Extreme Pumping

I've invented a new sport!  I can't believe I didn't post about this sooner!!!

Last Friday, I strolled into my makeshift mothers room for my morning pump session, and came to the frightening realization that I had forgotten my pump.

Panic strikes...WHAT IF I CAN'T PUMP ALL DAY?!....I'LL EXPLODE!!!!!   

After calling my mom, Casey, and my dad, I decide to meet my dad halfway between my office and Fountain Thrills to pick up my pump.  This is all well and good, except loads AND LOADS of time are being wasted.

Then...a flash of brilliance...YES!...I will pump while I drive, in an effort to recoup some of my lost morning!!! It can't be that hard, right?

Wrong.

I drive a manual.  And the route to and from my office happened to be under construction that morning...  So there was a lot of stop and go, and A LOT of staring.  I can only imagine the number of people that saw my ladies in action that morning....pretty much anyone in a truck or SUV could look right into my car.  It didn't matter to me though, because I was on a mission.  It all worked out in the end; I got my pumping session and Lulu had milk for her next time at Auntie Fallon Daycare*. 

Maybe I'm falling into a pattern of extreme breastfeeding in general....first I was the boob dangling momma, and now I'm the extreme pumping momma!  The things I do for this sweet face...

*Auntie Fallon has taken over daycare duties for the time being, due to some medical issues Grandpa is facing.  Post on that to come...

Confessions of a Pumping Mother: Week 3

Confession #6:  Mrs. Right produces a lot less than Mrs. Left.  I'd venture to say about half as much...  I'm actually a little embarrassed for her.

Confession #7:  (completely unrelated to breastfeeding) I actually prefer my Infantino carrier to the Moby wrap.  Gasp!

Confession #8:  It finally happened...twice actually...someone was in my makeshift mothers room when I needed to pump. I ended up in an empty cubicle on the unoccupied portion of our floor....verrrry awkward, to say the least.

Maybe confession #5 jinxed me.....

Funnies

In these few months that Lucy has been with us, I have laughed more than ever before in my life.  I decided it necessary to start a list of all the good times....and of course share it with everyone!  Enjoy!!!

On our second night together, still in the hospital, Casey said to me, "I think she's pooping." and I said, "How do you know?"  Casey proceeded to imitate Lucy's pooping face.  

When my milk came in, my boobs transformed into miniature watermelons.  It literally hurt to lift my arms in the shower.  At one point Casey gave me the lightest of hugs, I don't think his arms were completely around me yet, and I yelled, "Not so tight!" 

One night, still half asleep, I groggily asked Casey to help me switch Lucy to my other boob.  He sat up to do so, and panicked.  Which made me panic.  In between us slept our dog, Daisy Doodle; but in our sleep deprived stupor we thought it was Lucy.  At this point Lucy was still sleeping in her bassinet, so I immediately yelled, "How did she get in the bed?  And why is she naked?!"  

During a recent family shower, the three of us were bouncing around, cooing and smiling in the water, and then all of a sudden...the poop face flashed across Lucy's face...quickly followed by a toot....and the immediate realization that Goose had just pooped in Casey's hand and all down his leg.

A recent trip to Costco was interrupted when the professional baby wearer (me) felt her feet getting splashed.  I looked down and said, "Oh my God she's peeing!"  Casey, my mom, and I just looked down to the floor, that was quickly pooling with pee, and froze. 

The most recent knee slapper was Lucy's first time swimming.  After a mere five minutes in the pool, Lucy spit up.  Like hugely spit up.  IN.THE.POOL.  

I expected being a parent to be rewarding.  I never expected it to be so funny!

The Three Stooges

My baby is phat.

Not FAT. 

Both of my siblings, most of Casey's siblings, Casey, and myself were all big babies (90th percentile and above).  My brother actually weighed 10 pounds at birth.  It was only natural for Lulu to follow in our footsteps. 

We love our big girl.  Big babies are the best babies.  Big babies are all I've ever known. 

I do not overfeed her.  And she is not a formula baby (no one ever believes this).  She is a perfectly healthy, perfectly beautiful baby girl.  We love each and every little roll on our Goose.

Today, at Costco, some jackass came up to me and said:

"WOW!  She's bigger than my six month old!"

And my response:

"WOW. I don't care!"

Happy as a clam, before "the incident"...

Confessions of a Pumping Mother: Week 2

Confession #3:  I am terrified of someone walking in on me while pumping.  I used to sit in front of the door, as a human barricade, but then my pump batteries died....so now I sit near the electrical outlet, opposite the door.

Confession #4:  I find pumping to be mildly uncomfy.

Confession #5:  I worry that this abandoned room used to be someone's secret hiding place before I converted it to a Mothers Room.  I dread the day that I walk into the room and someone else is already in there.

Reverse Cycling: A Working Mom's Worst Nightmare

Remember how Lucy wasn't the hugest fan of daycare not so long ago?  Well...she still doesn't *love* it, but she has adjusted somewhat over the past three weeks.  See:

That's a content Goose, if I've ever seen one.

That first week, though, THAT was brutal.  After finding a bottle that Lulu would accept, she suddenly decided to stop eating for Auntie Fallon and Grandpa.

Can you say stressful? 

As a new mom, already experiencing massive loads of guilt from returning to work, this killed me.  Day after day my dad and sister would tell me, "She's not eating" or "She's had two ounces over the last eight hours".  WHAT?!

I contemplated going home, meeting my dad halfway between home and work to feed her, and even taking time off work (permanently).  None of the above made any sense in the long run.  I called the pediatrician, who confirmed the obvious:  that she wasn't eating enough.  Big help doc, thanks a million!

One friend mentioned the possibility of Reverse Cycling (thanks, Kim!), and directed me to this website.  Kellymom has always been hugely helpful with all of my breastfeeding questions; I was actually kind of embarrassed that I hadn't thought to check there!

Reverse cycling is when a baby eats very little while momma is away, just enough to curb their hunger, and then nurses frequently and for longer periods when momma is home.  Apparently some women encourage this behavior so that they can pump less during the day.  I am not one of those mothers!

Reverse cycling is most common in breastfed babies that are just starting out on the bottle, but newborns can also experience it when they get their days and nights mixed up. 

While reverse cycling isn't anything to worry about, it is important for caregivers to monitor wet diapers and signs of dehydration.  Our pediatrician actually brought up the possible need for Pedialyte (also known as Baby Gatorade), should Goosey continue to not eat.  Thankfully it never came down to that!  After five verrry long days, Goosey started eating regularly; and we haven't had any problems since! 

 I eat so good now, Momma!  No more worrying!!!

Father's Day Festivities

You see that banner up there?  Lucy made that.  She and I busted out the finger paints and made cutest, most thoughtful Fathers Day gifts there ever were.  Not the easiest task, but definitely a fun one!

Casey is a little bit slobbish (his one flaw - sorry dear, you know its true)...  And so Lulu thought the perfect gift would not only make her Daddy smile, it would also make him organized!  Such a smart girl!  So she and I bought a little white pail, and covered it with her baby feets.  Needless to say, Papa Goose LOVED it!
 

After presents we headed out to brunch at one of our favorite restaurants.  Its always a good time maneuvering a car seat and a tray down the buffet line.  

We made our rounds around Fountain Thrills, spending some time with our families, and finished the day with the first swim of the summer:

Lucy didn't make it into the pool this time (we hope to bust out her bikini next weekend), but she DID rock her sunglasses poolside.