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FFC
It's dead here today. So Flame Free Confessions anyone?
Here's mine:
I would like to put Alex back in my belly to complete his cooking. It was safer in there and I didn't have to worry so much about whether he was eating enough, is he gaining the weight he's supposed to, is he going to spit up in his sleep, is he too hot, too cold.....etc etc etc. I just needed three more weeks to tie up lose ends at work and to finish preparing myself and our house for his arrival. I have never been a worrier at all but ever since this little guy came into our world I cannot stop worrying. On the flip side, I am absolutely shocked at how much of mothering really does come naturally. That being said, I am so in love with him and I am glad that I'm able to snuggle him and watch him discover things and look him in his eyes and in general enjoy him.
Re: FFC
I got one...
Although I am really upset knowing that I can no longer provide for Sami all by myself, and that breastfeeding is just becoming too dififcult to maintain, a part of me is content with knowing I'm not her #1 food source any longer. Knowing that I no longer have to live my life in 3-hour increments, that I don't have to stress about whether or not she's going to eat well while out in public, and no longer having to worry about whether I'm going to pump enough at work for her to eat the next day -- its all like a huge weight off of my shoulders. And yet, above all of this, I still feel selfish for even looking forward to this somewhat stress-free freedom. And a part of me still feels like a failure for not being able to follow-through with my plan, even though I know I can only do what I can for as long as my body will allow me to do it.
But yeah... lots of emotions and conflictions going on in this head of mine right now.
updated 10.03.12
I hear you on this and I don't think you should feel too guilty about it. I would be feeling the same way. It's not as though you don't want what's best for Sami and mommy being less stressed is better for her anyways!
We've had to supplement with formula this week to get Alex to start gaining weight and I really really really didn't want to but he's having latching issues and I'm not making enough milk yet to feed him every two hours like the Dr. wants so we had to. I've been pumping to help increase my supply so he's only getting formula every other feeding but I'm still not happy about it. What I am happy about is using the bottles, it means that Joel can help feed him and that the full responsibility isn't on me for his feedings which helps.
Work is crazy but I had to pop in for a second for a mental break. Anyway, are you noticing any nipple confusion with Alex? I keep hearing conflicting information on how if you introduce the bottle too soon before breastfeeding habits are established, the baby may not want to nurse anymore and will prefer the bottle. I'm hoping that's mostly a lot of crap because I really want Craig to be able to feed the baby as well, even if I have to pump more in the beginning.
And MB, I know guilt is kind of inherent in moms, but don't stress it. I have no intention of breastfeeding my child past 6 months and if that makes me a "selfish" mom, so be it. I think a goal of 6 months is pretty damn good! I can't let my life revolve around breastfeeding for an entire year like La Leche and the APA wants. And breastfeeding for any amount of time is better than none at all. Moms are made to feel guilty for far too many things in our culture and it's starting to piss me off. You do the best you can for your child with whatever you have. You're a great mom and I think you have every right to look forward to no longer being tied down by breastfeeding.
I'm about 3 seconds from passing the eff out due to my flirtation with benadryl this morning. My eye itched so badly it was twitching, so it was necessary. 2 more work days full of this before I can blissfully get allergy shots.
Also, my husband had to work late last night for the first time since he got his new job. We had B1G1 Chipotle coupons so I was just going to use those. He got home just slightly later than normal and we decided to go out anyway, but then he proceeded to play xbox until the Mavs game, watch basketball, then play more xbox. Meanwhile, I did trash, recycling, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher, made lunches for us and baked a cake for my boss's birthday. He is usually so good about helping but I really wanted to scream last night.
Finally, because of the lack of allergy maintenance meds, I have been extremely stuffy and unable to lay flat, which is making sleep very difficult. This, combined with the Benadryl, is causing me to jumble my words and feel woozy.
Stand up for something you believe in.
I got mad at Robin yesterday, because he didn't like something on facebook.
In my defense, it was our first dance song. The conversation went a little something like this: "You should feel ashamed that your nephew is the only person that's liked my song of the day." "What? What was it?" "Stand by Me" "Oh, I saw that but didn't really get it. Who's Ben E King?" "Are you kidding? You don't even remember our first dance song." "I know it's Stand by Me, but I just saw Ben E King and didn't really pay attention." Then he went and liked it, and I told the kitties (yes, I sometimes talk passive-aggressively to the kitties) "I had to guilt him into liking it, kitties." It started out jokingly, but honestly it hurt my feelings a little that he didn't even recognize the post, especially since it clearly said first dance song 
. I sulked a little for the rest of the night.
Not exactly my finest moment..... but not exactly his finest moment either. humpf.
We had to supplement with formula Sami's first week because of the jaundice - I hated it, she hated, but luckily there wasn't any nipple confusion, which was my biggest fear at the time.
I've heard give it 2-3 weeks to establish a good pattern, and then the chances of nipple confusion lessen.
updated 10.03.12
My best friend is 13 weeks pregnant and just found out that there's too much fluid in the baby's neck and down the spine and if the baby does make it full term, it will be severely disabled. She now has to make the choice on whether to terminate or ride it out and see what happens.
I feel awful. I have cried about it all week and I cannot even imagine having to make that kind of a decision. We've been texting and emailing but I honestly don't even know what to say. I feel like I'm being a crappy friend, but I'm not sure what to do with myself to help her.
It's prolly one of the hardest things a mother-to-be ever has to go through.... I mean, I know how I was before we found out about Sami for sure, but its horrible where your mind goes. My thoughts are with your friend. And don't beat yourself up.. you're there for her, and thats the best thing you can do for her right now. *hugs*
updated 10.03.12
Oh, that's so horrible. A coworker friend lost her baby last week. She was full term, past her due date actually, but he died in the womb and of course she had to deliver the next day. Awful, awful thing to go through. Sometimes there's no real advice you can give someone. You just have to let them know you're there.
MB- If you remember I had the same issue. I thought when it came to stopping bf, I would be so ready. Even if I was ready to be done, I still felt guilty and it made me feel like he was no longer my tiny little baby anymore. I had a really hard time dealing with it. To be honest, once I stopped, those feelings went away and I felt so much freedom and less stress. You BF for such a long time and gave Sami all you could. The guilt will ease up, I promise.
As far as nipple confusion, it is not real. Weston was given supplements when he was in the hospital for a week due to jaundice and not gaining weight. The nurses also gave him a pacifier without asking me. In the beginning I had to use a nipple shield, but he had no problem what so ever going between bottle/pacifier/nipple shied/nipple. That was something I was worried about but my doctor said it is not true.
That is heartbreaking...
updated 10.03.12
I couldn't imagine going through either of these. How heartbreaking!
Oh my gosh
( We actually had friends who delivered a stillborn baby a few years ago. I can't imagine how awful these things are to go through.
Thanks guys, I'll keep being there for her in case she needs anything. I just wish there was more I could do..she's like a sister to me. My actual sister and my mom both babysit weekly for 2 year old, so their family is kind of a part of my family. I hate that they're going through this
(
<a href="http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/adia83/?action=view
Stand up for something you believe in.
updated 10.03.12
I spent an hour this morning (at work) booking a flight for later this year.
I'm nervous for Stees' visit because, what if she doesn't like me? Haha.
This is a bragplaint: I made the best salad for supper last night - baby greens, grilled chicken, tomatoes, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, blue cheese, balsamic vinegarette. It was delicious. BUT the whole time I was eating it, I was wishing it was a cheeseburger. A big, fat one.
Congrats to both my TTC buddies, Amberley18 and sb2006 on their beautiful babies!
DD & Firefly, I am so so sorry about your friends. I can't even imagine, that must be so hard. T&Ps for them.
Christina, I totally understand what you are saying. It is scary having a newborn in general but especially when they are so teeny tiny. I also felt like I didn't get everything finished before he arrived. It may seem silly but life is so crazy once they arrive I kind of wanted to have as much control over preparation stuff before he arrived so that feeling totally makes sense to me!
My confession is I have been playing music while Parker and I are playing on the floor this morning. Ludacris' "What's Your Fantasy?" just came on and he started smiling and giggling and moving his legs all around, so I turned the volume up... I am such a good mom.
{My Blog}
Oh, where are you going???
Haha, I had the same "fear" when she came to see me last year, but look at it this eay -- if she still likes me, she'll definitely still like you! ;D
updated 10.03.12
Hahaha too funny!
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DD & Firefly, I am so sorry your friends are going through those things. I can't imagine losing a full term baby though, that's just tragic (and one of my big, irrational fears right now.) Heartbreaking.
Meghan, I'm sorry about how you're feeling right now.
I know it must be hard to see pregnant women who are due when you were...sometimes I'm afraid you feel the same way about me since we found out around the same time. I know you're working on healing and I I know it won't ever totally "fix" a previous loss but I hope you have a new due date to look forward to soon.
That is awesome. Play him some Lady Gaga too, something tells me babies dig her. I bet Rach will find lullaby versions of Gaga for her little one.
My confession, since you brought up Luda: I know ALL the words to "What's Your Fantasy." All of them. And I'm kind of proud of it.
Also, I had a Lean Cuisine with veggies and whole wheat pasta and chicken for lunch...with a side of super greasy, glorious fried zuchinni sticks. Yum.
Oh and Kmo, MB, thanks for making me feel better about nipple confusion. Hopefully all will go as planned then so H can enjoy feeding our little one too after a week or two...
this made me think of the Friends episode where Ross and Rachel sing "Baby Got Back" to Emma.
I find the term "career girl" offensive.
Either it's "oh she's a career girl, she doesn't have a family", or "my daughter is a career girl, you need to respect that because it's so fancy and unusual".
Most people have jobs. You need to earn money to live, so having a career is expected. It's not something to impress people, and it's not something to demean people, it's just the way it is.
Maybe I'm just sensitive about being unemployed. I just got an email from a woman whose 32 year old daughter might be interested in volunteering with my group in CT, but "she doesn't have alot [that misspelling irks me, too] of time because she's a career girl and travels". Well you know, we all work, but we can all take a weekend and help out at this meeting. It's fine if the scheduling doesn't work for her, but don't throw around her having a full-time job like it's something way above the rest of us. My co-chair lives in NYC, works 60 hrs a week and doesn't own a car, and she can still come to CT 3 weekends a year.
I can't tell Clint that, he'll cry. He woke up wondering if we could find any around here. We could get paczkis, but he wasn't impressed.
FOUR different people in my group (of eight people) brought in a dozen each. we have an over abundance of fasnachts.