apron strings

i couldn't do it without them.

i am glad that i read so many great parenting books in the latter half of my pregnancy. they all added tools to my brain's tool box to help mebetter parent my child which benefited my marriage and ultimately me. 

honestly, i do not, in any way, understand why people wouldn't. prepare themselves as much as possible.  there seems to be a lot of negative thoughts about reading books about child rearing. in an chat room i frequent, when i mentioned them , i got a lot of defensive replies like "every child is different,"  "mothering is instinctive." a sort of "ignorance is the best way."

when i found myself doing the 5 step sleep method espoused in this book the first night after i gave birth, swaddling, shushing, rocking, etc...i thanked the author in my head. he was right it knocked her out immediately and does to this day. within minutes.

 this book rocks for breastfeeding mothers who return to work. it talks about pumping milk, how to freeze milk, etc. but most importantly it is a personal account of the women who lived it. who pumped at work, in a tiny room, while their children were in someone else's' care. too many breastfeeding books don't touch pumping, or if they do, they parade out a list of horribles that happen when you do or (((GASP)) return to work.

i love "momma zen." it helps you attempt to find peace in motherhood and serves as a reminder to cherish these moments even in the madness that is parenthood. 

 

this book

 shows you how to effectively communicate with your baby. she tells you to tell your child what you are doing with them when you are doing it. as in, tell them when you are change their diaper. and to introduce them to people. it makes sense. i mean, studies show that infants as young as three months recognize sign language signs. so little ones are most definitely can communicate. i am sure that eventually this will help her remember our friends and family and to be a little more calm when we are putting her in a car seat or changing her diaper. i think it already has, but who knows.

lastly, i freaking' LOVE and i mean LOVE this magazine. i get all excited when i get a new issue and read the articles slowly as if i am savoring every bite. it is the one parenting magazine i have found that doesn't assume that i stay at home....or read on a seventh grade level (as is the grade level most newspapers--popular media are). this magazine makes me remember that i have a brain. that i am not only a vessel of milk that oftentimes smells sour.  

** for the record when i post parenting posts i often feel guilt because i feel like i have left so many of you out. who were with me and my alleged crap eggs for three years. before i randomly won the greatest. lottery. know that i HATE that you aren't with me. and know that although you may not--i didn't for myself-me and my crap eggs hold out so much hope for you. it will happen. i pray with God speed.

xoxo

on nursing.

breastfeeding is a lot. it's the sweetest thing. ever. but hard work for her and i and we have no issues. my (.)(.) are apparently like cows and um, durable. i.e. it doesn't hurt. it is hard work because infant fall asleep. every two minutes. in fact, like all new mothers (am i dreaming, or did i just say "mother" in reference to myself. *sigh*) i grab a cold wash cloth, strip her down to her skivvies and after she is latched rub her feet and back with thecold wash cloth. and after awhile that doesn't even work. infants feed for a minute then sleep for two. were it not two in the morning, it would be comical.

luckily, so far at least, she goes to from breast to bottle with ease. which is faster and k can do. so, so far (!!! do not read if you have a fussy baby!! you'll try to exchange them for a more sleep friendly model. )we have gotten a full nights sleep, well full if you have an infant. as in six hours each. we go to bed early and feed her very late and very early. and each feed her only once. i know.

so, all in all, it's going good. but i doubt i will nurse her until she is a year. i don't know that i have the stamina. it's too much. all the pumping...and the sllllloooooowwww feeding. i don't even know how i can do it at work. i am just focusing on six months.

because i do like it. she makes this cute, cute face. k calls it the huxtable face. eyes closed and this weird mouth thing. just like bill cosby.

so, it's going good, better than most, and better than i expected. but it's hard. and maybe too much for a whole year?

***HELP! if you can. she has started spitting up all of a sudden. i've cut back on dairy but i had a lot of spicy indian food? does that matter or do all babies spit up??