Finally.... OUR home.

It's amazing how our apartment was just that... An apartment. We didn't have any pictures of our family hanging up- bedsides in Eli's room. We finally bought some frames from IKEA and printed the pictures we took a few weeks ago. We have loved having them up reminding us we are a family! A happy eternal family. It just makes me smile to walk in the living rom and see everyone up there :) Now our little nest doesn't look so generic. It's ours!!

P.s. I realize the pictures are poor quality, it's taken on the iPad. But that's the only way I can get any pictures up right now, so take it or leave it ;)

Solid foods...attempt 1

Last night we tried Eli with some solid foods... Well just rice cereal. He was not impressed! I used breast milk to dilute it, so it wasn't the taste that he didn't mind, he just wasn't ready to try food. I guess he likes mommy better. Haha.

Nursing 101

I had a few thoughts recently as I have a few friends who are excepting babies. My mom was very open with me with nursing and it helped me feel 100x more comfortable, when it could have been a scary thing.

1. Lanolin. The end. Put it on every single time before you nurse and take a shower and it will prevent cracking and bleeding nipples. It still hurts when baby latches on for a couple weeks, but this stuff is amazing!
2. Patience. When baby is drinking colostrum it seems to take forever! I think I nursed for 40 minutes (20 on each side) while in the hospital and until my milk came in, but it felt like an eternity. Once your milk comes in you'll have enough for twins!
3. If you are planning on exclusively breast feeding just get a cheap breast pump. It will help relieve you when you are engorged. Showers help too with let down. I have an even flow pump and its great. I use it occasionally when I need to pump for a date or something.
4. Enjoy the snuggle time. Even if its 3 am, it's an incredible feeling to just watch your sweet one eat and see how perfectly they fit in your arms.
5. Keep a water bottle and box of granola bars or some snack where you nurse most often, while they are sucking the life out of you, you gotta replenish!
6. I found that boppy (the nursing pillows) were more convenient for laying baby on to nap but too big to help me nurse. I just prop up my elbow with a pillow.
7. I forgot to mention that very first you should take a breast feeding class. We took one through the hospital in my third trimester and another one in the hospital after I delivered. So many good tips! Use the lactation specialist too when you are in the hospital. I didn't need to, but they are there to help.
8. Get a bracelet or one of those clips for your bra to remind you which side you are on. It is so hard to remember in the night and you want to keep it equal between sides.
9. Nursing bras! I got the maternity seamless duo from jc penny's. they are great. So comfortable and come in small, medium, and large which is so nice during engorgement and when you are really full.
10. Get lots of nursing pads. My favorite were made by Lansinoh. After about 3 months my milk was more stable and I made my own with flannel and fleece which work great and save me money. Check them out on Pinterest.
11. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I had my mom to ask and she helped me realize when I had thrush (OUCH) or you can call the la leche league for free for advise, or they can come to your home to watch you and baby latch on.
12. I truly love nursing and want to do it as long as Eli does. Whether that be 9, 12, or 18 months its so rewarding.

Hope these few tips help!

Ooh dear.....

Well, good news first. I am still alive and we had a wonderful thanksgiving visiting family In Idaho. Bad news: the blogger gods have decided to not let me post any more pictures. It says I used up all my free space and either have to delete posts or pay for storage space.

And... Up until about 10 seconds ago I couldn't post on my iPad. I found the app and viola! Posting while rocking baby. Perfect!

Long story short, I will try to figure a way around the picture thing, but in the mean time I will try to at least post something.

Oh! Well it at least let me post an iPad picture. We just ordered a high chair for baby, since it is about time for him to start foods! He is just sitting hanging out, helping me cut fabric for my etsy orders :) I think he likes sitting up instead of being down on the floor. After his bath he was just too tired to eat, so maybe tomorrow night!

craft time!

So i'm sure everyone knows how much I love decorating for the holidays and Christmas!!  We are traveling up to Idaho for Thanksgiving so I am starting my decorating this week, that way when we get home we are ready for Christmas!

 

I have very few Christmas decorations, and very few dollars in my decorating budget ;)  Here are a few easy ideas I have plans to make.  Thanks to Pinterest of course

 

how easy and cute would these guys be on your balcony or porch?

 

A bowl of these would be so pretty all through winter, not just Christmas

using your 40% off coupon you can get wood or cardboard letters at Hobby Lobby or Joann's for only a few dollars!

Dollar Tree or Walmart snowflakes glued together and tied with ribbon. Easy!

(All these ideas are on my Christmas board on Pinterest)

And needless to say Christmas music has been going full speed for the last couple weeks!  I played it while I was pregnant with Eli, and he LOVES it now!  He will instantly light up and laugh when I sing the songs to him.  Sorry, I will NOT be posting a video of this, since it includes me singing (gag) but you can imagine his sweet smile and laugh! 

 

Plus, what is so wrong with Celebrating Christ's birth by singing Christmas tunes... all year?!  :)