Drinking Milk, Eating Socks

Jadon is OBSESSED with taking off Macy's socks. It happens at least five times/day. When they're left on the floor, they usually end up in her mouth, as seen above.

Macy is OBSESSED with Jadon's milk cup. She makes a beeline for it, everytime she sees it within reach. Since she's not supposed to have milk for another six weeks, and she doesn't care for formula at all, we decided to try a free sample of a toddler formula we got in the mail. Not sure what the difference was, but she did drink 4 oz. in one sitting. This could be a really good thing for the weaning process, which by the way will happen about halfway thru January. Yay!

Nom nom nom...kind of

On Father's Day, we decided to go ahead and give Macy a little bit of rice cereal. We started Jadon just before he turned 5 months old, and he did GREAT, as you may remember (see video below).

The experts recommend you breastfeed exclusively for six months (if you want), but since we are taking a trip to the mountains of NC, when Jamie's family comes in July, I wanted to be out of the practice mode with Macy eating before then. Needless to say, things didn't go near as well with her as they did with Jadon. Despite two attempts at feedings everyday since then, things have not improved AT ALL. Her tongue is just too stiff. She spits EVERYTHING that goes in right back out :/

Here she is just before getting her first taste. She looks sooo tiny in that seat, compared to Jadon!


Here's just a short clip of her eating, right before the battery to our camera died :/


Jadon lapping it up back in October 2007:


So the doctor tells us today that a baby who is exclusively breastfed (never had even one bottle) up to the age of six months will NOT take a bottle until after a year old (even if it is pumped breastmilk in the bottle). WHAT??? He may just be right because Macy is CLUELESS how to suck on a bottle. She HATES it! This is a bummer because it means that I am forced to nurse her like FOREVER (i.e. at the beach, while on a road trip, if I ever want a date night with my husband(!!!)).

I had no idea this was the case. I never thought about it. I had given Jadon a small bottle here and there, when he was just a few months old (mainly for things like going to Target or on a short trip, if I didn't want to whip out my boob...which I NEVER do, duh!). So Jadon learned fairly early on how to suck a bottle, even though he really was breastfed 99% of the time.

I think we're going to try to get Macy to take a 2-4oz. bottle everyday for a while...or at least try because I'm thinking this could be a really tough issue to deal with when it comes time to wean her. Can you imagine weaning a baby who has ONLY had the breast for at least 12 months directly to a bottle of cow's milk? :/ I'm thinking that could be difficult. Like I said, with Jadon, he really did like the taste of formula and knew how to hold a bottle by himself way before he was weaned at 11 1/2 months. The learning process of parenting is endless, no?

Back Off, Piggies!

Just in case you didn't know, breastfeeding has more than a few benefits for both Mommy and Baby. You've likely heard that breastfed babies have higher IQs and are healthier than bottle-fed babies. Babies under six months of age don't have very mature immune systems, but they receive antibodies in breastmilk that can help prevent illness, including viruses like swine flu.

Though I struggle with the incredible amount of work and time it takes to breastfeed a baby, especially in the early months, I really wouldn't have it any other way...likely one of the reasons I received this award. <-------click here :)

LOVE it! Thanks for the nomination, Sheila :)

"I Looove Sisser!"

It's hard to believe that it has been an entire month, since Macy Bleu entered the world. Jamie and I both agree that it really only feels like two weeks. She hasn't changed much. She is still sleeping an unreal amount of time (which is quite a blessing), and she cries a good bit, when she is actually awake (still no more than 3-4 hours/day).

There were a few days this week that Macy cried a lot, when she was awake. I mean, she would SCREAM terribly, not for hours or even an entire hour straight, but it was too long for me to handle :/ She has done this three times, since she has been home, and two of those times were within 12 hours of me eating a bowl of cereal. Each time was a different kind of cereal, so I'm going to make the assumption that she cannot digest the skim milk. The other time this happened, I had eaten a non-organic yogurt (she was fine, when I had eaten Stoneyfield Farms organic yogurt).

When this happens, her belly is as hard as a rock. Her cry is a cry of pain. She becomes inconsolable, and unless I feed her, she would likely cry for hours. It's not that she is hungry, but the breast is the only thing she will take to comfort herself. She is still not a fan of her pacifier, and I'm guessing she might be like Jadon and never take it, which is not a good thing now, but is a good thing later on, so we don't have to wean her from it.

So I don't get to drink skim milk for now (I'm not such a fan anyway) or eat any of the yogurt we just bought (which kind of does stink), but I don't want to make her belly hurt or hear her cry so terribly. Poor baby :/

The only things that are somewhat new this week are that she LOVES taking a bath and she is starting to focus more on things and has an alert look about her. Today she reminded me of Jadon, when he used to lay in his crib, looking at a colorful toy puppy he used to love staring at. He would lay for hours and stare at that thing, then one day he could reach for it, then he was able to grab it and chew on the ears. What a joy it is to watch a baby grow and learn :)

I'd like to give more updates, but they are much the same: she's a great sleeper, a terrible pooper (dirtying clothes most everyday), and needs a helmet to protect her from Jadon at some point everyday :/ BUT he does LOVE to hold her and kiss her and say, "I LOOOVE sisser!" He also tells her "good norning" and "g'night." If she is ever laying on the couch wrapped up or in her seat, where he can't see her, he always asks me where she is. Cute!

Two Week Check-Up and Breastfeeding

Well the doctor's appointment today went better than the one last Monday. We didn't have to wait nearly as long :) Our chunky monkey has gained almost a pound in two weeks. She's now up to 8lbs. 14 oz. and has grown 1/2" (now 21 1/2" long!). Her weight is in the 75th percentile and her length is in the 90th percentile! That all makes a breastfeeding mommy feel kind of proud ;)

Speaking of breastfeeding...I have failed to post my experience with it this time around. Let me just say that giving birth to Macy was MUCH EASIER than nursing her was for the first two weeks. Warning---graphic content follows---you've been warned! Just as a reminder to myself and to anyone else who has or will nurse their baby (only with the best intentions do I say this), but nursing Macy for the first two weeks can be described as such---someone took a curling iron and burned my nipples (OOOOUCH!) and then took a pair of pliers (yes, pliers) and squeezed them :) Think of a sunburn with blisters and then someone with long fingernails scratches you. Nice, huh? I kid you not, EVERYTIME she would latch on (for TWO ENTIRE WEEKS!), I would cringe, sometimes kick my feet, and most of the time cry :( Jamie would cringe too, and say, "Sorry, Mommy. I'd help you, if I could." It was AWEFUL!

Sometime in the last few days, it just got better, and now it is completely normal (Thank you, God!). It did take about six weeks for it to become normal with Jadon, but the type of pain I had was different. With Jadon, I had swollen milk ducts...like knots that could only be relieved from him eating enough and me massaging at the same time. With Macy, I haven't had any of that.

While I was experiencing this pain, after I came home from the hospital, sleep-deprived, overweight, bleeding for DAYS, constipated from the epidural, nipples cracked and bleeding...just feeling SO icky and yucky about myself (as pregnancy and labor/delivery will do to all normal women...not Heidi Klum, you understand), I said to my mom and Jamie that I was going to write a book about motherhood. I haven't started yet, but the title still stands: Motherhood Would Be Wonderful, If Only My Nipples Weren't Bleeding and I Could Poop! I think it would be a best-seller! You'd buy it, wouldn't you? ;)

He's Baaack!

After being gone for 51 hours (not that I was counting), Jadon arrived back home today, safe in the arms of his mommy and daddy :) Were we excited to see him??? Well, I must have looked out the window to the front door nearly 20 times in the 45 minutes I knew it took to get here from my mom's house. I tried to keep myself distracted by sitting on the couch and holding the video camera, waiting to catch the first glimpse of his face, when it lit up with joy from seeing his mommy and daddy for the first time in over two days. Then Jamie yelled, "They're here!" I jumped up and ran out the garage, video camera in hand, only to find him asleep in his car seat, drool spilling onto his chin and shoulder. BUT when he woke up a few minutes later, he gleamed from ear to ear at the sight of us :)

When Jamie got off work on Monday, he called and I told him that Jadon had left to stay at my mom's for two whole nights. He said, "I don't believe you. You're lyin'!" He honestly didn't believe me, until he got home and saw an almost empty living room. I asked him if he was mad, and he said, "I'm not mad...just a little sad. I thought I was gonna get to see the buddy." Then I had a moment of guilt (a very brief moment), before we headed to Market Common. First we stopped at Piggly Wiggly and got some soup, and then headed to Barnes & Noble to just relax and read magazines over a cup of hot java. It was soooo nice to read two entire magazines cover to cover without any interruptions! I haven't done that since I was pregnant, and I used to read pregnancy magazines. I've graduated! I read a Mommy and Baby and Parents magazine ;) T'was quite nice...I got some affirmations and a few chuckles from reading the articles on raising toddlers.

I did have a crying spell in the parking lot of Piggly Wiggly on Friday, but it wasn't over Jadon or breastfeeding or anything of the sort. I will likely blog about this later, but one of my dearest friends was dealt some very difficult news that day, and it made my heart hurt so much :( I've typed and backspaced many times already, so that must mean I'll have to save this part for another time. I just ask that any of you who read this please pray for peace and strength (both emotional and physical) for my friend. It is just one of those inevitable parts of life that makes you question God, your future, etc. I just want her to know she is loved and cared for and that the Lord, I know she loves, is watching over her. I LOVE you, Blondie ;)

Ahhh Tuesday...Tuesday morning Jamie slept in until 10am! That, ladies and gentlemen, is unheard of around this house! Soon after, we got ready and headed to a movie!!! Yay! A movie! We saw the movie "Baby Mama" with Tina Fey, and I LOVED it! It was cute, funny, happy, and filled with babies and the idea of motherhood. Good choice, James :) Can you believe they gave us FREE coupons for Starbucks lattes, when we got our tickets??? How awesome is that???

Jamie in front of the new cinemas at Market Common:

He got his favorite movie popcorn:Enjoying lattes by the fountain, under a gazebo, while sitting in rocking chairs! Love it!!!

I desperately needed sunglasses, but my new contacts haven't gotten here yet :/

After walking around, enjoying the sunshine for a while, we went to Toys-R-Us to look at gifts for Jadon's big first birthday :) We've definitely decided on a few things, and cannot wait to let him play and get dirty at his party! Once toy browsing was over, we went to Ross and got a new curtain rod for Jadon's room (I swear we're gonna finish that room before he's two! Right, Grandpa???), and then we went to get a very late lunch/early dinner at Abuelo's. I enjoyed the Mahi Mahi, and Jamie had the uh...like super enchilada platter. It was yummy and so nice to have a sit down meal with my husband!Tuesday night we didn't do too much, other than get the chair rail for Jadon's room painted, and honestly went to bed so early...like before midnight! We're truly getting old...parents of a toddler need their rest, whether he's here or not!

Wednesday morning we checked out a place nearby for our friend Michelle (they'll likely be a later blog about this subject too). Then we showered, cleaned the house, did some yard work, and anxiously awaited Jadon's arrival. So we've all learned that Jamie and I are very boring, to be honest, right? It's the simple things we enjoy these days...time...that's it...time together...and time with our family. I don't care what we do or where we are, as long as we're together :)

As soon as I have the pics my mom and Wally took of Jadon, I'll post some of them. I hear he had quite an adventurous time...much more excitement goes on at grandparent's houses. Don't we all know that?

*Weaning update: So obviously I didn't nurse Jadon for well over two days, and I don't intend to do it EVER again :/ but :) I've called my mom several times and asked her about this, and she gives me the same answer she gives about many child-rearing questions I have: "I can't remember, honey, that was twenty-some years ago." So for my future daughter or daughter-in-law, let me tell you my experience in one word: KNOTS! Yowza! Knots the size of golf balls! :/ I haven't really been in much pain, but I can't really touch anything either...like I mean, I can't hold Jadon next to me (trying not to be too descriptive here). I've sat with ice packs on me, and couldn't even feel them...yeah, and I'm talking about after like 30 minutes. I defrosted an entire bag of frozen cauliflower in less than 20 minutes! Massage? Warm showers? Ha! Not for me! I do, however, think the process of drying up is starting...slowly...very slowly. I was actually tempted to allow Jadon to, uh em, relieve me slightly, but I didn't...and I won't...but good gravy, when does this hard swelling state stop??? Anyone know? I read it can take like two weeks!?!

Walking and "Gee"ggling

I haven't posted a video of Jadon walking like a big boy yet, so here is a short clip from yesterday. He's been walking all over the living room for about a week now. He still crawls around a lot too, especially when he's playing with his toys, but he can roll his soccer ball from a standing position too now. I'll post a better clip of him walking (from the front), once I empty my memory card later today.

Sometimes I think Jadon would prefer to hang out with my mom than anyone else right now. He gets so excited to see her, and as soon as he's in her arms, he starts playing with her necklace. He loves his "gee." Here's a clip of Jadon playing his favorite game with her yesterday. He thinks she's pretty amazing ;)

Apparently Jadon thinks rolling a can filled with rice is hilarious too :)

Weaning update: The process has happened so fast! Jadon no longer needs me to nurse him to sleep at all...not even at night! The only feedings he's getting from me are around 3am-7am. He's having a hard time staying asleep at night, due to severe teething pain :( I really wish he could make it through the night without it, so we could end the whole process of breastfeeding altogether.

My mom has come to stay all night for a few days, so maybe she can help rock him at night, when he wakes up. It is very hard for me to soothe him because he doesn't understand why I don't just nurse him...so I end up doing that, after he cries uncontrollably :( I don't have it in me to make him cry it out right now for two reasons: (1) he's in terrible pain from teething, and (2) I just started the process of weaning less than a week ago. Even though I'm now ready to be finished with it, I can't just take it away from him so quickly.

Jadon is doing better with drinking formula, and will be able to drink whole milk in three weeks. I can't believe he'll be a year old in three weeks!!! I did have one minor crying spell last night over the whole weaning process :( I was telling my mom and Jamie that Jadon and I were lying in bed yesterday around 8am, and he was just being quiet and content. He was relaxing in the bed with his mommy :) and then he looked at me and did the sign for milk. It was different than most other times, and it made me very sad to think of that feeding being his very last because I wasn't sure if I would have to nurse him anymore after that :( Well, turns out I did :) I mean, it was so bittersweet, you know? I think I'm ready to be done with it, but I was sad to say goodbye to that part of our relationship. Anyway, I'm thankful for that memory, surely one of the last of him nursing, but I'm also thankful that I was able to have at least one more feeding with him last night around 2am and again around 7am.

So we shall find out tonight, if in fact, I am truly finished with nursing Jadon. The plan is for my mom to help him through the night, so he won't have to nurse, and hopefully we can be done...sad, but necessary :/ It has been very freeing for me to not have to nurse him during the day, and I must admit I am excited to be free from it at night also. I can't imagine if I had not breastfeed this long though. We have already spent nearly $60.00 for forumula in two weeks! Jamie said he's very thankful that I breastfeed this long..."it would have cost us a fortune to feed him!" Guess he doesn't realize how much money organic whole milk is going to cost us...yikes!

T Minus 30 Days to Toddlerhood

I cannot believe that this little, tiny sharpei of a baby is going to be a year old next month! I only have a short time left to call Jadon a "baby." Soon he will be a toddler :( By the looks of it, his feet have already arrived at toddlerhood!

Gramma spent the night with us last night to help ease the burden of weaning. We went to Market Common last night and got Starbucks (of course), and Jadon made friends with several people in Piggly Wiggly. One elderly man couldn't get enough of him, and said he was "pretty enough to be a little girl." Another elderly lady told me that Jadon "made her day!" All in a day's work ;) This morning, while Jadon and I walked for an hour, Gramma rode a bike alongside us. I agree with her that "Jadon just loves his Gramma," who he now calls "Gee."

We celebrated Jadon turning 11 months old today by buying him a big boy car seat. He now faces forward, while riding in the car! Don't worry, even though many wait until a baby has turned a year old to turn their babies around, Jadon has surpassed the weight limit for his infant car seat, and we have waited as long as we could to make the switch. Daddy drove him to get a newspaper earlier today, and he fell asleep on the way back home. I pray better days are ahead for us in the car!

Weaning is going better than expected for me. I have officially completed day three of the process. On days one and two, I had to feed Jadon one time (approx. five minutes), during the evening, for my own sake (knots began forming...yikes!). Today, however, I made it all day without feeding Jadon. Of course, he's still eating at night and a small amount in the early mornings, while still in bed, but that too shall soon cease. Jamie moved the crib into our bedroom (temporarily), so I can attempt to wean the any late night/early morning feedings too.

I can already tell a huge difference...kinda sad :/ Once it's gone, there is no turning back :/ I'm doing okay though ;) The only issue we're having is getting Jadon to drink enough formula to fulfill what he's lacking from nutrients in breastmilk. He's not a fan of it, no matter how it's served (hot, cold, bottle, sippy cup). He's supposed to drink anywhere from 24-32oz/day, and he's only taking in about 8-12oz./day now. We'll keep at it though...only a few more weeks, until he gets whole milk anyway. The inevitable is happening, our baby is growing up, and WAY too fast for his Mommy and Daddy :(

A few new things Jadon is doing, which may be the cutest yet are: (1) he now says "get it," when he wants us to play with him...he gets a very serious look on his face and uses his hands for added effect; (2) he can be found constantly rolling toy cars around the kitchen floor (such a boy!); (3) his new favorite song is "If You're Happy and You Know It," and he loves the 'stomp your feet' part; (4)he attempts to say "fan", "music", and meouw like a cat...hahaha! We can ask him where many things are, and he either looks at them or can point to them...amazing! It's all happening so fast!

Here are some pics from the last two days...
"Toofers"

Ornery rotten!!!

Watching the fountains @ Market Common with Daddy:

Big boy car seat :)

Rolling cars, ignoring Mommy's request to say, "Get it!"

Torn :(

First of all, let me say that many moms don't have the issue I'm having. Many moms never have to even deal with this issue. Some of you will ask, "What's the big deal? I don't get it," and that's fine, but for me, I'm not coping so well...Today is my first attempt at weaning Jadon from breastfeeding :( I cannot tell you how much I hate this process. In the beginning, when Jadon was born, I wondered how I would ever be able to do it at all, let alone until Jadon was a year old. When a baby is first born, feedings can last up to 45 minutes at a time! It was all so new, and I felt strapped to him, sitting on the couch or in a rocking chair for nearly eight hours each day!!!

By the time Jadon was two months old, I remember breastfeeding became like riding a bike. I had learned the basics, as did he (i.e. the correct latch, position, etc.), and it became very natural to me. I had perfected the art of lying down and nursing, so I didn't have to sit up at night every time Jadon cried (yay!) and I loved the bonding time I had with Jadon that no one else had. Now feeding in public was never my thing. I bought one of those capes you put over you, so you can feed in public, but Jadon caught onto the peek-a-boob game, and I just didn't want to do that. Somewhere along the way, with the help of my wonderful husband, I discovered the nursing mother's area at the mall and also the VERY COZY nursing room in the back of Baby Gap. They were wonderful!!! I could actually go to the mall and relax, even when I needed to feed Jadon :)

Don't get me wrong, not all feedings in public were in such a desireable place. I've sat on many toilets (i.e. in church, in Barnes & Noble, and just recently (while in NYC) in the bathroom at Whole Foods Market)...gross, I know! Believe me, I know! Jadon used to cry in the bathroom at B&N because the acoustics are terrible (i.e. doors slamming, toilets flushing, sinks running). I remember feeling like it just wasn't even worth the trouble to leave the house!

Let me also mention that pumping was never my thing either...I'll blame that one on my hypothyroidism. Although we spent $150.00 on a top of the line breast pump from Medela, I just couldn't produce enough milk that way. I'd sit and pump for hours, and have little more than three ounces of milk and huge knots to show for it. I tried several times, during different months along the way, but it just wasn't worth it to me. Since I didn't have to go to work, I figured it was just easier to save myself the hassle and just let Jadon nurse directly from me. (Hopefully I get to try again with another baby one day, so I don't have to look at that $150.00 gadget wasting away in Jadon's closet!)

Then in October, when Jadon was 4 1/2 months old, we had to take our first long car ride with Jadon to see my family in West Virginia. Many of you know that Jadon is no fan of car rides. He basically starts crying, as soon as you attempt to strap him in, which doesn't make much fun for an 11 hour trip! So my quick fix was to try nursing him, while he was in his car seat...brilliant! It worked! The problem is that ever since then, 90% of our car rides (I mean, even to Target, which is 10 minutes away) require that I nurse Jadon. Well, let me re-phrase that, I choose to nurse him because it is sooo much better than listening to him scream!

But now, nearly eleven months later, I have decided to begin the process of weaning Jadon from his need for me to feed him. I tear up, as I type those words :( If you're a man, or if you're not a mom, you likely will be rolling your eyes at me right about now. You may even think I have dependency issues with my child. If you've never breastfed, you may also be wondering what the big deal is. All babies grow up, right? I mean, my mom weaned me at three months and my sister at 15 months. We're okay, aren't we? We are...I know we are.

But you see, this is MY baby. After having five miscarriages, I wonder all of the time if Jadon will, in fact, be the only baby that I ever have. I wonder if, once my milk dries up, I'll ever have the experience of nursing a baby ever again :( Oh the sadness! :( :( :(

I asked Jamie last night what he missed most about Jadon being a newborn baby. He responded, "The fact that he was so dependent on us." I then asked him, "If you could keep him that way for a longer time, would you?" He quicly answered, "Yeah, of course!" I explained to him that I do have the ability to keep Jadon a baby for a longer period. I can keep him dependent upon me for food, comfort, security, etc.

All of the experts, and even Jadon's own pediatrician, say the longer you breastfeed a baby, the better...up to two and three years old! I could easily do it, you know? The process itself is not hard at all. Mostly Jadon uses his time nursing for comfort. When he's tired, cranky, frustrated, or sad, he looks at me and does the sign for milk or says "mommomomomom." Sometimes he only needs to nurse no more than five minutes, then he's either asleep or he's so relaxed, he just stares at me and touches my face without even nursing.

Research shows that breastfeed babies are physically and emotionally healthier and have higher IQs. And do you know that less than 20% of babies in this country are still breastfeeding at six months old? I guess I can feel a sense of pride about that, but I keep going back to the thought that I could give him even more time with me nursing. If only summer wasn't coming, and we didn't live in South Carolina, near the beach and have a pool in our development. I just can't imagine nursing Jadon in this heat, and having to plan our times at the pool and beach around feedings.

So here we are...day one of weaning. It's only been five hours, since Jadon has nursed (which is a long time for him), and I have successfully put him down for one of his very first naps without me feeding him. I'm going to try my best to hold off feeding him until late this evening...just not sure my breasts are ready for that yet. I may have to do a quick feeding before that, so I'm not pain. We'll see how it goes. I shouldn't be so hard on myself, since it is the first day.

I know blogs aren't so much fun to read, unless there are pics to go with it. Since this is a virtual scrapbook for Jadon too, I really want to include some pics that I want to remember of my time nursing him. Honestly, I'm not so thrilled for anyone to see these, so you can stop scrolling here, and I won't be mad ;)

Prayers are appreciated because, honestly, I truly hate this and I'm really an emotional wreck about it all :( Crying has become a daily occurrence for me :( I'll keep you posted on our progress. What a sad time this is for me :(

First feedings in the hospital:


In the nursing mother's room at the mall: