Halloween was....

 
 CREATIVE...

 

SILLY...

 SQUISHY....

  

FESTIVE...

 YUMMY...

 CUTE...

 

 SWEET...

 

PERFECT!!!

Wow, Thanks!

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments!  It means a lot to me that everyone was willing to share their own experiences and offer such supporting words!  I'll probably be re-reading your comments in the future when nursing-issues inevitably arise!

Thanks again!!!

Try, Try Again!

I've been hesitant to even write this post.  Why?  Because people have some S-T-R-O-N-G opinions about breastfeeding.  I totally respect everyone's viewpoint, but I'm...fragile with this issue.  So be gentle with me!

Sadie Rose & I had a less than stellar nursing experience.  Turns out that was most likely from her moderate to severe case of GERD, or acid reflux. (-that deserves a post of it's own, ugh!)  The breastfeeding, the pumping, the bottles for each feeding were beginning to break down my soul.

At church I saw other moms with bottles, and I swear, I have NEVER felt jealousy like that!  I LONGED to be like them.  To just whip out a bottle whenever, wherever.  I'm not a "boobs-out-in-the-open" kinda girl. -Especially if there are men around. I'll leave and go to a private place. But those who know me, know I'm a "center-of-attention" kinda girl. (maybe it's the middle child in me craving attention? Hmmm)  I HATE to miss out on the party which is undoubtedly going on while I'm locked away in a spare bedroom.  So not only was Sadie having awful eating issues, but I was becoming resentful of being tucked away.


So breastfeeding eventually died a guilt-full death.  Full of sleepless nights, full of tears, full of interrogating every young mother around me.

I've been going back and forth with my conviction for breastfeeding Baby #2.  Wondering if it would be worth the effort.  Wondering if I'd be able to stick with it. Wondering if I even WANTED to stick with it. With Sadie I was able to borrow a pump.  This time, the pumps I knew of were already in use, so I had to decide if I wanted to buy my own. I had a hard enough time breastfeeding WITH the pump, I KNEW I would fail without it. Thought about renting, but after 12weeks, it would be the same cost as a pump I found on sale.  SO....

 I bought the pump!  Here goes nothing!

 

 Me TRYING to be excited!

 

But I feel a little more like this.

I don't know if I'll have any more success this time, but we'll give it a try. Ya know, I did learn a bunch from Sadie's experience.  I've learned that even if we quit, our new baby can be just as smart, happy, and healthy as Sadie turned out to be. That may sound like I'm preparing myself for failure, but really it's just taking off some of the pressure.  That pressure is what killed me last time.  (I still don't understand why strangers feel the need to ask if I'm breastfeeding. Weird, right???)  I learned that I'm not the only one that had issues with nursing, which really helps me be more relaxed now when problems arise.  And I learned that we all survived.  In the end, regardless of what we choose, we all lived to tell about it, and we'll live again.

Wish me luck!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, EVERYWHERE!

Cory and I have been married 6years and we have NEVER carved pumpkins on our own!  A sin, I know!  One year we carved pumpkins with family, but never did our own at our own home.  Well, with Sadie now an active participant in holidays, this lack of tradition had to change!  And so we were off to do Halloween right this year!

First things first: Finding the PERFECT pumpkin!

 I *think* that one might too big, Sadles!

 

 That looks good to me,
but I don't think Sadie is sure...

I'm beginning to think
you aren't taking this
pumpkin-picking very seriously!

 The search is back on!

By the way, I l-o-v-e-d this pumpkin patch! 

Sadie was endlessly entertained!

 

Is there such a thing as TOO MANY PUMPKINS?

There we go! We're making decisons!

That IS a cute smile,
but you still have to choose!

 SHE FOUND IT!  The PERFECT one!

Our little family of pumpkins!

(Stay tuned for painting & carving)

When it's cold outside...

I get my CRAFT on:

And Sadie Rose gets "COZY"

Sadie informed me that getting "cozy" means at least 3 blankets!  That's my kind of cozy!

 Oh, and I've been getting....

BIGGER!!!

(30wks)