Feeding Baby Part 1: Breastfeeding Supplies

This post has been a long time coming, as I basically have been breastfeeding for the past fifty-one months, with the exception of the nine months I was pregnant with Peanut. As this is World Breastfeeding Week, I figure that this is as good a time as any. Here are some items that I have found the most useful, especially in the beginning.

Nursing Pillow - I personally use the Boppy, and it works great for me. I'm still using the same pillow that I got as a shower gift for Munckin, although I did get new covers this time around. We brought it to the hospital for both boys, our friends and family used it to hold the boys, both boys used it to help them learn how to sit, and of course for nursing. When Peanut first came home we would use the Boppy to help Munchkin hold him. It is definitely one of my most used baby product hands down.

Nursing Bras - Hands down my favorite brand was Bravado. Before Munchkin was born, I went to a maternity store and was fitted for nursing bras. I cannot remember what brands I ended up with, but they were just ok. I had a sleeping bra and two daytime bras, and I do not at all regret getting them, I am so glad that I went and got fitted. I don't remember when I discovered Bravado, but I was much happier once I did. I had a Body Silk Seamless and an Allure bra and I loved how they fit and how easy it was to nurse in them. Towards the end of my pregnancy with Peanut, I got the Original Nursing Bra to use for sleeping and around the house.

Nursing Cover - With Munchkin, I had a Bebe Au Lait nursing cover, and it worked for us. I was not all that comfortable, so I wasn't nursing in public all that often. If I was at someone's house, I would excuse myself to another room. We only had to use the cover a handful of times before he was just too big to tolerate it. Peanut couldn't stand the cover from the beginning, and I had much better luck just using an Aden and Anais blanket.

Shower Hug - I didn't find this in time for Munchkin, but it was a godsend with Peanut. In the early days of nursing, my nipples were so sensitive that I couldn't even stand for the water in the shower to hit them. With Munchkin, I literally held a washcloth over my breasts, but that was not even a little convenient, and didn't always work. I used this with Peanut, and it saved me. Time in the shower was so much more limited, and I didn't want to waste a second. This was worth every penny.

Breast Shells - Again, something that I don't think that I could have lived without in the early days. I personally used the Avent Comfort Breast Shells. I wore them when I was engorged around the house as well as wearing them while nursing. With Munchkin, I only had a single breast pump, and I wore it while pumping.

Nipple Cream - I didn't use this as much with Munchkin, and looking back I wish that I had. With Peanut I used Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter. I kept it on my nightstand and it definitely worked for me.

Breast Pads - There are a lot of options here, and I found them completely necessary for the first few months. This time I used the Avent Day and Avent Night pads. I was not completely happy that they aren't very environmentally friendly, but the convenience factor was huge for me and it was definitely worth my sanity. I considered using Bamboobies to mix into the rotation, but by the time I got around to it, I wasn't using the pads as often and it didn't seem worth it to spend the money.

Avent Breastcare Essentials Set - This was filled with great useful things, and it made a convenient place to store some other items as well. I definitely used the cold packs a lot more than I used them warm, but I was so happy to have them. And I really liked the breastpads, buying more packages to replace what I used.

Currently

Making: Lunches.
Cooking: Side dishes for the (new) barbecue dinners.
Drinking: Water, but still a little too much soda.
Reading: Nothing interesting, looking for something good (and the time to read it)
Wanting: A baby monitor so that we can be outside after the boys are in bed.
Looking: Forward.
Playing: In the backyard.
Sewing: Still nothing, still can't really sew.
Wishing: That we were all unpacked.
Enjoying: The weather, and spending a little more time outside.
Waiting: For the dryer to finish.
Liking: That both boys are thrilled with simple summer things, like playing ball and ice cream for dessert.
Wondering: When Peanut will sleep through the night.
Loving: That when one boy hugs me, the other has to as well.
Hoping: That we will be able to do all that we wanted to this summer.
Marveling: How fast this summer is going.
Needing: An outdoor table so that we can take advantage of the nice weather while it is here.
Smelling: The fresh air coming through the window.
Wearing: Shorts and a tee, seems to be my summer uniform this year.
Following: Peanut as he throws balls into bushes.
Noticing: The curl that's starting at the back of Peanut's head.
Knowing: That while there is so much to do, not all of it matters.
Thinking: That they are growing too fast.
Feeling: Tired, but happy.
Bookmarking: Activities and crafts to try to do with Munchkin.
Opening: Boxes, trying to find missing items.
Giggling: While playing on the grass.

Getting Back To Things

Before I moved, I figured that I would throw a Fourth of July barbecue/party in our new backyard. I had convinced myself that I would be completely unpacked, organized and company ready a week after moving day.

Here I am almost a month later, and we are still living out of boxes. There is so much for us to do before I feel comfortable having people over, some painting projects that didn't get finished before we moved in, some furniture that we still need, as well as the unpacking that has to be finished. I almost want to go back in time two months and laugh at myself for thinking that this would be so easy.

But life goes on, and summer has been pretty good to us. The weather has been nice, and we've been busy. Now is the time that I need to start getting back into a routine, as everything has been thrown off for a while now. I almost feel like I'm treading water, and need a fresh start to move forward. And I want to move forward before I loose this time. The boys will only be little for short while, even Munchkin is starting to seem so big to me, and I want to actually feel like I am here with them, not just around them.

What kind of changes do you make when you need fresh start?

Moving

I've been packing for what seems like forever now, but today is the big move. So I am sitting by a window waiting for the cable company to set up my internet, and my husband to bring the rest of our things. All the while trying to figure out who is going to pick up the children. Having been in our last place since before Munchkin was born, I had forgotten how much it is not fun to move. I didn't realize how miserable it was with children.

But I'm still here, and I hope that I will be fully up and running sooner rather than later.

Currently

About six months ago, I saw these posts popping up in my Feedly. While I haven't noticed them as much recently, I think that it is a very interesting idea. I'm borrowing this list from my friend Kristin.

Making: Lists. Lots of lists. To-do lists. Shopping lists.
Cooking: Very little. We are in desperate need of a grocery trip.
Drinking: Trying very hard to drink more water.
Reading: The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth Silver. It's pretty cool to be reading this, as I used to live with Liz years ago, which seems like another life.
Wanting: A new laptop/netbook. I really want to be able to move around while working, and my current Chromebook is dying (and considering that it was just a prototype, I'm impressed it lasted as long as it did). Not sure if I would do better with a full laptop or if another Chromebook/netbook would be enough, but either way, I'm not looking forward to being stuck at my desktop in the near future.
Looking: At a mess that I just don't want to clean.
Playing: In the playground, now that it's not so bitter cold and before it gets oppressively hot.
Sewing: Nothing right now. Nothing for the past twenty or so years. Not sure if I will be any time in the near future either.
Wishing: For time to stand still.
Enjoying: Lots of cuddles and kisses(!) from Peanut.
Waiting: For Peanut's baby babble to start changing to English.
Liking: Munchkin's occasional joy at helping out with cleaning up and laundry.
Wondering: What life, or even just the summer, holds for us.
Loving: Watching the boys play together and how much they love it.
Hoping: That Peanut starts sleeping a little longer at night, meaning that I can sleep a little longer at night.
Marveling: At the pure joy of blowing dandelions, something that I haven't done in years and Munchkin is just doing for the first time.
Needing: To get organized. We have some big changes coming up soon (including a move), and we are nowhere near ready yet.
Smelling: Spring. Fresh-cut grass, newly bloomed flowers. All the pollen in the world...
Wearing: Jeans and a t-shirt, while carrying a light sweatshirt. I love this kind of weather.
Following: Two little boys as they explore everything around them.
Noticing: That even though he's still basically bald, Peanut's hair is starting to come in. Very blond.
Knowing: That there is much to do, but time with the boys is fleeting.
Thinking: That I should head off to bed, but there is so much to do.
Feeling: So very blessed for everything that we have.
Bookmarking: Crafts to do with the boys that I'll probably never end up doing.
Opening: Random boxes and bins, trying to organize.
Giggling: Just because.

Time to Smash

This day went as quickly as it came. And while I don't know what the future may bring, as of right now Peanut is my last baby, and this was the last first cake. It was not the prettiest cake, the buttercream made from scratch, the cake from a box, but it was all his. At first he wasn't sure, but it didn't take long for him to dive in. While our family and friends enjoyed their cupcakes, Peanut went face first into his cake.

Of all the ways to spend our birthday, this small party with the focus on this cake "ceremony" was perfect.

And while technically this is the last of the Rookie Mom Challenges, I might still go back and try a few of the many that I missed.

Remembering the Sun

This past March, we tried to get away from the snow and cold by visiting family in Florida. It was our first trip, as fate had conspired against us in the past, and it was a wonderful time. While I failed at getting pictures of Peanut's first trip on a plane (camera was in the overhead compartment the entire flight), I did not miss his first trip into the waves.

He is completely different from his brother, who still doesn't want to go in. But Munchkin did enjoy the pool, there was a lot of water play by everyone.

We tried to make the trip as relaxing as possible, with our most exciting adventure being a trip to the zoo where we fed the giraffes.

For the most part, we just let them play and be outside, since the weather at home definitely had been preventing that.

The best part of the trip for me was definitely the quiet time that we got to spend with each other.

We flew home to frigid temperatures, but that week of sun recharged us when I didn't even realize that we needed it.

Baby on a plane... flying home

Linking up with Mama Kat
1.) Let’s reminisce about the last trip you took…pictures please!