quiet times

:: picking some clover flowers



:: NO DOGS ALLOWED

A few days

:: Vince sleeping peacefully on mommy



:: A basket nest

:: Beautifying our neighborhood

:: Lilly-of-the-valley from our neighbors

:: Buttercups from our yard

:: A needle felted fairy mushroom ring

:: Colorful beads

2 months

My little baby boy is 2 months. The first month is a figuring out time. Figuring out their needs & wants. Determining their cries. The second month should get easier. Maybe the little one gets on a schedule. Nursing gets more comfortable. In our case, this has not happened. Each day has been getting harder. The baby continues to be fussy. His cries are stronger & louder. I feel like I have pulled every hat out and nothing has worked. I have been left second guessing myself, feeling insecure. Left not able to comfort my baby at times and feeling like an awful mother. It has been hard. Then, mastitis set in. Having more trouble nursing during this period, led me to consult a lactation specialist. And then a moment of relief. (Ommmm) And peace. I have oversupply and that is the cause of my baby's fussiness. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. A feeling of it not being my fault. A new perspective. A feeling of hope.

Now, with the help of a lactation specialist, we are on a plan to correct my milk supply. My little one also started babbling and smiling and it has been an amazing time for me. I feel like a better mother and I have able to connect more with my little one.

Here is some info on oversupply from the La Leche League website. These are possible symptoms:

• Baby cries a lot, and is often very irritable and/or restless
• Baby may sometimes gulp, choke, sputter, or cough during feedings at breast
• Baby may seem to bite or clamp down on the nipple while feeding
• Milk sprays when baby comes off, especially at the beginning of a feeding
• Mother may have sore nipples
• Baby may arch and hold himself very stiffly, sometimes screaming
• Feedings often seem like battles, with baby nursing fitfully on and off
• Feedings may be short, lasting only 5 or 10 minutes total
• Baby may seem to have a "love-hate" relationship with the breast
• Baby may burp or pass gas frequently between feedings, tending to spit up a lot
• Baby may have green, watery or foamy, explosive stools
• Mother's breasts feel very full most of the time
• Mother may have frequent plugged ducts, which can sometimes lead to mastitis (breast infection)

One month

Mommy's little Vince. My little guy is 1 month old today!!! Wow, it's hard to believe that 1 month has gone by and it's hard to remember our lives without him. I kind of remember a good night sleep, but I'd rather have him in our lives rather than sleep any day.

My little guy

Waiting to find out the sex of my children until their birth has been a wonderful surprise. In fact, one of the best surprises. With my first pregnancy, I had no idea if we were having a boy or a girl. This time, I really thought that we were having girl, so I am still in amazement that we have a son. But, we have a son, that's for sure. He is healthy and growing and I am very, very lucky, happy, and blessed!!!

A dog's life

Here's our dog, Lacie, fast asleep on a blanket. 

The cold weather has arrived and both of our dogs have been quick to snuggle up in blankets. 

Hands & feet

I really can appreciate that my little one loves to explore. I think it make her experiences more vivid and memorable. It is how our little one's learn. But, these days she explores everything freely. Sometimes, I would prefer if she stayed clean. Today, only her hands were painted. Most days, her clothes come off and she paints her entire body. 

Napping with her stuffed animal, Bernie, while our dogs were at the groomers. 

Spring rain

Spring rain
from Sing a Song of Seasons

Pitter patter, pitter patter, listen to the rain

Knocking on the window sill and on the window pane

Slowly creeping snail, the grass the flowers the grain

The birds up in the treetops

The frogs upon his lilly pad

Gree-dip gree-dip, gree-dip

And the children love the rain

Splashing in puddles

Splashy, splashy, wet

Splashing in the puddles

How wet can we get

All the earth loves the rain

Pitter patter, pitter patter

Listen to the rain

Pitter patter, pitter patter

Pitter patter, pitter patter

The sun comes out again

We really love this collection of 48 songs that follows the seasons of the year. It's great. There is a cd but we tend to come up with our own melody.

We needed our rain boots today. As we stepped out the door, my little one mentioned that she had on her rain boots and now she could jump in puddles. Well not exactly... but after school is a different story. ... How wet can we get! ... This song is meant from her.

After school, as soon as she came outside, she ran down the sidewalk and jump right in a puddle. Boy was that fun!!! At home, I barely caught a picture as she ran around the yard.

Food for our feathered friends

Her Matryoshka doll snuggled in to a flower bowl and nest.

And now my little one cuddles with her blanket. Can you see the silk in threads??? This is her third blanket and we are ready to get her a new one. The only little problem.... she loves this one.

Moonbeam moonbeam

It felt like spring this morning. Towards the afternoon, the sky became grey and it was started to sprinkle. My little one's "workshop", her play area, was a bit dark. So, her flashlight came out and she lit up her little angel. 

Moonbeam moonbeam shining on me

I see a light shining on (the angel) 

After lunch, my little one cuddled up on the couch. 

After her nap, I hope we will make it outside.