the experimentation with food continues...

Isaiah has been getting more and more interested with food. I've been making something he can eat every night for dinner. He likes sitting up in his highchair so he can see all of us around the table. And I think he is really enjoying being "big" like us and eating too.

Today he ate way more cereal than I would have guessed he could. I made more than I planned and he just kept eating. And he used a spoon too. Usually he just eats little bits off my finger.

I'm not really ready for him to grow up so fast! But as long as he continues to nurse as much as he is now, then we will continue to experiment.

I would never really complain, but...

There is nothing that would ever make me consider not breastfeeding Isaiah, but the two big challenges have both hit within the last week. I had mastitis all last week and although most of what I read said it's unlikely to get it in both sides, I did. Mastitis is an infection in the milk ducts. It's kind of like your breasts getting the flu. My whole body ached, my head throbbed and it felt like there were hot pokers shooting through my breasts all day every day. The only real way to heal it is to nurse more often, which is painful. The hardest part of mastitis is that I didn't look sick, so it was hard to get enough rest. I'm sure it would have cleared up sooner if I'd been able to rest more. Speaking of rest, the other hard part of breastfeeding this week has been lack of sleep. Isaiah is having a huge huge growth spurt. He looks bigger every morning when I look at him. But, he's wanting to nurse all night long. So I'm not getting more than 2 hours of sleep at a time each night. Luckily we co-sleep so I don't have to get up and do much when he wakes me up. But even just laying there with him and talking to him while he settles back down and gets ready to eat himself to sleep is enough to make me feel like I'm exhausted. There is something about not getting solid hours of sleep all in a row that really takes a toll on the body. I'm so glad that I do sleep next to him. I'm sure people would tell me that if he was crib-trained and blah blah blah maybe he'd sleep more. But I know that this is the best option for everyone. I have no doubt abou that. This too shall pass and I'll get back to sleeping happily through the night.

moocher

I know Isaiah doesn't need to be eating any solids yet. He's obviously growing well and has everything he needs to thrive. But he's become quite the moocher. So I talked to the doc about it, and she suggested givig him food to play with while we're all at the table so he can be part of the social experience of dinner.

So yesterday he sat in his highchair for the first time and I gave him a very big, very clean, organic carrot to play with. It was pretty funny! He was making the funniest faces! I could just see it on his face that he felt like a very big boy.

I really do have a superpower

Isaiah had a check-up yesterday and I was just shocked to see how much he's grown. He's almost twice what he weighed at birth! And he's grown 3 inches since his last appointment. And I am again astonished and not a bit humbled that I am able to make the food that helps my baby to thrive.

It's not like I'm new to breastfeeding. And it's not like I didn't know I was feeding him. But still, hearing those numbers just made me think how amazing it is that with no real effort on my part, I can just make the food that he lives and grows on. Wow.

I love when he's really chugging and I can hear him, "gulp gulp gulp". It's so easy to forget that my body is really doing that. I love how well our bodies were designed.

pumped up on breastmilk!

snow

The weather right now is bringing back vivid memories of this time last year. It was later in the year when the first snow really stuck. But the cold air and the grey are reminding me of those first months of my pregnancy.
It was such a hard time emotionally, and going through all that with the non-stop "morning" sickness was completely draining. My tummy has been doing flip-flops at the memories its been stirring up.
I remember one day inparticular from one of the first snows last year, I had to make that long drive and I was eating french fries and a chocolate shake hoping that would keep me from being sick while driving. It didn't of course. I was sick on the side of the road, in the dark, alone and in the snow.
I don't know what it would be called, some kind of physical memory. I had this with the other two also. The weather will cause my body to recall the feelings of early pregnancy the year after it happened. It's strong enough to almost feel like I'm really going to be sick.
Such a funny thing.
This weather also reminds me of when I was first pregnant with Solstice. We were so scared and I felt so sick. I remember driving to Andre's parents in weather like this and feeling just terrible. I was drinking a coke in hopes it would calm my stomach. I don't think I'll ever forget that.
The year is now marked with these seasonal memories of my children.

sunday meme on monday

Sunday Stealing Meme from Holly

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing?
no, not at all

2. Favorite late night snack?
ice cream

3. Do you own a gun?
Nope

4. What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee shop?
vanilla cap

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
very, to the point of feeling sick

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
I'll eat veggie-dogs sometimes. Not my fave food.

7. Favorite Christmas song?
Anything by Kenny and Dolly


8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coffee

9. Can you do push-ups?
no way, that would bring on a monster of a headache

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring and my grandma's necklace

11. Favorite hobby?
reading, knitting

12. Do you have A.D.D.?
nope

13. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself?
I'm afraid of many, many things

14. The last disease you contracted?
...next...

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
Is the washer dying? I hope Iz takes a good nap. I need an empty shoebox.

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
Coffee, Water, tea

17. Current worry right now?
money, but I'm going to try and not worry.

18. Current hate right now?
headaches

19. Favorite place to be?
in the nest

20. How did you ring in the New Year?
with a kiss

21. Like to travel?
yes, as long as its not too stressful

22. Name three people who will complete Sunday Stealing this week:
I don't know

23. Do you own slippers?
yes

24. What color shirt are you wearing?
white

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
No I hate them, too slidey

26. Can you whistle?
yes

27. Favorite singer/band?
Of all time? Grateful Dead
Right now? Casting Crowns or MercyMe

28. Could you ever make it 39 days on the show Survivor?
NO WAY! I wouldn't last the day

29. What songs do you sing in the shower?
something from church

30. Favorite girl’s names?
Carolyn Grace

31. Favorite boy’s name?
I don't know, I just used my last fave boy name. I'd have to think on a new one.

32. What’s in your pocket right now?
Nadda, no pockets

33. Last thing that made you laugh?
hmm... not sure... I'm guessing it was one of the kids

34. Like your job?
Absolutly! Being home with my kids, taking care of my man and my house is what I was made for!

36. Do you love where you live?
It is not where I would pick at all if I had a choice in it, but I make do and appreciate the good parts.

37. How many TVs do you have in your house?
3 but only 2 are actually hooked to the cable.

38. Who is your loudest friend?
I dunno...

39. Do you drive the speed limit or speed?
always the speed limit, I've never been pulled over

40. Does someone have a crush on you?
No

41. What is your favorite book?
Outlander by Diana Gabladon

42. What is your favorite candy?
dark chocolate or necco wafers

43. Favorite Sports Team?
Tigers

44. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
sleeeeeeeeeeping

45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up today?
where is the snooze button....