Bottles and boobs

The other day I heard the song "Brave" while I was driving and it reminded me of my breastfeeding journey. In the weeks when Lily refused to breastfeed I tried everything; sitting in a quiet room, using a nipple shield, giving part of a bottle first, deep breathing, a small tube, dropping breastmilk on my nipple, you name it. Some things worked occasionally and then they wouldn't and I wanted to give up. I started listening to music and singing to Lily while I would try to feed her.  I was hoping that this would keep us both relaxed and happy while we struggled.  This didn't work all the time, or even most of the time for that matter, but one day it did work and I was listening to "Brave."  I replayed this song or just sang it on a regular basis after that.  It had no actual relation to helping Lily start to nurse, but I think it gave me something to hold on to when I was struggling through.  Eventually Lily did start to breastfeed and has since become a pro.  When I heard this song in the car I started to tear up because it reminded me how lucky I am; to have a beautiful baby, to have a healthy baby, to have the option to breastfeed, and to have been given this amazing opportunity to be a mom.  So many woman struggle with different aspects of motherhood and this was one of my struggles.

At 2 weeks Lily loved her bottle.
I was exclusively pumping and still trying
to get her to latch at every feeding.  

a moment of peace as we struggled for Lily to eat

The lactation consultant recommended
as much skin to skin as possible.  

At Lily's two month appointment I was exclusively
breastfeeding and so happy!  I didn't even
bring milk with me just in case she wouldn't latch.  

21 weeks

crazy hair

such concentration!

playing with her buddy, Sierra, in her new toy from Sierra.
Trav's comment on this toy, "this thing
 is going to cut our parenting tim in half!"

That Packer game was exhausting!

nap cuddles

Lily LOVES doggies!  We were dog sitting for Nala.  

play time!

playing at the park, first time going down a slide

big girl playing at the playground

preparing her legs to crawl

 This is Lily's reaction when daddy got home....

21 weeks

Lily had an uneventful week this week.  Over the weekend we watched the Packer game and she got to play with her friend, Sierra.  Lily loves Sierra because she brings her toys, then Lily throws the toy and Sierra goes to get it to bring it back to Lily.  This is an excellent game for all involved!  She had an uneventful week at daycare and got another cold.  She is pretty happy despite being sick again and wants lots of cuddles which is fine with us.

20 weeks

Lily LOVES her feet

playing Xbox with daddy

She has been so interested in Addie lately.
Addie loves the attention!

practicing rolling during nap time

Such concentration 

20 weeks

 Lily had a quiet week this week.  Daddy was sick all week so we stayed home and tried to survive.  Our furnace went out on Wednesday so we are living with space heaters and hoping the weather stays nice, its been in the 50s and 60s.  Lily is starting to sit up well with a pillow behind her for support and she found that she really likes hanging upside down.  She has been much happier later this week when daddy was able to play again.

Videos 1/12/15-Loud and Sitting up

Go Packers!

19 weeks

giving Addie her birthday treat

Lily really wants to sit up, but most
of the time she ends up falling onto her stomach.  

Lil's new kicks!

she recently discovered she likes to be upside down.

she won't sit straight in her swing anymore,
so we finally have to strap her in

my beautiful girl

always watching Addie

buddies

19 weeks

This week Lily had a couple firsts; she played in the snow for the first time and she started holding her bottle by herself.  Daycare told us that she started to hold her bottle (she doesn't get bottles at home) and they said now she only wants to hold it herself.  She is little miss independence.  She figured out how to roll to her belly last week and now she rarely will stay on her back.  She is ready to go and do all the big girl stuff now.  She seems frustrated that she can't do everything yet and will yell in anger that she can't move around on her belly.  She also started to throw things.  I don't think this is really on purpose, but she has quite the little arm on her.  Her ear infections seem to be getting better and she has a few more days of antibiotics.  She is as happy as ever and such a perfect baby!