I'm supposed to be planning a Birthday Party?

How? How? How is it already time for this?? 

Poor second child syndrome for B. I don't have nearly as many ducks in a row for her Birthday, but I'm sticking to the same theme I used to J's first birthday, so I can't be THAT far behind, right? 

I have so much going on lately and feel so behind, but that doesn't stop our precious Chunk-A-Monk from growing and learning and approaching her First Birthday at the speed of light!
 

She is talking more and more and making some of the most fun noises that I can't help but laugh at and then laugh at myself when I completely fail at my attempt to replicate those noises!
Her vocabulary now consists of:
Hi
Bye Bye
Baby
DooDoo
Doggy
Peppa [I think I win Mommy of the Year with this one!]
Dada
Mama [VERY rare]
Ow
Day Do [Thank You]
 
B is wearing 9 and 12 month clothes, along with 18 month white onesies because that's all we have. Again, poor second child syndrome.
She is still in size 3 diapers and sporting her bottom two teeth only.
She loves to walk while holding your hands, but the second you let go, she either stops her feet and her upper body falls forward, or she squats down and crawls.
 
B loves dancing to music and playing with her big sis. The feeling I get when the two of them are laughing and playing together is indescribable. It is the best thing ever!
 
She's an incredibly happy baby, but is still very attached to her mama! I don't mind a bit!
Her sleep schedule has remained the same....waking up between 6 and 7, nap around 9 or 10 for about an hour and a half, nap again around 2 or 3 for about 40 minutes, and then bedtime around 7.
 
As the weeks go by, my supply is getting harder and harder to maintain. I still pump three times a day at work - 8am, 11am, and 2pm. I'm hoping to make it to next Friday [she'll be 11.5 months] and then I'll start introducing a little bit of goats milk to supplement. I don't have even the slightest concern that she won't take to it. She has already managed to steal several sips of her sissy's milk when it's left lying around. From there, I think my plan will be to drop my 2pm pumping session at work and then drop the 11am session next. When that next will be is still TBD. I am so anxious for the freedom, but at the same time, I don't want to rush it. B is still so baby to me that I'm not ready to stop as soon as I did with J. One thing is for sure though.....everything will fall into place. It always does. So I'm trying not to stress about it. 
This girl LOVES her some green smoothies, almost as much as she loves her milk!

Aside from her milk intake, which is at three bottles of 6 ounces while I'm at work, she still does great eating solid food. Her vegetable intake has slowed as she has found more of what she really likes to taste, but she is still a great eater overall and even know how to blow on her food when it is hot.

I love the mischievousness of a newly mobile toddler. I find her in some of the most random places and it makes me laugh and then contemplate how I'm going to keep her from ever doing it again!

B is such a gentle natured and sensitive one and I love every bit about that. When she lays her head on my shoulder or shys away from people and buries he face in my chest, I melt. I wish she would stay like that forever. 

Even though it's amazing to me that she's almost a year old, I can't wait to see the beautiful little girl that she becomes. Sass and all =o)

We love you Brynnlee Bear! Enjoy your last month before your First Birthday!

Eight Months!

These last couple months have made me realize how much I love this stage of babyhood. From about 6 to 9 months is my favorite. This little munchkin is so aware of her surroundings, is so fun to interact with, is so loveable, and is still so dependent on me, but yet she doesn't talk back and she isn't mobile! It's the best of both worlds really. 

She's still only moving backwards when she's left on her belly and will only momentarily pull her legs into get up on her knees. 

Her reaction to me when I have been away from her for an extended period of time makes my heart skip a beat. She gets so excited and gives a little pouty face and whines till I pick her up. Her separation anxiety has really picked up though as well. If I set her down to play so I can make dinner, do laundry, clean up, etc. she throws a little fit as I walk away. A lot of the time she'll get over it after a minute or two, but sometimes she wont calm down until I tend to her. 

B is eating lots of different foods now. I touched on purees for a bit, but have since moved into anything she can gnaw on and break down on her own. It's been so much easier and she has taken to it really well. Some new foods that she has tried are shredded cheese, green beans, black beans, pinto beans, baked beans, toast, hummus, apple, and red bell pepper. She has enjoyed all of these foods, but is always very cautious when taking her first bite of anything.
Her pincer grasp has improved greatly over the past couple weeks as well. I love watching her little hands and fingers working so hard to grab a tiny piece of food and then attempt to find their way into her mouth. Usually after the entire fist has been shoved inside. 

I've been working on getting her to say Mama, but Dada is still winning the race and takes credit for both of her shout outs...dadada and bobobob. 

B has turned into quite the chomper when she gets bored while nursing and if it weren't for the ridiculously adorable smile she beams up at me after she does it, I think I may have taken the boob away from her by now! {Note to self: teach her not to bite before she gets any teeth!}

She is starting to leave a couple ounces in her last bottle when I'm at work, so I'm thinking about cutting back on the amount of milk I'm leaving since she is now eating three meals a day. I've been keeping up with her intake pretty well and am pleased with the volume of my freezer stash, but cutting back on a couple ounces a day would help even more. I'm still pumping three times a day at work, unless I get scheduled in a meeting that conflicts with my pumping time and I haven't been pumping before bed since we went on vacation, but I plan to pick that back up soon. 

That pesky cradle cap is still hanging on strong. I haven't been diligent about using the coconut oil or trying any other remedies and I know I need to.
Whether we do bath before bed or not, I am thoroughly enjoying the special time that we have together, just the two of us, as I put on her jams and get her ready for bed. Her mirrored closet doors make for such fun pictures and I love smooching on her and enjoying every bit of who she is in that moment. Taking in all of her rolls, smiles, her smell, and her soft skin.  

Her sleep is still the same aside from her wake up time getting earlier and earlier. It's not rare for her to be awake before I head to work at 6:30 or shortly after.

Naps are still crappy at about 20 to 40 minutes and it never seems to fail that she will take a long nap (anything over an hour) when I'm expecting her to wake up so we can go somewhere or do something. 

I look forward to B learning to crawl and do new things, but I'm in no hurry. I truly, truly love this stage!!

My sweet and sensitive Brynnlee Bear, 

Words cannot describe the love that I feel for you. Watching you take in the world around you is amazing and so rewarding to me. I wouldn't mind one bit if you could slow your roll toward your first birthday. I can wait awhile, I promise. Keep sharing your infectious smile with everyone you meet and your loving, tender heart will be admired by all. 

I love you THIIIIIIIIS much, sweet pea! 

Pumping Woes

With J, I had a constant struggle to keep up with her intake while I was pumping at work. I seem to have overcome that battle with B, but have a whole other issue on my hands. I'm, what, 6 or so months into this pumping gig this time around and you'd think I would have found my groove by now. 

Well, I had. Up until about 3 weeks ago. Then things started to hurt. And I'm not talking about end of the week soreness that I briefly mentioned in the past. I'm talking about full on cringing at the thought of turning the pump on even the lowest setting. Teeth clenching like you're two weeks in on nursing your newborn. Yeah, that kind of pain. For the entire 25 minute pumping session. Four times a day. UGHHHHH!

I've tried every size flange they make. I reposition so that my nipple isn't touching the flange. I've tried varying speeds. I feel like I've tried it all. 

You'd think I wouldn't have been surprised when I looked down while pumping on Tuesday afternoon and saw blood inside the flange. Sorry for the TMI, but for a blog about babies and motherhood and everything in between, I think it comes with the territory!

That ended my pumping session for the day and I didn't have the guts to even try for a second that night. I was even scared to nurse when I got home, but luckily that was no big deal. 

I did some reading and found out that it's not uncommon to use olive oil or coconut oil while pumping. I put some coconut oil on Tuesday night and used it again before I pumped on Wednesday morning and it worked like a dream! No pain.

But of course, that awesomeness couldn't come without a downfall. Now I don't think I'm pumping as much. I say think because (A.) it's only been two full days of trying this method and (B.) it's also that time of the month and really my first real period since I had B. I had another one back in February, but it was very light. Regardless, I know that can cause a temporary dip in supply. In my reading, I also learned that the decrease in friction while using coconut or olive oil can make it harder to empty the breast and that's what I think the real issue is. This sucks cause I don't want to have a supply drop from using the oil, but I also don't want sore, cracked, bleeding nipples. Oh the joys.....

It's typically the morning pumping session that I'm having trouble getting my normal amount, so I may actually try not using the oil until after I pump this morning. 

Cross your fingers!! I wish I knew what caused all of this in the first place.