Thoughts on Weaning

In the beginning, I had the hardest time with breastfeeding.  It was definitely an uphill battle for me.  Some people talk about how natural and beautiful it is, but I had a very different experience. 

My milk didn't come in for four days and we had latching issues from the start.  She would cry and scream when I had my "let down," I developed milk blebs, blisters, sores, and clogged ducts.  It was at the point where I cringed with pain every time she latched on.  I even got mastitis, twice!  Everything that could have gone wrong, did.

Nursing babies eat more often too.  For the first three months, she wanted to nurse every 45-90 minutes.  I was completely exhausted since I was the only one that could feed her.  The first months were so painful and brutal on my body, but I was determined.  My goal was to make it to February 20th, when Amelia turned six months.  At that time, it seemed like a world away. 

I found support through La Leche League, other nursing moms, and contacted my lactation consultant on a regular basis.  But I do have to say that Jimmy was my biggest support through everything.  His encouragement and positive attitude helped me though the worst of times, when I wanted to give up.  There was no way I could have done it on my own.

I was never really passionate about breastfeeding, but for whatever reason, it was something I did not want to give up on.  Truthfully, it wasn't really until the fifth or sixth month that Amelia and I got the hang of it and I was all healed up.  Then something strange happened.  I started to love it!  I hit my six month goal and we are still going strong.

Amelia is approaching her first birthday and every time I think about weaning or someone asks me about it, I start to cry and get all emotional.  It's embarrassing and probably related to my hormones, but I the thought of weaning just makes me sick to my stomach and feel really sad. 

I definitely don't think I'll be a mom that is still nursing their child at the age of two or three, but I now have more of an understanding of why people make that choice.  Honestly, I used to be very judgemental about seeing an older child who was still nursing.

If Amelia wants to continue with nursing once she turns one, I will probably continue.  I might just let her wean on her own.  I still have about three more months until Amelia turns one... I'm just going to take it day by day and see how I feel about it when the time comes.

Our Little Fish

Our pool opened up on Saturday, so we were super excited to take Amelia for her first dip!  We took her to the pool every day this weekend.

Day 1:

She lasted five minutes and cried the whole time.



Day 2:

She cried and screamed for five minutes.  Then we realized that if you keep her moving, she tolerates it.  She was in the water for about 20 minutes and towards the end she started to enjoy herself ;0)

Day 3:

She cried for about 30 seconds and then loved it.  Success!!!  We have a little fish in our family!

 

Bumpers?

We decided to take the bumpers off Amelia's crib a few days ago.  This is what happened last night... Should I put them back on? 

Poor baby.

We couldn't stop laughing!  Does that make us bad parents?

Memorial Day Weekend Fun

Jimmy had Friday off, so we decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and perfect weather and head out to Wheaton Regional Park.  The park is awesome and is located less than a mile from where we live, so we are very lucky to live nearby. 

We took Amelia to play at the playground, spin on the carousel, relax on the grass and take a train ride.  We had a great day!

On the train, getting kisses from daddy

On the train with mommy

Jimmy-open-mouth-face

We went during the middle of a workday and pretty much had the whole train to ourselves!  We had some friends that went on Saturday and said the line for both the train and the carousel was more than 50+ people long!

She kept clapping and slamming her hands on the seat in front of us.  She was very excited!

Freaking out on the grass.  She is definitely a city girl!

Same hair as daddy!

Standing on her own

The carousel

Promotion!

Jimmy was promoted today and I am so proud of him!  He works so hard and he totally deserves it.  Amelia and I are so lucky ;0)  Congratulations Sir!

  

Amelia chewing on Jimmy's new rank...

Jimmy is obviously astounded by his daughter's actions

"Attention to Orders"

Speech!

Family Pic

Amelia's face says it all, ha ha ha

 See how Jimmy's new rank is discolored?  It's soaked with Amelia drool!

LTC Valdez Hawaiian Celebration!

My cousin, who is also in the Army, lives at Fort Belvoir, which is about an hour from where we are. He was recently promoted to LTC and had a Hawaiian themed promotion party. Luckily, Jimmy and I have matching Hawaiian outfits, ha ha ha. Thanks to Nana, Amelia also had a cute little outfit for the occasion.

Our little Hawaiian princess crawling around. I love the "Jimmy open mouth" look on her face!  Classic.

 

Amelia was cracking up when we were trying to take pictures.  It was very cute! 

Her first taste of lechon!

Jimmy eating authentic Hawaiian shaved ice

Amelia's first taste of shaved ice

Raffle Time!  Of course, with the luck of the Lehman, WE WON ;0)

Manong Sol and Amelia

Manong Sol, Manang Jocelyn and the Lehmans

(Jimmy took off his aloha shirt and we put Amelia in her jamma-jams since we were getting ready to leave)

Amelia and her cousin, Katie

Checking each other out

Reading together... so precious!

Rocket Ship Cart