One Year - Photo - Delurk

So my blog is a year old today.

My very first post looked like this:

http://queermama.blogspot.com/2007/06/there-is-no-time-like-present.html



I am asking that you all de-lurk.

I am curious about my readers and I am deciding whether I want to keep this blog going or not.

So um yeah... delurk? Please?

Quick

I am back to being C's stay at home momma - until September 2.

Humbled I Tell You

Having a kid has humbled me. I have grown up a lot in the past 9 1/2 months. It showed in the way that I dealt with A's parents visiting us for 3 weeks. In the past I have been cranky and claustrophobic. This time I saw them through C's eyes. And through her eyes, they are innocent and they are human, and their intentions are good.

This Particular Visit

We said goodbye to nanny and grandad today. They fly out of Toronto in a few hours. C will miss them. We've been here in Canada 8 years. They've visited us each of those 8 years. In fact, I had my miscarriage during the visit before this one. Needless to say this particular visit was something special. What with the wee one crawling around on the floor. It was so hard to say goodbye.

I suppose there is more to say here - but I need to go.





Happy Sunday everyone!

Always

Midway through the week I wrote some big long post about how I wasn't getting much again when I pump. When I went to post it blogger ate it. I had to go to work - so I moved on.

My supply seems to go up and down. Some mornings I pump 5 ounces and some mornings only 1. Whatever. I am going with the flow. C is eating more solids when I am not around. She is actually starting to like regular food more and more. On the weekends - when I am around - she nurse nurse nurses.

So there you go.

Everything is changing. It always is. And that's okay.

The in-laws go home tomorrow.

I have 4 days of work left starting Monday.

Father's Day

A's parents are visiting from England. My parents came in from the States just for the day. We had a late lunch and ice cream cake. C sat somewhere amidst all the adults on the porch for much of the day. Our porch is lovely and shady and huge. She napped inside at some point. I am amazed at her ability to just chill today. Sometimes she sat up in her stroller. Sometimes on one of our laps. Lovely. She hardly sees her grandparents on either side. In her 9 month old mind they are strangers. Though she is warming up nicely to the grandparents from England - they've been here for the past 2 weeks. I feel sad sometimes that we are her only people in this country. I hope it is enough. What with gas prices and all.

The days are just flowing together. It's Friday already.

Foggy

Holy freakin' crap I am so freakin' tired. Week #1 back at work - fine. Week #2 back at work - I feel like I am in a fog. Everything feels so thick. My brain thinks weird repetitive thoughts. Nothing bad. I just can't shut my brain off. That's all.

Pump-o-matic

I am getting more with the pump these days.

Going With the Flow

Slowly but surely I am figuring out. As I am pumping less and feeding C a bit less, she is eating a bit more.

She is enjoying eating. A is enjoying feeding her. [A is a chef, afterall]. And C is enjoying eating what Baba offers.

We are still nursing very much.

But she is happily eating more.

I am just going with it. I know my supply will adjust and I will produce less milk.

I also know that our nursing relationship is going to continue.

Pumping Part 2

Thank you to everyone who replied to my last post.

This morning I got 3 ounces. I added that to the 1/2 ounce I got before bed the night before. I'm not sure if it was enough for C - but A says she seemed pretty satisfied during the day. She nursed like crazy when I got home.

I have a Ame.da pump - it's a double pump. It is the same as my midwife's. I borrowed hers when we first brought C home and had to pump to feed her because of her latch issues due to her time in NICU. When we were in hospital we used the fancy best pump ever hospital pump.

I am used to getting a lot more with the pump, in general. So I am taking the fenugreek/ blessed thistle combo. Oatmeal for breakfast every morning so far. Water water water.

C seems satisfied and even slept from 9pm to 5am last night - which is quite good for her.

I am lucky too that my principal is letting me leave for an hour or so (I live 6 minutes from the school).

* * * * *

A's parents are visiting from England. They arrived yesterday. C already thinks they're wonderful. Which is cute to see. But it has messed up her nap schedule to have them around. So we shall see. A happens to be off work when they are here.

* * * * *

C is not really seeming to have any issues with me leaving for the day. She is happy when I come home. But honestly seems pretty easy-going about me leaving. A has been leaving for work and coming back since she was 2 or 3 months old - and points out that C knows that because her Baba always comes home that her Mama will too. So she is secure.

Pump it Up

I am not getting enough when I pump and it is starting to freak me out.

I have pumped before at various points when I had an appointment or whatever - and I've always pumped more than enough in one sitting. But now sometimes less than an ounce. Pumping in the evening and in the morning... and coming home in the middle of my day to nurse C.

I work about 6 1/2 hours total - and I am home in the middle of that for a bit.

I am shocked at how little I am getting. Wondering if the pump is broken - doesn't feel broken, feels the same as the times I pumped a lot. Wondering if there is some reason my supply has taken a dip. C is definitely eating less during the day. Not nursing too much more when I get home. Not waking up extra in the night. [She will be 9 months next week].

She, in fact, is handling everything very well. Happy in the day. A is giving her more in the way of solids - but not that much more.

It is too soon for weaning. But maybe that is happening.

Tips/tricks to get more from pumping? Did this happen to any of you? Those of you who pump, or have pumped, how much did you get in one pumping session? Should I start taking fenugreek/blessed thistle?

I am off again in July/ August and I really want a solid nursing relationship then.