Wand.er.lust: February 2012

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Then and Now

My bebe is six months old. Wasn't I just peeing on a stick yesterday?

Time flies when you're sleep deprived and oh yeah, having fun.

What a funny munchkin.

Even though she's still a tiny peanut weighing in at a whopping 12lbs, I think she looks ginormous compared to the first set of pictures taken at 5 weeks old. I haven't used that yellow diaper in months because it's way too small and those pj's she's busting out of rather than swimming in.

Here's to another, even better six months ahead!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

What Makes Me Happy #7

My happy list is quite overdue for an update. Here are a few more things that bring a smile to my face!

(go here to read rounds #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6)

#29. Trader Joe's is the greatest grocery store in the universe. As if regular Joe-Joe's (oreos) aren't amazing enough, at Christmastime, Trader Joe's comes out with Candy Cane Joe-Joe's. While searching for a picture of these I found a Facebook group dedicated to this cookie so that should tell you a little something about how delicious they are. Anyway, when our friends were visiting back in November, M offered them some for dessert one night. Okay, get ready, I'm getting to the funny part. He pulls out the box and in triple speed offers them a TraderJoe'sCandyCaneJoe-Joe. As if everyone knows what a TraderJoe'sCandyCaneJoe-Joe is. They were so confused. HAHA, okay, maybe you had to be there for that one. These scrumptious cookies will forever be referred to as TraderJoe'sCandyCaneJoe-Joes now. Say it really fast, it's fun.

(sourc e)

#30. Little m’s hairy ears. I absolutely love them. At birth, these suckers were quite hairy, and even at three months, when the picture below was taken, there was a little left. All the hair is gone now at six months which means my baby's a big girl, wahhh! It was so cute while it lasted.

#31. When M and I were in New Zealand, we happened upon a guy selling meat pies out of a camper in Auckland. Random, yes. After we ordered, I swear I heard the guy thank M for paying and then said, “Sweet A$$”. I was so confused. Why was this meat man complimenting M on his a$$? Fast forward a few days and I hear a server say the same thing. Really? What is it with New Zealanders and their obsession with M’s cheeks? I brought this up to M and it turns out he didn’t hear either compliment and was convinced I was making these things up! Fast forward another few days and while browsing a souvenir shop I see a shirt with “Sweet As” on it. It turns out this is a popular saying that is similar to cool or awesome, but with the NZ accent, sounds like something much different! I told M not to worry though, his a$$ is still sweet to me.

#32. Another New Zealand memory that makes me smile happened the first morning we arrived in Auckland. After traveling for 20+hours and arriving in Auckland very early in the morning we caught a shuttle into the city. We got off at the nearest stop, which was still a ten minute walk to our hotel. Up a huge hill. With a baby. Pushing a stroller. Pulling two huge suitcases. Wearing our carry on luggage. At 6am. It must have been a funny sight. We were sweating. It was not funny at the time, but now we can laugh about it for sure.

Tell me something funny in your life lately.

Monday, February 13, 2012

I Love Breastfeeding

I have grown to love breastfeeding. I hated it for the first two months, it was bearable for the next two, but by months four and five, something clicked and now I absolutely love it. I LOVE IT. I am so happy I stuck with it.

I thought breastfeeding would come naturally. I was wrong. It was really, really, really difficult in the beginning. Breastfeeding takes a lot of work. My nipples were sore for a solid two months. I think I had t.h.o's for that long as well. When it started getting cold outside I thought my boobies were going to fall off. They also felt this way when getting into the hot shower. It was great fun.

But now.. it's wonderful. Never thought I'd say it, but it's easy. I don't have to worry about bottles. It doesn't cost me anything to feed my child. I don't have to bring anything extra when I leave the house. I can easily comfort my baby within a split second.

(The mini face massages are an added bonus!)

What's the point of this post?

I'm here to tell you - don't give up! Get over the hurdle of the first few months and then it's smooth sailing. Holding your baby close and providing him or her with the world's #1 superfood is a really lovely feeling. Kinda magical really. I think I'm really going to be sad when it's all over.

Boobs. It's what's for dinner.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Month Five With Little m

Month five with Little m included a lot of "firsts": first Christmas, first trip to Ottawa to visit her Nanny and Grampie, first (and only) baptism, first NHL game, first taste of sweet potato and oatmeal cereal, first New Year's Eve, first time in Florida to visit her Grandma and Grandpa, first time swimming in a pool, and first time sleeping more than 3-4 hours at a time (thank the Lord). Phewf, busy month!

This month also included her first taste of formula, which (stupidly) nearly killed me to feed her. I started taking a medication called domperidone to increase my milk supply and yay, happy day, she no longer needs to be supplemented. I wish I started taking this medication months ago and of course feel guilty because she was probably hungry this entire time. I know, I know, I know, there's nothing wrong with formula, but I'm very happy to be exclusively breastfeeding once again.

As I mentioned in this post, month five was an EXTREMELY difficult month for sleeping. The worst yet. I reached my breaking point and felt I had no other choice but to sleep train the dear child. It was heartbreaking, but I can't even explain how much happier we are now that sleep is occurring more often and for longer periods of time. Little M basically works like a clock and goes down for her first nap an hour and a half after waking, then every two hours after that. She goes to bed between 7-8pm and wakes up 1-2 times per night. I no longer spend entire days trying to get her to nap and failing every time. It's a miracle, is what it is.

Some of the peanut's favourite things include chewing on Sophie the giraffe, laying under her play mat, dancing with her Grandpa to Johnny Reid, eating and watching people eat, and caressing/clawing my face while she nurses. Oh, and she also loves watching the tv, especially hockey. I wonder *coughMcough* who she gets this from?! I rarely have the tv on during the day, so it's definitely not me!

I must say, this child of ours is truly a delight. She's the most smiley baby I've ever seen. My friend Jules recently said that Little m smiles as though she owns the world. I thought that was so sweet. We work hard for her giggles by making crazy noises and pretending to eat her toes but hearing the laughter is so rewarding.

Everyone tells new mothers, "Just survive the first six weeks." Seriously? It's more like survive the first six months. I finally feel as though I have a bit of a handle on things. It's a really darn good feeling to have. And of course, everything will change tomorrow, but for now I'm very much enjoying spending my days with this special little girl.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

What's Cookin?

Like many people, I am utterly addicted to Pinterest. It's so handy for looking up recipes and finding dinner ideas. I see what I have in the kitchen, plunk it into the search button, and magically up comes millions of pretty pictures and recipes. One of my goals this year is to make meal plans and stick to them. It's difficult to find the time to cook with Little m, but if I have a plan it's somewhat achievable. Without a plan, dinner all too often ends up being pb&j.

Here are a few entrees and sides I have planned for the upcoming week:

1) Spinach Lasagna Rolls