Dealing with Weaning

Today I am having an exceptionally hard time dealing with the fact that I am no longer breastfeeding my baby girl. She is a year and 2 weeks old, and it's been a little over a month since we weaned. And it was not well received. We had been down to night and morning nursings only, with sippy cups of milk in between and bottles in the car. She loves her sippy cups and has been using them really well since she was about 5 months.

Since the day she was born, I spent the best part of my days with her wrapped in my arms under a blanket, nursing. Together. I would get her up every morning and snuggle onto the couch to nurse and cuddle. We would look into each others eyes for minutes at a time without looking away. And as long as we sat there, there was nothing as important as each other. There was nothing else in the world. The phone didn't matter, the laundry didn't matter. I would talk to her, and in my arms she learned to talk back. It was not just a feeding, it was a connection. A relationship. It was something only I could do for her. And something only she could do for me. It was ours. Together.

Just when it was all going smoothly, she started to get distracted during our nursings. She would nurse for a few minutes and wiggle out of my lap. She started sitting up and wanting to play. She wasn't interested! I kept putting her back in my arms to nurse again, and again. I even took those extra moments during the day to nurse just for comfort if she got upset for some reason. It wasn't working. And I knew the time was coming.

Pretty soon when she would wiggle away from me, I couldn't get her to come back. And eventually she wouldn't even begin to nurse. I had to start giving her a bottle, and she wouldn't even let me hold her to drink it. She wanted to hold the bottle and crawl around the room, sipping as she felt thirsty. I knew she was getting enough milk, but why didn't she want the comfort anymore? Why didn't she want to be in my arms? I was heart-broken.

Today she is bottle-free and whole-milk fed, and she's a toddler. Not a baby. But she is a baby. She will always be my baby and I'm sure I will spend my whole life finding other ways to comfort her, and connect with her. Because that's my job as her mother. And during her first 11 months of life I am so blessed to have been able to comfort her with the most healthy, and most relationship strengthening way possible.

I'm not sure why this is hitting me so hard today, but I guess it is a process for me of dealing with this ending to a very important beginning, the beginning of our relationship. It's the end of the very first thing I taught her, and the first thing we learned together. The first thing I did to show her that I was her mother and that I would be there for her whenever she needs me. No matter what time, and no matter the reason.

I remember thinking a few times, "Gosh this is hard. I'm ready for the day when she doesn't need to nurse anymore". And now I think, what I wouldn't give to go back and nurse my baby just one more time. We did have a lot of trouble learning to breastfeed, but we made it through the tough parts. And we did it together. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Yes, this is the ending of a relationship. And yet it's just the beginning of ours.

Halloween Ideas!

I have been thinking about my little girl's Halloween costume for months now, and with a party to go to on Saturday, I still don't have one! My biggest problem is that I want something unique. Either I want to buy one that is really awesome, or I want to make one that is really awesome. The other problem I have is that she is still crawling, and it's hard to find a cute costume that a baby can crawl in. Especially when she is the age (and size) she is now. She's wearing 18 month clothes, and that size is normally for babies who are walking. So... I think what I will do is try and make this one! In pink of course. Or purple.


Dragon

Do-It-Yourself

* Cut green sponges into triangles and stitch or glue them down the center of a pilot's cap.

* Attach more triangles down the back of a matching bodysuit.

I might use a matching set of sweatpants and hooded sweatshirt though because I can't find anywhere that sells the pilot caps, and it's too late to order one. It should turn out just as cute I think. And warmer even. And if your little one will be crawling around outside (as I know mine will be), the sweatsuit will probably hold up much better too.

I also really like this costume because it looks easy to crawl in. Or walk in. I'm also sure, but not positive, that she could even sit in it just fine because the sponges will be squishy enough that they won't be in the way. AND it doesn't have parts that she could easily take off, like some other costumes. 

I plan on attaching the sponges to a ribbon before attaching them to the clothing just to give it a little extra hold, and also to create the tail. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Here's another costume/onesie that I thought is just too cute. I'm posting a link with this one for instructions. It's a little more time consuming than the dragon, but still easy enough. It would only work if you were planning to be indoors though, of course.

Mummy!

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/10/todays-guest-craftomaniac.html

Also, I found these cute, easy to print out, fun Halloween crafty decorations that I wanted to share with you! Here's the link.

Printables

http://www.coolmompicks.com/2011/10/coolest_halloween_printables.php

Well I hope I've helped you get some ideas. I am excited about baby's first Halloween! Have a safe weekend and happy Halloween-ing!! 

A Cold Wednesday Morning

I've been wondering if it was going to get cold outside, and today it is DEFINITELY cold outside. I had to turn the heat on in the house.

My little angel is still asleep in bed! It's 11:30 and she is still snoozing. She must be growing.

Well today I wanted to share with you a recipe that I used for dinner last night. Here's the link.



http://www.bigoven.com/recipe/31937/taco-bake-bisquick

It was pretty good! It was easy to make (which is very helpful to me, a still-beginner cook), and it made a ton of food. We didn't even need a side dish. I forgot to buy the sour cream for the top, and I wished I would've used it because it needed some topping. Maybe some tomato and lettuce would have been good too. But it was still tasty!

Even after a hearty helping for my husband and myself, I had so much leftover that I sent two giant chunks of it with my husband for lunch. One for him, and one for a friend of his. I sent cupcakes too. His friends love me.

Tonight I am going to try making a pot roast. Here's the link to the recipe.



http://www.bigoven.com/recipe/163321/awesome-slow-cooker-pot-roast

I know pot roasts are easy enough to make without a recipe, but like I said, I'm still a beginner and I'm still learning. If I don't use a recipe, I have to call my mom to ask how long to cook it, what to put in it, blah blah blah. I love calling Mom for those kind of things, but sometimes I want my husband to think I can do things by myself. Ha!

I CAN cook by myself! I have become very good at searching for and finding delicious recipes online. Or in cookbooks. I love books, and I LOVE cookbooks. If you ever lose me in a bookstore, the first place you should look is in the cooking section. I'll be the one on the floor in the middle of a circle of cookbooks with my mouth watering. And no, I'm not ready to leave, so don't ask.

The next place you should look for me would be in the art section. And then the kids section. And then the computer section. And then... well I'll hit up every section before I  actually allow myself to walk out of the store.

On the show Family Guy, they poked fun at the people sitting in coffee shops on their computers, writing novels. It is kind of funny, but I have been there. Mostly doing homework, but I've been there. A coffee shop just makes you want to get stuff done. I do think though, that there's something about sitting in a bookstore, writing away about something that you feel strongly about, with all those amazing pieces of literature surrounding you. It feels like you are being supported by wonderful friends who want you to do your best and succeed in getting your story out there. It's like they are holding you up when you want to quit and give up. The words on their pages are speaking to you and causing your fingers to talk back. I just sit there and type, and the books watch over my shoulder and help me get through every word, every sentence, every paragraph. And when you finally finish, it feels like somebody knows you've succeeded and they've been there with you through it all.

Books are amazing, and I wish everyone had as much appreciation and respect for them as I do. I believe that every time you read a book, you learn something. No matter what kind of book it is. Even with fiction novels, you might learn a word or two. Or at least a new phrase or way to put words together. If you're not currently reading a book in your free time, I encourage you to pick one up and start. Maybe just a page a day. Or maybe it's just a short story a day. Or every other day. If you think there's nothing out there you like to read, the truth is you probably just haven't found it yet. Try something you never thought you'd be interested in. Maybe a non-fiction book if you think everything you've read is cheesy. Maybe a funny book if you get bored with romances, or biographies. Or even if you already know what you like, try something new!

I have always been a law and crime reader. I strictly read John Grisham and Michael Connelly. Nothing else. My mom kept raving about her books by Janet Evanovich and how I should start reading those next. She said "They're so funny! I just laugh the whole time I'm reading". I told her no way. I'm not that kind of girl. Those books are for old ladies. I finally gave in and picked one up one day, expecting to read the first few pages and put it back down. But I couldn't! It pulled me in, and I didn't want to stop reading. Now I have read 17 of her books, and I just can't wait to read the next novel. I am constantly comparing myself to the main character Stephanie Plum, who is a young woman, trying to get through life by eating over the sink because she doesn't have a table, avoiding her mother's questions, and working as a bounty hunter because it was the only job offered to her. She's like me in many ways, especially her love for doughnuts and pineapple upside down cake.

I hate it when books end. I feel like part of my life just ended and I want to go back in time and relive it. But I can't. And you can read a book again, but it's just not the same. But there will ALWAYS be more books :)

So, today I urge you to grab a new book! Just pick one up and start reading. If you don't like it, put it down and grab another. It's not gonna waste your time. If anything it will strengthen your imagination, or even your vocabulary.

Happy reading!

My name is Mommy.

Well, this is my first ever blog. I will warn you now, I'm no writer. I'm not a journalist, or even someone who enjoyed writing in school. But I have a lot to talk about. I may even like to talk about some things that a few of you would like to talk about too. But instead of talking to you, I am going to try writing to you.

So let's chat. Sit down, and enjoy a cup of coffee with me.

First of all, my name is Mommy. I have a 10 month old little girl and this blog will be swamped with exciting baby firsts, up all night stories, and possibly embarrassing mishaps. I also want to share with you great products and ideas that might help you along your way through motherhood, fatherhood, aunt- or unclehood, grandmotherhood, or maybe the 'hood on the other side of town. You never know...

But that's not all. I do have other aspects of my life and I like to talk about fun things like music, decorating, husbands, family, food, clothes, tv, exercising, pets, and plenty of other great things that we all enjoy chatting about. 

So let me give you a little information about me. I am a 25 year old, married, still trying to find my calling in life, adventurous kind of girl. I went to college and graduated with a degree in graphic design. I try to work from home, but it's REALLY hard to do it and take care of your kid at the same time. I'm the kind of person who has 4 part-time jobs at once. I have about 6 career paths that I would like to pursue, and no idea which way to go. I love summertime, warm rain on my skin, good friends, and living in the country. You'll learn more about me as time goes on, and hopefully so will I.

I want to remind you that I'm a first time mom, and I'm always trying to prepare myself for what's next. It doesn't happen as often as I'd like, so I need your help too. I'd love to hear your comments. My plan for this blog is to allow me to help someone else, while helping myself by talking about what's on my mind. So thanks for listening!  :)