Silly.
Goofy.
Energetic.
Sweet.
That's our Fynn.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Providence
My little girl, who doesn't look much like a baby anymore. She is almost a Kindergartner.
She is so excited about "Patrick's Day," because after it is her birthday.
You know, the one in which she turns 5.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
I realized in my last post about pumping that I may have sounded like an uppity, mompetition breastfeeding mom.
I think breastmilk is the best food for babies. I also think formula creates equally happy and healthy babies. Jackson got quite a bit of formula and he is just fine. I breastfeed because it's a choice I make. I am lucky that after Jackson, breastfeeding hasn't been too difficult for me (minus the 2 month bout of cellulitis with Fynn which I don't think I would nurse through again).
Pumping on the other hand, kicks my butt. I am terrible at it and have to be diligent to keep my supply up. With Jackson, I wasn't diligent and my supply took a huge dive by the time summer rolled around.
Providence didn't drink much milk, but after a few months of pumping I was only bringing home around 9oz of milk which is not enough for 9 hours away from a baby who eats. With Fynn, I was able to nurse once during the day. I frequently had to dip in to my freezer stash to keep him fed at school because I was hardly pumping the 10oz he needed everyday. So a leftover 20oz is a huge deal for me. The extra now will help tremendously later when I am not pumping as much. Atticus has also started sleeping through the night (for now, I am not getting my hopes up to that lasting), so I can wake up and pump close to 5oz. That won't last forever, as my body adjusts. I have to maximize on it while I can.
I am feeling a little bit better about what I have left in my freezer. I did keep some formula from the hospital, just in case I need some in the end.
I think breastmilk is the best food for babies. I also think formula creates equally happy and healthy babies. Jackson got quite a bit of formula and he is just fine. I breastfeed because it's a choice I make. I am lucky that after Jackson, breastfeeding hasn't been too difficult for me (minus the 2 month bout of cellulitis with Fynn which I don't think I would nurse through again).
Pumping on the other hand, kicks my butt. I am terrible at it and have to be diligent to keep my supply up. With Jackson, I wasn't diligent and my supply took a huge dive by the time summer rolled around.
Providence didn't drink much milk, but after a few months of pumping I was only bringing home around 9oz of milk which is not enough for 9 hours away from a baby who eats. With Fynn, I was able to nurse once during the day. I frequently had to dip in to my freezer stash to keep him fed at school because I was hardly pumping the 10oz he needed everyday. So a leftover 20oz is a huge deal for me. The extra now will help tremendously later when I am not pumping as much. Atticus has also started sleeping through the night (for now, I am not getting my hopes up to that lasting), so I can wake up and pump close to 5oz. That won't last forever, as my body adjusts. I have to maximize on it while I can.
I am feeling a little bit better about what I have left in my freezer. I did keep some formula from the hospital, just in case I need some in the end.
Jackson
My baby is getting too big.
Really, when did this happen?
I'm the mother of a 6 year old who can't wait to lose his first tooth. I think wiggley teeth fall under another milestone you don't really think about it.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
I am a mom who pumps at work
And as a mom who works and pumps the excitement of my day today was freezing 20oz of milk that were left over.
Woot woot.
Thank goodness for windows media player, Hannah Montana and a Leap Frog drum that occupy my students and make pumping at work possible. I have always had a scheduled lunch and planning period, but not so much this year. It makes me thankful for my amazing co-worker and the entertainment listed above and a very large bathroom so I don't have to go far.
Aren't the new Lansinoh bags are super cute?
And when Atticus' feeding information sheet asked for formula type I got to write "breastmilk."
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Things that make my day
There was a seeing-eye dog at Wal-Mart toady. It was a big St.Bernardish type dog and my 3 bigger children were in awe. They thought it was pretty awesome. The owner's friend told them they could pet the dog and they were giddy.
She commented that "Oh my, you have your hands full. But they are all so well behaved!"
We won't mention what they acted like when they got home.
On another note, I think these family rules are awesome. I don't think I could paint the words on in such a variety of awesome fonts, but maybe lots of stickers would do the trick. I am adding the "Be your siblings best friend and biggest fan" to our list of rules.
She commented that "Oh my, you have your hands full. But they are all so well behaved!"
We won't mention what they acted like when they got home.
On another note, I think these family rules are awesome. I don't think I could paint the words on in such a variety of awesome fonts, but maybe lots of stickers would do the trick. I am adding the "Be your siblings best friend and biggest fan" to our list of rules.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
What, I have to parent at night?
When you are pregnant, you have these images of laying your awake baby down in their own bed, giving them a kiss and then spending the rest of the evening and all night doing whatever you want.
Insert reality.
Babies cry, toddlers scream, and older children get out of bed for all sorts of reason. They don't want to fall asleep all by themselves, they want you to rock them, lay with them or talk with them. Then they get up at odd hours of the night and are scared or thirsty or need a new diaper. A few times a year someone is bound to be up sick and vomiting. Sheets will get dirty and then someone will actually wet your bed, not theirs. Have I mentioned I haven't slept through the night in 6 years?
I don't remember reading that on any baby website or in any baby book. But, I have to parent all the time. 2 am is part of all the time. Feeding infants is part of all the time. Dealing with Fynn who wakes up to potty in the middle of the night and needs a diaper is part of all the time. Going to Providence when she wakes up screaming is part of all the time. Letting kids climb into bed with us because they had a nightmare is part of all the time (at least in our house, because I am far to tired to make them go back).
As they age, I have a feeling the reasons will change. I will be staying up making sure they make it home in one piece. I will stay up struggling over letting them go, because they won't need me to settle them down anymore. But I want them to understand and trust that I am always there.
I hope with all this attention now I will have teenagers who come to me day or night. I don't want my children to think I am off limits at 2 am no matter how old they are. If my little girl is crying in college because her boyfriend broke up with her, I want to be the first on her list of phone calls. If Jackson is having major anxiety over an upcoming test or project, I want him to know I am there. If my teenager asks me to come lay with them for a few minutes before they fall asleep I know I will be absolutely giddy.
Day or night, I am their parent.
Insert reality.
Babies cry, toddlers scream, and older children get out of bed for all sorts of reason. They don't want to fall asleep all by themselves, they want you to rock them, lay with them or talk with them. Then they get up at odd hours of the night and are scared or thirsty or need a new diaper. A few times a year someone is bound to be up sick and vomiting. Sheets will get dirty and then someone will actually wet your bed, not theirs. Have I mentioned I haven't slept through the night in 6 years?
I don't remember reading that on any baby website or in any baby book. But, I have to parent all the time. 2 am is part of all the time. Feeding infants is part of all the time. Dealing with Fynn who wakes up to potty in the middle of the night and needs a diaper is part of all the time. Going to Providence when she wakes up screaming is part of all the time. Letting kids climb into bed with us because they had a nightmare is part of all the time (at least in our house, because I am far to tired to make them go back).
As they age, I have a feeling the reasons will change. I will be staying up making sure they make it home in one piece. I will stay up struggling over letting them go, because they won't need me to settle them down anymore. But I want them to understand and trust that I am always there.
I hope with all this attention now I will have teenagers who come to me day or night. I don't want my children to think I am off limits at 2 am no matter how old they are. If my little girl is crying in college because her boyfriend broke up with her, I want to be the first on her list of phone calls. If Jackson is having major anxiety over an upcoming test or project, I want him to know I am there. If my teenager asks me to come lay with them for a few minutes before they fall asleep I know I will be absolutely giddy.
Day or night, I am their parent.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Comparison Pics at 2 months
They are in birth order. Fynn and Providence are easy to point out because she is surrounded by girly things and Fynn has the heart stamp on his head (it's still noticeable when his hair is short). It was very hard to find a picture of Fynn not smiling. And Fynn had some amazing head control (he was actually only 6 weeks old in that picture). The boys all still look a lot alike to me. Atticus is very expressive and tracts beautifully, but he just isn't into smiling. He looks at you like he thinks you are an idiot when you act silly to try to coax one out of him.
This is one of my favorite baby pictures of Fynn. It just sums up his personality.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Happy 1/6 Day!
Atticus is 2 months old!
He weighed 11lb12oz, was 21.75 inches long and had a 15 inch head.
He grew 3.5 inches and put on over 7lbs (factoring in the weight he lost).
I love his tiny toes!
And his sweet fingers!
His sweet little mouth with his tongue out.
And his kissable cheeks!
His sweet, silly faces!
It's the only time in his life spit bubbles are precious.
We love this little boy to pieces.
He weighed 11lb12oz, was 21.75 inches long and had a 15 inch head.
He grew 3.5 inches and put on over 7lbs (factoring in the weight he lost).
I love his tiny toes!
And his sweet fingers!
His sweet little mouth with his tongue out.
And his kissable cheeks!
His sweet, silly faces!
It's the only time in his life spit bubbles are precious.
We love this little boy to pieces.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Happenings
Jeremy went to Providence's party and I went to Jackson's. Providence actually got to have one party at Head Start and one at daycare. They made ice cream and watched Charlie Brown Valentine. Her teacher has one of those ice cream maker balls.
Jackson had a craft and food. They all sat on their yellow dot spots to open their Valentine's and read them. His teacher has pieces of tape all over the room in various shades. It's the kids' different dot spots. They have green and blue and red and other colors too. His teacher is way more organized than I could ever be. I don't know how the kids keep up with where all their different spots are.
Fynn had a party too. His teacher told me he had a good day, he only bit one time and not real hard. If anyone knows how to deal with a real biter, I could use some help.
Jeremy and I played who can find the funniest card. He won. It's perfect. We just need to replace the dog with Providence who sleeps at the end of the bed. She sneaks in around 3 or 4 in the morning and lays there so she won't get taken back to her room.
When we got home from school, Valentine's vomited on my living room floor. There was stuff everywhere and I was trying to snatch up all the candy before Fynn opened and took one bite of everything. He's a little foodie. Sample first, then commit!
Poor Providence, 10 letter names are hard when you are just learning how to write. She does pretty well when she wants to (this means only for Mrs. White and Mrs. Walker or when she is offered a bowl of ice cream at home)
We went outside to eat our FunDip (that stuff brings back memories) and play with the stamp sets the Valentine's Princess left.
Yea for warm weather! My diapers were in need of a little sun.
"Feed me already mother! I do not like to wait!"
Daddy brought his little Valentine flowers.
Just plain cute, if you ask me.
Jeremy took Providence on a date to I-Hop because she wanted pancakes. I think this will be a great new tradition in our house for Valentine's. Daddy can go out with his princess and the boys can take out mommy.
My three Valentine's. Fynn was still a little upset and emotionally drained (as was his mommy) from the 30 minute rage (meltdown on steroids) that he had just been through. I had to spend the majority of that time restraining him (thank you special ed certification so I know how to do that most effectively) because he couldn't stop hitting mommy and Providence. Fynn's latest rages are another post entirely, though.
At McDonald's with my boys.
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The princess at I-hop.
It was a fun Valentine's Day!
Jackson had a craft and food. They all sat on their yellow dot spots to open their Valentine's and read them. His teacher has pieces of tape all over the room in various shades. It's the kids' different dot spots. They have green and blue and red and other colors too. His teacher is way more organized than I could ever be. I don't know how the kids keep up with where all their different spots are.
Fynn had a party too. His teacher told me he had a good day, he only bit one time and not real hard. If anyone knows how to deal with a real biter, I could use some help.
Jeremy and I played who can find the funniest card. He won. It's perfect. We just need to replace the dog with Providence who sleeps at the end of the bed. She sneaks in around 3 or 4 in the morning and lays there so she won't get taken back to her room.
When we got home from school, Valentine's vomited on my living room floor. There was stuff everywhere and I was trying to snatch up all the candy before Fynn opened and took one bite of everything. He's a little foodie. Sample first, then commit!
Poor Providence, 10 letter names are hard when you are just learning how to write. She does pretty well when she wants to (this means only for Mrs. White and Mrs. Walker or when she is offered a bowl of ice cream at home)
We went outside to eat our FunDip (that stuff brings back memories) and play with the stamp sets the Valentine's Princess left.
Yea for warm weather! My diapers were in need of a little sun.
"Feed me already mother! I do not like to wait!"
Daddy brought his little Valentine flowers.
Just plain cute, if you ask me.
Jeremy took Providence on a date to I-Hop because she wanted pancakes. I think this will be a great new tradition in our house for Valentine's. Daddy can go out with his princess and the boys can take out mommy.
My three Valentine's. Fynn was still a little upset and emotionally drained (as was his mommy) from the 30 minute rage (meltdown on steroids) that he had just been through. I had to spend the majority of that time restraining him (thank you special ed certification so I know how to do that most effectively) because he couldn't stop hitting mommy and Providence. Fynn's latest rages are another post entirely, though.
At McDonald's with my boys.
The princess at I-hop.
It was a fun Valentine's Day!
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