Band Nerd

Well this isn't just one event but this is a little more about me before college. My family is very musical and I remember singing songs with my Grandpa at a very young again. Actually we have it on tape somewhere. Some of my most memorable moments as a teen and young adult were in band classes. That is where I met almost all of my friends and also how I met my DH (not till college though).

My most memorable moment during my 4 years of high school band was the year we got a "1" at state. It was the first time in a VERY long time that our marching band had done so well. It was a very proud moment for our school and everyone involved. Also I would like to thank my high school band director for inspiring me. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be in the job I am in today. I love music, I love playing music and I love teaching children music!

December 17,1997

I was in a terrible car accident that day with my two sisters. We had gone to see Titanic with a few friends and on the way home a car hit us head-on. My sister K and I both broke our femurs. While my sister A just got really bad whip lash. On top of the broken femur I broke my tibia and fibula. I will admit my right leg was real messed up. Luckily for us we were all wearing our seat belts.

This day changed my life in many ways. It was pretty much the end of my swimming career. Also, it created some new relationships in my life. Sadly I don't talk with these people anymore but they really help my family out in our time of need. The one good thing that came out of this event was I had the financial freedom to go to college and not take out any loans. Even though I did end up getting a job but it was nice to have a cushion. Also if I didn't have these funds I wouldn't have had the funds to go to the college I went to. And then later meet my DH.

Still to this day I get freaked out in the car if a semi is driving to close or if someone changes lanes unexpectedly. But as we all know it is these events that shape who we are today. Yes it would be nice to not have a limp. Yes, it would be nice to not have the scares from the surgeries but that is what makes me, ME!

Baby Sister

I am going to start my count down to 30 with a little post about my baby sister. I love my entire family but my baby sister has a special place in my heart!

Here is a picture of me and my baby sister. Throughout our journey she has been the most supportive and even offered her eggs and uterus to help us build our family. Even though we didn't end up using her eggs I will never forget her offer and how much it meant to me. But this isn't the story I want to tell about my baby sister. I want to tell you the story of her birth, well as much of it as I remember.

I don't remember when my mother went into labor with my sister but she was born on April 18th, so I am guessing on the 17th of April 1986. I was at school and I was suddenly pulled out of class. My mother was going to have my siblings and myself there for the birth of my sister. It was a very exciting day but the only thing I can remember now is that I was suppose to make a gingerbread cookie in Kindergarten that day. Still to this day I remember this event because I never got to make my gingerbread cookie. As sad as I was that day to miss out on cookie making, I know how blessed I am to have such an amazing sister. Thank you so much for being my cheerleader and BTW you still owe me a cookie ;)

Count down to 30!

For the next 2 weeks I am going to talk about the top 14 life changing events in my life. I am sure you can guess a few of them. Some are going to be happy and some are going to be sad. I am so excited to share these 14 events with you. Stay tune for day 1 of 14 tomorrow.

Pump is Retired!

As of today I am finally retiring my pump for a week and a half. After a weekend in Chicago for a wedding, I finally have the confidence that I can feed Ant without the assistance of a pump, bottles, and supplementing. Actually when I first weighed him I was nervous because he still wasn't over 14lbs (but he hadn't eaten in awhile). So throughout the course of 2hrs at the meeting he at 6oz from me!!! So by the time we left support group he was well over 14lbs!!!

I am so excited to have finally reached this point in our breastfeeding saga but I am also saddened that it will be short lived. I return to my teaching job in just over a week, so I am will be back to pumping and bottles. On the bright side at least we made it to this point and we have weekends.

It is absolutely amazing how fast Ant changes. Just in the last week has be come so aware of his surroundings. While he is nursing he has decided he doesn't like the "Hooter Hider" anymore. He wants to see the world as he eats. For me personally I am OK with nursing in public but I know it makes people uncomfortable. So in those situations I will be as discrete as possible but it is my right to nursing him in public.

LOL...it is crazy how much I have changed. I have turned into a cloth diapering, breastfeeding, hippy mommy. Underneath though I still have the feels of an IFer. As I have come to accept some of those feelings will never go away.

Here are some pictures from our trip!!!

This is my favorite picture of Ant...to bad it isn't with mommy or daddy.

5 Month Update

Age: 5 months
Weight: 13lbs 10oz
Sleep: Great! Sleeps from about 10pm-6am, 1- 2hr nap, and 2 shorter naps
Eating: Currently still nursing and pumping milk for supplements but now we have one feeding that is exclusively nursing. No solids yet but we will be starting sometime in the next month.
New Trick: Ant was holding his own bottle for feedings but that was only for about a week.
Favorite Toy: It would have to be a toss up between his peacock and his excersaucer.

Where has the last five months gone? At times it feels like I just had him and at others he has always been in my life. Now I can't imagine life without him. As you remember our early weeks were not easy weeks. From the unexpected c-section, PPD, breastfeeding, and weight gain issues. It seems they have all resolved themselves. The c-section has been healed for a long time now and my PPD was short lived. As for breastfeeding and weight gain those are our on going works in progress but they are both getting better. As far as I can tell his weight gain is better because we have no more weight checks at the ped's office. We also do weekly checks at our Breastfeeding Support Group. These are more for my peace of mind. I guess I have just come to terms with pumping, nursing, and bottle feeding.

When you are pregnant you have grand ideas of what motherhood will be like. You will fall in love with your child instantly (didn't happen), breastfeeding is easy (NOT), you will never sleep (I actually get lots of sleep), and many more. After watch many people parent there were a few things I didn't want to do such as nursing Ant to sleep. I resisted this up until a week or two ago. It started with me nursing him for naps. I figured a little extra food wouldn't hurt and I wanted more bonding time with him. I am still trying to avoid nursing him to bed at night. It is my last resort but that rarely happens. Only when we try to make his bed time earlier.

Daycare is still a work in progress. DH and I are exploring the military option a little more because it is soooo affordable. Now the only problem is finding someone who I click with. I was discussing this with my neighbor the other day and she was telling me that they knew instantly that they had found the right place. Now to find the right place for Ant.

I have officially 3 more weeks before I go back to work. I have 2 goals CLEAN and enjoy every minute with Ant.

Daycare Dilemma

I know it has been awhile since I have written but I have been in limbo. DH and I were hoping that a possible work from home job would be finalized before Decision Day. Unfortunately the job didn't get finalized in time and now I have to go back to work on Aug 16th :(

Since we were hoping this job would work out we never secured childcare for Ant. We figured this job would work out and I would be home with him as planned. At this moment we have 2 choice.

Choice number one is a Nanny share with my friend. The problems with the nanny share is cost and my friend wasn't planning on starting till Novemeber. I think she can start in October for me but that still leaves August and September.

Choice number two is a in home daycare but the big problem is it is to far from my work. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal but DH is going on tour in October, which makes me a single parent for a month. Also I didn't like that she wanted to give Ant formula and rice ceral. I work hard to make breastmilk and if I make it he will drink it.

My choice is the obvious one of doing a nanny share with my friend. The reasons for this is because Ant is on a great schedule and I would like it to continue, he will be close to work, he could use his cloth diapers, and not be forced to eat solids before we are ready. So if money was no object we would be set. Finished...but that isn't the case.

As for Ant he is doing great. He has gained another pound so he is about 13 1/2lbs. He is nursing more but we are still supplmenting with the bottle. I was hoping I would be able to enjoy a few weeks without bottles but I am starting to think that might never happen but the most important thing is he is growing.