Behold, my favorite nursing shirt.

Which, actually isn’t a nursing shirt at all. Technically. At least not marketed that way. I found it at Old Navy about a week ago in the regular woman’s department and it quickly has climbed to the top of my favorite-in-closet list. Not only is it a beautiful color and has the whole “comfy-stylish-mom” look going on, but see how huge the neckline is? Makes it so easy to nurse anywhere! And a bonus, it covers up any post-baby tummy I have going on with the fit of it.  Oh, and it was cheap! I heart Old Navy.

Also, I wish I had known about nursing tanks when Savannah was a baby! They make life easier. I love to put a nursing tank under everything and make any shirt a nursing shirt. My tummy is always covered if I have to lift up my shirt to nurse and its more comfy than nursing bras any day. I found mine at Target (because I’m a cheapo who doesn’t want to pay $50 for a fancy one) and love them.

P.S. Yes, I’ve got glasses now. Remember way back when I confessed that I lied to my mom about not being able to see just so I could get glasses? Well, 18 years later it came back to get me because now I need them. Sorta, some times. Mainly for driving, but I like to wear them just because, too. They’re good for hiding tired eyes and I hear they make me look a smidgen older too. What’d you think? Do I still look 15?

Jaxson turned 6 months old a week ago, I can’t believe it! How can half a year already have gone by? I’m sure the next 6 months will go by even faster as he keeps me even busier. And while I am enjoying watching him grow and learn new things practically every day…can time not slow down just a little?

He is officially mobile, doing the army crawl all around the house and starting to get into things he shouldn’t. Time to start baby proofing again! He’s a boy already…bonking his head often and doing strange things like getting his arm stuck in between the door and the door jam while scooting around (how?). Savannah was pretty good about not getting into cabinets, toilets, or getting hurt other than the typical skinned knees…but I predict Jaxson will be more of a handful!

He’s still a pretty content and happy baby and loves his big sister, she can always make him smile. Now that his 2 bottom teeth have popped though he’s more on the fussy-don’t-put-me-down side, but its not too bad.

We’re still dealing with food allergy issues, but thankfully we are a few steps closer to keeping it under control. Well…if I could stop my weakness for eating things that give him flare ups! The dermatologist helped us figure out it was dairy, eggs, and nuts and his face has cleared up a lot but not 100%. I’m wondering if there is more to it like soy or citrus but I haven’t taken them out of my diet yet…its hard enough eliminating 3 major ingredients and I’m trying to get a handle on that first.

Thankfully…there are lots of alternatives to the things I love (if I make the effort to go to the right stores). Like chocolate ice cream made with coconut milk or soy (Oh my gosh, so good!). Or pancakes with an egg replacer. Eating at home isn’t the problem, its when we eat out or traveling, its hard to avoid the allergens even if I think I’m avoiding it. But, like I said before, its worth it to keep breastfeeding!

These were taken on Easter, he’s grown a lot since last time I posted a picture at 2 months old! Both Savannah and Jaxson are getting so big and looking older :-)

Have you noticed, I haven’t posted any pictures of Jaxson since oh…January maybe?  I have a confession: I’m embarrassed. I haven’t even taken many of his 3rd and 4th month :-/

See, it started when he turned 3 months old, he got one red spot on his little chubby cheek. No big deal, I thought it was just chapped cheeks from the extreme cold weather we were having at the time.  As the weeks went by it went from the size of a dime to the size of a quarter and then spread to his left cheek.  They both grew, started to ooze and scab. They itched him and I’d wake up to his crib looking like a crime scene since he kept digging at them throughout the night. It got bad, really bad. I tried various lotions and advice from fellow mommies. It began spreading to creases in his arms and legs. I eventually took him to a doctor that thought it was a yeast rash, but that medicine did nothing.  It just kept oozing and scabbing. I took him for a second opinion and he said, “Those aren’t yeast, that’s eczema that’s gotten  infected.” And thankfully, antibiotics got it under control to where it at least wasn’t oozing. But, the redness is still there since the cause of the eczema is still unknown.

We’re now playing the guessing game called, “What is Jaxson Allergic to?!” Let me tell you, I hate this game. He has only had my milk so whatever is bothering him is in my diet most likely (I suppose it could be something environmental). I’ve taken out dairy for starters since I noticed a flare up after having a glass of milk. I’ve taken out gluten. Now I’m wondering if it’s a nut allergy since when I drink my milk I mix it with chocolate Almond milk. And since taking out dairy and gluten I have heavily increased my nut intake to substitute and he’s still getting flare ups. We’ll see if this is the winning answer.  We are seeing an Allergist this Tuesday (on the day he turns 5 months old…*sob* Where is the time going?! Slow down time!) and while I know tests can be inconclusive at this age I’m really trying to be hopeful they can give us some answers.

I just want his cute little cheeks back!  I know it’s silly of me to be embarrassed by them, but I know people look when we are out in public and they ask questions.  I think it goes back to that fear of judgement that I have, like because he has these rashes I’m not doing something right or enough to take care of him. But, I know that’s not really true. Food allergies are common and I know I’m doing a lot to make it better, from appointments to drastic changes to my diet.  I gotta learn how to let these judgement issues go, eh? I can only do the best I can do!

Can I tell you though, he has grown so much since you saw him last (even you, my personal Facebook friends). He rolls and scoots all over the place. He’s lost all his dark hair (well, except one little V in the back) and he’s growing in some cute blondish-brown fuzz (feels like a tennis ball, I love rubbing his head!). He has my eyes, but also looks a lot like Savannah as a baby. He is a  super happy, smiley baby still. Everyone comments on what a great baby he is. He has started to really giggle and laugh when we play games, it’s great :-) Savannah is still my big helper and loves to be with Jaxson. His sleep is still wonky some nights but over all much better than it was. Maybe one day soon I’ll be brave and post his cloth diapered bottom-red cheek-blue-eyed cuteness.

Do you have any food allergy or eczema advice?

The Pregnant Woman’s Rights

1) Every woman has the right to health care before, during, and after pregnancy.

2) The right to receive care that is consistent with current scientific evidence about benefits and risks. If the practice is harmful or ineffective then it should be avoided.

3) The right to chose a midwife or doctor as her care provider.

4) The right to chose her birth setting from her safe options available.

5) The right to leave her maternity care giver if she becomes dissatisfied.

6) The right to know the qualifications of those involved in her care as well as to know when those involved are trainees.

7) The right to receive care in privacy and to have all information treated according to the standards of confidentiality.

8) The right to full and clear information about risks, benefits, and costs of any and all procedures (drugs, tests, and treatments)

9) The right to accept or refuse any treatment, drugs, or tests. She also has the right to change her mind at any time. (This one is usually only true as long as the mother or baby is not in a life or death situation.)

10) The right to be informed if she or her infant is enrolled in a research stuffy and the right to accept or deny participating.

11) The right to access any and all of her pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and infant records.

12) The right to receive care that is appropriate for her culture and religious beliefs, as well as to receive information in a language she can understand.

13) The right to have any family members and friends she chooses to be present in any of her maternity care.

14) The right for advance information on risks and benefits of any and all available methods of pain relief. She has the right to refuse or accept any and change her mind at any time.

15) The right of freedom of movement during labor and the right to deliver in any position she desires.

16) The right to uninterrupted time with her newborn, so long as both she and the baby are healthy and do not need to be separated for care.

17) The right to have information on breastfeeding, to refuse any supplements or actions that could interfere with breastfeeding, as well as have access to lactation support.

18) The right to decided with the caregiver when she and the baby can go home.

I saw this on a fellow November Mommy’s blog and had to re-post it. With Kaylee I was 16 and had a great, easy pregnancy and birth. I was induced on my due date and had an epidural, pushed for an hour and the entire thing was over in about 12 hours. I assumed Savannah’s would be the same, and to an extent it was. I was induced the day after my due date, had an epidural and delivered within 12 hours again. However, with Savannah it felt different. I was only 3 years older, just 19, but I wasn’t satisfied this time with the birth. This time, I was this little girl’s mom. Not just a woman who gave her life, but her Mom. I had the choice to breastfeed her this time and start to fill that parenting role. But, I wasn’t allowed to breastfeed her right away, I didn’t get to until midnight 3 hours after her birth! This time the epidural  left my back bruised and aching for weeks, a pain far worse than where it should have been hurting. Reflecting on it over the past 3 years I realized that I wanted a birth that I was an active part in, not just laying in bed waiting for things to happen. I want it to be an empowering experience, knowing that I made it through the pain with hard work, preparation, and support.

So, I’m doing things differently this time. I’ve been seeing an obgyn until now in the pregnancy as we made sure this little guy would “stick.” I needed the ultrasounds to help calm my fears and tests to be done to help me relax. Now that I’m 14 weeks, I’m breathing a lot easier and ready to quit being just a number on a doctor’s chart. I’m tired of waiting 45 minutes to be seen for only 5 minutes, only to hear the heartbeat and then she leaves. I went to my first midwife appointment last week and we talked for an hour about my history, diet, everything. My obgyn doesn’t have time for that kind of caring, but I’m glad I’ve found some one that does!

And here’s a shocker for some people: I’m not giving birth at a hospital. No, it’s not my house, but it’s a birthing center 5 minutes away. My exams are on a twin bed with sheets rather than a stiff paper covered exam table. I’m going to labor and maybe even give birth in water. I’m not going to be induced with medicine or have an epidural. I’m going to use hypnobirthing to manage the pain. I’m going to hold my baby until I’m ready to let him go to be weighed. I’m going to breastfeed right away if he wants. I’m going to have as many people in the room as I want. I’m going home just hours after birth instead of waiting around for 2 days. I’m going to sleep in my own bed and not have nurses prodding my belly all night. I’m simply doing things much like women have successfully done for centuries and what they still do in other countries. It feels empowering already.

I’m not saying this way is the best way, everyone has their own vision of birth and what they are comfortable with. But after 2 births, I know that I personally felt something missing from the experience and this is the right choice for us this time around. I have actually been scared to tell certain people (like family) that I’m doing things differently, because using a doctor and hospital is simply standard these days and midwives are thought of as not safe (which isn’t true, do the research. It’s actually safer with way less infant mortality and c-section rates!). It’s definitely a choice that goes against the grain of society, but I’m going to take advantage of my pregnant woman’s rights and do what I feel is right for us.

Does any body want a box of Johnson&Johnson breastfeeding pads? It’s practically a full box, I only used about 4 (leaving you about 56 pads). We stopped breastfeeding a few weeks ago, and even before then I wasn’t making enough milk to use/need them.

These were my favorite pads by far. Very comfy, rounded shape (so therefore less visible under the shirt), VERY absorbent (with little micro bead absorbent things) and they have the nifty adhesive to keep it in place. Just pay for shipping and they are yours!

Can you believe it’s already 2008?! How is it possible? We didn’t do anything fun to bring in the new year. We’re old folks, even though we’re only 20. Mark played too many video games to count, and I watched TV and worked on Savannah’s birthday invites (how is it possible that it’s time for THAT?). I did make it to see the clock turn midnight, but only because it takes forever for me to fall asleep :-/ What a way to bring in the new year, huh? I don’t even remember what I did last year, something equally boring I’m sure. I was a little over 7 months pregnant then, so I’m guessing by midnight I was fast asleep.

2007 has been quite a year with many milestones and proud accomplishments. The ending of a successful, full term pregnancy. The birth of our daughter February 22nd. Mark and I conquering the sleepless night, the yellow runny blowout diapers, the teething, the chicken pox, the many joyful moments when she learned something new, finding joy even when you think you just can’t take it any more. Discovering that we are made of A LOT and can do anything we put our mind to. Sticking with breastfeeding when I wanted to quit because it hurt so much those first few weeks, treasuring those special bonding moments, and feeling accomplished having made it to 10 months (sadly, breastfeeding is now ever. She lost interest, but that’s ok, we were ready). A first Easter, first beach trip, first Halloween, first Thanksgiving and first Christmas. Not just for Savannah, but for us as a family. A year of amazement at how fast time goes and how fast she grows with it. Another year of visits with Kaylee, watching her grow into a little girl, making connections about our adoption, and watching my Savannah and Kaylee interact.

Planning a wedding and finally becoming an official family May 19th. A wonderful honeymoon (and baby break!) with my husband at the beach. Mark getting an awesome internship for the summer that has lead to more. Myself breaking out of the house and getting a part time job for the summer, deciding to go back to school at last minute, going towards an English degree and getting straight A’s! Chopping my hair off. Mark doing equally well in school, despite a job and family to take care of. Us finding a church we love and people we connect with. Furthering my writing even more, and having my own website!

In short? It’s been a year that I define as a year that has shown what we are made of. We’ve had a lot of our plate, and we’ve done it all quite well. I’m proud of this year. Let’s hope this coming year is even better!

Our new year resolutions? Personally, I really want to get closer to God again (Mark needs this goal too…). I feel like something is always holding me back though, and I’m wondering if it’s my past. So, this year I’d like to connect with a counselor/therapist to dig those things out so I can leave it behind once and for all and move forward with Christ. Mark and I really want our family to be grounded in Christ, and for Savannah to see Him within us as she grows, but whenever we try to devote ourselves more to reading the Bible/praying it keeps falling through. What’s holding us back? WHY are other things more important than Him?

I also want to work on our marriage communication. We have too many petty arguments over nothing. We don’t have serious issues going on, but we want our marriage to last. I think dealing with these little thing now will help us in the long run from thing building and building into something bigger and scarier.

And of course, the usual goal of working out. Not to lose weight, I’m the opposite and need more weight. I do need to work this post-baby belly flab though. Mark could use a little working out, too.

Here’s to another year of growth, love, and writing. Happy New Year, folks! Here is our year in pictures:

 Okay, I admit I do love Facebook.  In fact, it’s one of the major ways I stay in contact with friends and family, share new pictures of Savannah, a way to keep Mark updated on Savannah’s doings while he’s at work, and even how I let people know there’s a new post to this very family blog. So in that sense, it doesn’t suck. But,  that doesn’t mean I support everything about Facebook.

Facebook has been deleting Mom’s pictures of breastfeeding, claiming these pictures of “obscene content.” Some accounts were even deleted.  No nipples have been shown, it’s not intended to lure males to oogle their goodies.  In fact, most breastfeeding pictures I’ve seen are very subtle, and you hardly seen anything but the baby’s head.  Yes, I know not everyone wants to see children feeding but, you know what? You don’t have to look.  Most Mom’s who display these pictures make a separate album so you know what you will be looking at, you are fore warned. Myself as a breastfeeding Mom, it’s not something vulgar or obscene.  It’s something of beauty and miracle. Completely natural.  Why is society deeming breastfeeding as this horrible thing? Before bottles and formula, that’s all there was! I just don’t get it.

As this mom writes, Facebook has it’s priorities screwed up.   While spending all their time going through albums and deleting pictures of breastfeeding, they’re letting underage drunk girls post pictures of their wild nights and post pictures of sexual poses, some even in lingerie. And what about the sexual predators that lurk about their site, searching for sex with minors?  What about that? What about the “Porn is Great!” group that displays girls in sexual ways. Or, the “Watching Porn While on Mushrooms” that shows a girl with her TOP OFF with nipples only covered by mushroom pictures.  Are you serious?  You allow illegal drugs and a girl posing without a top (which is much more than you see in a breastfeeding photo), but don’t allow a baby to eat from it’s mother.  You have got to be kidding me.

Please, tell me how breastfeeding is 1) a sexual thing and 2) a threat to others in any way? Please, do tell me.  There are more important issues going on in this world than the site of a baby sucking on a breast for a meal. Like, ya know, the safety of our teens.

Breastfeeding is not illegal, it is a very natural thing that society has nurtured out of it’s self and blown out of proportion.  It’s not illegal yet you, Facebook, are trying to take away that right of mothers and endorsing sexual images and predators.

The League of Maternal Justice was formed over these breastfeeding picture incidents and is now taking action against internet injustices of mothers.

Our mission: To use the power of the mom internet community to expose the injustices perpetrated against mothers everywhere and to exact vengeance through aggressive finger-wagging and online shaming.

Their website is where you can find ‘Facebook Sucks’ Buttons of your own as well as information about a virtual sit in on October 10th.
Facebook is too important in my life to completely delete my account, but I can do this one small post to share the word.  I’ve also joined the “Hey, Facebook, Breastfeeding is Not Obscene!” group on Facebook.com.

Pass it on.

These are not my words, but just wanted to pass this on to others:

I just signed the Statement of Support for Breastfeeding Mothers, and I hope you will too. Why? Well, doctors agree that breastmilk is best for infants, but their own licensing board isn’t following doctor’s orders. Sophie Currier recently learned that when it comes to supporting breastfeeding, many of our leaders–whether they are in the medical establishment (as in Sophie’s case), business sector, or elsewhere–still don’t “walk the talk.” You see, Sophie was denied breast pumping breaks during her nine hour medical licensing exam. She’s not alone. Even in this day and age when the medical evidence is clear that breastfeeding is best for infants, women are regularly denied the time and location to pump.

JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THE BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION ACT! Sign the Statement of Support for breastfeeding moms everywhere now: “Healthcare professionals inform us that breastfeeding is the best possible way to ensure that babies thrive. In turn, we must ensure that breastfeeding mothers are able to breastfeed, and given the time and environment to pump at work or during other professional obligations.” Congress and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) need to hear that breastfeeding must be supported for all moms, and that we support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act which is currently before Congress.

*To sign the Statement of Support for breastfeeding moms, just go to:

democracyinaction.org

After you sign the Statement of Support, please forward this to friends and family so they can sign on as well! Your voice can make a difference: When a subsidiary of Delta Airlines kicked a woman off an airplane for breastfeeding, we sent them a petition with more than 20,000 MomsRising signatures, and shortly afterwards the airline apologized and instituted a new training program for their employees.

STAND WITH SOPHIE, JANEE, AND MOTHERS ACROSS THE NATION! Women like Janee McConnell could also use the Breastfeeding Promotion Act. Janee worked in a grocery store that had a health consciousness she admired. She was such a committed employee that she rose to a management job quickly and was called a “rock star” by the other employees. After her third child was born, she tried to pump at work but there was no private place to go other than a dirty, windowless electrical room. When her milk supply dropped she spoke up but store management was unsympathetic. She resigned from her management position and eventually from the store all together.

Frankly, we all lose when we don’t support mothers–businesses lose excellent employees, infants lose important nutrients, and women lose needed jobs. No mom should have to choose between keeping her job and feeding her baby and protecting her own health.

SHARE YOUR STORY: Many of us mothers know personally what it’s like to juggle breastfeeding babies and work. Some of us have also experienced the pain of engorgement and the risk of mastitis when feeding or pumping doesn’t occur every few hours. Stories like this are common. You may even have experienced something similar yourself. *Share your story on our blog at: momrising.org

All too often women aren’t able to breastfeed their babies even though the American Academy of Pediatrics tells us it’s one of the most important things we can do for a child’s health. Let’s send a strong message together that it’s time to “walk the talk” for healthy infants and mothers.

I know all to well the struggles of trying to maintain my supply while at work and at school, where I’m away from my daughter up to 9-12 hours (luckily it’s only 2-3 times a week though). It’s also rough with I do have my daughter with me and she needs to eat while we are out and about. I’ve often had to escape to the car, a dirty bathroom stall or just had to for-go the breastfeeding and use a bottle. I’ve only seen two public places in my short parenting career that had a separate place for breastfeeding mothers: Babies “R” Us and the local mall where I live. Two. Would you like to eat your meal while sitting in a gross bathroom stall with toilets and germs flushing all around you? Would you like to be a mom, trying to feed your child while sitting on a toilet that’s been used by who knows who and a giant hole underneath your tushy that makes sitting quite uncomfortable? I didn’t think so.

I know many, many moms who breast feed. In my personal experience, the majority of moms have breast fed for some amount of time. It’s known to be the most healthy choice for our children, and yet there are two places that openly support it and make it easier for us to do so in my area that I’ve visited. I just don’t get it.

Don’t let our breastfeeding rights be limited. Make companies “walk the talk.”