This post is solely about breastfeeding, so if you're not interested stop reading now.
I've already told you all that Isabella dropped nap nursing on Friday, and didn't nurse before bed on Monday. Tuesday morning she refused to nurse and was cranky all day. Her temperature was slightly elevated, but stayed below 100, so I assumed it was a mild reaction to the shots she received the day before. She always runs a slight fever and is cranky the day after shots. I didn't even attempt to nurse at nap.
She wasn't eating solids well, but I assumed that was either due to teething pain, or her irritability for the shots. Then during dinner she got sick. I immediately got her into a bath and she was back to her normal happy self. It occurred to me that we may have been in the midst of a nursing strike due to her upset tummy. At bedtime she tolerated the cradle position so I attempted to nurse, with come success. She turned in and actually latched for a moment, but ultimately did not nurse.
I started to really question if she was really weaning because and had noticed during the day that she had shown interest, but became upset when I actually tried to nurse. I decided to do some research on La Leche League's website and kellymom.com and read that children rarely self-wean before 18-24 months, generally wean gradually rather than suddenly, and usually act normally otherwise. I emailed the lactation consultant about and decided to try to get her to latch in the morning. Yesterday morning she woke earlier than usual so I thought I'd try to nurse her back to sleep and it worked! She has been nursing normally ever since! I know that she eats solids well and would be fine if we stopped nursing now, but if I don't mind it and she still want to nurse, why not? I know that some people don't get extended nursing, but it is such an amazing bonding experience for mom and baby and it's not like the health/nutritional benefits stop at one year. The American Academy of Pediatrics's official stance on breastfeeding states that, "It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired." The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until the age of two. If I've learned one thing as a mother it's that the old saying has some truth: if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
One Year Old!
I still can't believe I have a one year old. I think I will just say she's 12 months old that way I can remain at least partially in denial about the whole thing.
We kept things pretty low key Friday. I made her favorite dinner (mac & cheese, naturally) and we gave her one of her gifts, a toddler-sized Mickey Mouse Clubhouse sofa. She loves it. Saturday was her party (more on that later), and we took her to the Columbian Park Zoo and the Petsmart "zoo" on Sunday.
Today was her 12 month appointment. She is perfectly healthy and measuring at 29 1/4 inches tall and 18 lbs 12 oz. That puts her in the 50% for height and 14% for weight. The NP said she appears to be following her growth curve nicely. I asked about her thumb-sucking, but the NP said that since she only does it when she's tired or upset we shouldn't worry about it. She needs it for comfort at this point and we don't really need to worry about it until she's two.
I was completely open to the idea of continuing to nurse her until at least 18 months, if not beyond. She was only nursing three times a day (morning, naptime, and bedtime), but as of her birthday she appears to be self-weaning. She has refused to nurse at naptime since Friday and tonight she refused to nurse before bed. I'm sad to see it end. I will miss the special closeness and hate to see her give up the health benefits. Maybe she'll continue the morning nursing session, but we'll see. We started offering her whole milk at lunch on Sunday. She is definitely not a fan.
The last couple months have been a bit of a blur to me, so I can't really remember exactly everything that is new this month and what isn't, but here are some things that come to mind:
-Standing on her own for longer periods of time
-Taking a few unassisted steps
-Pushing anything she possibly can around the house (boxes, baskets,etc.) She likes to put her sippy cup in a basket and push it around he living room.
-Learning more and more words! Solme things we've heard her say: Mama, Dada, dog (sounds a lot like dada), cat, bye-bye, baby, woof, and thank you
-Likes t pucker up and make kissy faces
-Will give you a hug when asked
-Tries to share her sippy cup with Mommy
-Experiencing Stranger Awarenss, if anyone other than Mommy or Daddy gets too close she freaks out
-Can find her tummy (and Mommy's!), as well as nose and mouth, but not as consistent with the last two
Just one picture for now, I'll share more sometime this week.
On her birthday:
We kept things pretty low key Friday. I made her favorite dinner (mac & cheese, naturally) and we gave her one of her gifts, a toddler-sized Mickey Mouse Clubhouse sofa. She loves it. Saturday was her party (more on that later), and we took her to the Columbian Park Zoo and the Petsmart "zoo" on Sunday.
Today was her 12 month appointment. She is perfectly healthy and measuring at 29 1/4 inches tall and 18 lbs 12 oz. That puts her in the 50% for height and 14% for weight. The NP said she appears to be following her growth curve nicely. I asked about her thumb-sucking, but the NP said that since she only does it when she's tired or upset we shouldn't worry about it. She needs it for comfort at this point and we don't really need to worry about it until she's two.
I was completely open to the idea of continuing to nurse her until at least 18 months, if not beyond. She was only nursing three times a day (morning, naptime, and bedtime), but as of her birthday she appears to be self-weaning. She has refused to nurse at naptime since Friday and tonight she refused to nurse before bed. I'm sad to see it end. I will miss the special closeness and hate to see her give up the health benefits. Maybe she'll continue the morning nursing session, but we'll see. We started offering her whole milk at lunch on Sunday. She is definitely not a fan.
The last couple months have been a bit of a blur to me, so I can't really remember exactly everything that is new this month and what isn't, but here are some things that come to mind:
-Standing on her own for longer periods of time
-Taking a few unassisted steps
-Pushing anything she possibly can around the house (boxes, baskets,etc.) She likes to put her sippy cup in a basket and push it around he living room.
-Learning more and more words! Solme things we've heard her say: Mama, Dada, dog (sounds a lot like dada), cat, bye-bye, baby, woof, and thank you
-Likes t pucker up and make kissy faces
-Will give you a hug when asked
-Tries to share her sippy cup with Mommy
-Experiencing Stranger Awarenss, if anyone other than Mommy or Daddy gets too close she freaks out
-Can find her tummy (and Mommy's!), as well as nose and mouth, but not as consistent with the last two
Just one picture for now, I'll share more sometime this week.
On her birthday:
Friday, August 6, 2010
Happy Birthday Isabella!
Today is Isabella's first birthday! Where has the time gone? I don't want to spend her birthday blogging, but I thought I'd type up a quick post while she enjoys her Mickey Mouse pancake. :)
This year has been the most challenging, exhausting, confusing, and just plain WONDERFUL year of my life. This little girl is just so special and everyday I am amazed by the depth of my love for her. I would do anything for this kid. I am so proud to be her mama.
I'll post the regular monthly update Monday after her doctor appointment, but she finally took her first completely unassisted steps yesterday! She's been able to take a few steps on her own for a while now, but only if we stood her up in the middle of the room and had her walk to us. Yesterday was the firs time she let go of a piece of furniture all on her own and walked to me. Hello toddlerhood!
In honor of her birthday, the first photo:
This year has been the most challenging, exhausting, confusing, and just plain WONDERFUL year of my life. This little girl is just so special and everyday I am amazed by the depth of my love for her. I would do anything for this kid. I am so proud to be her mama.
I'll post the regular monthly update Monday after her doctor appointment, but she finally took her first completely unassisted steps yesterday! She's been able to take a few steps on her own for a while now, but only if we stood her up in the middle of the room and had her walk to us. Yesterday was the firs time she let go of a piece of furniture all on her own and walked to me. Hello toddlerhood!
In honor of her birthday, the first photo:
Monday, August 2, 2010
She's Kind of a Big Deal
Isabella received a very special piece of mail recently:
Check out the return address
Seems fitting, you know since Isabella is clearly destined for greatness. Maybe someday her signature will be printed at the bottom of these!
The timing was perfect, just in time for her birthday. I guess we're lucky that I didn't remember to send my request until April. ;)
Check out the return address
Seems fitting, you know since Isabella is clearly destined for greatness. Maybe someday her signature will be printed at the bottom of these!
The timing was perfect, just in time for her birthday. I guess we're lucky that I didn't remember to send my request until April. ;)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
11 Months
Note: I wrote this Tuesday, but didn't have the chance to post it until now.
Isabella is 11 months old today! In one month we will be celebrating her first birthday. I can hardly believe it! It's party central at out house. I'm finishing up some party projects, making more and more lists, and scoping out potential birthday gifts. Oddly enough, my hardest dilemma seems to be deciding on a flavor for her smash cake. Pathetic, eh? I keep thinking funfetti would be cute and festive, bu maybe I should "go all out" and make chocolate instead. Decisions, decisions.
The Big Scary Monster is up to some new tricks this month:
-Still working on a couple of teeth, they seem to be giving her a lot of trouble lately
-Still cruising, but she can take a few steps on her own if we stand her up, she just won't attempt it on her own
-She usually gets an afternoon snack, and sometimes a morning snack
-Only nursing 3-4 times a day on average
-Sleep is excellent when her teeth aren't bother her. She goes to bed 7-7:30pm and I don't usually have to go to her about 7am. Sometimes I hear her wake during the night, but she usually puts herself right back to sleep.
-Singing! It's so cute! Especially when I sing to her and she sings back.
-We still haven't declared an official first word. Clint is pretty convinced that she says dada, but she says it all the time, and she says it when she sees Audrey as well so I don't think she's quite there. She only seems to make the mama sound when she's upset. She seems to really be working on doggie and kitty cat. Last night she spotted Bianca, and we both swore it sounded like she said "kitty cat." We realize that it's probably a little too complex for her at this point, but it sounded just like it.
-She mimics our cat, Brenna. She started making these odd sounds seemingly out of nowhere and one night Brenna was making her own strange little noises at the same time. We realized that must be where she gets it.
-She's waving and clapping.
-Knows who Mommy, Daddy, Doggie, and Kitty are and will look for us if we ask her, "Where's your doggie?" She can also find her baby doll if we ask her where the baby is.
-Recognizes the signs for milk, eat, drink and more, but won't do them herself. We're working on mommy, daddy, dog, cat, and ball.
-Takes her baths in the 'big girl tub' now.
I've been terrible about taking pictures this month. The camera never seems to be in same room we are, and it's hard to get any pictures because she comes straight at me trying to get the camera! She loves her electronics.
The aftermath of Hurricane Isabella
Hi Mom! Doggies are great for pulling up!
Check out my new wheels!
Look at me go!
First pigtails! So what if they're ridiculous?!
Our voracious reader.
Isabella is 11 months old today! In one month we will be celebrating her first birthday. I can hardly believe it! It's party central at out house. I'm finishing up some party projects, making more and more lists, and scoping out potential birthday gifts. Oddly enough, my hardest dilemma seems to be deciding on a flavor for her smash cake. Pathetic, eh? I keep thinking funfetti would be cute and festive, bu maybe I should "go all out" and make chocolate instead. Decisions, decisions.
The Big Scary Monster is up to some new tricks this month:
-Still working on a couple of teeth, they seem to be giving her a lot of trouble lately
-Still cruising, but she can take a few steps on her own if we stand her up, she just won't attempt it on her own
-She usually gets an afternoon snack, and sometimes a morning snack
-Only nursing 3-4 times a day on average
-Sleep is excellent when her teeth aren't bother her. She goes to bed 7-7:30pm and I don't usually have to go to her about 7am. Sometimes I hear her wake during the night, but she usually puts herself right back to sleep.
-Singing! It's so cute! Especially when I sing to her and she sings back.
-We still haven't declared an official first word. Clint is pretty convinced that she says dada, but she says it all the time, and she says it when she sees Audrey as well so I don't think she's quite there. She only seems to make the mama sound when she's upset. She seems to really be working on doggie and kitty cat. Last night she spotted Bianca, and we both swore it sounded like she said "kitty cat." We realize that it's probably a little too complex for her at this point, but it sounded just like it.
-She mimics our cat, Brenna. She started making these odd sounds seemingly out of nowhere and one night Brenna was making her own strange little noises at the same time. We realized that must be where she gets it.
-She's waving and clapping.
-Knows who Mommy, Daddy, Doggie, and Kitty are and will look for us if we ask her, "Where's your doggie?" She can also find her baby doll if we ask her where the baby is.
-Recognizes the signs for milk, eat, drink and more, but won't do them herself. We're working on mommy, daddy, dog, cat, and ball.
-Takes her baths in the 'big girl tub' now.
I've been terrible about taking pictures this month. The camera never seems to be in same room we are, and it's hard to get any pictures because she comes straight at me trying to get the camera! She loves her electronics.
The aftermath of Hurricane Isabella
Hi Mom! Doggies are great for pulling up!
Check out my new wheels!
Look at me go!
First pigtails! So what if they're ridiculous?!
Our voracious reader.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
What we've been up to
Since it's been nearly two weeks since I last posted I thought I'd give you all a little update. The playroom is painted and in working order. It is not done by any means. Clint is going to move the cable hook-up to a different wall, I'm going to work on some paintings/wall decor, we need to buy a rug an curtains, and we need to build her toy bins. This room is going to be very DIY, so it may take a while to get everything completed. We're also in the midst of birthday party planning so the playroom project may have to take a backseat for a while.
Isabella has had some fun things going on this past week. She went swimming for the first time at Tropicanoe Cove Wednesday. They have a zero entry pool and she really enjoyed sitting and splashing. She also thought walking in the pool was a blast. The pool area isn't very big, and since it was family night it was pretty crowded. Last night we took her to check out Family Night at Faith Community Center. They have an indoor pool and she got to try out her baby float. She didn't mind it, but she definitely prefers to sit and play in the shallow area. The sky looked pretty bad as we were leaving and when we got home we heard on the radio that local emergency management was reporting a possible tornado at Faith Baptist. Needless to say I was a little freaked out. I HATE tornadoes and one was possibly spotted where we had just left. Plus, we live awfully close to Faith anyway.
Isabella also started waving this week. So cute!
Sorry there are no pictures, I forgot to take my camera both nights. Oops!
Isabella has had some fun things going on this past week. She went swimming for the first time at Tropicanoe Cove Wednesday. They have a zero entry pool and she really enjoyed sitting and splashing. She also thought walking in the pool was a blast. The pool area isn't very big, and since it was family night it was pretty crowded. Last night we took her to check out Family Night at Faith Community Center. They have an indoor pool and she got to try out her baby float. She didn't mind it, but she definitely prefers to sit and play in the shallow area. The sky looked pretty bad as we were leaving and when we got home we heard on the radio that local emergency management was reporting a possible tornado at Faith Baptist. Needless to say I was a little freaked out. I HATE tornadoes and one was possibly spotted where we had just left. Plus, we live awfully close to Faith anyway.
Isabella also started waving this week. So cute!
Sorry there are no pictures, I forgot to take my camera both nights. Oops!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
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