To Wean or Not to Wean...

By weaning I mean me weaning myself off breast feeding.  I have spent some time thinking about this and originally before I had Crosby, I thought, of COURSE I am going to BF for a year!  Right after I had him I thought that I am lucky if I am continuing this throughout my maternity leave.  I made it to the 6 month mark and I am pretty proud to say I was able to get this far.  I was planning on weaning myself before our trip to Napa/Sonoma/Portland over Labor day so that I would not have to pump on our first trip without Crosby, but I have decided to take my trusty pump along with me.  I was feeling guilty stopping the BF just because I wanted to not have to think about it on my trip....I know I should not feel guilty but I think this is just how its going to be with every decision I make as a mom.  Like the other day, I was buying formula..at first I picked up regular Similac formula, then after going through the entire store I was in, I went back to the formula isle and switched to Similac Organic formula, because if is Organic it has to be better, right?  Later that night I went onto the internet, and found out that the NY Times wrote an article about Similac's Organic formula and it is sweetened with cane sugar rather than lactose like the other formulas, so it is significantly sweeter than all other formulas...which may lead to childhood obesity, resistance to solid food, etc.  I also began reading about the other organic formulas and there seems to be some issue with those as well...about different toxins thought to be in Earth's Best or high arsenic levels in Baby's Only....I mean what the F????  How are you supposed to pick a formula that won't kill your baby or potentially harm them the rest of their life.  As a mom, I think I am going to continue to feel guilty about everything that I do to my child.  As far as formula goes, I am sticking with the plain, non organic Similac or Enfamil because its probably very similar to the stuff I was drinking, and I am doing okay!  Crosby is only getting one bottle of formula a day anyway.  He is now eating a variety of foods as well, he likes all things orange; carrots, sweet potatoes, and peaches.  He does not like green beans, avocado, zucchini, or squash, but if I mix these with sweet potatoes or carrots he loves them, wonder how long I will be able to do that.  All organic foods of course :)

Crosby is putting on some lbs with eating solids, he is gained a few more rolls on his thighs which is fun.  He is now starting to sit unsupported for about 10 seconds at a time before falling over, and he is curious about everything going on around him.  Yesterday he was smiling and laughing at Queso which was so much fun.  He is becoming more and more fun each day, I love this age!

Two of my best friends, Haddy and Dana, are both at 38 weeks now!  So exciting!! We are anxiously awaiting the arrivals of Louise and Ivy!  Can't wait to meet both of them!

Until next time!
NFH

Avocado YUCK! Sweet Potato GOOD!

We decided to start solids foods last week...mainly because it was a good week for us to start it and also because Crosby will be 6 months old on the 11th.  My pediatrician suggested we wait until he is 6 months old to start any solids.  I asked about rice cereal, because I thought all kids started on this but apparently not.  She said it does not really add any nutritional benefit besides iron so she did not recommend it but instead start on nutrient rich foods at 6 months.  So we started Crosby on avocado first, which he was not a fan of.  We tried it for 4 days, which is the amount of days you have to wait to introduce another food...just in case of an allergic reaction, then we gave him sweet potato.  He LOVED it!  Sweet tooth just like his dad!  Here are some pics!

Until next time!

NFH

Old post but never published...

Written on 6/17/13:

Yesterday, I got to hold one of my best friend's first child in my arms.  Wow was it an amazing feeling.  I started crying, which I never do, but it took me back to the feelings of holding Crosby for the first time and all the emotion that comes with that moment.  I remember in my sleep deprived state (first couple of weeks) thinking I can't wait until he is a month or so older and sleeping through the night!!  But I would give anything to have those nights back, maybe just a couple!  To be able to grab my little guy in the middle of the night, cuddle with him and nurse him back to sleep, they are so sweet in the first few months.  I will treasure those nights we had together, just staring as his face and thinking, wow, I am really a mom!  Time moves by so fast!  It was worth the sleepless nights, emotional crying, zoombie feeling, and pain!

Congrats Hilary and Nick, we already love baby Ford!

I already don't remember Crosby being this small!  This is not a great picture of either of us but captures the moment just shortly after he was born!

Mumford and New Friends!

On Saturday Jeff and I went to Mumford and Son's out at Circuit of the Americas.  It was an amazing show.  It worked out so well for us because my sister, Holly, moved to Austin on Friday just in time to babysit Crosby.  We also rode in a van out there with Tom and some of his friends, perfect opportunity for me to drink and not have to worry about the kiddo!  Jeff and I got tickets from Liz's friends, Brooke and Derek, and we sat next to them during the show.  We had so much fun with them!  I remember in my drunken state Brooke saying it is a good thing Derek and Jeff do not live in the same city because they would get in a lot of trouble!  We ended up going out to Rainey Street after the show and drinking even more.  I was out until 1:30 and took a cab home, felt like old times!  Except when I had to wake up at 6AM to a crying baby!  Being hung over with a child SUCKS!!!  It is no longer as fun as it used to be.  I had to feed Crosby a bottle because I still had alcohol in my breast milk.  One of the highlights of my night was getting to pump in the public restroom, I sat on the toilet and put on my breast pump and sat in there for 15 minutes.  No one even noticed!  Sacrifices for breast feeding!  You never really get a break!

Mumford and Sons

Brooke and Derek

Starting to sit

My sister is officially in Austin, she moved from Atlanta.  She is starting her job as a nurse next week at St. David's rehab hospital, which is where I work!  Yay!  Crosby turns 5 months old tomorrow, I am wondering where the time went.  But this is by far the most fun he has been.  He smiles all the time, loves to stand and is now starting to tripod sit for a few seconds at a time!  This coming weekend we are traveling to FW for the first time since Crosby was born.  We are going to celebrate Baby Louise and the new mom to be!  Can't wait!  So many of my friends are expecting little ones soon, I am so excited to share this amazing time with them.

Dana due in August - Ivy

Hilary due any day now!  Come on Ford!

Hearin due with her second in September - Porter

Lori due with her second in August

Haddy due in August- Louise

High Chairs and Pumping

This weekend my parents were in town and we made a trip to Buy Buy Baby.  I just love this store!  I bought a high chair, sippy cups, and some spoons in preparation for solid foods.  I think we are going to wait to start until Cros is 6 months old but I was too excited to wait to buy these things!  The chair he is in is the OXO high chair, which Rachel and Liz both use and recommended.

Crosby in his new high chair

Working 4 days a week and pumping is hard!!!  I feel like I really have no down time at work because I am always pumping on my breaks.  Crosby eats 3 times at daycare around 7 ounces each feeding.  So I am pumping 3 times at work.  I usually get one really good pump and get about 6-7 ounces, but the other 2 times I am lucky if I get 4-5 ounces.  So this means I am not keeping up with him.  I have not had to supplement yet, because I built up such a supply prior to going back to work, but I might have to soon.  The other thing I am doing is feeding him in the morning and also pumping right after, which has helped.  I also started taking Mother's Milk plus supplements, thanks to Liz's recommendation, so we will see if these start helping my supply.  Overall, breastfeeding becomes much harder once back at work!

After a bath

Little Deli for dinner

Mom makes me do tummy time

Until next time!

NH

New Blog - Life as a New Mom

My life has changed drastically over the past 4 months, so I started this blog so I can share my thoughts about life as a new mom!

January 11, 2013 at 4:08 PM - I gave birth!

Crosby Grayson Hiddemen

I am now back at work 4 days a week.  I thought this would be very hard but it has actually been enjoyable.  I love what I do at work and now I appreciate my time that I get to spent with Crosby after work and on my day off each week.  I don't think I could stay at home full time, at least not now.  Ideally, 3 days of work would be the best.  One major drawback to Cros being in daycare is the sicknesses.

Lately, we have been dealing with sickness after sickness.  It really sucks!  Crosby has been sick off and on for about 3 weeks now.  He has had a fever, stuffy nose, and has been very fussy.  He has also not been sleeping in his crib as much and insists on only sleeping at night if he is being held.  Which makes for awesome sleep for me!  On Monday I thought he was free of this sickness and Jeff and I tried the "cry it out" method to get him to go back to sleep in his crib after 5 nights of not....he was able to put himself to sleep after about 45 minutes of crying initially, which was good, but at about 2:00 AM he woke up screaming and screaming for 2 FULL HOURS until finally going back to sleep.  Jeff and I checked on him every 10 minutes during those two hours so we were zoombies the next day.  On Tuesday I picked up Crosby from daycare and realized he had a fever of 102.4, so back we went to the doctor.  I felt bad for letting him "cry it out" the night before.  Yesterday we went back to the doctor and they ran some tests but said everything was fine and he would just need to wait it out...all we can use is tylenol to make him feel better.  Its hard feeling so helpless in making him better.  All he did was sleep and eat, no smiling which makes me sad!

Last night he slept all night! Yay! Today he is back to his old self!

Happy Morning!

4 Month Milestones:

- Rolling from stomach to back

- Reaching and holding things

- Able to hold his head steadier

- Much more alert and notices more things

- Big smiling, he thinks I am real funny!

I have a feeling he might be a little delayed in the crawling/sitting department....which is sad considering what I do for a living.  I have also done a lot of pediatric physical therapy, so obviously my child should be a rockstar in the gross motor department.  Probably not!  He hates being on his tummy and it is really torture to make him do it!  Oh well!  Hopefully they are doing at daycare!  He is also on the small side for his age which I think makes it harder to do things.