Morning

First cup of coffee in a REALLY long time.



Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. We're getting ready to head to San Jose. I'm thrilled to hear a friend had her daughter yesterday (well past her due date and a LONG labor- you go Sara!).

Liam is officially 4 months today...his photo shoot may be a little late. Can't wait to celebrate his first Xmas with him.

The Destruction Continues...

All Clean

Went to the dentist yesterday (finally found one I like). The hygienist, upon learning I do therapy with addicts, spent an hour telling me her whole family's experience with addiction...



I really do love that clean feeling afterwards though...My laptop is still dead so I'm posting from the iPhone- takes much longer.

Blurg!

Yes, blurg! As said by Liz Lemon.  This may be my last post for a while...

In about 15 min my lap top will be in a coma :(

Feeling Rushed

The holidays are upon us- time has been flying and I just feel rushed.  This morning we had to wake up early to drive D to the train station for work.  This was the first time I had woken L up that early and left the house (good practice for when I return to work).  He actually did great- stirred a little when I first picked up him out of our warm bed, but then fell right asleep once I buckled him in and started driving.  

After dropping D off we came home and I showered while L played in his bouncer- he can now pull the frog that plays music and it's been a great distraction for when I need to shower.  L also decided to poop (for reference we also call the bouncer his poop chair since that always seems to happen when we set him in it).  He had a "blow out" so I was scrambling to rinse/wash the wool cover, and bring in the diapers that were washed last night.  We made it out the door in once piece and headed to a lactation consultant appt.  Although breastfeeding has been going well I am still having some nipple pain and wanted to see if there was something we could do differently.

The LC helped a lot.  She suggested we change a few things and I immediately noticed a difference in the way his latch felt- less pinching.  Then we headed over to the post office to buy stamps (we still hadn't mailed out those beautiful holiday cards).  Now I know going to the post office the monday before Christmas isn't the smartest thing to do, but I wasn't sure where else to go.  We tried to get stamps at stores over the weekend but they were out.  I figured with this rain, it would be better to make one trip then multiple.  The post office was packed, but the line moved quickly.   L flirted with people in line- he has started to make eye contact, smile, and then turn his head into me as if he is bashful.  

After getting the stamps we stopped to make a return and then finally headed home.  L was famished, so once home we nursed in bed and he fell right asleep.  I think I will take a nap too...

All Smiles

When we go out...L just loves a party. Here he is at D's work holiday party from last night.

Baby Hands

Beautiful chubby fingers...so in love with him.

Tonight is D's work holiday party, L and I need to get ready soon- but he's sleeping on the boob and I don't have the heart to wake him.

Mess

I need to go through all the bills/mail/paperwork sitting on top of my desk.

More Milk!

Breastfeeding has been going well, I think we finally got through the hurdles.  I still get sore when L uses me as a human pacifier, but it's nothing like when we had thrush.  Pumping my stash has been going well also.  I only pump 1 time per day in the morning and after a month and a half I have over 70 oz in my freezer!  I have also made numerous bottles that were used up instead of frozen when D and I have gone out without L.

I also ordered a mini fridge to take with me to work for pumping in my office.  We don't have a close by fridge that isn't open to the clients in our program- plus it's always extremely full.  I had a gift card for amazon so the fridge cost me $8.  I hope my supply doesn't tank when I return to work.  I already bought some mothers milk tea just in case.

Visiting Babka

Went down to San Jose to visit L's grandma.

Headache

Today I have a horrid headache...possibly due to no caffeinated tea this morning.  Also last night was a difficult night for sleep again.  L nursed to sleep, but I found myself in an uncomfortable position so I gently moved him to the cosleeper.  Fortunately he slept for 2 hours in there before I woke to see him smooshing his face against the side closest to me.  It's breathable material, but still worrisome, so I brought him back in the bed with me.

L's napping during the day is becoming the most difficult task of them all.  L fights sleep, to the point of being over tired, then gets pretty cranky.  Things that help him nap are babywearing and nursing in bed.  Today only the latter worked- stupid me didn't think to sleep myself while in bed with L.  But there were adorable and fun moments, and L looked incredibly cute in his star outfit.

Holiday Card

I really wanted to have a picture of D, L, and I for the card, but we never seemed to have the time or energy.  It would have required us getting dressed up, setting up the tripod, and hopefully capturing at least one good shot of all of us.  We have nice camera equipment so I couldn't justify paying a photographer to take our photos.  We settled on just shooting L in a Xmas outfit grandma got him with the tree/lights in the background.  We then went over to Tiny Prints to choose a template- I think they have the best designs (Minted also had really nice designs but they were slightly more expensive, the shipping would take longer and we go coupon codes for Tiny Prints).

Here is the photo we decided to use

Here is what the card will look like

Ergo Love

D and I have been wearing L in the Ergo a lot recently.  

Going Backwards and I'm Grateful for Ceiling Fans

I didn't make a post yesterday for the December Photo Project....it's a simple project, post 1 photo each day.  But nothing is simple any more, or rather nothing is easy or expected.  L has been teething- yes teething at 3 1/2 months.  He is chewing on his hands, toys, and my nipples constantly!

Night time has become difficult again.  L had finally gotten into a routine with regular sleeping patterns- we still co-sleep/share a family bed, but I was no longer being used as a human pacifier all night.  Well it seems we have gone backwards.  The last two nights have been very trying, I think my nipples may fall off.  L can't sleep unless he has them in his mouth!  D spent much of the early evening with L in the ergo so I could sleep, and then again did so around 4am.  I am more rested today because of that, but I would love to have a nice nap by myself right about now, and it's not even noon.

Tonight D and I will be having a date night.  The plan is to drop L off with D's mom, grab some food and go see the new Harry Potter.  I haven't seen a movie in the theaters in almost a year.  We stopped going to the theater during my pregnancy because I had to use the restroom so often that I missed too much of the movie, plus it saved money.  I'm excited for tonight, but the thought of cuddling in bed with D and just sleeping sounds so nice, or maybe getting some laundry done, or actually doing anything uninterrupted!  But no, it will be nice to relax and enjoy ourselves.

So here's my photo for today.  L staring at the ceiling fan while I pump and type this post.

Wreath

Yesterday I made a wreath from this DIY.  

Crafts

Today as I waited to get my hair done, I worked on a blanket I am crocheting for L. Many people are surprised to learn I know how to crochet, and sometimes even more surprised when they hear how I learned- in residential/boarding school. Imagine a bunch a rebellious teenage girls in slippers crocheting. Yes, no shoes allowed- we wore slippers so we couldn't escape runaway.

I also completed a yarn wreath which I will post up later. Right now I'm in bed early with L trying to get him on an earlier schedule that will work for when maternity leave ends and he begins daycare- I'm devastated just thinking about it.

Mother Rooms

Today we did a first solo shopping trip; michael's for some crafts, babies r us for a shower gift, and trader joes for some food. I even remembered to bring reusable bags. I really appreciate the mother rooms at babies r us...it's in the same shopping center as all the other stores. Not that I wouldn't nurse in public or in the car...the rooms are just comfortable.

City

A shot from downtown San Jose after the Christmas parade.

Good Friends, Good Food, Great Night...

Another successful Friendsgiving.

Baby toy

L helping me get ready....

we had to stop by the bank and make a babies r us trip (we have a gift card)

hair brush = great baby toy

Interesting fact about this photo: L was lifting his leg to let out a fart - my little gassy man.