Life...

I was so excited to be able to take a walk yesterday with the entire family (excluding the cat...who really, if I could find someone or a shelter to take her, would be part of another family). I received a double jogging stroller for my B-day - after much pulling teeth of my MIL and SIL telling them that "Yes, I REALLY do want a jogging stroller for my birthday!!". So DH put it together yesterday morning and with the wonderfully beautiful weather this weekend, we all took a walk...JW, Miss J, DH, the dog, and I. It was sooo nice. We even stopped at the part for a bit for Miss J to run around and go down the slide a few times. Gosh, I remember last year when she was a little afraid to go down the big "bump" slide and now she has no fear...what a season does for growing up!!

We have been trying some cereal for JW lately. He liked it at first, but the last 3-4 times doesn't like it at all. So we tried some carrots on Saturday...mmm, liked them. Last night I tried some sweet potatoes...liked them BUT got violent screams from him about an hour later. Like the colic screams we used to get a month or so ago. Gosh, really brought back some memories. Funny how colicky he was for about 2-3 months...and now he is great, not that it was like an overnight thing, but funny how you do forget once things are hunky dorey. So, not sure if he didn't like something I ate (he nursed one side before bed then got this blood curling cry) or if it was the sweet potatoes. Might try them again later in the week and see for sure.

I needed to pull my book out on making baby food again. I did that with Miss J and was so surprised at how easy it was. I don't use organic foods or anything, but I think by making my own there aren't those additives, sugars, preservatives, or anything like that and they get a taste for what real food tastes like. I don't think Miss J ever had a jarred food...maybe I stocked some at school for her if I didn't bring any...but I was real picky about what I got her because there are so many of those jar foods that have so much extra junk in them. Anyway...I will get off my soapbox now...really I am not snooty or anything, I guess I just found some pride in making my own. And honestly, if I didn't have the time, I would probably find the best jarred food out there I could and give it to him...it won't kill him!! But really...have you tasted the jar food...some it is really doesn't taste anything like what it says it is. Ugh...but homemade sweets...mmmm, just like a sweet potato should!!

So JW is on his way to sleeping all the way through the night. He is down to a good routine at night. Ready to go to bed by 7pm (which is PERFECT!!). We take a bath most nights, lotion up, nurse, read a book or two, then down to bed. He goes down really well, and only up once a night. He slept through once last weekend...but unfortunately Miss J was up three times for some odd reason. And last night, despite JW's screaming fit, he was up at 10pm then slept till 5am. I would even be happy with that. No more 2am wakings!! So, we are on a roll I think!! And to think just 2-3 weeks ago I was struggling really hard with getting him to sleep, and after a routine and a few good CIO nights...we are on a roll!! Hope he can keep it up! I am ready for a good 6hour sleep night at least two nights in a row.

But then comes the boob part...now that he is sleeping through the night, my boobs are taking a beating. He doesn't drain them enough first thing in the AM so I also have to pump. And sometimes I have to pump after his last night feeding. But I can tell they are adjusting because I am starting to have problems making enough milk for him during the day...isn't that just the opposite problem I was having a couple months ago where I was stock piling soo much!! Haa...I also think I am going through the next hormone phase where my hair is falling out...A LOT...and my milk is taking a dip. I am trying to stay afloat though. I would like to exclusively BF at least another month. Anything to avoid the cost of formula for awhile longer. I mean, the cost of diapers is crazy...then to add formula on top of it...ugh. At least making homemade food saves us some $$, but really, jarred food is not that expensive. Anyway...I know that once he starts foods too that my milk may dip. I don't know...just go with the flow. I know I won't miss the pumping every day at work (which I am just getting in two pumps a day because my schedule is busy crazy). But I do enjoy the one on one we get when he nurses. He does this thing with his hand where he grabs at my shirt or bra and kind of pulls it down...almost like a baby animal nursing who bumps the udder to get more milk out (OK, so that sounds REALLY weird), but it is cute...and I feel close to him when we nurse. But other than that...I know I won't miss it. I nursed till about 7 months with Miss J. I think I started formula around 6 months...so, I will take what I can.

I guess for now that is it. There is more going on in life...but not enough time to update. Oh, I am leading a small group study on Believing God from Beth Moore...and that is going well. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the study, and surprisingly I am doing good. I have about 4 regular women that come. Not sure if it will turn into a regular group after this study...but for my first time leading a group, I would have to say all is well!!

Hope life is good for everyone else. I am sure I would keep up better with everyone if I were on Face book, but alas, I am not. I don't get online enough at home and I can't access it at work. So...all ya'll who haven't been blogging lately, are probably all over FB and I know I am missing out. Kind of like when everyone made the transition from the Nest to Blogger...now everyone is going to FB. Oh well...I will probably catch up one day. Until then, let me know you are out there!!

Have a great week.