Rice is Nice

 So in order to publish this post I needed to preface with Sunday's post about breastfeeding.  While reading all this extreme views on feeding babies there are so many conflicting reports about when to start on rice cereal. I thought that this would be something I wouldn't even consider until Lainey was 6 months old but let's face it- my kid is advanced and it only makes sense she would start rice cereal early too.  She has been showing so many signs that she was ready for a little bit more in her diet.  She stares at us while we eat, reaches for our food and our utensils and opens her mouth as we put food in our own mouths. Needless to say our pediatrician supports feeding babies at 4 months old.  He would support us if we decided to wait as well but after much back and forth I decided to go for it, trust my instincts and not look back.  The kid is a natural and I am so happy that we decided to start this phase!

We love this bowl, a gift from my Aunt MaryLou

We got her all set in her swing seat, adjusted her bib

and explained that she was about to get some Num Nums!!

We started Lainey with 1 Tbsp of rice with 5 Tbsp's of breastmilk.  Let's be clear here, we were basically spoon feeding her milk it was so thin.  Maybe slightly over the top but as mentioned before I am neurotic about all things food related.

Lainey was pretty sure she was going to love what was about to come.  She was all smiles and giggles as Mama and Daddy gushed over her and were just plain giddy with excitement.

Like I said before- She's a natural

HMMMMM what's this?

The first few bites surely dribbled down her chin!

Not sure she likes this?????

Wait YES I DO!!!!!!

Lainey absolutely loved her first rice cereal experience! It was bittersweet for me.  I am so happy that she is a big girl and eating rice cereal and I want her to experience all of the milestones as she is supposed to be but its sad to know that I am no longer the only one feeding her. And she is truly getting big so fast!

Hey do you people have any more of that stuff??

So, tomorrow will be one week of rice cereal.  So far it has had zero affect on her nighttime sleep habits - but she is happy, loving the cereal and in a few weeks we are sure she will love some REAL food as well. 

Breast is Best?

Let me first preface this post by saying that I am a breastfeeding supporter, a formula feeding supporter and as one of our fellow bloggers put so perfectly I support feeding babies!! I think that whatever works for you and your family is great.  I have thought a lot about this topic in the past 4 months and I think that this is a huge decision for a family to make and one that should be made without worrying about what other people will think of you.  Being a parent is stressful enough and I for one will be sure to never judge a mother feeding her baby again- boob, bottle or whatever!

When I first decided to give the whole Breastfeeding thing a go I started reading all these books, websites, articles etc. etc. etc. etc. about feeding babies.  It wasn't such a good idea for me and has truly led to a very neurotic mama.  For some reason I am obsessed with ensuring that Lainey gets the absolute best nutritional start possible.  I definitely struggled with breastfeeding in the beginning.  I suffered sore and bleeding nipples, engorgement, latch-on difficulties and a roller-coaster of hormonal emotions.  But somehow we made it through.  We utilized a nipple shield- well actually 5 nipple shields since Boomer decided to eat them when he was jealous of the baby- and lots and lots of trial and error.  At an evening feeding on week 12 Lainey decided that she no longer wanted to use the nipple shield and latched on perfectly for the first time ever.  From that point forward we started feedings without the nipple shield and now she feeds without it at every feeding.  Now that I am back at work I am trying to master the art of producing enough milk, pumping and nursing when I am home.  I honestly believe that this process is an art NOT a science as there doesn't seem to be any magic one step potion that makes this process work.  It is a full-time commitment, a time consuming process and surely makes balancing work and motherhood just a little bit tougher.  But I can say without hesitation that it is something I am committed to doing this for as long as I am possible.  I would love to give a date but at this point I take it week by week and give myself a little pat on the back every Friday when I get home from work.  I have been blessed to be able to produce enough milk- with some diet changes (bring on the oatmeal) and a few extra pumps on days when its just not flowing like it should- and so I have decided that I want to provide my baby with mama milk through the most important months of her development.  I want to formally apologize to all those nursing mama's that I judged prior to starting my own experience.  For a long time I thought you were "weird."   I had no idea how difficult it was and how much a lifestyle commitment it would be.  I am happy to report that I am finally realizing the beauty of this gift and I am grateful for the experience that we have had thus far.

Snow Day!

Lainey's First Snow

Growing up my mother always made a very big deal about the FIRST SNOW of the season.  As far back as I can remember she would make my brother, my sister and I go for a walk during the first snow.  It sounds silly but we all loved this and as soon as the weather turned cold and smell of snow was in the air we would get as excited about our walk as we would about the potential to have a SNOW DAY from school.  I can honestly remember getting woken up in the middle of the night to walk down the street in back just to be sure we didn't miss it!  When I was in college I would call my mom during the first snow if I wasn't with her and she would talk with me as I did a quick walk around campus.  This is one of the traditions that I hope to carry on with Lainey.  We did miss the first few snowfalls because they were short snow showers and by the time I got Lainey all bundled up they had passed.  BUT I was able to get her out there during the first snow that amounted to anything and here is a peak at our very first "walk in the snow"

Thank you Corey for my snow suit!

I made a small snowball and let her take a taste.  MMMM she loved it!!!!

 

 

 

All bundled up and ADORABLE!

As you can see I am also trying out some new designs with the blog and I am hoping that you will stick with me as I try out some new things!!!

Happy New Year!

So as most of you remember Lainey's middle name "EVE" was chosen to represent the first time Aaron and I met- New Years Eve.  This year, like every other year since 2004, Aaron had to work.  Lainey, Boomer and I had our own little mini NYE bash until the two of them wore themselves out and crashed before the ball dropped.  As much as I wanted my little moo to welcome in the new year with us I have to admit that I was happy that the "kids" decided to sleep through the 10 second countdown as Aaron got out of work at 11, was home at 11:30, and was able to pour us some classic cocktails in time for us to celebrate our own special moment.  This was our 6th midnight kiss and it truly gets better each year. 

I tried to explain to Lainey that this was her holiday and that I hope ever New Year's Eve she experiences is as magical, hopeful and exciting as it can possibly be.

Of course there needs to be one of my wide eyed girl!

Getting her NYE groove on!

Boomer wasn't quite as entertained by my antics but reluctantly he did participate!

Well I hope that everyone else is looking forward to 2011 as much as I am.  One of my resolutions is to be a more balance woman.  I hope to better manage my role as Mommy, Wife, Working Woman, and still give something to myself.  I have also made a resolution to blog more.  As much as I wish I was a diary writer, or a scrapbooker I am just no good at either and I am hoping that this will be a great way to not only share our stories and moments with family and friends but also a place to hold all of the memories I want to give Lainey when she is older.

A personality all her own...

Well let me start by saying my whole life I have wished for a child with some spunk....maybe a little bit fresh....not a misbehaved child by any means but I hopes to raise a confident strong young lady...Lucky for me I think we are on this road.  I love love love that Lainey knows what she wants and isn't afraid to give a little squeal to let us know.  She is, in my opinion, absolutely hysterical! She has started exploring some new sounds of late and now we are lucky enough to hear a lot more than just your everyday cooing and have started to hear some shrieks, some laughs, and some gurgles. As she makes these beautiful sounds you can see her little eyes light up as she realizes that SHE did that.  It is truly and amazing thing to see pride in your little one's eyes and it's made me realize that I need her to know how very very proud I am of her.....

Dear Lainey,

You are only 4 months old but your mama is about as proud of you as I can be.  Its funny how as a child myself I always thought that I needed to do something really impressive in order for my parents, your Grammy and Grampy, to be proud of me.  You know, things like graduate from college, buy a house, start a 401K, things like that.  I had no idea that on a random day, for particular great achievement, they could look at me and feel pride.  But now that I am watching you sleep beside me I am overwhelmed with pride.  You are 4 months old and you are so independent, beautiful, playful, caring, generous, snuggly, funny and lovable.  You already have a personality all your own and let me tell you little moo that its wonderful.  I love you so much and though I wish all kids of great achievements come your way you should wake up every morning and go to sleep every night knowing that your mama is so proud of you.

Love,
 Mama