Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Another First
The day before yesterday we brought Laila to a playground and put her on a swing for the first time! She had a blast - she happily sat in the swing for a good half an hour at least ... she would have kept sitting there but we felt it was time to leave. She was so cute - I can't wait to go again!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
6 Month Drs Visit
The other day Laila went in for her 6th month check-up. All is well! She is in the 55% for height (I forget her exact height .. a little over 27 inches) and she is 15.10 ounces (in the 30th percent). She got an oral vaccine and a shot... and she was not happy about it! Infact, she was not happy with the visit at all. In the past she always enjoyed herself but she has a strong sense of stranger danger now and cried when the doctor touched her, and after that she cried if the doctor even looked at her for too long! Oh well...
Two things to note: 1) Laila is popping her jaw out of the socket.. the doctor said the area wasn't swollen though, so she thinks it is just something Laila has realized she can do and is no insisting on doing it. All. The. Time. 2) The labia adhesion has not gotten any better. It hasn't gotten worse either though, so that's good. The doctor is hesitant about using a hormone cream (for good reason) so we are just going to wait a while longer in hopes that it gets better. Fingers crossed!
Two things to note: 1) Laila is popping her jaw out of the socket.. the doctor said the area wasn't swollen though, so she thinks it is just something Laila has realized she can do and is no insisting on doing it. All. The. Time. 2) The labia adhesion has not gotten any better. It hasn't gotten worse either though, so that's good. The doctor is hesitant about using a hormone cream (for good reason) so we are just going to wait a while longer in hopes that it gets better. Fingers crossed!
Friday, July 5, 2013
Two Mom-Friendly Products: Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics & Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream
A while back a good friend of mine (Ella!) introduced me to the website Influenster.com, and I am in love with it! Basically you can see what other people are saying about and review different products. Once in a while they might even send you something to try and review in the mail! Anyway, a week or two ago I received what is called a Vox Box in the mail with a few things to try, and I just want to talk a little bit about my two favorite that are so mom-friendly!
1) Olay's Fresh Effects BB Cream which has 6 different skin-care benefits in just one step. It hydrates for 24 hours, protects your face from the sun with SPF 15, evens skin tone, instantly refreshes, smooths and brightens skin! I have to say, I've been searching for a BB Cream for months and this is the third one that I've tried. The others, despite good reviews that I read, made me break out like crazy. Needless to say, I was both excited and wary about trying this new one. Thankfully, I absolutely love it! I love that it has SPF 15, and that it has just the right amount of tinted coverage. It doesn't make my skin look weird like when you put on too much foundation, but it does cover up minor imperfections (like dark circles and redness) while making my skin glow. Like I said, it's mom-friendly. It is so hard to find time to yourself when you are a mom - especially a new mom! So often I go to work without any makeup on because I just couldn't find the time and/or energy to put any on. Not anymore (god that sounded cheesy)- Olay's Fresh Effects BB Cream goes on so quickly that now I always have time and energy. Maybe I'm not putting on full makeup, but I'm covering up the imperfections I feel self-conscious about and that makes me feel wonderful - no more walking into the bathroom half way through the day and seeing my reflection and just .. ugh. I know you know exactly what I'm talking about. You can buy this product on their website (see previous link) or on amazon.com.
2) Goody Hair Ouchless Ribbon Elastics are the second product that I love. I've tried a few "high-end" versions of the same thing, and they always stretched out so much that they were unusable by the third or fourth use. While the Goody ones also stretch out a bit, I've been able to use them again and again no problem! How are these mom-friendly? Well - my daughter is at the age where she is always wanting to pull my hair, so I'm always wearing my hair up when I'm around her.. but when I go to work or out to run errands I would love to wear my hair down.. only problem? Normal hair ties leave those crimps in your hair. What I love about Goody's Ouchless Ribbon Elastics is that I can wear my hair up around my daughter and then go out and take it down without worrying about it having crimps!
1) Olay's Fresh Effects BB Cream which has 6 different skin-care benefits in just one step. It hydrates for 24 hours, protects your face from the sun with SPF 15, evens skin tone, instantly refreshes, smooths and brightens skin! I have to say, I've been searching for a BB Cream for months and this is the third one that I've tried. The others, despite good reviews that I read, made me break out like crazy. Needless to say, I was both excited and wary about trying this new one. Thankfully, I absolutely love it! I love that it has SPF 15, and that it has just the right amount of tinted coverage. It doesn't make my skin look weird like when you put on too much foundation, but it does cover up minor imperfections (like dark circles and redness) while making my skin glow. Like I said, it's mom-friendly. It is so hard to find time to yourself when you are a mom - especially a new mom! So often I go to work without any makeup on because I just couldn't find the time and/or energy to put any on. Not anymore (god that sounded cheesy)- Olay's Fresh Effects BB Cream goes on so quickly that now I always have time and energy. Maybe I'm not putting on full makeup, but I'm covering up the imperfections I feel self-conscious about and that makes me feel wonderful - no more walking into the bathroom half way through the day and seeing my reflection and just .. ugh. I know you know exactly what I'm talking about. You can buy this product on their website (see previous link) or on amazon.com.
2) Goody Hair Ouchless Ribbon Elastics are the second product that I love. I've tried a few "high-end" versions of the same thing, and they always stretched out so much that they were unusable by the third or fourth use. While the Goody ones also stretch out a bit, I've been able to use them again and again no problem! How are these mom-friendly? Well - my daughter is at the age where she is always wanting to pull my hair, so I'm always wearing my hair up when I'm around her.. but when I go to work or out to run errands I would love to wear my hair down.. only problem? Normal hair ties leave those crimps in your hair. What I love about Goody's Ouchless Ribbon Elastics is that I can wear my hair up around my daughter and then go out and take it down without worrying about it having crimps!
No More Breastfeeding
A few weeks ago now I made the decision to stop breastfeeding. I had been feeling like I wanted to stop for a little while because I was having a lot of trouble producing enough milk for my daughter (1/4 an ounce from one side, 1/2 - 1 ounce on the other in a pumping session), pumping at work was stressful for a number of reasons, and in a lot of ways it felt more like a chore than something I truly enjoyed. I did, however, enjoy the ease of feeding my daughter at night and of course the health benefits for my daughter. What pushed me over the edge was that I (once again) forgot an important piece of my breast pump and had to leave work to go and get it. It was just the last straw. Pumping was too much of a pain in the ass, and I just couldn't take it anymore.
Now, I know there are mother's out there who will be appalled at my doing and saying all of this, and to you I say: to each their own. I breastfed my daughter for five and a half months, and I'm proud of that! My daughter is happy and healthy, and I am happy and healthy, and that's all that should matter.
Despite my not really wanting to breastfeed anymore (and in a lot of ways my inability to breastfeed) I was still a little heart broken when I stopped. I felt guilt and sadness! I found myself missing when I breastfed her. Only once has she tried to breastfeed since I stopped (when she was starving and I was warming up a bottle) and it broke my heart that I couldn't - I almost cried. But, other than that ... I feel so happy and free! FREE! I can go out for hours at a time and not have to worry about pumping or engorgement or my milk supply. It's wonderful! I've gotten over the initial sadness, and I am so happy to no longer be breastfeeding.
My advice to moms out there who are thinking of weaning their babies, here is my advice to you:
1) Make sure you are truly ready, and even if you are, be prepared to feel a little sad. If you are on the fence, just wait until you have finally found that moment that pushes you over onto one side or the other. Don't stop if you are unsure! Breastfeed for as long as it makes you happy to do so, and then walk away from it. A happy mom using formula is better than an unhappy mom who is breastfeeding.
2) Read up on how to stop breastfeeding. Don't go cold turkey, ease into it. The more you produce the more slowly you should wean off breastfeeding. And prepare for discomfort and even pain. Get some advil or tylenol and some lettuce leaves ready. Don't wean your baby off when you are about to go on a trip or some other big event that might throw your baby for an even bigger loop than they might already be going through.
3) Celebrate! Once you have stopped do something you couldn't while you were breastfeeding to make you feel good about the change even when you might be a little sad. Perhaps go to a bar with some friends, or see a movie and go to dinner. Enjoy the freedom of having your body to yourself for the first time since you became pregnant.
Now, I know there are mother's out there who will be appalled at my doing and saying all of this, and to you I say: to each their own. I breastfed my daughter for five and a half months, and I'm proud of that! My daughter is happy and healthy, and I am happy and healthy, and that's all that should matter.
Despite my not really wanting to breastfeed anymore (and in a lot of ways my inability to breastfeed) I was still a little heart broken when I stopped. I felt guilt and sadness! I found myself missing when I breastfed her. Only once has she tried to breastfeed since I stopped (when she was starving and I was warming up a bottle) and it broke my heart that I couldn't - I almost cried. But, other than that ... I feel so happy and free! FREE! I can go out for hours at a time and not have to worry about pumping or engorgement or my milk supply. It's wonderful! I've gotten over the initial sadness, and I am so happy to no longer be breastfeeding.
My advice to moms out there who are thinking of weaning their babies, here is my advice to you:
1) Make sure you are truly ready, and even if you are, be prepared to feel a little sad. If you are on the fence, just wait until you have finally found that moment that pushes you over onto one side or the other. Don't stop if you are unsure! Breastfeed for as long as it makes you happy to do so, and then walk away from it. A happy mom using formula is better than an unhappy mom who is breastfeeding.
2) Read up on how to stop breastfeeding. Don't go cold turkey, ease into it. The more you produce the more slowly you should wean off breastfeeding. And prepare for discomfort and even pain. Get some advil or tylenol and some lettuce leaves ready. Don't wean your baby off when you are about to go on a trip or some other big event that might throw your baby for an even bigger loop than they might already be going through.
3) Celebrate! Once you have stopped do something you couldn't while you were breastfeeding to make you feel good about the change even when you might be a little sad. Perhaps go to a bar with some friends, or see a movie and go to dinner. Enjoy the freedom of having your body to yourself for the first time since you became pregnant.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Laila Goes Swimming
Today we went to a pool party/engagement party for the fourth of July. It was a lot of fun, though we were only there for a little while because Enzio and I are both fighting off colds and Laila was a bit overwhelmed and was getting grumpy. However, while we were there we brought Laila swimming for the first time ever! At first she seemed a bit shocked and confused, but then she started splashing around and really enjoyed herself! I can't wait to bring her swimming again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)