Not a vegetarian!

I don't know how Susie does it. Meat grosses her out.
That is not the case for me or Jai or Julia. We love meat!
Recently Jai cooked this beef roast in the most incredible way.
It was rich, flavorful, so delicious. He said he used black cherry juice to create a glaze.
OMG! So yummy!

Yesterday we cooked some beef bacon we got from Porter Road Butcher which is located on Gallatin Road (long story). I ate like 5 pieces! This is why I shouldn't eat bacon, regardless of it being beef, not pork. Pork is a meat I do not eat, sadly Jai laments constantly.
Luckily there still is some left as well as another 1/2 pound of the beef bacon we didn't cook yet. Tomorrow! : )

Most, if not all, of our meat is locally sourced either from our Avalon Acres Farm CSA or one of the farms at the Farmers' Market or PRB. Helps me eat meat with less guilt! : )

Back to Work Part 2

I'm tired. I'm not getting enough sleep.
I'm tired also of pumping 3x a day, wondering if I'm going to have enough EBM.
Jacqueline is 7 months, healthy, doing fine, still gaining weight, has a great personality.
I also have a freezer full of breast milk, but I have to be careful how/when I use it.

So I had a knot on Sunday in my right breast. Really strange!
Maybe it's pumping related as I haven't had a knot in months.
I barely had engorgement issues even in beginning days, not like with Julia.
It took 2 days of serious efforts, including Tiger Balm & even more diligent feedings.
Finally it is gone, but my supply, at least from what I pump at work, took a hit.
I'm taking extra Fenugreek pills to see if that will help.
I'm also working with Jacqueline to make sure her latch is good.
I noticed she was slipping a bit, tugging more so I'm slighly raw & irritated.

Then there's the sleep deprivation.
She's reverse cycling & feeding more at night.
Come on! A woman needs her sleep!

Driving to work this morning, I thought 5 more months ... I can do it.
Of course that's no question! I'll get more sleep one of these days.
This has been a cake walk compared to the hard work I put in to feed Julia.
She got breast milk for 14 months; one year is my minimum.
That is my goal for Jacqueline, too.

Many debate whether breast is best & is formula really poison.
Also people discuss whether breast milk makes your child smarter, for example.
There are other reasons why a formula fed child could be smart ... like genetics.
We know that Julia is brillant for that reason. : )
However, formula is made by people, in a factory, filled with perservatives.
Breast milk is made by my body, filled with great food & nutrients I eat.

Alright, somehow I got on my BF soapbox AGAIN.
I'm really tired & ready for a vacation already.
As a parent I feel like there never is a break.
They are small like when I take a shower or walk the dog.
I guess I have to take it when I get it. : )

No sleeping allowed

I have two daughters who seem to believe that no sleeping is allowed.

Julia, 3 1/2 yrs old, refuses to go to sleep before she yells and screams and cries and thrashes for an hour or so. Almost every night over the past 2 or 3 weeks we have seen some version of this ritual. She will go through various parts of her bedtime routine with no problem but at some point she decides it is necessary to through a tantrum. She's doesn't want to be isolated from the family, we get that but almost EVERY night she seems to forget the end result is the same...she goes to sleep. It might be 2 hours after her bedtime but she ends up asleep. So, no amount of tantruming will change the fact that she will end up asleep.

Jacqueline, 7 mths, refuses to take a nap while laying down. She doesn't sleep though the night yet and she still naps a lot but only when she is being held on her mother's lap or when I have her strapped in the Ergo.

Why won't everybody sleep like normal people?

Happy Birthday Mommy

It was one of my best birthdays with few presents or a big party.
The recognition & excitement of a 3 year old made this day extra special!
Julia was so cute - constantly saying "Happy Birthday" for days before as she couldn't quite remember the exact date so she was covering all her bases. : )

I had to work which is typical, especially working in middle & high schools, I was used to going back to work 1-2 weeks before Aug. 1. Last year I transferred to an elementary school & it was the first year I started AFTER my birthday. However, this year MNPS switched to a "balanced" calendar so school started earlier & actually the first day is today. It's OK - I like the balanced idea so working on my birthday is fine.

When I arrived home, there was a Happy Birthday banner with "words" written all over it. Jai wrote the HB message & transcribed Julia's other words as well as Julia's art decorated this HB card. It was awesome! It made my day! Later we went to the Farmer's Market & Turnip Truck for weekly groceries & met my mom who had brought dinner too. At home we ate yummy food from Istanbul Restaurant (love that place!) & also ice cream for dessert. I also opened a few cards & present from Bonnie (gift card to TT!!!); Jai's present is in the mail ... : )

It was a perfect birthday celebration - simple, with family, good food, at least 1 present. Nothing else required. : )