A few rotations later...

I am back after a much- unplanned- hiatus!

Since I lost posted, my first born LAMM has experienced many different things; things including: HFM, her first major hospital visit [dehydration], potty training, turned TWO (and is not two-and a- half), finally learning &understing the story of Santa Claus & The First Christmas [religious] and gaining a sibling brother. These are just a few of many things that will be discussed in coming posts... I am more than happy to share my insights, findings and otherwise irrelevant opinions. However- take them as you will, as they are just my mama experiences!

GMM who is now 9 months old. I will have posts about this nugget to follow. However, to summarize;

We've experienced so much with a little boy added to our household. From circumcision care and learning how best to not get peed on to biting, putting anything & everything in his mouth and crib-training. We are well on our way to having a crib trained nugget & hopefully- a soon to follow tater tot- in her toddler bed.
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With our first born, we had every intention of crib-training LAMM. The plan was to keep her in our room from birth to a year, in the pack'n'play sleeper/bassinet/lowered crib.

This.did.not.happen.

We created a little monster with our LAMM, which I both love/hate myself for! 
She is a snuggle monster and has come to realize this herself. She tells us "I want to hold you" when she is feeling extra cuddly or needy.

We have tried every method found on these sleep-groups, recommendations from other parents who sleep trained, sleep-methods like cry-it-out, which only result in uncontrollable screaming and crying/ gagging. None of these methods worked for us; nor did we feel it was healthy for our little girl.

So, in lieu of these things, we have resorted to our own sleep method, and it is gradually working. See my Milli Sleep Method post here if you want a little insight into what's been working for us and our stubborn tater tot.

I am so anxious to really dive back in to posting and hoping that in some way- my experiences can help others with theirs. Comments welcome as I always love strategy-sessions with other parents!

Lots of love,
TMD

One Year: Parties & "Extended" Nursing

Whoa Mama!

I cannot believe my little has hit the one year mark. When you hear people say "Cherish these moments" because they go by so quickly; don't last forever; Can't get them back, etc. They are 100% RIGHT. 

A Year Full of First's: First Birthday

From first smile (from gas), first laugh and first teeth, to first noticing there are living creatures in the house other than them and couch-surfing and so many more- it really does flash before your eyes.

Plus, the first birthday party that you will inevitably spend months planning and preparing for will come and go like yesterday's news. It really is crazy.

My recommendation for first birthday party's are:

1. Keep things simple and costs low: We made our own invitations and sent digital e-invitations to some. It will save you a ton of money. 

2. Don't go overboard: Invite your friends with kids & have activities that are age appropriate. The party really is for their enjoyment as much as your own.

3. Print ahead to save time: Print a general "Thank You" card in advance and hand them out individually. Most families get their "1 Year" photos done just in advance of the birthday party, but if you do not- choose one of your favorite cell phone snap's & use it!
We personally love PICTURE PEOPLE, which has it's studios inside of BuyBuyBaby stores. We recommend them to all of our friend's with babies/tots because they always have coupons. Their photos are great quality, always same-day prints & affordable prices (I'm talking promos like $18 for 25 prints of your favorite pose!*  (*promos vary) ). They also have the option to buy the photo disc with every shot from your session. Great deal! 

Of course you should thank everyone for coming but give a special "Thank You" card to those who have given your little one a gift for their birthday. 

4. Be realistic. Inevitably something won't work the way you want it (ie: Amazon prime delivering all of your unicorn decorations and favors to the WRONG address, essentially losing them two days before the celebration). 

5. Enjoy it. Take a ton of photos of your setup, those who have helped, your guests enjoying the party & a zillion and a half photos of your baby. If they're anything like my little- they'll stick to eating the fruit off the top of the cake rather than smashing it.

Gift Idea's from LAMM's Mommy

Now that my little is growing into a bigger-little, she is more inquisitive than ever and loves to get her little hands on everything, even things she shouldn't. A few things we received/purchased with gift cards for her summer time *1st* Birthday, that I would recommend are:

1. Water toys: tables, pools, bath toys, toddler sized safety bathtub.

2. Gift Cards: Amazon, ToysRUs/BabiesRUs, Target, Walmart, etc. ANY are glorious & appreciated!

3. Toy remote (because YES, they will constantly turn the television off right as the show you are 
watching reaches a pivotal scene).

4. Toy phone ( I'd think this self-explanatory. However- to be clear- little's LOVE to play/chew on things like this. Better a toy than your actual mobile.)

5. Shoes or no-slip socks. 

" Extended Breast Feeding"

How do you feel about the term? The reason I wanted to touch on this is because my family has consistently been asked- since LAMM hit the 8 month mark- "when will you wean?" and "oh, you're still nursing?" type questions. So if you've been mommy shamed (directly or in-directly) for continuing to nurse passed the "one year" mark, know that you aren't alone.

If you are a breast feeding mama like I am-- TAKE YOUR TIME. No one can decide for you when it is best to wean. You and most important- your baby- will make that decision; decision of when you are both ready.  And to those asking the question(s)--- please back off.  This is meant with no disrespect, but truly it is none of your business. A breast feeding mama's decision to continue nursing is exactly that. It is not negatively impacting your life or body, so please- mind your own business. If this offends you, I apologize.

I really do not like when nursing passed one is termed "extended nursing" or "extended breastfeeding". 
"Extended" implies that the action is continued passed when it "should" have completed or ended. 
First, circling back to what I said previously, no one decides when you "should be" done nursing. Just stop it. 
Second- nursing/breastfeeding is just that- nursing/breastfeeding. No "extended" necessary. 

If I have learned anything this last year and can wish anything for my fellow breast feeding mama's, it is practice patience. Everyone is not as informed as we would like them to be. 

That said- I am so happy with our little's pediatrician; she is knowledgeable and supportive of breastfeeding and really hears my questions and concerns. If you do not have a supportive pediatrician and are uncomfortable or being pushed into something you and your baby may not be ready for, I suggest looking into an alternative pediatrician or reaching out to social media mommy groups for insight. Many mama's and daddy's share their pediatrician's suggestions with others. Do not be shy to voice concern or apprehension. 
#HumanMilkforHumanBabies #TheresNoSuchThingAsEXTENDEDNursing #NursingIsNursing


Really take the time to look back over the last year at everything your little has learned to do, the milestones accomplished and fun you have had together. Take as many pictures as you can and make as many memories as physically possible. These really are moments that you will never get again- so be present and enjoy them.






Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child! 

My experience: "Pregnancy Hypertension"

"Hypertension", "Preeclampsia"- These are very scary words to a pregnant woman. Especially a first timer who has been reading every horror story related to these issues posted across the vast space that is the internet.

Through my pregnancy it was a constant battle trying to maintain my blood pressure and ensure that it was a normal level at each of my appointments. I was adamant that I did not need to go to the cardiologist (that was a battle I eventually gave into). Though I did not develop pregnancy preeclampsia, I was classified as having pregnancy hypertension. ( Learn more about Preeclampsia.) 

I found that eating spinach, strawberry and banana smoothies with a splash of water and a splash of unsweetened almond milk did help me in the beginning. These fruits and veggies are evidenced to be great for your blood pressure. Ontop of my smoothie routine, I would listen to "spa" music on internet radio. It allowed me to almost force myself into a calm state before my bp check appointments throughout my pregnancy. I always made myself so nervous that my dear G.M.(boyfriend) was convinced my nerves were what was really causing my elevated readings. 

Although I am sure my nerves did impact my readings (albeit ever so slightly), I still went for my readings and every other appointment was told my pressure was higher than it should be. One week I was 120/78 and the next I was 148/90. I couldn't understand why I was fluctuating so much from week to week. So here I was, overweight to begin with- gaining the weight of pregnancy and fearing I would gain too much- while also knowing that my weight and family history were a huge factor in my elevated pressure readings. 

At about 30-32 weeks, I finally gave in and went to see the cardiologist. I was prescribed "Nifedipine", a.k.a "Procardia". Low dosage or not, I felt like an absolute failure for "allowing myself to have high blood pressure." So I took the medication daily and was routinely told it was pregnancy safe (which has thus far proven factual as my little LAMM is sheer perfection). 

I came to terms with taking the medication. It was what was right for my little nugget. I was happily monitoring my food intake and pressure daily (not as good or often as I could or should have) and making sure I only gained the suggested amount for my pre-pregnancy weight... 

At the end of the day, I was given magnesium once I was in labor at the hospital - the intent was to level my blood pressure during delivery as I had an abnormal spike in my 'every ten minute' BP readings. As annoyed as I was (the next reading normalized), I knew it was for my baby's and my own safety. 

Magnesium is not fun but is often necessary with hypertension and preeclampsia. To give an honest, yet quick, summary: I felt as if I was drunkly trying to focus. My eyes could not stop shaking. I was hot and found myself inhaling ice chips and the water remnants they left in the bottom of the cup. It was NOT a good experience--- BUT, I made it through! 

I was taken off of the magnesium on day 2 of my hospital stay. Blood work was sent out and once my panels came back clear of magnesium and my BP leveled out, my little family was permitted to leave less than 48 hours after delivery.

All of this said- if you are experiencing similar issues with your BP and your OBGYN suggests seeing a specialist- go (some OBGYN's will prescribe this medication on their own). You are not a failure and the most important thing in all of this is to make sure that little baby comes into this world safely. 

Hang in there!






Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child! 

My Top 5 Baby Prep Suggestions!

Baby Prep...
(I will give my suggested list summarized at the end of this post!)

Ladies, please do not be shocked if your boyfriend or husband does not feel the urgency as much as you do. We go into nesting mode at various points of pregnancy & our significant others just do NOT seem to fully understand. ha!

I found putting together baby furniture to be such a stress reliever. I would come home after a cruddy day,  park my butt on the floor- screwdriver in hand- and start assembling a changing table or bouncy chair. It brought me peace and a refreshing sense of excitement. It really helped me. So for those who craft when they are stressed (I am one of these people)- put that energy and use of your hands to work and get to it!

Give yourself adequate time to do all the assembly for your nursery. I cannot tell you how important this is! Being home with the little one will not allow you much time to shower, eat or brush your own teeth- so please do not delay assembly. You will be stressed and panicked when your munchkin begins to grow out of that bassinet. 


My first few days home, after delivering my little LAMM, we spent a large part of the days sleeping. Your body will be tired whether you had a natural/drug-free birth, epidural, or cesarean. As far as I am concerned, we have all just birthed a child, are up every few hours to wipe dirty booties & feed our babies (if our worrisome minds aren't keeping us up ALL night), and are exhausted! Do not feel bad about this!! 

I had no desire or intention to cook for the first week or two. It was excellent that family came and tended to us those first few weeks. HOWEVER, what was even better was that we had so many frozen pasta dishes, veggies and meats, that all we needed to do was set the oven. Once family had gone and we had to fend for ourselves- those frozen meals were a saving grace.

Now, as with any human- big or small: food = digestion

I would only do diaper changes in the nursery for the few weeks. Eventually I found it more taxing to walk up and down to the nursery. After running to the nursery every time LAMM pooped, out of fear we had a blow out diaper- we set up our pack N play with the attached napper/changer and had changing pads and a diaper caddy ready to go as needed. This made things much easier and saved many outfits from the damage of diaper explosions. 

Back to food- do your best in the weeks leading up to your due date to have your refrigerator stocked with groceries. Whether you plan to eat raw fruits and veggies or prefer cook & eat frozen goods--- stock up because you won't want/be able to make a fast trip to the store.

Lastly, have a cleaning party, hire a service or buckle down...but make sure your house is clean. I cannot tell you what a bummer it is to come home to a sink of dirty dishes after having your baby... You will be up at night while your baby sleeps- trying to catch up on housework. Been there! 


Top 5:
1. Assemble your nursery in the earlier weeks of your 3rd Tri. 
2. Prep a few freezer meals   ::suggestions::
3. Have multiple changing stations set-up
4. Have your refrigerator stocked
5. Clean House top to bottom









Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child! 

Freezer Meal

Now, I do not speak on behalf of  all mothers out there- but I found these to be the best options for us. I had the meats on hand and the pastas ready made and frozen.

1. Penne Ala Vodka: whole grain pasta, choice ala vodka sauce, salt & pepper. 
    add in: chunks of grilled chicken or ground turkey meatballs.

2. Lasagna: ready to bake lasagna noodles, browned ground turkey, choice red sauce, spinach, cottage cheese, part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese. Season it to your liking- I'm a garlic and pepper person with a touch of cracked red pepper here and there.

3. Grilled chicken & veggies: seasoned to your liking (parsley supposedly can cause a decrease in milk supply if you are nursing).
      add in: low sodium cream of mushroom soup

4. Sausage with peppers and onions: we always have turkey sausage as well as italian sausage in our freezer, so we would use either. 

If freezing, I recommend double wrapping in foil and using a freezer bag. These precautions will prevent freezer burn! 

My best & only suggestion for freezer meals, or cooking fresh, is to keep it simple. 











Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!