Life with two

     I'm still figuring out this mom of 2 thing. Juggling a 2 year old, a newborn, diaper bag, and keeping my sanity is no easy task. Yesterday, I locked my keys in the car at Kroger. Luckily I had both boys out of the car though. It was 100 degrees outside, so inside my car it was way hotter. I would have busted a window if I had to, but they were both safe with mommy. Thank God. Today, I had my 6 week postpartum checkup. I don't know what I was thinking, but I figured it would be a quick, "hey look your scar is fine" and we'd be done. No, I had an exam. With both boys in the room with me. Getting there alone was enough hassle. I didn't allow myself enough time to get ready. Word of advice: allow at least 2 hours to get ready and out of the house. I needed to leave the house at 9:45. Austin woke up to nurse at 7:30, Connor woke up to eat breakfast around 8:15. I got in the shower at 8:30.. Austin was crying&Connor was crying b/c he wanted me to open a bottle of lotion (while I was in the shower), so I showered in all of 5 minutes, opened the bottle of lotion? and grabbed Austin. He was hungry, so I threw on the ring sling and nursed him while I started blow drying my hair. When I went to get Connor's clothes for the day, I heard him cry because he touched my straightener even though I told him not to because it is hot. He knows what that means. He has been burned before when he climbed up Adam's motorcycle while it was still hot. Anyway, I changed him, burped Austin and quickly finished getting ready. Which resulted in me looking half homeless. Leggings, blouse, hair in a bun, shoes half on, and funky makeup. Oh well! The boys are ready. I learned my lesson on allowing more time to get ready. Finally, we were off. I kept my cool b/c I know kids feed off of your energy and acting stressed would only make it worse. Luckily, I snatched the Ziploc bag of lactation cookies I made last night. I took the umbrella stroller for Connor and carried the car seat b/c the doctors office is too small for the double stroller, and wearing Austin wasn't an option given the dr apt was for me. Talk about hands full of kids. We were only 5 minutes late, and I'm glad we were late b/c we had wait 20 minutes in the waiting room. When we finally got back to the exam room Connor was 4 cookies deep. I walked in and realized I was getting an exam. Oh God, seriously?? Austin was nursing, and Connor was 6 cookies deep when the doctor came in. I nursed the entire time, and Connor was a perfect angel since by the time we left he had eaten about 8 lactation cookies (the entire bag). By the time I gt home, I wanted to pass out on the couch, but it was only noon. NOON. Con and Austin both were hungry, so I fed them both, got Con down for a nap, & scarfed down lunch before Austin wanted to eat again. And now he is eating while I write this post.

Austin isconstantly nursing still, so I had to figure out a way to nurse him hands free-ish. I ordered a ring sling, and if you are a mom of 2 with a toddler and nursing, I highly recommend one. I can throw on the sling, and throw Austin in it to nurse without feeling like I'm going to lose an arm. I typically hold his head just to give him some comfort, but it takes the weight off of my arm while I am making Connor a sandwich or chasing him down. Con has been really good with "Aushhtin" still. He is a big help, and if Austin is crying he says, "It's okay baby, it's okay." Despite the craziness each day brings, I am constantly reminded of my blessings. Thank God for my boys. All 3 of them.

One month old!!?

    I cannot believe that Austin is one month old! This is crazy. Time is already flying by. He had his appointment today, and he is 9lbs 10oz and 21.5 inches long. So, he has gained 1lb 5 oz (21 ounces) in 2 weeks and grew 1 inch! If you remember, the nurses were concerned that he wasn't gaining fast enough and tried to get me to supplement with formula. Well, I didn't. Instead, I pumped and bottle fed for about a week while finishing the feeding at the breast, and then I slowly started cutting out pumping sessions. Right now I am only pumping at night :) So, Austin gained that weight b/c of MY milk and his eagerness to nurse! I can't even begin to explain how happy that makes me. The nurse walked in and said, "are you putting miracle grow in it? Are you supplementing? Just breastmilk??" haha. No, No, and Yes! Austin is finally eating more efficiently at each nursing session, and I don't feel like I need to top him off with the bottled milk. By the way, I HATE pumping. Ugh, not only is it time consuming and inconvenient, as I sit there and pump my boobs, but it is just uncomfortable. I would much rather put Austin on the boob, which I've been doing all day. I'm actually going to stop pumping so much at night as well. He seems to be more awake when he is hungry now, so I think he will drink efficiently. I have stored 50 oz of breastmilk in the freezer though! So, one good thing that has come out of our struggle is that my supply is up and I'm able to store breastmilk for a rainy day. (Or a 6 pack) ;) I made lactation cookies yesterday (who am I?) and they are delicious. Technically, I only really need like 2 a day, but uhhh, I've been eating way more. woopsy! I am mailing some out to a couple of girlfriends who just had babies too :) Anyway, enough of that. Austin is much more alert and awake during the day. He typically takes a long nap in the afternoon when Connor does. How did I get so lucky? And he sleeps well at night. He is waking up on his own now to eat though about every 3-4 hours. I really cannot complain about that. I feel tired, but drink my 1/2 caff coffee and trudge through the day. His belly button is finally normal and soo cute! He is "looking so great." (the words of his nurse). Connor is still loving his brother, helping me with Austin as much as he can being that he is 2. He tries to help him and keep him from crying by shoving Austin's paci in his mouth, finding a bottle and shoving that in his mouth, or hugging him (squishing the life out of him). Typically it makes Austin cry more, but Connor sure does try, so I just say "aww thanks baby, but he needs to breathe now." I really do love my 2 boys. While the days seem much shorter, I smell like sour milk, my makeup is smeared IF it is even on my face, my hair is a hot mess, and my wardrobe tends to be pajamas and a nursing tank, I wouldn't have it any other way. :) I am learning to make it work with 2 babies, and looking back to the first couple of weeks when I thought Connor hated me and I was seriously struggling, I just smile to myself. We all go through this transition, but once you get out of the first couple of weeks, it is a fun ride. I love my boys! I am about 13 lbs away from pre-pregnancy, but I am going to start walking with the boys as soon as I can. I am finally feeling like myself again, and I'm not being too hard on myself. I know I will get to pre-pregnancy. My goal is by the time Austin is 3 months. I don't think that will be too hard. Nursing makes me hungry!! Anyway, just wanted to update! It is much harder updating every week, so don't expect it ;)

Austin is 2 weeks!

   Austin is 2 weeks old today, and he is still such a good baby. (Knocking on wood right now). He is much more alert these days, eating every 2-3 hours, and pooping every 5 minutes. He was sleeping 6 + hour stretches until his doctor appointment last week. I had to take him in to the doctor on Thursday to have them check out his umbilical cord, which they had to cauterize 3 times.. When they weighed him, he had lost an ounce from what he weighed when he left the hospital. The next day he lost half an ounce more. I knew it was because he was sleeping through nighttime feedings, but I had always heard that you never wake a sleeping baby. He would miss nighttime feedings, and he also fell asleep at the boob almost every time he ate. I was in tears, and the Nurse Practitioner told me I should supplement with formula. She went and got Enfamil, handed it to me, and told me to feed him 2 oz breast milk and 1 oz formula every 2 hours. I was shocked, upset, and disappointed. Needless to say, I trusted my body & my mommy instincts to NOT supplement. Instead, I power pumped, nursed, and gave him expressed Breast milk at night and during the day. When we went back to the DR for a weight check on Monday, he gained 7 ounces, and by Thursday he was up another 3 ounces and back to his birth weight. :) Let me just say though, I am not on my soap box. Breastfeeding is something that I really want to do. I understand some mom's can't or don't want to and that is okay. I believe breast is best, and so I am going to do all that I can to breastfeed Austin. I nursed Connor as well, but stopped at 2 months for several different reasons. Anyway, we are in love with this little perfect addition to our family. He is so sweet and squeezable. Con loves him, and I know they are going to be best friends.