Comfort

Before I tell you what happened today...a little back story.

 

I only nursed my sweet boy for 8 weeks...8 long, hard, sleepless, tear filled weeks.  I wanted it  to work so bad, but you can't force a newborn to nurse.   And while I am confidant that it would have worked had I have known where to go for help, I didn't.  I cried every time I gave my sweet boy a bottle...for a long time.  Ellary was a different newborn, and I was a more determined Mommy.  I didn't give myself the option; nursing would work this time around.  I knew where to get help, and I sought it out numerous times.  Ellary has always nursed well, but that doesn't mean we haven't gone through our set of challenges.  We were not nursing, pain free, until Ellary was 6 weeks old.  I can not tell you how many times I cried through feedings in the early weeks.  Or how many emails I sent to a friend asking questions.  I had two different lactation consultants come to the house, two times each.  I called our hospital's lactation consultant line all the time.  I started going to LLL meetings when I was only 4 months pregnant.  All that to say...yes...Ellary was a good nurser from the very beginning...but we still both had to work hard at it.  And to be honest, it is an accomplishment I am proud of.  I love nursing Ellary, and she loves it so much she still wakes up every few hours at night to nurse....at 6 months old. :)

 

So today....

I called the pediatrician about a concern I had with Ellary.  Nothing big, and I figured they would tell me..its normal...but they wanted to see her.  Even after I said I didn't really want to bring her in...they still wanted to see her.  We saw the PA whom we  have only seen a few times.  She asked me how many times a day Ellary eats...I explained I nurse on demand, and she nurses every few hours, including throughout the night.  She stopped, looked at me with a disgusted look and said sternly, "She is 6 months old, that is not necessary.  She is only doing that for comfort."  I promptly told her I was ok that she was nursing for comfort.  That I am a Mom that believes that if she needs to nurse for comfort..then well...it IS necessary. The appointment could have ended right there...and I learned that the PA at our office and I most certainly do not agree.

My problem with her comment...Why is it a problem that my 6 month old needs to nurse for comfort to fall back asleep at night?  Why is it unnecessary?  Why is her need for comfort not important? Yes, I am tired...yes I walk around a bit zombie like...yes I wish she would sleep better...but isn't that part of being a Mom.  Basically what she was telling me was to let Ellary SCREAM so that I could sleep...not gonna happen.  Ellary and I worked too hard to make nursing a comfort, for me to deny her that comfort and make her scream herself to sleep.

...which brings me back to this post from last year.

When are we going to stop viewing our babies as a bother...and obligation...an unnecessary need to be comforted (it feels wrong to even type that)

This morning, after nursing Ellary, she was wide awake, so I set her next to me in bed.  She crawled up on my chest, and just wanted to lay on me and cuddle.  All I could think was, how cool is it that I am what she needs? 

 

So yes, my 6 month old us up all night long...to nurse...for comfort...and I am proud that something we worked so hard at in the early weeks is such a huge comfort to my girl.  

 

InstaFriday

Happy Happy Friday!  

After celebrating a fantastic night of sleep yesterday on FB, Ellary got up a million times last night, and was up for the morning at 4:30am.  Tired.  And please know, fantastic night of sleep means she only got up to nurse six times and immediately went back to sleep each time.  My views on sleep are obviously a little messed up.  I don't even want to know what her sleeping habits will be like as a teenager. 

Onto our weekly Instagram's...

He has a fire/police station like doll house.  He loves it, and listening to him pretend play is my favorite.  His fireman was sleepy, and needed a nap.  But, not before he went potty.

She tried pulling all nighters at the beginning of the week...not going to bed until after 1am.   Seriously...she may be absolutely adorable, but she stinks at sleeping!!!

That dog drives me crazy.  Absolutely crazy.  Until I find her like this.  She is never far away from the kids.  

Yup...he fell asleep picking his nose.

Busted!

She grew out of all her jammies...and I will only buy Hanna Andersson pjs.  Only on clearance at the outlet.  Because they last for.ever.  So until they go on clearance, Miss Ellary is sporting her brother's blue hand-me-downs...with pink socks of course.

Helping Bumpa drive his BIG "Bumpa Truck."

my dad drives semi...karson thinks it is the coolest thing ever

DJ had the leaves completely picked up the day before...

"hi Mom...I got here on my own"

My back yard was absolutely beautiful this week.

This is how she feels about nap time...

She chased that ball around all morning...

Not happy unless she is standing...or chasing a ball around the livingroom.

A beautiful day to play in the leaves.

He picked up the leaves again...a few hours later our yard looked like this.

Linking up with Jeannett at life.rearranged for Insta Friday.

The Pumpkin Farm

I like coffee.  A lot.  Not because of the caffeine.  I just love the taste of coffee.  I crave a cup of hot, strong, black coffee.  Decaf coffee tastes bad.  Yes, I can tell a difference.  In college I drank coffee all.day.long.  Probably a few too many cups.  Occasionally, I would get a caffeine buzz.  My body telling me I have had a bit too much caffeine.  This morning I had two cups of coffee.  Strong, black, Keurig, a.ma.zing coffee...and all morning I had the i had too much coffee jitters...the same ones I got when I had pots of coffee in college.  Not 2 cups...pots. All that to say, I am losing my coffee tolerance.

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We went to the "Pumpin' Farm" last week.  It was a beautiful, sunny day  We decided to throw our plans of cleaning the house aside, and take a family day making memories instead.  We were taking risk.  A 2 1/2 year old with no nap, comes with no guarantees of a good time, and an increased likelihood of a major meltdown.  He surprised us.  He loved every second of it.  And Ellary, she is terrified whenever she is in crowds.  I always put her in the Ergo with the hood up and she immediately calms down.  Combine the Ergo with her love of being outside, and you have a content, sleeping Ellary.

First up on our trip to the farm, was the hayride to the pumpkin patch.  We rode behind a tractor.  My little boy was in heaven!

We picked out four pumpkins.  One for Mommy, Daddy, Karson, & Baby Ella.  

Karson instructed us "Baby Ella 'dis one...riiiiiiight here."

Proof that Ellary was, in fact, at the pumpkin patch for the first time.

Next, a visit to see the "horseys."

And just like last year, I was nervous to put my little boy on the Pumpkin Train.  Put Train behind anything, and it has Karson written all over it.  But the rides at the town fair did not go over well...and landed us with a sobbing little boy that we couldn't get off the ride.   I asked before it started for the driver to keep an eye out for him to c-r-y.  Of course, he surprised me with his huge smile.  He even rode it two times.  

We ended out trip to the Pumpkin Farm with pumpkin donuts and the best apple cider around.  

So, so yummy!

And after Miss Ellary woke up, we got a few quick family pictures.

"baby ella have pumpin' tooooooo'

InstaFriday

Happy Friday

I am thrilled that it is Friday.

Thrilled, because my kids don't sleep.

Weekends usually mean Mommy gets to sleep in at least 1 morning.

It is fabulous.

I am already looking forward to it.

 

My sweet girl has been sick the last few weeks.  Both kids have been.  They got better, and then Ellary got sick again...and then she got worse.  She was miserable.  On a rare occasion that she let me set her down, this is how she spent the entire time in her walker.  Sad baby.

Sad, sick baby sleeping on Mama.  I called her pediatrician twice last week.  The second time I told the nurse "I don't know what to do...she is just so sad...and miserable..."  She was coughing so hard she was throwing everything up...and then she cried and cried.   

...and then her sweet smile came back.   She has been so goofy the last few days.  

We were out looking for a new car last weekend.  Miss Ellary decided she didn't want to be in the car anymore, and made that very clear.  So we stopped for a while, and let her 'drive' the car until she was ready to get back in the car seat.

An extremely rare site in my house...a clean Kitchen/Dining room.  Too bad it only stays this way for .2 seconds.

Smiley girl...feeling so much better!

Meet 'Monster Karson.'  A new pair of hats and gloves came in the mail last weekend, and he ran around growling with his monster hat and gloves on for a hour.  He cracks me up.

Her afternoon nap location of choice. 

 On Mama.

Always.

We tried out only giving Karson a nap every other day this week.

After he woke up at 2am at the beginning of the week and didn't go back to sleep until 6am.

He isn't quite ready....he crashes now every time we put him in the car.

So, so, so tired!

I love him!!

Mommy Milk Coma

Cool weather here called for a fire in the fire place.

Love, love, love.

Karson helping TT make s'more bites earlier today.

He was so funny...a great special treat for kids to help make!

And they were good!

Enjoy your weekend!!

Ellary {6 Months}

Our sweet Ellary turned 6 months old last week!!  I say it all day every day, but I can not believe it was six months ago that I was a huge, miserable pregnant lady--praying I would go in to labor already!

Ellary, at six months you...

...love to be outside!  You always have.  If you are crying, and I can't get you calmed down, you usually settle as soon as I walk outside.

...nurse...a lot!  You nurse on demand, and never go more than a few hours without eating.  Day or night.  If you are really upset, or scared you comfort nurse, which I am completely ok with.  I love our time together!

...sleep very rarely.  You will only nap if I am holding you, and after fighting it since the day you were born, I finally gave up.  You take 1 good afternoon nap, while you brother is sleeping, curled up in Mama's arms.  If I lay you down, you wake up.  Always.  I keep reminding myself you will only be this little for a short time, and for the time being, our house is a disaster. :)  You still have a hard time with sleeping at night as well.  You don't know how to put yourself back to sleep when you wake up without nursing.  We spend lots of quality time together at night.

...love being in the ergo.  Whenever you are scared, I put up the sleep hood in the ergo, and you glue your head to my chest.  You immediately relax, and usually fall asleep.

...are such a Mama's girl!  You usually won't go to anyone but Mama.  As soon as someone takes you from me, you cry...with real tears.  You are instantly happy as soon as you are back with Mommy.

...get scared easily.  You don't like loud noises, or crowds.  You usually will only ride in the stroller until someone you don't know says hi to you, then you get scared.  I always keep you in the ergo when we are out and about to help keep you calm.  I joked with Aunt TT, that you need a sign that says "don't say hi to me...I will cry" while we are walking through stores.

...pulled your self up.  By yourself.  Twice.  You also army crawl.  Slow down sweet girl!

...started doing the cutest pig face the other day.  We laugh so hard when you do it, then it makes you smile even bigger.  You have been cracking us up!

 ...have no interest in solids.  At all.  We have tried a few things.  Usually,whatever veggies or fruit we are having with dinner.  You spit everything out, or gag and throw up.  

We love you so much, sweet girl!

A little video...

InstaFriday

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday...on a Thursday...because Ellary fell asleep on me and she is sick and I don't want to put her down.  So....I am snuggling her in the rocking chair for a few hours and only my computer and phone are in reach.

So...getting ahead...pretend it is Friday....

 

1. She has all of a sudden noticed Molly. 

2. She loves her.

3. Her favorite thing to do while I am trying to get her to sleep is act goofy.

4. Sleeping is not her thing.

5. Coffee date with my girl.

6. Coffee dates are exhausting.

7. A Mommy Time Out

8. His 3rd Walk to End Alzheimer's

9. Learning to share.

10. Goofy kid with his favorite snack :: black olives.

11. Ice cream :: yum.

12. Downtown at Art Prize.

13. Watching a movie on the tv, while watching a movie on the computer, while in his jammies :: tired Mama::

14. Playing at nap time, because sleeping isn't her thing.

15. Eating her toes.

16. Stylin' little girl.

17. Bundled at the ALZ Walk.

18. I said nap time.  She said no.

19. Watching big brother slide at the park

20. Sleeping...finally!

21. Lights in the Night.  

Seriously Amazing.  

20,000 Chineese Lanterns were lit off in downtown GR

Linking up with Jeannett at Life.Rearranged.