mam·ma·ry, ˈmam(ə)rē/, adjective, relating or belonging to the milk-secreting organ of a female mammal
In the past few weeks, I really feel like my mammary glands are giving up. When we were in Jamaica I pumped a few times each day and managed to extract roughly 25 ounces over the 5-day period. It was deflating, literally! I was able to bring that milk back home with me which I was very happy about. Continue reading
When they originally asked us to join them in tropical Jamaica for their wedding, I assumed we would not go. I mean, we had a new babe and it was between the holidays and money and time and….and….and. I assumed we won’t go. Cody thought differently. ‘Yes, we’ll go. We need a trip, we’ve never done a big trip before or had our honeymoon.”
Earlier this month, we jetted of to Jamaica to witness Travis and Shannon’s union. Continue reading
We returned home late from Jamaica on her 8th month birthday… I was saddened that I wasn’t with her on that day, but my time away from her confirmed that there is no better place to be and no better time spent than with her. Continue reading
For the past many years I have taken my birthday off from work. This year my birthday fell on a Sunday so I took Friday off and took an extended weekend. There was nothing special planned but I was looking forward to a day with Miss Connie, just she and I. We ran to Reedsburg to run some errands which included finding her first Christmas tree ornament and a wreath for the front door. It was so nice to just walk and browse and hold her. And she was extra loveable that morning, giving snuggles and kisses as we shopped.
That evening we watched the light parade in Spring Green. Saturday morning we checked on the animals and went for a short hike. It was low-key weekend, but it was spent with the loves of my life which made it absolutely wonderful.
My gift came early this year. She arrived in April and I have been celebrating every day since. My gift for every occasion is her. Now I am a mother and have experienced the awesome bounty of love and pride and happiness. An amazing gift indeed.
So very much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Day was spend with the Carpenter’s at Grandma Betty’s following the 5.5k Plain Pilgrimage.
On the Saturday following, we hosted the Lettman clan. A ‘photo booth’ was set up to get some family pics. My sister and her family were once again home and it was so great to have them here.
Miss Connie sampled new foods and was showered with love by family.
Thank you Auntie Rachel for the adorable “My 1st Thanksgiving” hat and bib set.
We started ‘sleep training’ last month. I’ll share more on that in a separate post. During this process, and by means of her natural development, she has learned to pull herself up and stand.
First she pulled herself up to her knees, but soon discovered the ability to stand tall. Now granted, she has been standing with assistance for many months, but this is a new milestone in that she is pulling herself up and holding weight while moving. She quickly took this new skill from the crib and has been applying it to every object in the house in which she might pull herself up on or climb: sofa, coffee table, high chair, dog seat, etc. AND the stairs! Just the other night we witnessed her attempt to climb steps. I love watching her discover her abilities.
This has been the new view of her in the crib. I must say, it is fun to hear her wake not by a cry but by the sound of her rocking the crib gate. 🙂 This mama tends to worry a bit about my sweet child, so to ensure this grand advancement doesn’t result in injury, the mattress has now been lower not once, but twice!
She is so much fun at this age…. I’ve been amazed at how much she had developed from November 1st to November 30th. She’s learned so many new things, is picking up on language and words, loves books, and enjoys exploring her surroundings. She is still an absolute mama’s girl and I am taking full appreciation for as long as I have that.
Last month involved a trip to South Dakota, new teeth, her first snow and her first barrette hair clip(photos below!), and the fun of the Thanksgiving holiday season which blessed us with another visit with my sister and the girls. Here’s some of the fun and memories captured in November. And, yes, she is as fun and happy as she looks in photos–probably more!
My brother is a grandpa… sometimes I still have to let that sink in. That means of course then, that I am a Great Aunt, a.k.a. Granut LoLo! Greydon celebrated 1 year of life back in August, and in July (this post is overdue) we got together for a visit while he and his sweet mama were home from Washington. It was a warm sunny day and great for sitting by the pool and hanging with family.
Below are photos of the first meeting of Greydon (13 months) and Miss Connie (3 months). It’s amazing how much my lil girl has grown and changed and developed since this visit.
The first image is of my brother and mother with their grandbabies. Greydon was not too sure about this new babe coming in a stealing his attention or playing with HIS toys!
Hopefully these two babes will get some more visits together in the New Year.
Carl affectionately refers to South Dakota as the ‘Wild West.’ As we welcomed November, we headed there early Sunday morning, via a route from Lincoln, Nebraska. We arrived around the lunch hour and were excitedly greeted by Grandpa Carl and Grandma Darcy in their new home. We got the tour and then enjoyed a delicious homemade meal, something we had been missing as a result of being on the road for the preceding two days and eating snack foods.
The visit was easy-going and relaxing. For Connie and I anyway. Cody helped his dad install a windmill tower that once stood on Bear Vale ground. If all goes as he hopes, Carl will be able to pump water to his cattle with it. We enjoyed a four-wheeler ride through Webster, time with Carl’s Black Diamonds (cattle), a visit with Wes, and more good food.
Unknown to her at this young age, Connie has some experiences some would be envious of. She drove with her grandpa in a 1942 Ford truck, very similar to the one her grandpa road in as a child. She sat atop a tractor her great-grandfather purchased in the 1960s. She was hugged between her mama and daddy during a 4-wheeler ride, during which she contentedly fell asleep. She played with a cat who had seen his fair share on young children in his day and graciously allowed her to crawl over him. She visited the Wild West!
Thank you, Carl and Darcy, for a wonderful visit and for the love you hold for our daughter.
Last month when I took her photos, she was barely sitting up. I could set her on her butt, but she was wobbly and would tip over easily. In a blink of an eye, that all changed and she has spent the past three weeks sitting up without difficulty and adjusting from sitting to crawling. It probably sounds funny, but I find myself thinking she looks so grown up as she sits. She is also now able to enjoy bath time sitting rather than laying down and loves to chase the bath toys around the tub.
Her ability to fully sit on her own for lengthy periods, as well as her ever-growing menu, has adjusted our dinner routine. While we usually ate as a threesome, it formerly involved Cody and I sitting across from each other at the kitchen island while I nursed Miss Connie. Now, Cody pulls his chair around closer to me, and sandwiched between us is our infant foodie in her high chair. It melts my heart to have the thee of us gathered. He and I take turns feeding her as we feed ourselves.
Originally I thought I would be cautious about the range of foods and how quickly they were introduced, but with my low milk supply and her being quick to take to solids, we have introduced a variety of foods, being mindful that they are organic (safe), nutritious, and suitable for her age.
This past month she has discovered new noises that she is able to make and appreciates us mimicking her noises back to her. She recognizes voices and many times when I am on the phone with a family member or with Cody, I will put the speaker on so she can hear them too. Usually she joins in the conversation.
We had our first experience of ‘sickness’. On Tuesday she came down with a stuffy and runny nose (thank you Aunt Kendra for NoseFrida) and just did not feel well in general. She wanted to snuggle and nurse and just wanted mommy for the most part. Which I loved, but nighttime was difficult. Typically she does well at going down at night in her crib and staying down for several hours. Tuesday through Thursday evening however, she woke and fussed every time I attempted to put her down. So, into our bed she came. I nursed her to sleep an attempted to lay her in bed with us, but once detached and not touching me, she was back up. So… attached sleeping for three straight nights. It was a bit rough on my neck and back and my sleep was compromised, but such is the sacrifice of a mama. I have appreciated the snuggles. Wednesday night we vegged out on the couch and Cody remarked that it was like she was a newborn again, content just laying with us, not wanting to move around. We nursed frequently and throughout the night and I pulled some of my frozen stash out just to ensure she was getting lots of mama milk packed with vitamins. She was a trooper. We could see it in her eyes that she just wasn’t feeling her best but she tried to remain happy and playful and is doing much better.
Weight: Unofficially via bathroom scale: 18lbs
Height: 28″
Head: 17.5″
Eyes: Dare I say, light brown? Greenish brown definitely but as I type, they appear a muddled brown. Cody recently told someone he hopes she does have brown eyes, that way I’ll feel like she has something from me. He forgets, I already take credit for the chin! 🙂
Hair: Lengthening and looking darker this month than last. Perhaps it was the outdoor time last month that made her hair get lighter. 🙂 She continues to be a brunette. Maybe I get credit for that too.
Eats:
Teeth: Still two, but the third is working away at coming through–top right. We thought we’d have seen it by now, but it lingers in her swollen upper gum and causes grief occasionally. Wash cloths and the teething necklace, and her own hand, provide some relief.
My love for her grows each day. I am so in awe of her and cannot get enough kisses and hugs and babbles and smiles. She is truly amazing. Here are her 7 month photos. Had to pull a carrot toy out to go with her “love me some veggies” outfit from Grandma Cathy.
We are first-time parents. We’re excited about this and bit nervous. As the saying goes with every next generation, “things are different from when we were kids!” But I want to raise my child the way I was raised. Is that possible in this era of quick gratification, technology stimulation, and social pressures?
In all my reading during my pregnancy, I came across a good tip here and there about raising a child (below are some I like). But the reality is it’s an on-the-job learning adventure, and we’ll make mistakes, but hopefully we provide the best foundation for her and instill the important values Cody and I share as individuals, as partners, and as parents. I am sure as we travel down the parenting adventure path, much unsolicited advice will come our way and we will have to defend our methods and juggle today’s norms with our values. No matter how much reading I do, or how I analyze parenting styles, I know that ours will be an evolution through the years, and there is no one way to raise a child. I pray that God gives us strength and wisdom to set the stage, to let her fly, and to fall, all while supporting and guiding… and loving, loving so very much.
I read a lot, and from the information I gather, some of it makes sense to me and I will incorporate it, but to the core, I just see myself doing it like my parents did. I may be living in a fantasy world….
“As you travel down the path of laughter and tears, always keep one thing in mind: your child idolizes you from the second they enter your life. What may seem trivial to you is huge to them, and your feedback, interaction, and attention are like oxygen, they need them to survive. You have the power to instill in them a sense of self-assurance and confidence that will benefit them greatly as a child and resonate throughout their life. Just be there.” –Debrief from The New Dad’s Survival Guide
“The days are long, but the years are short… Each day is a new opportunity to show your children you are present, in tuen to them, enjoy their company and love them fiercely. That’s all they really want. It’s never too late to start.” –Mom blog post
The latest Garth Brooks album has a couple of parenting songs that choke me up every time. Mom, for the obvious reason of being a first-time mama and just recently experiencing birth . But also the song Send Em On Down The Road. The chorus speaks volumes:
You can cry for ‘em
Live and die for ‘em
You can help them find their wings but you can’t fly for ‘em
‘Cause if they’re not free to fall, than they’re not free at all
And though you just can’t bare the thought of letting go
You pick ‘em up
You dust ‘em off
And send ‘em on down the road
For the parents out there, what was one piece of parenting advice that you did receive, solicited or not, that you are glad someone shared with you? Was there anything that really made a difference or changed how you approach parenting?
It’s a long way to travel to trick-or-treat, but it was an opportunity to fit two visits into a trip (and a half). We were over due to visit my sister in Arkansas and Cody’s father in South Dakota. Not exactly in the same direction. My sister’s in-laws were planning to gather over Halloween weekend in Lincoln so she suggested we meet up with them there and then head to Webster from there. And that is what we did. On Friday afternoon, we departed and spent approximately 7 hours in the truck making our way to Lincoln. This was Connie’s longest trip to date…. it’s long for most anyone, but being trapped in a car seat probably makes it less desirable. She did pretty good and only needed to be soothed a couple of times.
Dena and the girls met us at the hotel and we spent the evening watching them ooh and aah over our little angel. The next day we headed to Dena’s brother-in-law’s home. He is the Athletic Director for Nebraska, thus the reason for the meeting in Lincoln. We watched Nebraska lose to Purdue, while Wisconsin came out with a victory. We grazed on snack food and hang out, pretty relaxing day. Later the kids got ready for trick-or-treating. Elsa, Ana, Olaf and the purple monster made their way through the neighborhood scoring generous sugary treats.
The next morning we packed up at got on the road around 7 am to head to Webster–5 hours of drive time ahead of us. Here are pics from our time with the Eichorst’s. These girls love my baby so much and I love witnessing that.
My sister and I, with our girls. 🙂
I can hardly believe it is November. Reflecting on October, it’s a haze. We enjoyed the warm temps and the delayed fall color change. Connie’s great grandma Ruth passed early in the month which provided us with a bonus visit with Grandpa & Grandma Pulvermacher, and the chance to see aunts, uncles, and cousins. During that same week, tooth #2 was working it’s way in and caused some restless nights and fussy moments. The rest of the month flew by and included:
Here’s October in pictures:
Tooth #1 arrived on September 22nd, just after turning 5 months old. The nanny discovered it and brought her in to ask if I knew it was there. I had been occasionally checking for breaks in the gums, but had not noticed it and was happy to realize it came in without much fuss or discomfort. Tooth #2 on the other hand gave us a few days of inconsistent sleep and increased clinginess as well as bottom rash. I was eager to provide her with comfort; here are some things we tried:
Generic teethers: The teething options compliments of Wal-Mart (sorry, Tod); rubber/plastic (BPA free) water filled shapes. We have the clear ring made up of circles and a pink ‘foot.’ We experimented with these, frozen and unfrozen. She likes the item from a toy perspective, but doesn’t seem to identify it as a teething option as she does with some of the other items. They also don’t fit in her mouth very well and at 5 months old, she struggled to hold them securely. I would not buy these again.
Frozen wash cloths: This one is easy. Dampen the cloth and throw it in the freezer. We have small organic cloths we received at our baby shower and this is what I use for her. I feel like she has control of this and can get it into her mouth more easily. I believe the texture is more inviting as well. Highly recommend trying this. Very affordable and effective. This is our go-to soothing option.
Amber necklace: This is the description posted on Amazon.com for this product: “Our Amber Teething Necklace is the perfect alternative medicine for babies & toddlers on the teething process. All this is thanks for the Baltic Amber Natural immune system boost, anti-inflammatory & analgesic capabilities. By the time the baby or toddler start using the necklace you will start noticing the differences on their behavior & mood, thanks to the effectiveness of the succinic acid contained naturally on the amber and without suffering the secondary effects behind synthetic medicine like teething tablets or scrapings left by the teething toys on their mouth.” So we tried this for a few days but to be honest, I can’t say if it provided relief at all. I was nervous to have it on her neck unless completely supervised (this meant not napping with it) and it was too big to stay on her wrist or ankle, so it was taken off many times. I will try again. We’ll see. I question whether or not it is amber or effective, but need more time to see if it has an impact.
Mommy necklace: Here’s a link to the item. Silicone Teething Necklace for Mom to Wear by RubyRoo Baby – Baby safe BPA-Free Faceted Beads. She likes this. Of course anything hanging on me while she is being held is of interest to her. She pulls on it, plays with it and chews on it. She likes having something to reach for and hold when she nurses also. It’s soft, easy to put on and adjustable. So this is a good buy and teething aid in my book. Word of caution: I would not allow her to play with it when it’s not being worn. The string could be ingested/inhaled or she could get tangled in it. We do allow her to play with it as a toy (not around my neck) but only while we are watching her closely. She does enjoy it and not only chews on the beads, but also on the string and seems to find comfort from that alone.
Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder: Again, the product description: “This award-winning product allows your baby to enjoy lots of delicious foods without the choking risk. Simply put a piece of fruit, vegetables or meat into the mesh bag and snap shut. Your baby can chew, suck and enjoy all the whole food goodness and taste, with only the tiniest, digestible pieces coming through.” She likes this. She can hold it and gnaw on it pulling small food particles in while getting a massage on her gums. It’s also a good way to introduce foods without the worry of choking and it helps to get her involved. You can also put ice chips in it and provide a numbing/cool option.
Tooth #2 finally poked through and provided relief on October 10th, just before turning 6 months old. Now we are waiting on the rest. #3 seems to be close to arriving, but I don’t see where it might be entering. She is not in major discomfort but does have moments when I can tell it’s bothering her and during those moments, the index finger is her go-to soother.
No rush. I love her gummy smile. But the pediatrician did say he could tell the top ones were working their way through. This is the very early record of our teething adventure. We have only just begun and have only two teeth through. I know we have some rougher days ahead, especially as the molars work their way in.
If you have the time, holding and comforting is always the best and preferred by the babe. Miss Connie really just wants mamma during achy times and I love her snuggles. I let her chew on my fingers and clothing while I smothered her with kisses. We also nurse frequently when she is not feeling her best.
A few weeks ago I shared a post titled Lactation in which I shared my discovery of a diminished milk supply. As a result I had multiple women reach out to share their suggestions, experience and encouragement. It was heartwarming to have other mamas relate to my desire to continue nursing and help me get my supply back up. I received some really good insights and tips and am so appreciative of their selfless support. It’s no surprise, but the nursing community is a supportive one. Thank you ladies, so very much.
Here’s a look at my toolkit to try to increase my supply:
Working to get you supply up is work. And it takes dedication. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been as relentless as I hoped I would have been, but I am working at it and managing this new task with my daily workload. Each morning during the work week, I eat oatmeal which by itself can help with supply. I up the game by adding healthy amounts of Brewer’s yeast and flax seed. Add to that the 2-3 capsules of Fenugreek taken 3 times per day.
Most importantly though, is pumping. This is where I really failed through the first 5 months of nursing. I took for granted that I was producing and Miss Connie and I together were making it work. My travels likely also interfered and put us reliant on organic formula in months 3 and 4 and I believe that was the start of my decline. In month 5 I felt I was low on production. My breasts felt soft and never full and Miss Connie wanted to nurse frequently and didn’t always seem satisfied. A pump revealed I only had about a half an ounce in each breast. OUCH!
So with my rented pump in hand and new shields, I attempted to pump every 2-4 hours throughout the day. I also set my alarm to wake in the wee morning hours to pump. That’s a tough one. I have to wake up, hook up to the various parts of the machine and sit upright for 20-30 minutes. I then have to put the equipment away and store the milk, all of which only wakes me further making it difficult to fall back asleep. Sleep comes just about the time Connie wakes for her nigh-time feeding. Back up, care for her, and try to get her back down. Back to sleep for a short while before Cody’s alarm goes off and Miss Connie awakes again. As a result, I modified my nighttime pumping. I pump in bed before going to sleep. On the nights that Connie wakes after four hours, I nurse her on one side while pumping the other. If she sleeps longer, I wake around 3 am to pump both sides. We then nurse and pump again in the early morning.
Medela Symphony vs. Pump in Style Advanced
One of the mamas who reached out suggested trying a hospital grade pump. I picked up the Symphony on October 6th. For the first two weeks, I used only that pump. I liked that it was quieter than my model and also preferred the control knobs and digital screen. Further, if I am only pumping one side, there is no need to unhook the unused tube–suction is controlled by each individual tube/membrane.
pumping in restaurant bathroom
Was it extracting more than my Pump in Style (PiSA)? I wasn’t sure. On October 17th I had a bachelorette party. I couldn’t afford an interruption so I took my pump along for the fun. The Symphony is much larger and does not travel as discretely, so the PiSA was better for this purpose. I pumped on the bus and even in the restaurant bathroom. What I was able to extract seemed as much as what I got from the Symphony. Throughout that night out, I collected 7 oz. Disappointing, but did add another 3 when I got home.
Since then, I have been using both pumps. I leave my PiSA by the bed and the Symphony at my desk. Results are about the same — no noticeable difference. So it was worth experimenting, but I won’t be extending the rental for a second month. The shields are an improvement however, and I am glad I purchased those. Pumping multiple times throughout the day leads to soreness, regardless of the pump or shield and nothing is as effective as my baby girl at extracting. Sometimes I will nurse her after pumping just to have her get any remaining milk lingering inside.
When I first started pumping at the beginning of the month, I was getting a half to one ounce from each breast. Now, depending on time between pumps, I can get 1 to 2.5 ounces. So I am seeing an improvement. With some consistency, my left breast out produces my right.
I am still working at it. Yesterday I was working away and it wasn’t until the afternoon that I realized I hadn’t yet pumped since feeding that morning! Ugh! As I type, I am again hooked to the machine. Left breast is winning the race….
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get back to seeing 3-5 ounces from a single breast during a single pump, but I’ll be keeping at it. What I do know, is providing my daughter with breast milk is very important to me and I believe she benefits profoundly from it. We have increased solid food intake with her and I provide her with as much mama milk as I can expel.
My advice to new mamas: PUMP. From day one. Incorporate it into your routine to get your supply up and keep it up. Thanks again to all those who reached out and shared their experience.
Bear Vale Farm 