The hardest part about being a parent of two so far has been entertaining my toddler, Raylee, while I tend to the baby. When I need to breastfeed Ruthi or put her down for a nap, basically all of my attention needs to go to the baby. That means that Raylee needs to keep herself busy, but she's a toddler so that doesn't come easily. I have been compiling a list of the toys and activities we use to keep our toddler busy. We use these as tools to help her entertain herself so I can focus on the baby when needed. Even if you just have one kid, sometimes mama needs time to check email or make Continue Reading
Fine, I’ll Say It. I Don’t Like Breastfeeding.
I have a feeling I'm going to get some flack for this post. But you know what, that's OK. Because in this space, I'm all about being real. And a lot of times in the hardships of parenthood, or really life in general, we tend to think we are alone. Alone in our feelings, alone in the struggles. But we aren't. And if we could all just be real and open and honest and even, raw, then maybe others would feel not so alone. Maybe, just maybe, by being open with each other we can push the clouds apart to let the sunshine through. So here it goes. I'll say it. I just don't really like Continue Reading
Getting Enough Calcium: Breastfeeding Nutrition for Mamas
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation on behalf of Viactiv that contains affiliate links. I received Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews for my own personal use. This post is not intended to address or diagnose any medical conditions. All opinions, text, and experiences are my own. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, or planning on becoming pregnant, speak with your healthcare provider if you have any specific health questions or prior to Continue Reading
How to Choose a Breast Pump
As I've said before, breastfeeding was really hard for me at first. We had trouble getting a good latch, my breasts were sore all the time, and Raylee was eating constantly (or at least it seemed like it). So during that first month, to help me out and give me a little break, my husband would give our daughter a bottle twice a day. I would pump using a breast pump during those times, but it also gave me a chance to sleep a little longer. For me, pumping was a way to grow a stash of milk to keep in the freezer and a way to give myself a break from the constant breastfeeding. For others, they Continue Reading
My Favorite Nursing Clothes
Breastfeeding can be difficult, especially at the beginning. Now that I have been nursing my daughter for over two months, I feel like we have finally gotten the hang of it. The biggest thing that helps me now is having nursing clothes. It makes it so much easier to breastfeed her at home and out on the town when I have nursing tops on. At first, I had a hard time finding nursing clothes. Your average store doesn't have a nursing section. A lot of them don't even have maternity sections. But in the last two months, I've found some nursing clothes that I love. It's all I wear now! So, if you Continue Reading
My Breastfeeding Essentials
As I mentioned in my post about the first month of motherhood, breastfeeding was not what I expected. Everyone had told me what a wonderful experience it is. You'll bond with your baby through breastfeeding. You won't want to stop. Since I knew it was the natural way to feed my baby and I knew all the benefits of my breast milk for her, I knew I wanted to breastfeed. There was no doubt in my mind. God created us to do this, so it will come easily and naturally -- right? Wrong. My Breastfeeding Journey The first week of breastfeeding was terrible for me. In the hospital, she latched Continue Reading
The First Month of Motherhood
I didn't know it was going to be like this. I've wanted to be a mom my whole life. When people would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up, more often than not my answer was "a mom." Thanks to lots of babysitting throughout my life, I always thought I'd be a good mama. I thought motherhood would come easily. And then she was born. We left the hospital with our brand new daughter, and suddenly my entire life was different. Not only am I trying to heal and recover from delivering an 8 pound human and getting a fourth-degree tear in the process, but I'm also trying to take care of said human. Continue Reading