Breastfeeding Troubles

I am sad to say Ricky and I are having some breastfeeding troubles. For the last two days he has been refusing to nurse, it’s actually stranger than that, he will feed on one side and then only at night time when he wakes up. Other than that he takes a bottle instead, as you can imagine this has been harder for me than him. I was a total emotional mess; thinking that my poor baby is confused because I spend all day at work and have to bottle feed him breast milk. I told myself while I was still pregnant that if breast feeding did not work out for us I would not be torn up about it (but it’s hard!). I am still pumping and of course I am not going to give up. This just makes me wonder if this happens to everyone, anyone out there experiencing the same, thing? I am determined to find answers here people. La Leche League does exist out here in Hawaii, but on a real note they have meetings like at 2pm! Seriously?!  I work all day and I work in the male dominated arena that is the US Army. My boss is cool, but come on I can’t be like “I need to take a couple of hours off to go to my breast feeding support group”  the response would probably be something like “Umm say that again, what?” I am grateful that my work environment allows me to pump at least twice a day without a problem and with privacy. I don’t want to push it too far, and I feel this is common among other mothers in the military. We don’t want to appear less efficient than our male counterparts simply because we are mothers. That being said, we also need to stand up for each other and not give each other grief for missing work when our kids are sick or the babysitter falls through, that happens to all of us. In my experience for the last 7years in the Army women are often other women biggest critics, I don’t know why we do it, but come one! Let’s give each other some support because lord knows we are not going to get any sympathy from our male counterparts about our baby problems. I apologize for this turning into a rant, I will get off my soap box now and leave you with some good online finds if you are also experiencing any breastfeeding issues.

http://breastfeedingincombatboots.com/blog/

http://www.breastfeedingsolutions.us/Breastfeeding.php

http://www.llli.org/resources.html

 

 

 

I know it’s not Friday, but we are almost there!

Co sleeping like we just don’t care

I could not stop thinking about the whole co sleeping thing all weekend so here are my thoughts on it. Which by the way are just that MY thoughts, I am NOT an expert, or a Doctor I am a MOMMY.

This is what I know:   Getting Ricky to bed at night was a constant struggle, even if he went down, he would eventually be back up in about an hour and the process began all over again. Out of sheer desperation I put him down in our bed one night almost completely awake and I lay down next to him. He fused around for about 2 minutes before he relaxed into a peaceful sleep. I was beyond thrilled and so tired that I dozed off myself, that night I got the best sleep since I brought him home. When he would wake to feed, I would simply put him to my chest, no crying, he would eat and doze off again. We began doing this more and more. After a week of this we got into a rhythm, once he was asleep I would get up and leave him in bed with the monitor on I would go on about some chores or watching television downstairs. When we were ready for bed, he would stir a bit and then relax, he stretches his arms out towards me and as soon as he confirms I am there he relaxes into sleep again. My husband no longer has to wake up in the middle of the night to rock him back into sleep so he can go in his crib. He sleeps all night, and he loves it. I know some people would say that we are doing the wrong thing that it’s dangerous, that we are increasing his chance of SIDS and to those people I say, he is my baby, I am his mother and I know best.  He sleeps in pajamas, thin ones, he uses a small blanket and I use my own blanket that never goes over him, there is something about being a parent that instinctively alerts you to the fact that baby is in bed with you, even if you are sleeping. I cannot prove this with any kind of scientific research. I just know that before he shared our bed I was one crazy sleeper. Now I can relax into one position and wake up in the same one, I also know that my husband would rather sleep all night then have his whole side of the bed. If you are wondering if I was ever scared to do this I can sincerely say I was scared as hell. I was scared that I would squish him, that he would suffocate in the sheets, that he would someone roll off. Then I realized that the fear was not there before I read horror stories online. There was never ending negative articles out there about co sleeping but that fear is not natural, some instinct inside of me told me it was perfectly fine to want to have baby next to me.

 

Every night we sleep together, we wake up together and when he stirs I stir. When we wake up in the morning and get ready to start our day he never cries, I just know he is awake and he smiles making me feel like today is going to be a good day J that’s my story I hope that it makes all co sleepers out there not scared to let people know that they share their bed. Because at the end of the day it is no one’s business but your own!  

 

Paleo (week 2) and other rants

This week I was really bad about taking pictures of all my meals so instead I am going to share my shopping list and all the recipes for the meals I have planned for the following week. Don't worry I am not good at explaining how I cook so they are all from a website ;)

1. Ground Bison

2. Onions

3.Tomatoes

4. Spinach 

5.Bananas

6.Garlic

7.Avocados 

8.Bison sausage

9.Tilapia

10.Pork loin

11.Lean Ground beef

12. Almond milk

13. Coconut milk

14.Eggs

15. Simply Orange juice 

16.Simply apple juice

17. Scallops

18.Squash

19.Frozen Strawberries

20. Limes

21. Lemons

22. Canned tomatoes

23. Zucchini

24. Mixed greens (organic)

25. Spinach (organic)

26. Beef chuck 

All the recipes for this week:

The plan is to make enough to have left overs for lunch

Crock pot pork loin

                                                                        Burgers
                                                                        
                                                                        Scallops
                                                                     
                                                                       Fish tacos

                                                               Tuna avocado boats

                                                Bacon-wrapped salsa stuffed chicken breast



What I am really excited to try is this one: Creamy margarita pops

By the way this is my first time making any of these, and first time pooching an egg so wish me luck :)

In other news, I can fit into my old jeans again! I was pretty excited, I still have some work to do but this is a start

I swear Ricky has started teething, poor baby. I have some tricks I got from friends so hopefully I don't have to pull my hair out....but here goes nothing.

Any suggestions? comments are welcome. By the way we are official co-sleepers, one day I will write a post that includes all  my feelings on this. I swear I never planned on it and this might sound selfish but I get much better sleep when he is in our bed. Added bonus is I don't get to spend a lot of time with him, except weekends so this way I can hold hid little hand or just lean over and give him a kiss whenever I feel like it :)

And who doesn't want to wake up to this?

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Enjoy your Paleo recipes, even if you only do the Margarita one :)

What the h is going on?!

This week has been beyond crazy.

This week the husband worked crazy random hours that ranged from early mornings to late nights.  My brother is visiting from CA and graciously gave up being a tourist to watch Ricky all day :)

We also decided we don't need sleep so far we have gone to the bar poolside, on a MONDAY, that's new for us. Tonight we headed to a LUAU, while Ricky had a good time at home with our good friends, who graciously accepted to watch him. We enjoyed some tropical drinks and a show. Like I said this week has been pretty special. We also had a poop blow out that ended up all over my UNIFORM. If you ever wonders if baby poop comes out of ACU'S (army combat uniform). Well let let me tell you. It DOES! :)  If this all was not enough for a crazy week I also started my 2 week workout challenge and let me tell you, It BURNS! I cannot walk without feeling some kind of ache in my body. I am ready for a nap, maybe two. Tomorrow is FRIDAY!

We are having one last thank you/goodbye dinner for my brother and then the weekend to relax and pick up one of my lovely sister-in-laws, who will be with us for the next four months. Can't wait! she is such a fun girl. I hope everyone had a great week, by the way I am really feeling this song right now. It's so fun and has seriously helped me get through this rough week.

Me and my Bro!

                                              Crazy 2 week workout is kicking my butt

 Hawaii! (sorry for the bad pictures, like I said it''s been crazy and my phone is not so good for pictures)

 

                                                              What is going on?!

                                                                               Cheers!

One week of Paleo in pictures

One week down, I'm starting to feel better about this whole diet thing. I still have my moments,I want to run to the store and buy a WHOLE pie and just eat it all by myself :) but instead I have been eating this:

                                                                           Monday Lobster/Shrimp salad

                                                                           Tuesday  Garlic shrimp

                                                                          Wednesday Ceviche

                                                                   

                                                                       Thursday Fajitas, without the tortilla add more veggies

                                                                           Friday Stuffed peppers, no cheese, no rice


Saturday Paleo beef stew




For breakfast I have been making smoothies.  I use almond milk, bananas and strawberries. I snack on dried fruit, fresh fruit, cashews. I also found delicious bison sausage which is leaner than most sausage and I have that for breakfast with some eggs.

Only 43 more days to go! This week I am also starting an Amazing yoga workout with a group of awesome ladies

Ready for some yoga filled week? well good because I am! Have a good week everyone, try to eat healthy!

Ricky is 3 months old today

Ricky is growing up so fast. I have been trying to take a picture of him every month so I can see him grow up. At three months he loves to smile,laugh and spit up :) he is sitting up, grabbing at toys. His favorite toy right now is small red bird that came from Target. He is almost able to reach his toes and I am sure they will soon be in his mouth. He is rolling, wiggling all over and able to hold his little head up for longer periods. He loves being outside and being held, he never misses out on anything thats going on around him. Here are his pictures 

                                                        Silly monkey

 The place where he will hide out from mommy and daddy some day

                                                His Favorite Toy

 Loving being outside in the breeze. Keep growing little man, but not too fast please.

Working mommy guilt

I have always known that being  a working mom was going to be hard and I've heard other people say how hard it was. Today I really felt it for the first time, I have been working long hours this week and it looks like my husband will have to do the same. My mom has been watching Ricky for about a month now, she goes back to CA on Saturday and I am really grateful for her coming out here. I am always able to calm Ricky when he is having a fussy spell, I hold him and shush him and he will grab onto me and calm down and sleep. Tonight I wasn't able to calm him and it took my mom one second to hold him and he settled right down.

It made me literally start crying, I feel like he is so use to spending his days with her that he would rather have her than me. That hurts, I know that there is nothing I can do because I need to buy those diapers lol I just wish there was an easier way. Just wanted to share my thoughts for all those moms who are also working hard every day out there.

On a less serious note Ricky will be three months old tomorrow and I have some awesome pictures to share but that will come tomorrow...today I stayed up late, even though I have work at 5am ( UGH!) just to shop for some fall clothes, it does get a little chilly even here in HI :)

Like I said, the husband is working late. SO I did a little online shopping ; ) found all this stuff @ Carters online. Isn't it  cute?! can't wait to put Ricky in it.

Good night!