More Breastfeeding and Family Visiting

I HUGE thank you to all you caring ladies out there who left me your comments on my previous post. I really enjoyed reading them all and was also happy (not to hear of your troubles), but to be confirmed that these specific breastfeeding problems are not just my own.

I feel as though if I had waited 3 more days to write that post, it wouldn't have sounded so negative. All of a sudden, my body got in check. As if over night my boobs got on board with what they are suppose to do (supply wise) and I am a MUCH happier mother because of it. I think because I had breastfed Jackson for 10 months, the freshed memories I hold from that whole experience were from the last few months - when I considered myself a "pro". When all I had to do was put Jax up to the breast and he did the rest. I think there is a reason those early memories of struggles and tears were no longer on the surface of my mind... so I could enter motherhood again with an open mind and not have preconceived notions about the difficulties of breastfeeding a newborn.

I appreciate all your support and thank you for reading through my complaints and questions. Since then, I haven't really needed to pump (at least today was the first day I didn't at all) for expression purposes. The initial latch on is still painful and even more so if I am extra full. But I know that will continue to subside. I want to be careful to not let the supply get low (since I haven't pumped). Jaelyn sleeps a lot during the day still and she usually feeds 4 hours apart during the day. In the evening starting around 7pm, she cluster feeds every 1.5 - 2 hours until midnight. During that time she sleeps in 20-30 min spurts and is awake most of the time. Come 12am or 1am, she has her last feeding of the night and sleeps until 5-6am - she will eat again then fall asleep until 9-10am which then starts her every 4 hour feedings for the day. I read in the handout from her 2 week appt, that she should be feeding about 10 mins EACH breast at each feeding - a total of 20 mins. She does NOT eat that long. She's a sleepy baby and usually falls back asleep after about 10 mins TOTAL. Most of the time I only get her to nurse on 1 side. I try to keep her awake, but she falls asleep while I try to burp her (which usually takes a while). But if I don't get a burp out of her, she spits up BADLY within 15 mins. She is an efficient eater though. In that 10 mins on just 1 breast, she normally softens it really well (can't say it's "emptied" though). 

Should I be concerned that she doesn't nurse much longer than 10-15 mins? At her 2 week appt, she had surpassed her birth weight of 6lbs 9oz and weighed in at 7lbs 1oz. That tells me she's doing pretty good. 

At only 2 weeks, is it ok that she only nurses at 1 breast during a feeding? In most cases, I am able to get her latched on the other breast after 10 mins. of nursing the 1st side. But can never get more than 3-5 mins of her sucking. 

Here are some updated photos for your enjoyment :) Or mine 

Jackson loves to rock his baby sister in her chair.

My mom (Deedee to the kids) and Miss. Jaelyn

Uncle Brian and Auntie Emily came for a visit to meet their niece.

  

Uncle Brian showing Jackson his new sketch pad and crayons.

Our Day at the Park

I drove half way to meet my good friend Allison and her two children for a picinic at the park. Our half way point was literally in the middle of no where, so we were lucky to find such an accomodating park to spend the afternoon.

Jackson has manned up and is not afraid of Nathan any longer! The boys were more or less only interested in the toy that other one had, but what else can you expect from 10 month olds? :) Ella did her usual, of making many friends and playing on the playground. She will be 3 in a few weeks!

Ella did wonderfully modeling a hat for me.

Nathan showed us how not to handle our handmade hats :)

The mechanics performed a tune up on their hot rods...

... being very careful not to skip the under carriage.

I got to love all over my son...



And Jax? .... well....


... he was his adorable self!

The 4th of July Weekend

What a weekend!

My brother Brian and his wife Emily came to visit for the long weekend. It had been since Easter that they have seen Jackson, so you can imagine how much the baby has changed. He's bigger, smarter, even cuter and alot more fun!

Our poor peanut had a fever on Friday, so he wasn't himself at all. That didn't make visiting with his aunt and uncle very relaxing. But thankfully, he was back to his smiley self on Saturday.

My parents came over on Saturday to join our festivities.
Jackson always loves the attention from Grandma and Papa!

We had a front row seat for our neighbor's firework show.

Paul was able to enjoy the weekend outside with the baby for some much deserved sunshine!

And of course - momma couldn't put her camera down!

Love this one!

We are so thankful that God allows to live in a country were we have freedom to praise his Name proudly and unashamed. We are blessed to have such wonderful family and friends to surround ourselves with on the holidays.

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 5:20

Our Weekend Through Photos

This weekend we were visited by our friends Joe and Allison. Allison and I were pregnant together with the boys! Joe and Paul have been friends since grade school, he and his wife stood up in our wedding and Paul is the godfather of their daughter Ella.

Mommies with the boys. Click here to see us pregnant in our 3rd trimester!



Paul and Joe were born 10 days apart in November 1979.

Our sons were born 12 days apart in October 2008!

Nathan is a smiley little blonde boy, sprouting his SEVENTH tooth

and just weeks away from crawling!

It had been awhile since the boys played or even saw each other.

Jackson, not so used to other children of his age and curiosity...


...struggled a bit with his social interaction.

He just didn't know what to make of a noiser household.

He seemed to be more comfortable playing alone.

Much more comfortable :)

(Mommy will have to work on that!)

Jax and his Godmother Allison got to spend some time together while Nathan napped.

And the boys took their turns rolling all over the living room.

Remember the boys together for the first time at only a few weeks old...

... 3.5 months old ...

... 5 months old ...

... 6.5 months old ...

... and today! What sweethearts!!

All I have to say is...

FRAME WORTHY!

Sun Shine and Summer Time

We have been spending every minute possible of this weekend outside enjoying it! Paul certainly needs a release and outlet from work lately. What better way to unwind then lounging on a lawn chair, eating a brat and drinking a beverage? The Baby Man has been very flexible with us as we haven't been as timely with his naps [as I usually am]. We have been living by no schedule ... Did I just say No Schedule? Wow - what has this weather done to me? The sun comes out, the neighbors pour out of the woodwork and I am living by no schedule? Goodness!

I would like to take a moment had reflect on my son's progression in the last month. My goodness! He has mastered sitting up unsupported. He will play for quite awhile by himself sitting up with his toys. Of course when he realizes that I'm not right next to him - he has a bird! He didn't seem interested in sitting until he hit 6 months, then he picked it up in a snap! Also, he has been sleeping at night without a swaddle and doing great with that! He goes down awake after his last feeding and talks to himself for alittle bit before zonking out. He is rolling all over the house!! We can't keep him still for a minute. When on his belly - he bucks his hinder in the air and gets his knees underneath him, but due to his lack of upper body strength, this causes him to face plant into the carpet :) Jax just needs to work those arms to equal out his leg strength. He has been amazing us lately!

I have been getting some much needed exercise with my neighbor Lynn and her three little girls, 4 year old twins and an 8 week old. We have been pushing stroller up and down the street in our neighborhood once (sometimes twice) a day! Jax is being much more tolerant of his time in the stroller. At first he wasn't cooperating very well with the breeze in his face and not being able to see me [where as in the infant car seat on top of the stroller, he has full view of me].

This weekend will bring more lawn care! Mowing again (as every weekend that follows until October) and fertilizing along with spraying the perimeter of our house to shield away the Box Elder bugs. Gross! They live in our trees in the backyard and if you see one inside your house - it's all over! Might as well pack up your stuff - sign the lease over to the insect community and be on your merry way... Last year - I did some online searching as how to get rid of the swarm around the infested tree. I went outside, with a spray bottle full with dish soap and water and starting dowsing the colony (which from my patio, looked like a red bloody mess on the tree) and watched as the bugs simply fell to the ground and died on the spot. That'll teach 'em!

We are going to attend Pathways Summer Launch Picnic this afternoon. After the church service, the church volunteers has provided the congregation with an afternoon of fun in the sun! There will be Blown Up Bouncy Houses, face painting, kite flying - foods of plenty. We will be bringing some neighbors along, which will be a great way to enjoy the afternoon!

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend and takes full advantage of this WI weather!