It's Almost Friday...

Praise the Lord!  All that stands between me and the weekend is eight hours of school and a thousand Friday assessments.  I will survive, right?  On to more important things...

Now, time for an Avery picture!  

5 Things

1.  Do you watch Downton Abbey?  My mom sparked my interest in the show earlier this year and now I love it. Since my mom loved it so much I thought it would be rather boring (sorry Mama!).  I gave it a chance and it really is so good.  The time was so much more glamorous yet simple.  New episodes are on PBS on Sunday nights.  If you do watch, don't you want Mary and Matthew to get back together?  I am dying for this to happen.  

2.  I stayed home today from school and I've been worried crazy about my kids all day.  Are they behaving for the sub?  Will they still follow the rules?  Will my sub survive?  Augh!  I couldn't get into Word this morning so I went in to my trailer at 6:30 to set out everything and print off lesson plans.  It's only one day...I need to chill.  

On another school note, I have become obsessed with finding fun things for my fifth graders on Pinterest!  Here's an anchor chart for light that I found and the kids loved it!  We even created a foldable to coordinate.  

Pinterest via Beakers and Bumblebees

3.  Now that I'm not breastfeeding anymore I can eat dairy again.  Yippie!  Between the gestational diabetes and then a baby with a dairy intolerance, I haven't really eaten ice cream, pizza, lasagna or any really yummy things in a long time.  This isn't really going to help me lose weight, but, sometimes it's nice to indulge!  Here are some recipes I'm looking forward to trying.

Cheesy Taco Pasta via Lauren's Latest

Cheesy Garlic Bread via Lauren's Latest

Red Velvet Brownies via Smells Like Home

4.  My friend Grace at Watch Me Grow had her sweet baby, Emmy Paige, this morning!  I hope she doesn't mind me using this picture but how cute are they?  Avery is so excited to meet her new friend.  Go over and leave her some baby love!  

5.  I couldn't do a post without sweet Avery!  She is my favorite thing!  

Via Hipstamatic

Bittersweet

This is hard.  I've dreaded this moment, but have looked forward to it too.  After a lot of thought I am going to stop breastfeeding.  My heart has hurt during this process but at this point in time, it's the right thing to do.  The time I spent bonding with Avery in this way has been priceless.  

Since I started working full-time I've had trouble with keeping up a good pumping schedule.  I dedicated my teaching breaks and lunches towards pumping but, as teachers know, breaks doing always go as planned.  I've walked out of the door at 3 pm many days because I had no chance to pump and was hurting at the end of the school day.  This caused a major dip in my supply.  As frustrating as it has been, I cannot avoid being caught up in meetings or other time takers during the day.  

Cue last week/weekend.  I had a bad sinus infection, or a head cold, and I started taking Tylenol cold medicine because my symptoms were just too bad.  Knowing that I couldn't give Avery breast milk, I started a pump schedule but the medication that dries up your head from a cold, dries up everything.  I tried keeping on with pumping but it took me three sessions to even get enough for one bottle.  Talk about spending a lot of time with minimal effectiveness.

I've had problems with my pump also, so the combination of all these things has been too stressful.  Add in the dairy component and you can call me one big mess.  I'm trying not to be selfish but being a first year teacher with an infant is certainly stressful enough.  That is why I've decided to stop breastfeeding altogether.  Avery was fed breast milk for three months, which is definitely more than some babies ever get.   I'm definitely not trying to compare myself with others but I need to be proud of everything I've done up to now.  

Still, it's bittersweet for this time to be over.  My silly head thinks that she needs me less but deep down I know that's not true.  I can see her growing and soon enough she won't be my baby anymore.  It's just a hard thing for a mom to let go.  

Baby Dedication

Avery was dedicated in church last Sunday.  Baby dedication is a special time when parents make a commitment to the Lord to raise their children in church and to grow a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. We don't do a baby baptism because we believe it is the individual's choice to commit their life to Jesus.  And friends, sprinkling water ain't gonna do that (it's not biblical)!

I bought the sweetest smocked linen dress and was terrified of baby spit up-or worse, so I dressed her at the church.  She looked so precious and did so well until the prayer.  She may have made a "joyful" noise to the Lord at that time, but who can't not laugh at that?  She is our spirited child after all.  I don't have a great picture but she was wearing ruffle butt tights under her dress.  Because it's only fitting to wear our ruffle butt tights with our patent mary jane's and smocking.  

What a little girl!  I love to dress her up.

Avery and Mama

Avery and Daddy 

And it wouldn't have been an event without my child raising a fit.  She had had enough.  No more dress or ruffle butt tights or pretty blue hair bow.  She was done, and she let us know it!  This is when we know it's time to evacuate the premises.  It was fun while it lasted!

We are so grateful to God for allowing us to be her parents.  She is His child after all.  

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Lavender = Spring

Spotted these two pieces on the J.Crew Factory site yesterday.  The graphic print is so feminine and the lavender cardigan would look so cute with khaki trousers.  They make me feel inspired for Spring, what about you?  Remaining Christmas money, you are officially spent.  

5 Favorite Baby Things

Yes, I'm blogging.  Pick your chin up off of the floor, because I know it's shocking.

I bring you my favorite things for baby.  When I was pregnant I researched so many baby products, but no review is better than that of a new mom.  Over the past three months I think I've learned a thing or two.  Here are my must haves for baby.

What can I say, I'm a paranoid mama.  The Angelcare monitor system has been the best investment that we could have made for Avery.  I knew before I ever had a baby that I would be the kind of person who needed to check on baby every twenty minutes at night, just to make sure she was breathing.  This monitor took the worry away.  

There is a sensor pad that goes underneath of the mattress.  Every time the baby breathes, a very faint beep sounds and a little digital pendulum swings, so that you can see and hear that the baby is breathing.  Maybe that sounds too much for some, but my mind has never been more at ease.  It's truly wonderful.  Our individual receptors that go in our bedroom and downstairs even display the temperature so we know how warm the nursery is.  One of my absolute must haves for the nursery.  

When it comes to nighttime sleeping, swaddling baby is a must.  Many people say their baby hates being swaddled, but I believe it's a way to re-create a womb like feeling and calms them after they've been fussy.  Avery wasn't always an angel when we first swaddled her, but now she knows it's her sleepy time and she's very comforted by the tightness of the swaddle.  

Don't waste your time on expensive swaddling blankets, because babies will break out of them faster than you can say "screaming baby."  The SwaddleMe blanket by Summer has velcro tabs and ensures that, when done properly, baby will stay soothed until they wake up.  It's even one of the 5 "S's" per The Happiest Baby on the Block.  When in doubt, swaddle! 

Since I went back to work five weeks ago, Avery needed to learn early on how to drink from a bottle.  I even worked several days when she was only five weeks old, so we started her early on bottles with pumped milk.  I had several friends recommend Dr. Brown's bottles and they have worked wonderfully.  I've read complaints about having to wash extra parts, but it's really not a huge ordeal.  

These bottles are proven to reduce air bubbles and colicky fussiness in babies.  We have them in the four ounce size and just recently we purchased the eight ounce size.  It's always nice to have at least six of each size for various food amounts throughout the day.  Avery would give these her seal of approval! 

I've said it before and I'll say it a thousand times, I love our Bumbleride Indie stroller.  To me it was worth every penny.  It's such a smooth ride, going over curbs and gravel with no problems whatsoever.  It's easy to take in and out of the car.  Very easy, actually.  Indie's aren't the least expensive stroller on the market, but they make a great investment.  We have a Maxi Cosi Mico carseat, and although the Mico wasn't advertised as "compatible" with the Indie without a $40 attachment, we have had no trouble whatsoever placing it in the Indie.  It's a snug fit and I'm glad we tried it that way without dishing out the extra cash on the adapter.  

For nap time, there is no better item than the Rock n' Play Sleeper by Fisher Price.  We like to lay a fleecey blanket inside of it and place Avery inside for daytime naps.  She loves her Rock n' Play and knows that she can settle down for a good nap once she's laying down.  I've even learned to take a little nap here and there (let's face it, teaching is exhausting, especially with an infant) and it's so nice to rock her beside me while I'm resting.  

When my mom picks up Avery to watch her for the day, she also picks up the Rock n' Play.  We have all learned to love the power of nap time!  

Okay, I said 5 favorite baby things, but this must be added to the list.  For Christmas Avery's Nonni bought her this Tiny Love Princess Mobile and Avery just loves it.  It spins around and plays sweet, soft music.  She will lay in her crib for thirty minutes and watch the mobile go round so mama can get some things done.

Buyer beware, these things run through batteries, so have some extras on hand just in case!    

Other favorite things worthy of a mention...

Boppy pillow, Bumbo seat, white onesies, soft toys, wrist rattles, Medela pump and parts, fleece blankets, thick hooded bath towels and crinkly toys/books.  

Have a question on a baby product?  Please let me know and I'd be happy to pass a recommendation on!  

Avery's Growth So Far

I've never seen anything grow so fast in my life!  Stay small little girl, it's going by too quickly! 

From Avery

Hi blogger friends. My mommy is so busy educating fifth graders and taking care of me that she has no time to blog. She hopes to get it together sometime soon. Meanwhile, I am getting so big and mommy thought you all would like a new photo of me. I really am so cute.

Love,

Avery

First Day of School

Today I started my first real teaching job. I'm an official fifth grade teacher. It was overwhelming to even think of going to work while Avery was so little, but I'm really excited about it. I have spent the past few weeks preparing and working in my classroom. Here are a few pictures I snapped this morning before our busy day.

I also got my hair chopped off by an over zealous scissor stylist. I'm definitely shorter than I wanted to be but I worked my round brush this morning, and I worked it good. I'm also not sure about the darkness on the very bottom and underneath. Hmm.

Happy New Year

Happy 2012 friends! I resolve to blog more in the new year, like more than twice a month.  Ahem, December. My main excuse is this precious peach that keeps me on my toes 24/7.  But don't you worry, Christmas season recaps to come!

Our Christmas Card 2011

{via Tiny Prints}

Avery at One Month

Avery is one month old!  Here's what she's up to...

Weight:  10 pounds, 3 ounces (75th percentile)

Length:  21 5/8 inches (75th percentile)

One month checkup:  At our monthly checkup Avery got the Hepatitis B shot and screamed bloody murder.  I'm not sure who it hurt worse though, Avery or her mama.  I cried like a baby too.  The doctor thinks she may have some reflux issues, so we are elevating her a bit.  I'm still off of dairy and soy for the meanwhile to see if that helps with the colic.  Colic is so hard to deal with.  The child screams nonstop.  I'm actually looking forward to her being a little older and for the colic to subside.      

Sleep:  Avery is doing very well at night.  I nurse her around 10 pm and put her right to sleep in her crib.  She wakes up around 3:30 to nurse again and then usually sleeps until around 7.  There have been nights where she has slept a lot less (or maybe even more).  She must be swaddled with white noise playing in the room.  I change her quickly and nurse her all in the dark.  It helps her to stay very sleepy.  

Days aren't as great.  She fights naps like a champ.  It takes up swaddling her and rocking her in the FP Rock 'n Play sleeper to get her down for a nap.  She doesn't nap terribly long unless we are in the car and out and about.  Yesterday I took her to Nordstrom for lunch with my best girlfriend and mom.  She slept through our entire lunch and proceeded to scream the rest of the time in Nordstrom.  Now, I am not one to have a crying baby out in a public place but my mom was there and walked her outside and calmed her down while I got some shopping done.  

Eating:  Avery is a healthy little eater.  Sometimes she wants to nurse every hour and it's hard to keep up a supply.  I've started to supplement a bit of formula because sometimes she is so hungry she will scream until she gets food.  The doctor put her on Alimentum formula for fussy babies with milk sensitivity.  This is only a supplement and not for her main nutrition source.  She is still hurting me a bit when she nurses.  I hope this resolves soon because mama is sore! 

Play time:  Avery loves to lay on her activity mat and watch the hanging animals.  Sometimes I see her try to swat at them.  She is tracking very well with her eyes and is able to see a lot more than she did several weeks ago.  She likes to look at pictures in books and even a baby flashcard app I put on my iPhone.  She loves her Boppy newborn lounger and will move her arms and legs all around when she lays on it.  Although she seemed to like her swing a lot in the beginning, we don't use the swing much.  She will cry very quickly if we leave her in it for too long.  

Scariest moments of the month:

• We called 911 for her last weekend.  I was nursing her at my parents house and she started to choke and didn't catch her breath very well.  My mom grabbed her to get her to burp and she stopped crying and was very still.  Scary!  We think it went down the wrong way and it took her little body a few moments to get herself back together.  The paramedics came to listen to her and said she sounded okay.  Later on she spit up some bloody mucus, so needless to say my sleep was shot that night.  
• We use an Angelcare monitor and it went off last night three times.  I don't think I've ever lept out of the bed faster than I did at 1 am.  It was terrifying.  I ended up sleeping (sort of) in the nursery chair so I could be with her and so my husband could get sleep without me freaking out every five minutes.  My theory is that she was in such a deep sleep that her movements weren't detected.  I called Angelcare customer service and I've set it up to the highest sensitivity level and they want me to call back tomorrow and let them know how tonight goes.  

Best moments of the month:  

• We've enjoyed watching Avery grow over the past five weeks.  She is a joy, a very loud joy, but a joy nonetheless.
• Taking her to church.
• Cuddling up with her on these chilly fall days. 
• We have taken her out a lot because A) mama needed to get out of the house and B) I like for her to be out and used to the noises around her.  
• Halloween and Thanksgiving were very special having our sweet girl with us.  
• We even took her out to a Christmas tree lighting downtown but the night ended early because Miss Fussy wasn't having it.  
• At the Hanging of the Greens service at church Avery got to hang an angel ornament on the tree.  She was so sweet and good for most of the service.  

Christmas Tree Lighting 

Thanksgiving

And we learned that headbands aren't quite her thing.  Oh well.