New Toys & Updates.

We bought Ethan some new toys yesterday.  We got him a playard and a vibrating bouncey chair.  The playard he loves, loves, loves.  So much in fact that he took a 3 hour nap in it!  The bassinet part vibrates, and that calms him right away.

 The bouncey chair, he likes but it doesn't last too long.  It probably will last long enough for us to eat dinner together.

He slept last night pretty good.  He was at Nona's for a few hours and was quite content that entire way home and when we came home.He did wake up a few times (probably from smacking himself in the face with his loose arms!) but he fell asleep right away.  He woke up at 3am / 6am / 8am.  He had full feeds for all wake ups so I am thinking another possible growth spurt.

I have been scalding my milk that I am going to freeze.  So far, so good.  I have a "test" bottle that I am testing for a 24 hour period.  At 11am this morning it still tasted fine (I defrosted it last night at 4pm).  So I am going to taste again at 3:30 and see if it spoiled or not.  I'm thinking we are good but I still have to see.

Breastfeeding is still continuing and going well.  We are at 5 minutes on breast per feeding.  It averages about 1 - 2 ounces.  I am very happy about this.  I hope we can make it to being exclusive - or at least almost exclusive.

He is really starting to hold and grasp onto things now.  Today he was reaching for his mobile.  I don't know if he actually was doing that but it looked like it!

I think that's it.  Not much going on today.  I am crocheting some things for props for photos.  I plan on doing those tomorrow so I have to get my butt in gear and get those things made.  It's easy to crochet when he is sleeping or with me in my moby wrap (like right now)

Valentines Day Projects and Milestones

I plan on doing a mini photoshoot with Ethan for Valentines Day.  I have this weekend to work on props.  Hopefully I can fit some time in to make them.  I have a couple sewing projects and a crochet project and I HOPE the crochet one turns out.  It's something new I'm trying out so fingers crossed!  I am good at blankets and that's about it lol.  It may look homemade but it's the thought that counts right :)

A few neat things happened today.  He slept for 2 hours for his nap.  He is starting to rub his eyes when he is tired - how CUTE is that!!  And best of all....really....this is awesome.....he PUT HIMSELF TO SLEEP!  I stuck him in his crib, unswaddled, and he cooed and awed at his mobile and fell asleep.  I'm so proud of my little boy :D

Onto some projects.  I promise to post some pictures tomorrow!

A bland day

There wasn't too much that went on today.  I went to yoga, came home, hung out with the little man who was pukey all day but in a good mood....that that turned to poop when night came - he was the crank monster and wouldn't go to sleep until almost 10pm.  For some reason I became engorged 2 hours after I pumped this afternoon.  This has never happened.  I did a more challenging yoga class so maybe that was why? I don't know.  And of course when I had to pump Ethan was very demanding so that was delayed for almost an hour.  Just not a good night.  I am tired, and according to my "pumping schedule" I should be pumping at 1am....that is NOT going to happen so I will be doing that at 11pm then I don't have to get up until 3am.  Thankfully I am working on eliminating my mid-night pump.  It will take a few weeks but I am so  excited for that!

For this week I pump only 10 minutes during the mid-night pump (about 3am).  Next week, I will pump only 5 minutes, and the following week I will just hand express until I feel relief.  I am also starting to stock pile in the freezer.  I am doing one bag per day (usually the 10pm pump).  I just scald the milk and freeze right away.  If you haven't read before, I have a high enzyme count in my milk so it goes rancid right away.  Scalding helps to preserve it and kill off some of the enzymes.  Unfortunately it lessens the nutrition value of the milk, but the main reason for doing this is for when he is going through a growth spurt I will have a couple feedings on hand. (I pump 2 feedings per pump).

I wasn't going to blog about this, but I have decided to only because new moms and moms to be read this.  I jumped back into trying to breastfeed.  I had someone come to my home and observe and help me yesterday.  She suggested a few different things - bring baby lower, move my arm, etc.  And guess what - it is working.  We get a solid 5 minute feeding - perfect latch, no head bobbing for my nipple, just a straight 5 minute feed.  I lay him on my chest and let him decide which breast he wants (whichever side he leans/falls towards) and then we go from there.  It feels totally different than when I was doing it on my own.   I am still pumping right after and only feed if it coincides with my pumping because I do not need to have problems (which obviously isn't working since I had engorgement already today).  I am more concerned with plugged ducts again over engorgement.  We are just taking it slow.  If it takes another 2 months for him to decide to breastfeed then so be it.  If he decides he hates it and doesn't want to do it, that's okay too.  Pumping works for me.  Breastfeeding would be better - but like I always say, what's good for baby is breastmilk however he may be getting it.

So for anybody reading this that is breastfeeding or planning to and has some difficulty.....do yourself a favour and get someone to show you.  She charges only $20 to come to the home and she was wonderful.  If you would like info on who it was just email me at babydufour2011@gmail.com.  I will be more than happy to pass on her information.  She is also a doula, so I plan to build a relationship with her so she can be with us with our next child if we do have one.

That's all I have to say.  Tomorrow night is "date night" but we are staying in.  Ryan has karate and I have to work on some props for valentines day photos.  (poor kid he is going to boycott me when he is older - especially at his wedding ha ha ha!!!).   Then I'm making dinner for the two of us here.  We don't mind saving money this week!

.....time to pump.... then bed :D (till 3 am ... )

Sorry...no pictures today.  Mommy wasn't in a picture taking mood :s

Play Date

Today I went to my cousins house and had a play date / adult time.  (Really we only talk baby but still, it's a break from the high pitch baby talk lol).

We had a great morning - he was soooo happy.  He is starting to kick his legs up and get this...I got a LAUGH out of him today.  It was so great.  You can see from these photos posted below how excited he was!

Ethan did very well.  He didn't cry.  He slept, ate, played and was enthralled with new faces.

At home it was such a blur though. We came home, fed him, gave him his bath and then he was in bed.  He was so tired, he fell asleep eating his last bottle.  So I put him down at 8pm.  As my luck would have it he woke at 9pm and was up for a bit. I gave him the rest of his bottle and he has been down ever since.  Keeping my fingers crossed! (It's past 10pm so I know he will be down until about 5am)

We discovered that he likes a bouncy vibrating chair.  I am hesitant to buy one because I have a feeling he wont use it - just like every other item in our house!  Maybe I'll look for one to borrow first and if he likes it then I'll get one.

I really don't have much else to say unfortunately.  Not a whole lot went on today.  It was nice to get out though. But it's funny because it shows how we follow a routine.  I came home and did not have time to make dinner so my dinner tonight was ..... waffles. By the time 9:30pm rolled around I was not in the mood to cook....and I was looking forward to the stew I was going to make.  Oh well... there is always tomorrow! Ryan is on vacation for 10 days so I am excited to have him home!

Milk Storage

I have been using the Nuk brand storage bags.  I love them.  However, they are expensive for how much I need.  I have been looking for an alternative on storing breastmilk and I keep reading to store in bottles.  That's fine, but I don't want to have a fridge full of bottles.

An alternative that I found today were the Avent Breastmilk Storage Containers.  For a few bucks more, I can reuse these over again, probably for a good 2-3 months or longer.  And they are stackable.

I have been thinking of a system for using them and I think I am going to number each container 1 through 20 and keep them in a rotation.  The only downfall is that they hold just 6 ounces and I pump an average of 7-8 ounces per session.  I am working on getting my supply down a bit but until then, I will probably be filling 1 1/2 containers per session.  So as you can see, 20 containers will go by fast.  (I still have bags for back up just in case).

I seem to be back in a nesting phase.  Last night I was up until 1am organizing drawers.  Kitchen drawers and bedroom drawers.  I still have a few more organizing ideas that I want to get done and I plan to do them over the next week or two. Tonight I will be going to bed after Parenthood - 11pm.  I paid for that late night all day today.

Ethan slept until 8am this morning with a feeding at 3 am.  I guess I had no reason to be so worried and I probably could have started this a long time ago....or maybe not.  It's something I wouldn't know so why ponder about it :) I put him down at 8:15pm tonight.  He woke up at 8:45pm and has been back down for almost an hour.  Keeping my fingers crossed!

We attempted the Mamaroo again today - but this time we tilted the seat as high up as it goes and guess what - he was having a good time in there - for about 15 minutes.  Not  very long but it's a start :) It would be nice if he could learn to enjoy hanging out in there for longer periods of time.

We ended a night with a visit from Julie and she watched how funny Ethan is in the bathtub.  I have to take a video of him in there and post it on here for you to see.  It looks like he is a sumo wrestler and trying to walk out of the tub - hilarious!

Mommy Monday + Early Bed Time

I had a pretty busy day today.  I always say I'm going to sit at home and do NOTHING for the entire time Ethan is gone - but I don't think that will ever happen....ever lol.

I dropped him off in a hurry (we were a little late getting out the door) and went to Weight Watchers.  I'm down another pound.  That makes me happy considering how unfaithful to tracking I was this week and pigging out on our date night.  (Hope it doesn't catch up to me this week!)

Then I had an eye appointment.  Glad to report that my eyes did not change too much after the pregnancy - just a slight change.

Ryan and I went for lunch at Bistro at the River.  I had a perch wrap (fried oops! but hey, I tracked it!)

Ryan had a roast beef sandwich.  It was an excellent experience.

We also had a nice glass of wine.  I find that I enjoy it more now to have a glass because I hadn't had any for 10 months and now when I do have a glass I savour it.

 I remember we went once in the Summer a couple years back and it was nice sitting on the patio looking over the river.  This was our view from the window inside the restaurant.  Not as nice but nice enough :)

I went to my parents house around 5:15pm.  They were kind enough to feed me.  (Ryan is on afternoons so cooking is pretty scarce around here during these days!).  We hung out until 7pm and came home.  He got his bath, bottle and massage, then we cuddled on the couch.  One minute he was wide eyed and alert, and the next he was fast asleep.....or so I thought.

I brought him upstairs at 8:45pm and of course, he woke right up.  I took my chances and left him in his crib.....kissed him goodnight and left the room.  Came back a minute later to show him I'm still around then left again.  Well it's 11pm and he is still asleep.  I am sure I jinxed myself by typing that just now, but I'm hoping he is down for the night.  Only time will tell!

I may walk into his room and find him like this!

 I got him a cute mobile today.  My mom has one for him in his crib there, and he just loves it.  So I took my chances and bought one and set it up for him.  Well, he loves it here too!

I FINALLY found a system for storing milk without paying a fortune for bags.  I will post on that tomorrow.  Now I'm finishing the show "Smash".  I have mixed feelings about it.  Not sure how I feel about it.  It reminds me of Glee and I hate Glee.

That's all I have to say for now.  Until tomorrow...... goodnight!

What a Ham!

Today was Ethan's first Superbowl.  From the picture, you can see how excited he was when I told him - decked out in his little football sleeper.

Well, he slept through most of it.  In fact, he slept the entire day.  It went something like this:

9:30am Ethan finally wakes up.  (No, I'm not complaining but I kinda sit there and wait so I can run and get the bottle ready!)
11;00am Ethan goes down for a half hour nap
12:30pm The family all goes for a walk. Ethan is fussy but mostly asleep
1:30pm  We all head out to Costco.  Ethan slept since the walk and all the way until we got to my mom's house.  (Had to wake him to feed him)
3:00pm Ethan is asleep in car seat so we put him in his room.
7:00pm  Mom goes upstairs and starts putting Ethan's laundry away, turns light on, makes noise.  Ethan is snoring away.  Mom finally has to wake him up.
8:00pm Ethan is getting his bath and getting relaxed for bed
9:15pm Ethan is down for the night.
10:10pm Ethan wakes up for 5 minutes.  Needs comfort.  Gets dreamfeed and back down for the night.

I am hoping he sleeps now and doesn't keep waking up.  He slept so much today, and isn't used to doing that, so I am a bit concerned for the middle of the night.  Thank goodness freshly expressed breast milk stays good for 6 hours otherwise I think we would have a very upset baby if he has to wait for his food since he probably will be waking up for a feed!

I almost didn't know what to do with myself.  I'm not used to having that much time to myself!  Ryan and I got the house cleaned up and laundry done.  Saves me from doing in tomorrow on Mommy Monday.  Now I can focus on organizing some drawers that are long overdue in the kitchen!

Sleeping in so late made me super sleepy all day as well. Again, I'm NOT complaining, it's just a fact that I am stating.  I messed up on my pumping schedule today so I have to stay up until midnight to get a pump in before I go to bed.  One more hour to go...I hope I....can.........make.....................it  ;)

Tomorrow night we are working on an earlier bedtime.  I think 9pm is good time to work on.  Eventually we want 8pm but I want to do it gradually.  I was a bit worried about it, but after tonight going down at 9:15pm, it wasn't so bad.  He did wake up but that isn't necessarily from going to bed earlier (probably is though).  Ryan is on afternoons so it will keep me occupied and give me something to do :)  I'll be sure to update!