One of the blogs I read started this '10 on 2sday' entry every Tuesday. I really like the idea and it forces me to write an entry each week (thanks Lori!). I don't know if we are exciting enough to have 10 things every week, so I am going to alter it a little bit and make it 5 on Friday. So here it is:
1) My baby girl is officially 9 months old today! I cannot believe how fast she is growing up, or how much I absolutely love her. I look at her, and cannot imagine my life without her in it.
2) My nephew called me last Friday night. He had a question at the dinner table and his mom didn’t have the answer. The question: When is Ellie going to have a baby brother? My answer: When he is 8 or 9 years old (he is 5 now.) I hope he isn’t disappointed if she gets a sister instead (he is the only boy out of 7 grandchildren).
3) We painted the shed last weekend. It had only been up almost 3 months before we had/made the time to paint it to match the house. I am SO glad that project is done. It does look really nice and I think Nick loves the extra shed space he has over the old shed.
4) I haven’t been running lately, and need to get back into it. I will admit that I miss it a little.
5) I have started brainstorming for Eleanor’s 1st Birthday party. I have, what I think are, some cute ideas. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, so I will wait to reveal the theme/plans until closer to or after her birthday. In the meantime, I have exactly 9 months worth of scrapbooking to get done before the big day!
Friday, August 13, 2010
9 months!
It is crazy that it has been 9-months since Eleanor was born. It seems like yesterday we were driving down Fleur on our way to the hospital (thinking we were going to be sent home once we got there). Yet so much has changed, and Eleanor is turning into such a grown-up.
When she was first born I remember thinking how I LOVED the little tiny baby stage. Being able to hold her (and have her like it) was awesome. Then she got a little bigger, and I loved that she could smile at us. Then came the rolling… eating baby food… crawling… two bottom teeth… a sippy cup… standing up… and through it all, more smiles and an occasional giggle. Although I miss the days when I could just hold her and she wouldn’t try to wiggle out of my arms, each stage has me thinking: this is my favorite stage. Yet.
An update on the little one:
Eleanor LOVES attention, and gets a little upset if she is smiling at you and don’t smile back (this goes for strangers as well). She is a Mommy’s girl, but has her days when she is 100% a Daddy’s girl. She loves to eat (who doesn’t), and get very excited when she sees her bottle or one of her ‘puffs’. She sets her mind to something and works until she gets it. She doesn’t get too upset if she cannot master something right away, she just keeps trying (I think she has Nick’s demeanor). She loves her stacking cups, they are by far her favorite toy right now. She loves music and watching people dance. She does amazing in church and everyone there loves her.
She loves going to day-care, and day-care loves her. They say she has ‘spunk’, is a ‘ham’ and has ‘a love for life’. Because she has so much fun and doesn’t want to miss out on the action, she doesn’t take very long naps (maybe an hour and a half total all day). But she sleeps through the night, and has been for a long time. She wakes up happy and ready to play (this she gets from me).
She loves dogs, and trying to give them open mouth kisses. She loves the water; bath-time or swim-time are a cure for an unhappy baby. She is in the next size up car seat, and I miss the bucket seat already. She wears size 3 diapers, although size 4 are not that far off. She is in size 9-12 month clothes. She is in the process of moving to the next room up at day-care.
She is growing up before our eyes. Next up: Turning One! Crazy.
When she was first born I remember thinking how I LOVED the little tiny baby stage. Being able to hold her (and have her like it) was awesome. Then she got a little bigger, and I loved that she could smile at us. Then came the rolling… eating baby food… crawling… two bottom teeth… a sippy cup… standing up… and through it all, more smiles and an occasional giggle. Although I miss the days when I could just hold her and she wouldn’t try to wiggle out of my arms, each stage has me thinking: this is my favorite stage. Yet.
An update on the little one:
Eleanor LOVES attention, and gets a little upset if she is smiling at you and don’t smile back (this goes for strangers as well). She is a Mommy’s girl, but has her days when she is 100% a Daddy’s girl. She loves to eat (who doesn’t), and get very excited when she sees her bottle or one of her ‘puffs’. She sets her mind to something and works until she gets it. She doesn’t get too upset if she cannot master something right away, she just keeps trying (I think she has Nick’s demeanor). She loves her stacking cups, they are by far her favorite toy right now. She loves music and watching people dance. She does amazing in church and everyone there loves her.
She loves going to day-care, and day-care loves her. They say she has ‘spunk’, is a ‘ham’ and has ‘a love for life’. Because she has so much fun and doesn’t want to miss out on the action, she doesn’t take very long naps (maybe an hour and a half total all day). But she sleeps through the night, and has been for a long time. She wakes up happy and ready to play (this she gets from me).
She loves dogs, and trying to give them open mouth kisses. She loves the water; bath-time or swim-time are a cure for an unhappy baby. She is in the next size up car seat, and I miss the bucket seat already. She wears size 3 diapers, although size 4 are not that far off. She is in size 9-12 month clothes. She is in the process of moving to the next room up at day-care.
She is growing up before our eyes. Next up: Turning One! Crazy.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Breastfeeding Part 2: How it all ended up
Here is my experience:
My friend said that if I could get through the first couple of weeks it would get easier after that. The first week was really hard. My milk didn’t come in until 5/6 days after Ellie was born. At midnight our first night home I was bawling because Eleanor wasn’t eating properly and Nick was feeding her formula. I was determined to not give up, and we were at the lactation consultant’s door early the next morning. After the milk came in, things got much easier. My first goal was 2 months, by then I was back to work and had that element to deal with. Luckily for me I work for an AMAZING company that supports breastfeeding!
The next goal was 4 months, and then 6 months. After 6 months I didn’t know how the whole teeth issue would play out. Thus far Ellie only has two bottom teeth, and I have had minimal issues with biting (thank Ellie!). Stretch goal: 8 months. During the process, I started ‘banking’ milk, so if I stopped we could still have her on breastmilk. We have a deep freeze devoted solely to Ellie’s milk, and also have overflow being stored at my parent’s house! I attribute this abundance of milk to drinking lots and lots of water- I don’t think I have drank so much water in my life. Oh, and don’t worry, I am careful to use the milk before it goes bad.
Around 8 months I dropped the daytime pumping and we started using the frozen milk to supplement. I still feed Eleanor in the morning and at night and love the bonding time that gives us. I never knew I would enjoy it so much! It really is a great bonding tool and is hard to put into words.
Of if the lactation consultant could see me now! Based on my projections: Eleanor will be 100% (minus the 2 ounces of formula she had at the hospital and the 2 ounces she had our first night home) breastmilk fed thru a year… Yes, I have a spreadsheet with all the milk frozen recorded, the amount Eleanor drinks each day, and how many days of stored milk we have. I also calculated our approximate savings of using breastmilk over buying formula (I will try and let you know the total savings after she is completely done with breastmilk).
The plan is to stop feeding her breastmilk after a year. My pump is starting to die and Eleanor already knows a little too much as to where she gets the milk from. I want her to be able to transition to 100% sippy cup at a year, or shortly after, without any major problems. We will use what stored milk we have, and then switch to whole milk. That is the plan anyway… but plans do change.
To any future mommy’s out there: breastfeeding is a personal choice, and you should never be judged if you do or don’t do it. There are pros and cons either way. If you are debating, I encourage you to give it a try and set a realistic goal (I really think the 2 month goal is a good one). Who knows, maybe you will be like me and love it. Best of luck.
My friend said that if I could get through the first couple of weeks it would get easier after that. The first week was really hard. My milk didn’t come in until 5/6 days after Ellie was born. At midnight our first night home I was bawling because Eleanor wasn’t eating properly and Nick was feeding her formula. I was determined to not give up, and we were at the lactation consultant’s door early the next morning. After the milk came in, things got much easier. My first goal was 2 months, by then I was back to work and had that element to deal with. Luckily for me I work for an AMAZING company that supports breastfeeding!
The next goal was 4 months, and then 6 months. After 6 months I didn’t know how the whole teeth issue would play out. Thus far Ellie only has two bottom teeth, and I have had minimal issues with biting (thank Ellie!). Stretch goal: 8 months. During the process, I started ‘banking’ milk, so if I stopped we could still have her on breastmilk. We have a deep freeze devoted solely to Ellie’s milk, and also have overflow being stored at my parent’s house! I attribute this abundance of milk to drinking lots and lots of water- I don’t think I have drank so much water in my life. Oh, and don’t worry, I am careful to use the milk before it goes bad.
Around 8 months I dropped the daytime pumping and we started using the frozen milk to supplement. I still feed Eleanor in the morning and at night and love the bonding time that gives us. I never knew I would enjoy it so much! It really is a great bonding tool and is hard to put into words.
Of if the lactation consultant could see me now! Based on my projections: Eleanor will be 100% (minus the 2 ounces of formula she had at the hospital and the 2 ounces she had our first night home) breastmilk fed thru a year… Yes, I have a spreadsheet with all the milk frozen recorded, the amount Eleanor drinks each day, and how many days of stored milk we have. I also calculated our approximate savings of using breastmilk over buying formula (I will try and let you know the total savings after she is completely done with breastmilk).
The plan is to stop feeding her breastmilk after a year. My pump is starting to die and Eleanor already knows a little too much as to where she gets the milk from. I want her to be able to transition to 100% sippy cup at a year, or shortly after, without any major problems. We will use what stored milk we have, and then switch to whole milk. That is the plan anyway… but plans do change.
To any future mommy’s out there: breastfeeding is a personal choice, and you should never be judged if you do or don’t do it. There are pros and cons either way. If you are debating, I encourage you to give it a try and set a realistic goal (I really think the 2 month goal is a good one). Who knows, maybe you will be like me and love it. Best of luck.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Breastfeeding Part 1: FREE PROMO CODE
Did you know that this week was World Breastfeeding Week? I have thought about doing a breastfeeding post for a while now, but never knew where to start, or if I really wanted to go that route. Then I got an e-mail about a free “Udder Cover” code and I couldn’t ignore it. So here is the post (which I have decided it too long, so it will be two posts) and the information on how to get your free nursing cover.
First the free code: Go to www.uddercovers.com, click on "Shop Now" and select the
cover you would like. Type “Breastfeeding” into the promo code box and it will bring your product total to $0. All you pay is the shipping fees. You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser window to do so. You can also use this promo code to get a 3 piece gift set for only $5! I have the black squiggle one and get a lot of use out of it. Since I use it, it gets washed a lot and is showing a little wear. I don’t know that I think it is worth $32 retail, but it is totally worth the less than $10 you pay in S&H. The thing I like most is that it is light weight. Eleanor gets really hot and the light weight fabric keeps her cool.
Now onto my breastfeeding experience: I have to admit, I have never been a real breastfeeding ‘cheerleader’. I don’t know why, I just always envisioned myself feeding my baby a bottle (of formula). When Nick and I were working on our revised budget (to include baby necessities), the cost of breastfeeding over the cost of formula was overwhelmingly cheaper. I was sold on at least trying to breastfeed. The health aspects are overwhelmingly in favor of breastfeeding. Given that Eleanor was born during H1N1 season that was important. To be honest with you, it was the $$$ that made me do it more than anything.
So how did it all work out? Until next time…
First the free code: Go to www.uddercovers.com, click on "Shop Now" and select the
cover you would like. Type “Breastfeeding” into the promo code box and it will bring your product total to $0. All you pay is the shipping fees. You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser window to do so. You can also use this promo code to get a 3 piece gift set for only $5! I have the black squiggle one and get a lot of use out of it. Since I use it, it gets washed a lot and is showing a little wear. I don’t know that I think it is worth $32 retail, but it is totally worth the less than $10 you pay in S&H. The thing I like most is that it is light weight. Eleanor gets really hot and the light weight fabric keeps her cool.
Now onto my breastfeeding experience: I have to admit, I have never been a real breastfeeding ‘cheerleader’. I don’t know why, I just always envisioned myself feeding my baby a bottle (of formula). When Nick and I were working on our revised budget (to include baby necessities), the cost of breastfeeding over the cost of formula was overwhelmingly cheaper. I was sold on at least trying to breastfeed. The health aspects are overwhelmingly in favor of breastfeeding. Given that Eleanor was born during H1N1 season that was important. To be honest with you, it was the $$$ that made me do it more than anything.
So how did it all work out? Until next time…
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Go White Sox!
Nick and I must be bad luck, for the second year in a row the team we were cheering on live at a MLB game came out on the losing end. Sorry White Sox, we will stay away for the rest of the season.
This past Friday/Saturday we made an overnight trip to MN with our friends, the Vodenik Family. Friday morning we dropped Eleanor off at Grandma and Grandpa Thorson’s house for the day/night. From the sounds of it she had a great time and made a new furry friend (Daisy the Dog). We drove up for the game Friday night, and managed to fit in a little shopping at the Mall of America the next day before heading back to pick up Ellie from the farm.
Here are a few fun picks from the trip:
The four of us before the game
The new stadium
Nick and I outside Target Field
A view from our hotel room
I hadn’t been to the MoA in a number of years; I forgot how much fun the place is. We may have to make a trip back so Eleanor and I can do some shopping, while Nick checks out a few mountain bike trails.
This past Friday/Saturday we made an overnight trip to MN with our friends, the Vodenik Family. Friday morning we dropped Eleanor off at Grandma and Grandpa Thorson’s house for the day/night. From the sounds of it she had a great time and made a new furry friend (Daisy the Dog). We drove up for the game Friday night, and managed to fit in a little shopping at the Mall of America the next day before heading back to pick up Ellie from the farm.
Here are a few fun picks from the trip:
The four of us before the game
The new stadium
Nick and I outside Target Field
A view from our hotel roomI hadn’t been to the MoA in a number of years; I forgot how much fun the place is. We may have to make a trip back so Eleanor and I can do some shopping, while Nick checks out a few mountain bike trails.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Godmother
If you cannot tell from my blog posts in which I refer to my sister as Eleanor’s Godmother instead of her Aunt, I think very highly of the role of a Godmother in a child’s person’s life. I was the one that signed my e-mails “The Godmother,” and asked Nick to address me in such form the days following being asked to be Izzy’s Godmother. It means a lot to me, and I think part of that is because of the impact my Godmother has played in my life.
Today Nick, Eleanor and I will make the trip to Oskaloosa to say good-bye to my Godmother, Carol. Carol lost her battle with cancer this past Sunday. While she is in a better/painless place, she will be greatly missed by all. Out of all my siblings, my Godparents were the only ones that were not family members. While that meant that I didn’t see them as often as my siblings saw theirs, it made it that much more special when I did. I remember being a young girl going to visit my Godparents at their ‘mansion’, they owned and lived in a funeral home, what an interesting place to visit. I remember playing outside on the long porch and sitting comfortably in Carol’s lap. Carol was one of the nicest people you would ever meet. She had a warm, comforting voice that I cannot imagine saying a negative thing about anyone. I remember feeling so loved whenever I was around her.
Every year for Christmas I got a Precious Moment ornament from my Godparents. I loved that fact that I had the most ornaments on the family tree and now our Christmas tree is filled with 30+ Precious Moment ornaments (and we continue to add one each year). This is a tradition I have used for my own Goddaughter, each year she gets a Precious Moment ornament. I hope that some day when she is grown-up, she will have the same feeling about her ornaments and the person who gave them to her as I do about mine and my Godparents.
Despite being VERY busy, Carol always made a point to come to my special events. From my First Communion, to my graduation, to my wedding day, Carol was there… no matter what.
I was so excited on my wedding day, partly because Nick was finally going to get to meet my Godparents. I think he loved them instantly, and why wouldn’t he? In fact, one of the topics of conversation on our way from the ceremony to the reception was what an amazing job my Godparents did with the scripture readings. I remember listening in awe as they read through the words that Nick and I had so carefully picked out for that day. It wasn’t just that they were great speakers (which they were/are), but also the meaning behind them reading those words. These were the people that took a pledge before God saying they would raise me in the ways of the Lord, and here they were reading such important words on my wedding day- the day Nick and I began our life together with God. I knew we asked them to do the readings for a reason, but I didn’t know the full impact until we sat their listening to them that day. They truly were/are amazing Godparents!
My one regret is that Carol never got to meet our daughter, Eleanor. But I know that she will now be able to look down from above and watch my family as we continue to grow physically, mentally and spiritually. She will always have a place in my heart and her memories and the example she set will live on forever.
Carol- I will miss you in your physical being, but know you live on in spirit and memories.
Today Nick, Eleanor and I will make the trip to Oskaloosa to say good-bye to my Godmother, Carol. Carol lost her battle with cancer this past Sunday. While she is in a better/painless place, she will be greatly missed by all. Out of all my siblings, my Godparents were the only ones that were not family members. While that meant that I didn’t see them as often as my siblings saw theirs, it made it that much more special when I did. I remember being a young girl going to visit my Godparents at their ‘mansion’, they owned and lived in a funeral home, what an interesting place to visit. I remember playing outside on the long porch and sitting comfortably in Carol’s lap. Carol was one of the nicest people you would ever meet. She had a warm, comforting voice that I cannot imagine saying a negative thing about anyone. I remember feeling so loved whenever I was around her.
Every year for Christmas I got a Precious Moment ornament from my Godparents. I loved that fact that I had the most ornaments on the family tree and now our Christmas tree is filled with 30+ Precious Moment ornaments (and we continue to add one each year). This is a tradition I have used for my own Goddaughter, each year she gets a Precious Moment ornament. I hope that some day when she is grown-up, she will have the same feeling about her ornaments and the person who gave them to her as I do about mine and my Godparents.
Despite being VERY busy, Carol always made a point to come to my special events. From my First Communion, to my graduation, to my wedding day, Carol was there… no matter what.
I was so excited on my wedding day, partly because Nick was finally going to get to meet my Godparents. I think he loved them instantly, and why wouldn’t he? In fact, one of the topics of conversation on our way from the ceremony to the reception was what an amazing job my Godparents did with the scripture readings. I remember listening in awe as they read through the words that Nick and I had so carefully picked out for that day. It wasn’t just that they were great speakers (which they were/are), but also the meaning behind them reading those words. These were the people that took a pledge before God saying they would raise me in the ways of the Lord, and here they were reading such important words on my wedding day- the day Nick and I began our life together with God. I knew we asked them to do the readings for a reason, but I didn’t know the full impact until we sat their listening to them that day. They truly were/are amazing Godparents!
My one regret is that Carol never got to meet our daughter, Eleanor. But I know that she will now be able to look down from above and watch my family as we continue to grow physically, mentally and spiritually. She will always have a place in my heart and her memories and the example she set will live on forever.
Carol- I will miss you in your physical being, but know you live on in spirit and memories.
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