New Blog Design

Check out my new blog design. I was so blessed to win a blog make-over from Leigh over at The Crazy Cocoon.

Leigh is an amazing adoptive mama. Her blog is Seeking Love First. I have been following her adoption story for about two years. During this time she has taught me so much about international adoption and attachment. She also posts great meal plans and recipes each week.

Working with Leigh to redesign my blog was a breeze. She was so patient with me. And when I finally got all of my photos together she got to work on the design immediately. Within the day she had several designs concepts for me to choose from. She sought my input at every step of the way, often going back to make changes based on my preference for color, layout, font, etc. If you are looking to update your blog, I highly recommend that you check out The Crazy Cocoon!

Thanks Leigh!!!

Weaning: Stage Three

WEANING: to accustom a young child to take food other than its mother’s milk (source: Dictionary.com)

Weaning is a natural process. As mothers we are not fully in control of the natural weaning process, but we can substantially direct the weaning process. Recently, Leland and I stopped our lunch time nursing dates. We still nurse in the morning, evening, bedtime, and night time. On weekends we freely nurse on demand.

I title this post "Stage Three" because when I thought about it, this change or milestone was really the third major milestone in the weaning process. The first stage / milestone was at six months, when we began introducing solid foods. The second stage / milestone was at fourteen months when I stopped pumping and we introduced cow’s milk.

Approaching this change I recognized what an emotional milestone this was, but failed to fully recognize the physical milestone. Emotionally, for me, the build up was harder than anything. Now that we are into our new routine, I am doing well. Leland has adjusted well too.

The first week or so was hard. He would cling to me the minute I would walk through the door in the evenings, insisting on nursing immediately. One night he got so mad at me for not sitting in the nearest chair available (in the kitchen), but rather walking into the living room with him before sitting down to nurse. Those first few nights he nursed every 20-30 minutes all evening and I obliged as I too had missed him.

One afternoon after my mom had picked him up at school, she took him to run an errand. They passed the bra section in the store and he about lost it. She said he just kept pointing and saying "mama, mama, milk". Thankfully she was quickly able to distract him.

Now, almost four weeks into our new arrangement, we are both doing well. There are still moments in the afternoon when I am overwhelmed with how much I miss him, but overall I am coping well. Leland still asks to nurse almost immediately after I come home, but usually it is after he shows me what he has been doing or playing with. He is also doing excellent with falling asleep for nap time at his new school.

When we approached this change, I failed to recognize the physical effect it would have on me. Generally, I only get my period if we medically induce it using hormones. But about a week after we stopped nursing at lunch, I got my period. Making the transition more abrupt was probably that fact that we had been together for about three weeks over Christmas nursing on demand, 24 hours a day. But still, I was shocked that my oh so defective reproductive system actually noticed the change. Then of course I began to entertain crazy ideas that somehow this meant that my reproductive system wasn’t as defective as I clearly know it is.....oh, how the psychosis of infertility is ever-present!

Bottom line, the transition is going well and we are still successfully - by the grace of God - continuing to breastfeed on demand when we are together.

I joined a gym....

So I didn’t really "join". I actually bought a 10 visit pass. Based on my intent to make it to the gym once or twice a week it was a better investment than a monthly membership. I have been going to yoga - making it to 4 class in the past 3 weeks. I’ve done yoga in the past, but this is a more relaxing, gentle yoga. I really love it.

The biggest struggle I have with going to the gym is guilt. Yep. I feel guilty when I actually go to the gym. I already have so few hours a week with Leland and I feel like every hour I spend doing anything - gym, bible study, errands, hair cut - are hours I could be spending with him. And mommy guilt can be intense. I am trying to focus on the fact that being a well rounded mom, with occasional interests and outings of my own, will make me a happier and better mother to Leland. I am also committing to making the most of my time with Leland - really engaging with him, reading to him, playing with him, etc; and not letting my time with him be diminished by distractions like TV, my phone, etc. Bottom line - this working full-time with a toddler thing is tough!

17 & 18 Months

I have fallen very behind in blogging these past few months. Last week marked 18 months for my little man!

Here are his stats from his check-up: 23lbs, 13 oz ( 22 percentile) 32 7/8 inches (65 percentile) and a head circumference of 18.7 inches (41 percentile). He continues to stay around the 20^th percentile on weight, but keeps climbing in the height department. Recently, our donors told me that their children (also born premature) caught up to their height percentiles and other milestones around the 18 month mark.

Highlights from his 17^th month include a day trip for Thanksgiving at his Great-great-grandmother’s home and his first camping trip. We took him primitive camping (yep...in November) with the scout troop we volunteer with through our church. Robert took the boys caving. Leland did great and had a really fun time.

Football with the "big boys"

Short hike with Daddy

 

Highlights from his 18^th month include Nana & Granddaddy coming to live with us, celebrating Christmas in our new home, and our first family vacation / cruise. We all had an excellent time. (I want to do a whole post about the cruise when I find time). And...Leland said goodbye to his daycare, starting last week a the Montessori school. He seemed a bit overwhelmed with all the changes on his first day, but has made the transition amazingly well.

Beach Baby!

Cruise Ship...ready to set sail!

Checking out Nana's stocking on Christmas morning

(PJ's Read: BEST GIFT EVER)

The biggest change in the last two months has been his vocabulary. He speaks so well. Just after 17 months I attempted to make a list of all the words he said on his own (he would repeat additional words). This list reached about 50 words, and I was adding new words everyday. At his point I would say the list is well over 200. He also speaks in short 2-3 word sentences. I am really enjoying how talkative he is and how much more his personality shines though when he is able to express himself.

Trying on Grandpa's Boots

Playing with Trains

And finally, for my records...he is still wearing size 4 diapers, mostly 18 month clothing (some 12 month pants & some 24 month tops); his favorite foods are olives, cheese, fruit, yogurt, and "cookies" (Fig.New.ton fruit thins) from Nana’s pantry; favorite toys are his trains, blocks, Mr. Potato head, and books; he still wakes 1-2 times per night to nurse; we nurse on demand on the weekends; since starting the Montessori school we no longer nurse at lunch during the week; his new nap schedule is one nap per day at 1 p.m. (based on the school’s schedule).

First Day of School

Today was Leland's first day at his new Montessori school. Drop off went great. He was fascinated by the birds and fish tank in the classroom. My mom picked him up about 2:45 pm today so he would have a short day. She said he was very happy to see her, but got upset when they got home and I wasn't here. Thankfully a snack made things better.
Some of the victories of the day were that I managed to pack everything he needed and get out the door on time. Leland also did great taking his first nap at school and ate almost all of the lunch I packed him.  The only major hiccup of the day was that his teacher must not have realized that there was a cap on his juice (under the nipple) so he didn't get anything to drink with his lunch and came home rather thirsty.
On a final note...in case you need a good laugh. I realized about halfway through that day at work today that there was about an inch long split in the butt seam of my pants.  Real classy!
And now some photos of Leland ready for school and his first home packed lunch...

New Job!

I start my new job in the morning. I'm nervous and excited. Tomorrow night we will celebrate with sushi!
My new office: