Update from the last couple of weeks
Johnny's brother, Dan and his girlfriend Adrianne came to visit last Sunday and Rachel was a little suspicious of the beard, but she warmed up after awhile! :)
Other updates....
- Like all children everywhere...it's not really the gift you give they spend hours over, it's the huge box that it comes in which becomes the major plaything! Here are some fun pictures of Rachel exploring her new "toy."
- Well, our little daredevil took a dive a couple weeks ago and received a buckle fracture, which means the bone bent a bit but didn't break...it's really more of a "baby" sprain the doctor said (out of 1-10, it's less than 1) so she can wear a splint if we want her to, but she really doesn't have to since it's healing pretty well and it should be all healed in the next 2 weeks or so. I've been beating myself up over it, but people keep telling me their kid daredevil stories so I don't feel so bad now.
- Rachel has almost all her teeth now and as these pictures shows, I think she believes she can eat just about everything now!!
We're hoping to spend Christmas with my family, but the weather is just not cooperating. If you're reading this, say a little prayer for us ok?
First Steps
Rachel has been taking one step here and there this week, but this afternoon while we were playing in the family room, she walked two steps to me from the coffee table!
She is also standing a lot on her own for longer and longer periods (five seconds to 15 seconds).
Rachel's BFFs
Here's a picture from school today with Rachel sitting with her two
BFFs (best friends forever)...Ethan and Dean. The teachers told me this week that the three of them will be moving to the Toddler room in mid-January. Eek, my baby in the toddler room!!
On weaning...
I did what only a small percentage of American moms do...I nursed Rachel for a year. Actually, just past a year (almost to 13 months).
It's really an accomplishment that I made it this far. That first month was really, really tough. I sought the help of a lactation consultant at the hospital I delivered at about two weeks after Rachel was born because she wasn't gaining enough.
Despite the class, books and online help I sought for breastfeeding, it was NOT easy and "instinctual." It was very tough actually, made worse by my lack of sleep and me feeling so
incompetent. (I have a college degree, how can I NOT get this right, I kept thinking).
It was uncomfortable, painful and Rachel and I, really kind of strangers at first, had to do this unique little dance to make everything work and click correctly. The consultant at the hospital was
ok, but when I tried everything she said at home, it didn't seem to work as well. So I hired someone to come to the house. She was great actually. A lot of what she recommended I did all the way through this first year. And then I went to a nursing support group at another hospital and worked with a really wonderful lactation consultant there. It was really her support, and that group, that kept me going those first three months and even after.
After things clicked, I thought, well, if I can just make it to 6 months, I'll be happy. And then at 6 months, I thought if we could just get to one year...and now a year has come and passed.
It's time. I really need to seek out a dermatologist for my face problems and she's done really, really well. (The
drs said I had super milk!) But Christmas is coming, she's becoming a toddler, and there are just so many other reasons to stop - yet this too is difficult.
I began weaning gradually in October. I cut one pump session and than one feeding out (I was only down to 5 a day at that point). But this last feeding - the morning feeding - took about a month because Rachel got really sick and I didn't want to stop completely while she was sick.
So I tried on Saturday morning and I didn't feel so well, so I guess my last feeding was yesterday. I've begun all the little tricks that are supposed to help - cold cabbage leaves, drinking sage tea, etc. And it seems to be helping a little bit today, but this morning, emotionally, was really tough.
Normally when I get Rachel in the morning, I nurse her and then change her diaper. Well, I brought in a
sippy of milk instead. She was NOT liking that change at all. She threw it several times and cried and cried. She had this look on my face like, "Mommy, why??!" And she kept looking at the rocking chair (where we usually sit). She was just miserable this morning. I tried my best to distract her all morning and play with her. Eventually she calmed down, but man, was it hard not to second guess this decision. And of course, every site you turn to about this says it should be "child-led" weaning...which could take place anytime between 2 1/2 to 7 years! Um, no thanks. I grew to like nursing, but not THAT much!
When I was nursing, I never really thought about this part. It seemed so far off. But now that it's here...I know I just have to do my best to deal with it and move on. I know it's just the first of many milestones that Rachel and I will take on her way to independence. Logically I know. Emotionally...it's hard to say goodbye.
Our little Cassatt...
(Rachel is in the Cassatt room at her play school)
Today the kids explored purple sand and sea shells. They also used glue...we really hope she wasn't "that" kid that ate the glue!
Rachel Learning to Walk
Yesterday, Johnny got out this walker toy Rachel got from Grandma Rosalie and she was cruising all over the room with it. Today we got a picture from play school of her using a similar device.
Looks like it won't be soon before our little toddler will be "toddling" around!! Ha ha. Bad joke. Sorry, runs in the genes. :)
