABLE! Jackson loved it! He kept calling for the reindeer and throwing the food all over the lawn, it was seriously the sweetest thing ever. I should also mention he is way more into the reindeer than Santa. 

Christmas eve we went to mass and actually made it through the entire service! Christmas miracle!! It helped we were in the gym and next to his best friend. I also had to bring a ton of snacks and toys. I should have brought wine ;) After mass we went to my parents to open gifts and have dinner with my brother's family.

Brooklyn pretty much slept through it.

Jackson was SOO good, it was past his bedtime and he just kept playing. This was probably one of his favorite gifts- cars.

That night we  put the kids straight to bed since it was way past bedtime. Although we had cookies for Santa we didn't get to put them out, maybe next year. The elves got to go to bed pretty early since there were no presents to assemble this year which was nice I have to say! 

15 Weeks

And yes we missed a couple weeks- everyone has been sick multiple times!! We were living at the pediatricians office but everyone seems to be on the mend.
15 Weeks

Weight: 13.6 + She is in the 75th percentile for weight now :) And 50th for height!

Sleep: She was going to sleep at 7 waking at 2:30 and 5/6 which was awesome but then the weekend hit and she's been up a lot more. AH! I won't transition her to the crib at night until she is sleeping 8-5. We are working on naps in the crib now that we have all recovered from the million colds/virus we had!

Diet: 100% breast milk, about 8 times a day still. This week I didn't pump as much as she ate which was really discouraging. So with around the clock pumping and working I managed to only loose 4 ounces. I calculated how much of a stash I have in the freezer and if I had to use 1 bottle from the freezer everyday I work I could make it to 7 months…but that means not using any on the weekends. I'm really hoping this was a one week thing and I won't have to worry about it. I really want to make it a year exclusively breastfeeding if possible but it was really awful pumping a million times (which takes away from either documentation time or lunch at work), trying to work, pumping at home while getting two kids ready for bed, washing bottles, packing lunches, etc. I had that moment of is it really worth it? And then the I really don't want to supplement because what if my supply really drops and I can't breastfed her on the days I'm home?! Such a mix of emotions. BUT I can proudly say we have made it 15 weeks :)

Clothes: 3 months are too tight and way too short so mixing in the 6 month clothes.

Visitors:  Uncle Dustin, Aunt Laura and cousins Lexie and Luke for Christmas

Out and About: We did our first outing with big brother too. And while it took way longer everyone survived with just some coffee spilt all over me. I don't think the two of you even realized the other was along for the ride. 

Baby Gear Love:  

We LOVE our woombies, Aden and Anasis sleep sacks, City Select stroller, and Ergo carrier everyday love love can't live without them.

I also really love these wubbanub pacifiers with the stuffed animal attached! Now that Brooklyn's older it stays in better with the stuffed animal, plus it's cute and way easier to find. 

Crying:  Really only getting her to sleep. It's like she has to throw the big one and then passes out. She has cried the most awful cries when Jackson accidentally hit her on the head. She seriously only whimpers to eat at night, it's really amazing I wake up to that.

Milestones:  
ROLLING over! In slow motion but she's doing it! A lot more babbling now :) She will grab and hold things but mainly hair… She loves to stand (being held). And she kicks her feet in the swing or bouncy seat as fast as she possibly can. I see a cross country runner in our future! She also loves kicking in the bath! Another water baby I'm sure.

Medical: The hemangioma seems to be fading! So we have a two month break from cardiology but continuing the medication.

Postpartum: 4 pounds which at this point with Jackson I had 5 pounds left so it confirms my thoughts that breastfeeding really doesn't help weight loss. Liars. 

Nursing Favorites

1. Nipple Cream: This is a given (I think) but I hate lansinoh. It's hard and made of junk. I never felt any relief with it the first time around. This time I found Earth Mama Natural Nipple Butter. It's amazing! It's smooth, goes on easily, and is all organic. It seems expensive but you won't need more than one bottle. I also tried the Boobease 100% Organic Healing Nipple Balm and liked it just the same. I brought it to the hospital and started using it right away.

2. Breast pads: In the beginning I found these to be the most helpful and gentle on that very sensitive body part! They are cute, organic, and washable. They are from the Etsy shop nicolesbreastfriends. 

Now I use the disposable cheap ones from Target that are thin. 

3. Tylenol: I used the painkillers the doctor gave me for postpartum really for breastfeeding. They prescribe those bad boys for a reason :)
4. Netflix: Find a series (multiple series) it really helps pass the time when you are nursing for hours a day and then you look forward to sitting still to watch a show and nurse the baby. I could never read books because I would fall asleep but the series kept me awake and on task.
5. Sports Bra: Those soft cushy ones from Target are much better than night time nursing bras and they expand with you during the night.
6. Nursing Clothes: I would stick with the pajamas you bought for the hospital and maybe one or two shirts for the first couple weeks but after than you can pretty much nurse in anything.
7. The Medela Pump: It's the best one out there and for good reason. Order free through your insurance before the baby arrives because you will need it once your milk comes in!

My Breastfeeding Story Take 2

If you didn't read about the first go around the short version is it didn't. During my (very stressful) pregnancy I was most worried about breastfeeding (when I wasn't worried about her health, etc). I really wanted it to work this time. I felt so awful that it didn't work out for Jackson. So I first read Breastfeeding Take 2 I recommend this book to read for the first go around really. It was very helpful on all the things to expect when people are trying to "help", how to make realistic goals, and I actually learned more in the book than any other about the general dos/don'ts. I LOVED it for the second go around because it made me realize that I did the best I could with the knowledge I had at the time for Jackson. End of story. I couldn't have known that he tongue tie was causing poor latch issues which was causing about a million other issues because I had never been through it. I didn't really know any one who breastfed or was breastfeeding at the time to ask. My mom never had issues with me so she was at a loss. The book allows you to heal and then make a plan to move forward. The one advice I didn't take from the book was to get rid of all free formula. No formula in the house. I was too scared to get rid of it. But as time has gone on we only have a little stash as back up in the house! In which I tell everyone it is not allowed to be used! As I got closer to my due date I did go back through Breastfeeding Made Simple. I would often comment on how it's not simple but whatever it is a good book for references. Now for Miss Brooklyn Clare…

As you know Brooklyn was born MED free and fast. When she came out she immediately was rooting in which I kinda panicked. And asked the nurse…ummm I think she's hungry. She didn't hear me so I just let her start feeding, luckily she latch right away. And she nursed for 3 hours!! I would take her off and she would want right back on. Of course it went from oh she's doing great! to I think you should give her formula. WHAT?! We are only a couple hours in and we are already talking formula. I ignored them and just kept going. I eventually did get a pacifier (which she hated) but it gave me some relief. The first day went amazing and then day two hit.

It was like she forgot how to do it. She was screaming and getting frustrated. I was getting frustrated. Finally I told the nurses about Jackson's tongue tie and his nursing and the FINALLY sent in the lactation consultant who was concerned. She agreed (with me) that Brooklyn not only had a tongue tie but a lip one as well. We both agreed to see ENT when we were discharged. Of course the neonatologists disagreed saying "oh it's not that bad." I wanted to say "do you have bloody nipples? Because if you did you wouldn't say that." The one even said, "if you can't keep up just give her formula." I ignored them and stuck with the lactation consultant, my professional opinion, and the nurses which was to see ENT.

Luckily we went to ENT the day she was discharged and he told us she had a significant tongue tie. We had the tongue tie clipped that day and made an appointment in two weeks for a follow up. The ENT told us to wait and see about the lip saying, "you will just know if it needs to be done." I wasn't too sure I would know but I did! The first week after having her tongue clipped was still extremely painful. She was nursing around the clock but every latch was so painful and more bloody nips. I finally called the ENT and said I think she needs that lip clipped. So back in we went but this time they burned the frenulum. It was awful! But really much easier to do as an infant than a child. I felt relief immediately but nursing was still painful for about another week. About the time the lip and tongue were healed and helping her latch, I got a nursing blister. I just figured it was pair for the course but then we realized I was over producing. So after we figured out how to decrease my supply, relieve the clogged duct, and ultimately get rid of the nursing blister I was finally nursing pain free about 12 times a day. I would say I was fully pain free around 6 weeks. Which if we had figured the tongue, lip, production, clogged duct, and nursing blister sooner I think the pain would have subsided sooner.

At 6 weeks though I was feeling a little overwhelmed with the fact that all I was doing was nursing 20-30 minutes 12 times a day with a toddler running around. One of my girl friends said it was completely normal and at some point she would go down to 6 times a day! It gave me hope and reassurance. Having friends who were/are nursing is extremely helping in being successful. You can't compare formal fed babies to breast fed its apples to oranges. But having that support really helped me keep going and not supplementing or even go to pumping to make things easier at the time. Now breastfeeding is WAY easier than formula feeding. It takes her 5-10 minutes and I am hands free. The bottle and/or pumping takes 3x's as long. There is nothing to clean, you don't have to pack anything when you go places. Night time is sooo easy- just feed 5 minutes and they fall asleep but them back down done. No making bottles, heating bottles, etc. I hate pumping so when I'm home she doesn't get any bottles which I also think has helped her successful breastfed for this long. She gets bottles when I am at work and when we go out on the weekends but that's it.

I actually do enjoy breastfeeding. It's our special time together. It really does create a special bond. I love at night just settling down with her until she goes to sleep… and then I hold her probably for too long but it's our time. No one else can do it or force themselves in there (like people do when you bottle feed) it's a natural time to be with your baby.

The truth is nursing is painful, it's hard, frustrating, time consuming and you will sometimes feel chained to the baby but once you get past all of that (approximately 6 weeks) it's awesome, rewarding, pain free, and a special bond. And free :) I am so happy it has worked out this time! And now that I actually see milk spilling over on Brooklyn's mouth and her gaining weight (all things that didn't happen the first time), I know I did all I could for Jackson.

In the end I have no advice because every baby is different and has different obstacles. I don't think either way is better than the other. I think formula makes healthy happy babies as well. A happy mommy = happy baby so whatever it takes to get there is what you need to do. And go back to my second time around post because really if you listen to yourself you will be much happier than trying to please everyone else.

3 months old!

Brooklyn,

       You are three months old!! I just can't believe it! Time flies when you are having fun! You are still the happiest baby I know. You go with the flow and hardly ever cry. You are quick to smile but much tougher to get to laugh…although we have heard much more laughs lately. I love taking you with me- shopping, errands, everywhere! You just hang out and smile or talk to me. You actually love shopping, probably because people make over you the whole time. We really are two peas in a pod as your dad calls it :)

       You are awesome at tummy time! You love to plank and bob your head around. It's really cute. You are SOO close to rolling over. You can go around in a circle with out quite rolling over. You actually prefer laying on your side. You love kicking your feet and hanging out in the swing or bouncer (I'm predicting a future cross country runner..). But your favorite thing is being held by mama. You just started getting upset when I put you down :(

        You were sleeping great until I went back to work and now you have decided you hate the bottle and would prefer to nurse all night. We had you taking naps in the crib but then you caught your brother's cold so back in the swing you went. 

        You are still exclusively breast fed! And no allergies so far..fingers crossed. The hemangioma seems to be fading! Hooray!

        Brooklyn you are such a joy to be around! I really think you were our little angel for 2014. You are by far the best thing that has happened this year! We can't wait to see what next month brings.

 

You two have your own looks :) Jackson's face is rounder and Brooklyn's is more oval. Jackson had dark brown eyes, Brooklyn's are blue. Different lips. Jackson loved the camera!

The second time around..

Written a month ago oops! And the picture has nothing to do with the post :)

Having Jackson was a huge adjustment to our daily life- it was good, it was bad, and yes sometimes ugly. He finally started getting easier around 9 months and then of course we decided we could handle another one :) This time around I was more much prepared for a newborn and what maternity leave would look like. I had low expectations. Like I wasn't going to leave the house for three months kind of expectations. And to be honest this time was a breeze. Sure I'm tired but I feel great! I'm enjoying maternity leave. I enjoy Brooklyn. Here is what I did differently.

1. Hold the Baby! Yes it's simple. Hold the freaking baby. I held (and still do) Brooklyn as much as I wanted or she needed. And it's shocking I know but she does fine being put down. People scare you into "spoiling the baby" or they will never let you put them down but seriously they just exited the womb it's tough being out in the world. I love holding my babies. If she had a clingy day, I just parked it on the couch and held her. I didn't stress over it. THIS WAS AMAZING. You can't get these days back so enjoy it. I regret stressing over how much I held Jackson. And really I held him a lot which is why I think he is such an affectionate little boy but why did I waste so much time forcing him to be put down? It never worked anyways :)

2. Co-sleeping. Here we go… I co-slept with Brooklyn for the first month. She needed it and I needed sleep. What baby is fine exiting the womb and going to a cold, hard crib? And guess what she sleeps in the rock n play just fine now. Again shocking I know. But I have no issues bringing her in bed when she needs it. I'm very confident she won't go to college needing me to go with her. It's also much easier for nursing, especially during growth spurts. She would eat, I would sleep.

3. Make one small goal a day. The first time around I would expect to get a ton done during the day… hahah. So this time if I got a shower I felt accomplished. Now that we are two months in I sometimes set two goals- clean bathroom and unload the dishwasher. Just get over the fact the house will be a mess. 

4. Prepare meals ahead of time. I make my lunch everyday at 10:30 and then eat it while nursing. Instead of getting frustrated because I want to eat but she needs to eat too just prepare for it. I sometimes attempt to make dinner ahead of time.. but that doesn't always work out. 

5. Get all your stuff in arms reach before they start crying. I set up my little spot of the couch with blankets, water, nipple cream, phone, iPad, remotes, etc. 

6. Let it go! The house will be messy, your toddler will watch entirely too much TV, you will order pizza far too often but this is short lived. You are in survival mode just embrace it!