T is for Truth: Perfect Timing. Perfect Advice.

I appreciate when people tell it to me straight. 

There is a time and place for sugar-coating, 

but when it comes to parenting advice, 

let's not...mmmk?

As a new Mom, I frequently question myself.

Questions like:

"Am I doing this right?",

"Why is this happening to me?",

"Did you poop, again?!"

In all seriousness, I found this article recently 

via one of my favorite mommy sites and it goes without saying, 

it definitely made me feel much much better about the thoughts in my head...

and that I'm not (entirely!) crazy. 

from google.

1. When people ask if your child sleeps through the night, just lie and say yes. It helps you avoid all that sleep advice. -Nancy

2. It's okay to mourn your old life and think, "Dear God what have we done!" -Lindsey

3. Ask for help. Accept help when offered. -Mom the Pirate

4. Supermom doesn't exist -Ducks in a Row

5. Ask yourself whether what you are upset about will be important in five years or even in five minutes. -Nancy

6. You're not a bad mom if you don't love every single stage of child-rearing. -Susan

7. Don't try to accomplish too much in any given day. Aim for one thing: grocery shopping, unloading the 

dishwasher, a walk around the block. But not all three. -Mommy Gearest

8. Read your baby, not your baby book. You are enough. -Leah

9. You'll never look back and wish you held your baby less. -Christine

10. It's perfectly okay to abandon a shopping cart full of groceries if your baby gets fussy. -Rachel S

11. Buy a pair of nice cotton pajamas and wear them for two weeks after birth to remind your family that you're still recovering. (And to remind your husband that you're not back to your bouncy self!) -Sarah

12. Don't compare your chaotic, sleepless life to other "edited" versions. -Rhiannon

13. Just when you think you've reached the best milestone with your baby, it keeps getting better. -Sheila

14. Beware of everyone who wants to tell you the right way to do things: breast feeding, foods, sleeping arrangements. They all want to sell you something. -Tess

15. It's okay to cry. And it's okay to be tired. Take a moment, recharge, and bury your face in your baby's neck. Breathe him in and stop for a moment, counting to ten. And then suddenly, it's all okay again. Repeat as necessary. - Mahta

16. Airline attendants tell the adult passengers to put their own oxygen masks on before helping small children. It's okay to let a baby cry for two minutes if you need to pee or to make a sandwich. -Karen

17. You're a good mom if you're doing your best. Don't let anyone tell you you're not. - Sheila

18. If you breast feed, bite on a leather belt before you chip a tooth from the initial pain. -Tess

19. Walk. With the baby. Even it's just to the corner. The fresh air will do you both good. -Pea to Pumpkin

20. The days are long but the years are short. -Rachel

21. This too shall pass. -Bree

All from here. 

I love all of them but the ones that hit home for me:

#5, 7, 8, 13, and 20. 

XOXO-LC

T is for Truth: Got Milk?

You know how I've been thinking about stopping breast feeding ("BF") cold turkey right?

Welp, I happened upon this little gem of an article recently

and after reading it, has since made me have a change of heart. 

So I'll just go sit in the corner with my little violin, shame, and continue to BF...

There are many reasons as to why a woman cannot breast feed:

her body doesn't produce enough milk, child has a hard time latching on, it's painful, medication/illness, etc. 

I've come to find though that there are woman, many women in fact, who are so dedicated 

to giving their little ones breast milk that they decide to pump exclusively. 

I, by no means, would put myself in the "extreme pumping" category;

I pump at work and occasionally at home to keep up my supply but don't pump 24/7. 

That's a whole different cup of tea...or milk I should say. 

from here. 

I found this article and thought I'd share it with you all. 

I won't even attempt to top or take credit for this lady's legit post. Major high five to her.

She literally covers it all and then some...

everything from diet, to the best pumping products, cleaning/storage, and her little survival tips and tricks. 

(It's kinda long so Pin now and read it later!)

Hopefully someone reading this will find it helpful! 

You never know if this will be someone you know...or perhaps even yourself one day. 

XOXO- LC

T is for Truth: Briefcases and Breast Pumps

I'm torn. 

Little T is about 5 months old now and I'm still breastfeeding (aka "BF").

Therefore, pumping at work. 

And now I need some advice...

Some days I feel like I've reached my limit. 

That I simply cannot, will not, and flat out don't want to BF anymore, specifically b/c of the pumping.

Then, after a long day's work, I can't wait to have that time with him.
There's something about that time that is really special. 

Pumping at work is critical to keeping up my supply so I can't have one without the other.

*SIDE BAR*

Even if you aren't BF, for whatever reason, (and there are many!) 

just having one/one time over the baby's meal helps develop an emotional bond. 

I feel like the physical closeness and eye contact during is important.

Babies just know and I'm sure are grateful whichever way they get nourishment.

This isn't a post about the benefits of BF-

 rather, (and probably more honestly) its a rant about the side effects.

. I remember getting so annoyed if people, usually nosy acquaintances, would ask me if I was going to BF. How the heck did I know whether or not I'd be able to? And besides, NONE YA BIZNAS!

from here.

I digress...

My goal for BF keeps getting longer and longer. 

(Now, I'm going for 6 months max)

Frankly, I've kind of surprised myself with how long I've lasted. 

But going back to work, knowing that I'd have to pump gave me anxiety. 

It's not easy. 

Rarely, it's a welcome relief in my busy schedule; but more often than not, it's a flat out hassle. 

I pump anywhere from 3-4 times a day (btw 8am-5pm) and it usually takes a solid 20 minutes each. 

That's an hour pumping I lose out of my work day. 5 X a week (doesn't seem like much) but it adds up.

Sometimes I'll have client meetings and won't pump for 5 hours. (yes, that hurts)

I've pumped in my car. In a handicap bathroom at the airport. (gross) In the middle of the night. 

In an electrical closet. In (several) random parking lots. While driving (don't report me)...

and the list goes on and on.

It goes without saying that the benefits of BF far out weigh the inconveniences and struggles.

I feel selfish saying this but I'm ready to have my body back. Completely. 

Little T is growing (like a champ) and is of (very) healthy weight.

And since he's started some formula and cereal, the kid isn't going to bed hungry.

I've never done this before so I'm doing my best to gauge how, when, and why to stop. 

Is it bad that I get excited by how much free time I think I'll have back?!

(which I'm sure will get filled with other fun things- not being sarcastic!)

Anyways, any advice/thoughts y'all have on pumping is welcome!

XOXO-LC

T is for Truth: Breastfeeding 101

Hello Blog,

I missed you. 

And I missed you dear readers.

Thanks for your patience.

My thoughts as of late have been occupied by breastfeeding. 

Thrilling...I know. 

Some of my more curious friends have been asking about how it's going, 

so I thought I'd share some of my experience and tricks thus far.
Cliff Notes version...

Let me just start by saying that although breastfeeding can be hard work at times,
I wouldn't change the time I get to spend with T for the world. 
Since coming back to work, I truly realize now how special the moments are during.
No matter if you last a day or a year, any effort spent is well worth it.

I've lasted a little over 3 months to date and I've decided to keep going.
(Until the boy bites me that is! Then we are D-O-N-E!)
I struggle sometimes but know that ultimately I have the rest of my life to get my body back
and for the time being, this is what's best for my little one.
We are toying around with the idea to start supplementing at night, so I'll document that as we know more.

Mr. C feeding our child. Multitasking at its finest.
He was trying to eat his own dinner too!

1. My Breastfeeding Lifesavers
The nurses told me that apparently fair skin and light hair/eye women
have more sensitive skin and therefore breastfeeding can be even more painful.
Thus my lifesaver list:

 

Medela nipple shields:

Can get online, any baby store, even Target. 

Totally helps protect super sore nipples. 

Yes, breastfeeding hurts. And it didn't get easier for me.

I use these every time I feed. Pain to have to clean all the time, but they've helped me last as long as I have.

Earth mama-Angel baby natural nipple butter:

This stuff is amazing! 

No better way to describe it other than its like chap stick for the nipples.

Lansinoh disposable breast pads:

Put these in my bra (Bravado) to help with leakiness. Lovely.

I use a set a day. 

Medela tender care hydrogel pads:

You store these in the fridge. Last about 1 month.

These are great but make sure to clean your skin with a damp cloth before feeding.

Philips Avent 2 in 1 breast care thermopads: 

When the Medela gel pads aren't cuttin it... I keep these in the freezer.

2. How & When to Start Pumping
I googled the heck out of this. I literally typed in the search: "How Do I start Pumping?"
Boy was that a mistake. I got all sorts of weird, non breastfeeding related topics!
What I determined was this:

Since birth, I always fed him one breast at a time during a feeding. So when I wanted to start pumping,
I simply fed him from one breast, until he was satisfied, and then pumped the other breast.

Once I got the hang of it, I fed from both breasts
during a feeding to keep my supply up and body symmetrical! :)
Now when I pump, I typically pump both.
However, sometimes I have to pump one at a time depending on how the feeding goes.

This pump is awesome!
The first couple of times, I only got a few ounces- like 1-2oz.
He was about 7 weeks old.
I felt like a milk factory, how could I not get a full 5 oz bottle?!

However, what I  had to remind myself was
that your body produces just the right amount of milk at that stage of the baby's life.
Eventually, my supply would increase as his appetite would.
So I continued to pump, probably 3-4 times a week, freezing the milk.

I went back to work around 9 1/2 weeks,
and had a pretty good stock of milk for his first few days at church school.
We tested out a bottle of breast milk (we like these) several times before school,
just so it wouldn't be a struggle at the last minute. He took right to it. My hungry boy!

Pumping at work is another story....

3. Breast Milk Storage Do's and Don'ts
These are the rules I follow:
a. Fresh milk lasts in the freezer 3-6 months.
Make sure you label with the date you pumped. I use these bags.
b. Fresh milk lasts in the fridge 3-8 days.
c. Fresh milk lasts on the counter for 6 hrs.
d. Fresh milk, either from the fridge or defrosted in the fridge, lasts up to 1 hr after warming.

When warming a bottle, never use the microwave.
It can cause hot pockets of milk that can burn their little mouths. :(
Warm in a saucepan on medium/high heat, filled with water, up the the milk line in the bottle.
It's ready when you test it on your wrist and you can barely feel it. It should be luke warm.
I swirl it around and shake a little to make sure the warmth is distributed.

Hope this helps some of you!
Ultimately you have to do what's best for you and your family. 
Cheers!
(with a glass full of milk that is!)
XOXO-LC

T is for Truth: A Reflection, Post-Baby.

Ok, Mr. T...shield your eyes. 

{well, maybe not now, but one day...you still can't read yet...

OR! maybe you're a baby genius and are logging on 

and reading this at church daycare right now?!}

I digress.

Ok, for those of you that are the rainbows and bunnies 

and "I don't want to know" types...

This post is NOT for you. 

In effort to keep this as concise as possible,

because let's be honest, I can go on for days about this stuff;

I'll include some of my favorite and most trusted links

to help clarify and elaborate on these topics.

I've hit the 2 1/2 months post-partum milestone. 

And I'm starting to really reflect (and understand) 

what I just put my body and mind through. 

And it's not over yet...but there's a light. 

I've compiled a list of my top 5 "things" that affected me personally, 

but then included links to some other relevant lists that my body is just as familiar with.

So here we go.

In a nutshell and in no particular order:

1. Breastfeeding: Your Boobs Will Rock (literally)

Fortunately, little T took to breastfeeding real fast. Like seriously, the kid can eat. Imagine a vacuum cleaner, one of the Dyson Animal ones, yanking on your ta-ta's for 15, 20, 45 mins at a time. And lucky me, I have the most sensitive skin ever. Bad combo. 

When your milk comes in, you can truly feel it. That's what they mean by "let down". (Google it if this is a strange term to you) For the first few weeks after baby ("A.B."), I experienced everything from lumps under armpits, (yes, I thought I had cancer. I know, dramatic) leaky faucet nipples, porn star sized boobs (compared to what I came from), and the list goes on. 

Regardless, I'm going to try for as long as I can...or when he gets his first tooth. OUCH! 

2. Sleep is a Really Bad Joke (for at least the first 6 weeks)

Let me give you an example:

House Guest: "Lauren and Mr. C, so are y'all getting any sleep?"

Mr. C: "Ya, I get like 8 hours or so."

(yes, I want to slap him right about then)

House Guest: "Lauren, what about you? You're sleeping when he sleeps, right?"
Me: Smile and Laugh. Then change the subject. 

(What I want to say but don't: "No actually, I'm not sleeping because you're here. And when you're not, I'm catching up on laundry that's covered in spit up, putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher as often as a hotel restaurant, vacuuming up all the dog hair that's collected everywhere, and watching re-runs on Lifetime because I'm too tired to sleep...because I know the second I do, Mr. T will be awake and wanting to suck the life out of me again.")

And that's all there is to say about that. 

3. The Delivery

There are no words. In the beginning, when you're about to start pushing, it honestly feels like you have to go #2. Then, when you're actually pushing, it feels like the most intense pressure/pain like you've never felt before. I'll have to share Baby T's birth story one of these days...let me just put it this way...my epidural wore off. Soooo, ya. 

4. So Long Cinderella

You know how poor Cinderella's entire fantasy land comes to an abrupt halt when the clock strikes Midnight? (This is before she marries the Prince, of course) Well, that's kind of how I feel since the delivery. Most of my pregnancy, I felt like I had "the glow": long, thick hair; clear, fresh-looking skin; long, strong nails, etc. Welp...I'm wondering where my fairy godmother is right about now. 

I'm pretty sure it's the jacked up hormones, coupled with breastfeeding, mixed with the horror movie aftermath of the delivery that stirred up one "ugly" cocktail. Some of the side effects, just to name a few:

a. My hair is falling out. I'm avoiding looking down at the shower drain these days...

b. My skin is so dry I could sell out the lotion isle at Target and drink all the water on the face of this Earth.

c. My weight. Although the old clothes technically "fit", they just fit differently. Everything distributed all weird now. (can't wait till I can start working out for real)

d. My Lady Parts...sex = forget it. I'll say no more. 

It's probably taken me a solid 9 weeks to start feeling somewhat normal and half way "pretty" again.

5. I Was Stir Crazy

In every sense of the word. I was emotionally connected, spending all my time focusing on little T of course, but physically and mentally, I was in the twilight zone. At first it was fun watching hours upon hours of mindless TV and movies; but believe me, the "new-ness" wore off. There was only so much time in between feedings/diaper changes/naps to catch up with household chores and my own needs. So needless to say, I felt kind of on "repeat" for weeks on end. Same routine, every single day. Good for the baby...after a while, became boring for Mom. Some days went by so fast, some were SO slow. 

Now, it got exponentially so much cooler once little man started becoming more social: started smiling, cooing, doing amazing things like that. And after about 6 weeks, I started slowly taking him out and about, on short, quick errands (like to here) and that broke up the day a little bit. Now that I'm back at work, that's a different story. (More on that another time.)

So for everything I couldn't/didn't say...check these out:

Pregnant Body- 20 Things They Don't Tell You

(Numbers 1-20 are REAL people)

Parenting Advice- Thank God I'm Not Alone

(so true)

Happily After Giving Birth

(Having a sense of humor helps)

And yes it's true when they say, 

"and it was all worth it".

XOXO-LC

T is for Truth: Babies + Marriage

What day and time is it?!
No...seriously.

I'm exhausted.

But wanted to share some thoughts that have kept me up at night lately..

(in addition to Baby Tripp's occasional cries and cluster feedings)

{I feel this way about you too, Mr. C}
from my pintrest

Don't need to reiterate the obvious but:

Having a Baby is tough and being Married is tough. 

Thus when you combine the two...sometimes it's just flat out freaking hard. 

(and you want to press pause, hide away, and cry for hours and hours)

And then you have these beautiful moments 
where you can't wait to play and snuggle and love for forever and ever. 

I don't think any couple is truly prepared for how a baby will affect their relationship. 

(If you know the secret, do share...seriously, fork it over)

Now that we are 6 weeks into it all,
I'm just now starting to understand what is to be our 'new normal'.
(And I know that's just the tip of the iceberg 
and just when we think we have it figured out, hello curve ball!)

As a woman, I've been feeling the pressure to be able to "do it all" and "be it all".
 Between day to day house chores, constant baby needs, and then my husband's needs,
somewhere along the way I sometimes find time for my own.
I wore a towel on my wet head for 4 hours the other day, literally.
(my hair was a hot mess. minus the hotness.)

Fortunately, Mr. C has been beyond helpful
and allowed me to sneak away some nights for a quiet bubble bath
or a trip to Target to aimlessly wander around.
(in which I tend to find myself scoping out toys in the baby aisle)

That's not to say that we don't have our moments.
Times that push the limits on patience, tempers, and sanity.
("why can't you take out the trash like right now?! Right when I ask you to??!")
What I've been trying to remind myself of lately is how precious these moments,
regardless of what they include really are.
But even more importantly, how precious these people are.

At the end of the day, I'm so grateful and blessed to be loved by someone
and to be able to share our days with a sweet new baby.
Life's too short to hold grudges, worry about dishes piling up in the sink,
or the laundry that has been in the dryer for days and "re-fluffed" one too many times.

It's the simple kiss hello from your hunny after a long days work,
a quiet snuggle in the wee morning hours,
tracing the lines of your babies sleeping face while they dream,
and a hard laugh among friends and family that have been keeping me going.

Thank you to my dedicated, selfless, patient husband
(and to our sweet, generous family and friends)
I believe that if I focus on our marriage first,
even if it means putting myself second more often than not,
I will be better for our new family. And that makes me happy.

Still a work in progress,
XOXO- LC