CANNOT believe I never backed up my blogs before tonight. Such a simple thing to do, I discovered, and how stupid was I to leave it this long? I would be devastated if I ever lost all these thoughts, photos, memories, connections, comments etc.
This is the link that told me how to do it, but really? Go to the dashboard, hit settings, click on 'export' and then export it to save it on your computer. Easy peasy.
If you have a blogger blog, do this. Do it now. And often.
That is all.
Oh, and have a good weekend!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
New strategies, tough choices, mixed emotions
I have decided I have had enough of having my sweet and good-natured baby turn into a screaming mess at my breast. It's time to throw in this towel and have more and better feedings with calm connection and smiles. Thus, with a bit of a heavy heart, I have decided it's time to take my little Hailey off of breastfeeding and keep it to bottles only. Mommy is admittedly sad about this but it's just causing too many challenges and stressing us both out to continue. So with that said, I now am committed to another few months of nighttime pumping, sacrificing uninterrupted sleep so that she can have a mix of breastmilk and formula, since I just really want to try make it to 6 months breastfeeding and/or giving breastmilk to them.
Alex, however, is still a great feeder, so I am able to at least breastfeed her.
But you know what? I just love seeing my little sweetheart looking up at me, drinking heartily, and smiling while sucking her bottle. Surely that is still bonding, and is far better than pleading, manipulating, squirming and crying (by both parties) all in an effort to breastfeed?
I certainly think so.
Alex, however, is still a great feeder, so I am able to at least breastfeed her.
But you know what? I just love seeing my little sweetheart looking up at me, drinking heartily, and smiling while sucking her bottle. Surely that is still bonding, and is far better than pleading, manipulating, squirming and crying (by both parties) all in an effort to breastfeed?
I certainly think so.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Have babies, will travel
It's on, baby. We will be heading down to Arizona to visit grandma and grandpa this spring. Multiple planes with multiple babies. Hubby flying down with the three of us, then flying back home, then flying down again for a few days, then flying back again with the three of us. Are we nuts? Am I crazy? I think I may be, but I also think the trade-off (sunshine, swimming, hiking, seeing my parents) will ultimately be worth it.
Worth what? Well, time will tell, but for starters, getting these two little goobers passports! Not easy when your babies don't even sit up yet! It was so funny dragging them to the mall after a recent outing to a friend's baby baptism. They were tired and getting hungry. Not a great combo for plunking them into a bumbo, holding them in place and expecting them to look with rapt attention at the camera! I only hope the shots won't be rejected, which, by some accounts, happens fairly often with infant photos??? Egad, I don't want to do that again, and frankly, we won't have time, so cross your fingers for us. How did the shots turn out, you may wonder? Hilarious! So funny! And yes, almost identical. But ya know...Mommy can spot the difference!
Other issues we need to work out:
What to bring, and what Grandma and Grandpa can scrounge up for us. Things like: cribs/playpens, pump rentals (still on the fence about how much longer I want to get up throughout the night to pump and supply extra breastmilk...just how long do I want to do this, I keep asking myself?), strollers, bouncy chairs, etc. I think they have scrounged a few items already, but more to work out. Trying to avoid taking any large items save for the car seats.
What we can/can't take with us without another charge - i.e. how many bags will they allow, what extras will they charge for, should/can we check out car seats safely or bring them to the gate with us (and then, correspondingly, what the heck do we do with all the carry on luggage plus car seats when we have to change planes and get to another terminal etc. as well as carry both babes)
What I can/cannot take onto the plane in terms of bottles, formula, breastmilk, water and food for Mommy etc. We currently use concentrated liquid formula and I always mix it with breastmilk...what is going to be allowed without delaying us or causing all sorts of issues? Can I take some icewater to stay properly hydrated (I hate warm water)? Can I bring proper snacks instead of being forced to buy fast food (although frankly? I'm all over fast foods and sugery goodness at any time these days, but it's not the best choice, even if I AM burning more calories each day with breastfeeding).
Am I going to get grief from the flight attendants for breastfeeding or bottle feeding the babies on takeoff and landing to ease the pressure transition issues? I heard there is a real contradiction in terms of the position you have to hold them in vs. how hard it is on their ears if they aren't swallowing something...
What to pack for the time of year down there (but then, that's the ongoing issue for Arizona) because it can be really warm during the day and cold at night, but also because we have to pack for the four of us now, and Mommy's body is insane right now, so clothes don't fit her...(yeah, I'm refering to myself in the third person. Doing that far too often these days, I've noticed.)
What did you other Mommies do? What tips do you have for me? Any recent experience out there?
Luckily there are fantastic people on Twitter like @hvbabywilltrvl and their amazing site with great advice on traveling with babies and toddlers. So many great articles and travel lists to help us get organized. It's a start, anyways!
Ah.....on a day that started with strong biting wind and ended with heavy snowfall, I think we're crazy not to go. Sunshine and tumbleweeds (and pools, tennis, golf and mountain hiking) here we come!!!
Worth what? Well, time will tell, but for starters, getting these two little goobers passports! Not easy when your babies don't even sit up yet! It was so funny dragging them to the mall after a recent outing to a friend's baby baptism. They were tired and getting hungry. Not a great combo for plunking them into a bumbo, holding them in place and expecting them to look with rapt attention at the camera! I only hope the shots won't be rejected, which, by some accounts, happens fairly often with infant photos??? Egad, I don't want to do that again, and frankly, we won't have time, so cross your fingers for us. How did the shots turn out, you may wonder? Hilarious! So funny! And yes, almost identical. But ya know...Mommy can spot the difference!
Other issues we need to work out:
What to bring, and what Grandma and Grandpa can scrounge up for us. Things like: cribs/playpens, pump rentals (still on the fence about how much longer I want to get up throughout the night to pump and supply extra breastmilk...just how long do I want to do this, I keep asking myself?), strollers, bouncy chairs, etc. I think they have scrounged a few items already, but more to work out. Trying to avoid taking any large items save for the car seats.
What we can/can't take with us without another charge - i.e. how many bags will they allow, what extras will they charge for, should/can we check out car seats safely or bring them to the gate with us (and then, correspondingly, what the heck do we do with all the carry on luggage plus car seats when we have to change planes and get to another terminal etc. as well as carry both babes)
What I can/cannot take onto the plane in terms of bottles, formula, breastmilk, water and food for Mommy etc. We currently use concentrated liquid formula and I always mix it with breastmilk...what is going to be allowed without delaying us or causing all sorts of issues? Can I take some icewater to stay properly hydrated (I hate warm water)? Can I bring proper snacks instead of being forced to buy fast food (although frankly? I'm all over fast foods and sugery goodness at any time these days, but it's not the best choice, even if I AM burning more calories each day with breastfeeding).
Am I going to get grief from the flight attendants for breastfeeding or bottle feeding the babies on takeoff and landing to ease the pressure transition issues? I heard there is a real contradiction in terms of the position you have to hold them in vs. how hard it is on their ears if they aren't swallowing something...
What to pack for the time of year down there (but then, that's the ongoing issue for Arizona) because it can be really warm during the day and cold at night, but also because we have to pack for the four of us now, and Mommy's body is insane right now, so clothes don't fit her...(yeah, I'm refering to myself in the third person. Doing that far too often these days, I've noticed.)
What did you other Mommies do? What tips do you have for me? Any recent experience out there?
Luckily there are fantastic people on Twitter like @hvbabywilltrvl and their amazing site with great advice on traveling with babies and toddlers. So many great articles and travel lists to help us get organized. It's a start, anyways!
Ah.....on a day that started with strong biting wind and ended with heavy snowfall, I think we're crazy not to go. Sunshine and tumbleweeds (and pools, tennis, golf and mountain hiking) here we come!!!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Stumbling toward normalcy
This is it, folks! Tonight I suit up to play competitive volleyball with my women's team. Not sure they, or I, know what we've gotten ourselves into! A few notes about my current status:
a) my feet grew, so I have exactly two pairs of shoes I can wear. Thankfully, one of those pairs are cross-trainers, but they certainly aren't my former volleyball court shoes. I'm very happy that I have two ankle braces, just in case I go over on them.
b) I found ONE pair of shorts that will work for tonight. This is better than I anticipated. I was breaking out in cold sweats (pun not intended originally, but...) at the thought of what the heck I could wear on bottom to play in.
c) There are no jerseys that will cover this stomach right now. I still don't know what I will do, but worse case I will wear a jersey of my husbands and hope they don't charge my team their bond money due to the fact that I don't have a proper team jersey on.
d) I believe I may have an issue with this malformed/odd belly of mine. I think I have diastasis recti, and may even have a herniated belly button. I haven't had time to start to rebuild/rectify this issue. Have no idea how it will impact my ability to play.
e) While I was able to swim during my pregnancy, I generally took it REALLY easy, not only due to my baby Hailey's condition, but because prior we had had three miscarriages, and I frankly didn't want a single reason to point to that may have impacted a fourth. This meant that:
f) It has litterally been a full year since I played volleyball. This is gooonnnnna hurt!
That said? SO EXCITED.
a) my feet grew, so I have exactly two pairs of shoes I can wear. Thankfully, one of those pairs are cross-trainers, but they certainly aren't my former volleyball court shoes. I'm very happy that I have two ankle braces, just in case I go over on them.
b) I found ONE pair of shorts that will work for tonight. This is better than I anticipated. I was breaking out in cold sweats (pun not intended originally, but...) at the thought of what the heck I could wear on bottom to play in.
c) There are no jerseys that will cover this stomach right now. I still don't know what I will do, but worse case I will wear a jersey of my husbands and hope they don't charge my team their bond money due to the fact that I don't have a proper team jersey on.
d) I believe I may have an issue with this malformed/odd belly of mine. I think I have diastasis recti, and may even have a herniated belly button. I haven't had time to start to rebuild/rectify this issue. Have no idea how it will impact my ability to play.
e) While I was able to swim during my pregnancy, I generally took it REALLY easy, not only due to my baby Hailey's condition, but because prior we had had three miscarriages, and I frankly didn't want a single reason to point to that may have impacted a fourth. This meant that:
f) It has litterally been a full year since I played volleyball. This is gooonnnnna hurt!
That said? SO EXCITED.
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