Win a 100 Dollar GC to Swimsuits for All @ Mom of Two Dancers

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This swimsuit is my favorite:

My Week So Far

I had a great time with my big sis. She is 3 years older than me. We are great friends, I think. I think she would agree. She seems to be doing better with my brother's death so far, but every day is hard for her, I think. She is single and has a lot of time to think about things.
We spent most of the week watching Bones. Hahaha, I'm glad to say that I've gotten her addicted to this show. It's one of my favorites. Jen thought it was an awful show, without even watching one episode. So I force-fed her a couple of episodes and after that she was hooked. I've converted my sis lol. ;)
Also, I went to Walmart and got a pattern for a little jumper dress and some Spongebob material and made Anna a Spongebob Dress. I sewed it by hand because I have no sewing machine. I'd love a sewing machine, but I think I did pretty good without it. Anna loves her new dress. ;)
About a week ago Anna started to sign along with "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in the car. It was funny because I hadn't signed the whole song to her in a long time. She caught on so fast. Children have fantastic memories! When we were in Walmart picking out the pattern, Anna was singing and signing. When she sings she says, "Teetle, teetle... how I..." It's completely adorable. I was looking for the pattern and Anna was singing and signing. At first Paul was pretty confused... he didn't know what she was doing, then he realized she was signing "world" and "diamond" and realized she was singing Twinkle Twinkle!
My week was great. It was wonderful to spend time with my sister!!!
Above are a couple of camera phone pics from this week so far...

Memorial Day Weekend

We're about to leave here and go visit my sister for the holiday weekend. May your weekend be blessed!


Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com

Answers!

Thank you for all of the great questions. I'm answering a little early. It's Thursday night... almost Friday morning. I'm going to go see my sister on a spur of the moment visit.

Here are the answers to your questions:

Shannon @ Gabi's World said...

How did you meet your hubby? (If you haven't already answered this)

How many kids do you and your hubby plan on having? When are you going to be trying again?

That's all I got for now!

I met my hubby when I was sixteen and a half years old at church. I grew up in a very small town called John Day. You can look it up if you wish. It's really small. His parents were ministering at a nearby town thirteen miles away (that's nearby for there!). I first heard of their family moving in probably when I was thirteen or so and I remember my mom telling me that the oldest boy was cute. I thought I was a smarty. I decided to ignore my mom. Who wants to listen to their mom on that kind of advice? Not to mention, I was pretty sure that all pastor's sons were huge losers. You know, the Star Wars-acting-out-kind who likes to watch Power Rangers in their spare time (ok... so I was looking at my pastor's son for this particular conclusion lol. We met on an Easter Sunday just about six months before his family moved away. I thought he was CUUUUUUUTE. He was one of those guys with the baggy jeans and the chain around the neck lol... nothing like I'd seen before (all guys in JD wore Wranglers if that's a hint to you). I helped him fix a high chair for a little boy his family watched. Soon after we started talking and writing letters to one another. It was that summer, just a few months later that I knew I was going to marry him. We told each other we loved one another. We married three and a half years later after our first year in college. I love my husband. I'm so thankful that God gave him to me. I'm also thankful he doesn't wear chains or jeans that show his butt-crack lol anymore!

If I had a choice I'd be working on number two baby right now. Can't because of finances right now. I love children. I adore being a mother!!! I'm not sure how many children we will have, but I hope that we have a large family (more than 3 children.) But I'm pretty sure God will give us what he wants to. Maybe we'll be one of those families with just two kids... maybe we'll be one of those families with ten lol! We will see!

Jenn said...

Hey that's what I was going to ask,hmm Who picked out your daughter's name you or your husband or both? There you go , now you have a few .

May 19, 2008 9:16 AM

I have always loved the names Anne and Anna. I was the one who decided on Anna. Anna's middle name was harder to decide. I felt from the beginning we were having a girl (totally God) so I spent my time looking at Girls names even before I was pregnant I was looking at Girls names (God again... that story another time!) Anna was at first Anna Beatrice, but I felt that was all wrong, so we kept searching. I wanted it to be a unique name (not Marie or Grace or Elizabeth... all common middle names for girls... even mine is Marie!) Paul always sang to me this song, "Daisy, Daisy give me your answer true. I'm half crazy all for the love of you!" You know the song? Anyhow, he sang that song to me one day when I was 17 weeks pregnant and we had a EUREKA moment. From that time on she was Anna Daisy!

Lisa & Gerald said...

Hey how is Anna going now with potty training ? Hope she's going great for ya

May 19, 2008 12:54 PM

So far Anna is doing great. We're not really actively potty training. I've decided to put her on the potty once a week and give her a chance to get a feel for the potty thing. I don't want her to scare away from it. But we are considering getting her a potty chair and panties and letting her do her thing and test the waters a little more... maybe go for a dip? :D We'll hopefully be buying the potty this weekend, depending if I can talk hubby into it. We'll see... I'll update any new potty details as they come. I'm hoping she'll be an easy trainer. So far all signs point to YES on the easy scale! ;)

Heather said...

Congrats on 18 months of breastfeeding!! I'd like to know who have been your biggest inspiration/encouragement in your breastfeeding journey. And who are the most influential in your commitment to breastfeed?

May 19, 2008 1:57 PM

Oh gosh, this is probably going to be the hardest question because I don't know the answer. From the beginning I wanted to breastfeed. I wanted to do what was best for her as far as diet goes. I knew about the benefits for mom and baby with breastfeeding. I never bought one bottle, although my MIL did. I never bought one thing of formula, although Similac sent me plenty. They sat untouched in my cupboard. I was basically determined. Not to mention my finances (college kids, we were) did not leave much room for formula, bottles, all of the things that went with that. I also knew what my body could do. I knew it could feed my daughter and do well. I knew my body would do a good job at it. Why give up free milk? So I breastfed from the beginning. I didn't have failure as even a distant option. This was how my daughter was going to survive and live. From me. And I loved it from the beginning. I remember crying... BAWLING while nursing my newborn. The connection between us while nursing was just amazing and IMMEDIATE. After such a rough labor I was... AM... certain that God gave this ability to me as a blessing. Every moment has been a blessing!
I never really had anybody in my life who was an example for breastfeeding. I knew my mom breastfed me until I was 6 months old. My MIL stopped at 3 months with all of her kids, but she was really supportive and still is of my extended breastfeeding. Thanks Mom!

MCC said...

Just started reading your blog so, if you've already answered this..sorry.

When I had my 3 daughters, the DR. encouraged me to breastfeed (of course). But since my Mom didn't breastfeed, she didn't support me doing it. I didn't have a group of ladies to help me or encourage me so I gave up. Do you find that common? That if Mom did or didn't, daughters follow suit?

May 20, 2008 6:55 AM

I've met lots of ladies who breastfeed and yes, I've found that lots of the ones who either wean early or don't breastfeed at all were not breastfed by their mothers, especially if the influential women in their lives don't support it. My own mom has been sending my subtle hints to wean my daughter since she was still little, ten months or so. "I told you you should've weaned her!" That kind of thing. But I can admit that we do not have a very close relationship at all. I love her very much, but we have never been emotionally close. So that did not effect me in any way. I'm thankful that my MIL who only breastfed for 3 months with each of her three kids has been so supportive. I remember reading once an article to her about the benefits of extended breastfeeding from Kellymom.com. She said afterwards, "Well, it's working for Anna! She is so bright and so healthy!" I'm very thankful for her. I've had lots of friends who have also tried to talk me into weaning, but I have ignored them also lol. But I've also had friends who have encouraged me (Violet, if you're reading this, Thank You!)

Margie G. said...

Since I am due w/my 2nd in just about a month, my question for you is how you keep the milk flowing!? LOL I seemed to dry up around 9 months with my son but I would really like to nurse longer this time.
I was so concerned about not feeding on demand but it backfired and my son used me as a human pacifier!? Ugh...I definitely need to get a nursing cover this pregnancy.
What is your best advice to help me nurse as long as I can (but I still like to do the bottle thing 1x day so my hubby can participate & so I can get out once in a while for some drinks!!!)

May 20, 2008 7:21 PM

Good question! Oh boy, but I'm not an expert. I can only tell you what I did...
I exclusively breastfed Anna. I also Breastfed on Demand (not scheduled, fed her when she was hungry). She had formula on three occasions. The first time was before my milk came in and my hubby talked me into letting her take a bottle because she was cranky and I was laid up in bed and in pain and on pain killers which made me loopy (PS NEVER take Perkoset!!! Not only is it addictive it also causes horrible constipation!) The next time was when my daughter was 6 days old. I was in the ER for 6 hours (thank you Perkoset!) The next was when she was 2 weeks old. I hadn't slept in so long. My darling hubby fed Anna all night long and slept on the couch while I got some much needed sleep.She didn't like the formula, she spat it up a LOT. She was covered in stains the next morning and had the worst smelling poop ever (you know, with the exception of post introduction to solids poops lol). I have let her pacify herself on my breast as well. She stopped using her binky at 7 months old (weaned herself... although when she finds a binky that was hers a while ago, she'll start sucking on it go figure) but then decided mommy was better. At first I didn't care. She was sleeping. I was tired. It worked for us. Some people suggest letting baby pacify on the mother's breast if you are using BFing as birth control. But after a while I became very tired from it, especially as she neared a year and was bigger and hungrier.
I don't know what to do, but I would suggest that instead of using formula for your hubby's bottle feeds, I would use a pumped bottle of breast milk. The more formula introduced, the less your breasts will make. Your breasts are supply-and-demand. Once you are demanding less milk, then you will make less. Hope that all helps... sorry for the rambling. ;D

FireMom said...

I just found your blog (subscribing now!) from a random click. So happy to meet you!

Did your daughter grow at a normal rate? Was she small or big? I'm about to fight the good fight with my pediatrician at LittleBrother's next (6 month) appointment. He's falling below his own set curve and ... I'm scared of what the doc is going to suggest.

Anyway. Nice to meet you!

May 21, 2008 11:34 AM

Hi Fire Mom! Nice to meet you! I'm glad you are reading my blog! Sorry I won't be around until next week, but I usually blog quite a bit.
Did my daughter grow at a normal rate? OH HECK NO!!! but not in the same way LittleBrother has not grown at a normal rate. She was 7 lbs and 11 ounces at birth and 20 inches long. At two months old she was 12 lbs 12 oz and just one week later she was 8 ounces heavier and over 13 pounds. By 4 months old she was 4 ounces shy of 18 pounds. By 6 months she was 20 pounds 3 ounces. She was always in the 90th + percentiles in height and weight. But she has since slowed down quite a bit. She is only (I use the word only lightly) 25 pounds now. I say only meaning that she has only gained 5 pounds in the last year. She gained the majority of her weight in the beginning of her life. I blame that on fatty rich milkshakes in these breasts and on demand feeding (not a problem... made it easier on me as far as not needing a schedule, but boy howdy did she grow fast!!!)
I hope that LittleBrother's appointment goes well!!! Good luck!

Fire Mom, Leah added in the comments:

The only thing I would add is this...to Firemom: MOST breastfed babies fall off the standard growth chart after 4 months. The growth charts are made for FORMULA fed babies, not breast. She can check with La Leche League or probably even google a breastfed baby growth chart to show her pediatrician that the standard of growth is different for exclusively breastfed babies. This has been the case w/ all of mine and yes, I have had to fight the good fight as well.
((from me, I am sorry, I forgot about this... I'd check out Kellymom.com I saw a growth chart for breastfed babies there. Kellymom is a great resource!!!)

Stephanie said...

Do you co-sleep with your little girl...and what led you to your decision?

Yes, I do co-sleep with my daughter. You know, I never thought I would co-sleep. I was so paranoid about all of the risks that people talked about with co-sleeping. When my daughter was born, from the very minute she was born, she refused to sleep in the little isolette at the hospital. She only slept while being held. By about a week later, my husband and I were exhausted. I was falling asleep mid-sentence (very interesting experience), mid-everything really. We were so tired it wasn't even funny... well, it was a little funny! But one day after breastfeeding Anna while lounging in bed with the pillow behind my neck and Anna on my nursing pillow, I just fell asleep. I woke up maybe an hour later with Anna peacefully STILL SLEEPING!!! How could it be? This little girl woke every minute, right? Nope, she was peaceful as ever next to her mommy's warm body. From that moment on, we knew our miracle answer to sleep. We began to co-sleep. I am such a light sleeper (seriously, even uneven breathing wakes me up!!! How strange, huh?) So I knew that rolling over on Anna was not even a possibility with us (although I did wake up and check her breathing like every half hour for the first year of her life lol!!! I still do, but not so often!) I also researched safe ways to co-sleep with your baby. And if you are wondering if it's an issue, Paul and I do not consume alcohol... more for religious reasons, really. Not because we are commanded to, but we like to keep our minds clear... plus, I don't like the idea of vomiting in a toilet with a migraine--ok I'm off track again! I think with the next baby, though. I will still co-sleep. It made it so much easier for breastfeeding (and for my paranoia... LOL) but I think that when he/she turns around 6 months, we'll start transitioning to a crib more, or co-sleeper, or something like that... especially for naps. With Anna I let her nap in my arms for every daytime snooze until she was around 5 or 6 months old. Literally. She didn't sleep in her crib until then! I just wanted to be around her for every moment and not miss one new thing... it's hard to describe. But I'm realistic and I know that with the next baby that won't be too possible. Anna will need me more and my attention will be divided. With how fast Anna grew, if the next baby grows that fast, then baby-wearing won't be possible either. I couldn't carry Anna in a carrier after she was 3 months old. She was too heavy for my 5 foot 1 inch frame! But we sure did do a lot of cuddling on the couch!!! :)

Favorite Foto Friday

This week's theme is to basically pick the one photo that you loved the most this week. This week I've posted lots of photos my daughter from the day she turned 18 months. You can scroll down to look at them. I have loved them all. :) There are even more. I'll share them later this coming week. I'm going to go visit my sister Jen in Southern Oregon over the weekend. She has been much more sensitive to my brother's passing and often has hard times dealing with it, that plus she has been having issues with her boss who is heartless when it comes to her depression... he thinks she should've gotten over it by now...... GRRRRR.... But enough about that. If anyone asks, that's where I shall be for the next few days. I will be back on Monday! May you all have a great weekend! I'll check my blog before I leave tomorrow afternoon.
Love, Sarah

This is among my favorite photos of my daughter this week. I love this smile! :)
CLICK TO ENLARGE.

To see more FFF posts, see the main list at Kiss the Frog 4 Me.

From the News: Breastmilk Contains Stem Cells

http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20081102-16879.html

The Perth scientist who made the world-first discovery that human breast milk contains stem cells is confident that within five years scientists will be harvesting them to research treatment for conditions as far-reaching as spinal injuries, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

But what Dr Mark Cregan is excited about right now is the promise that his discovery could be the start of many more exciting revelations about the potency of breast milk.

He believes that it not only meets all the nutritional needs of a growing infant but contains key markers that guide his or her development into adulthood.

“We already know how breast milk provides for the baby’s nutritional needs, but we are only just beginning to understand that it probably performs many other functions,” says Dr Cregan, a molecular biologist at The University of Western Australia.

He says that, in essence, a new mother’s mammary glands take over from the placenta to provide the development guidance to ensure a baby’s genetic destiny is fulfilled.

“It is setting the baby up for the perfect development,” he says. “We already know that babies who are breast fed have an IQ advantage and that there’s a raft of other health benefits. Researchers also believe that the protective effects of being breast fed continue well into adult life.

“The point is that many mothers see milks as identical – formula milk and breast milk look the same so they must be the same. But we know now that they are quite different and a lot of the effects of breast milk versus formula don’t become apparent for decades. Formula companies have focussed on matching breast milk’s nutritional qualities but formula can never provide the developmental guidance.”

It was Dr Cregan’s interest in infant health that led him to investigate the complex cellular components of human milk. “I was looking at this vast complexity of cells and I thought, ‘No one knows anything about them’.”

His hunch was that if breast milk contains all these cells, surely it has their precursors, too?

His team cultured cells from human breast milk and found a population that tested positive for the stem cell marker, nestin. Further analysis showed that a side population of the stem cells were of multiple lineages with the potential to differentiate into multiple cell types. This means the cells could potentially be “reprogrammed” to form many types of human tissue.

He presented his research at the end of January to 200 of the world’s leading experts in the field at the International Conference of the Society for Research on Human Milk and Lactation in Perth.

“We have shown these cells have all the physical characteristics of stem cells. What we will do next is to see if they behave like stem cells,” he says.

If so, they promise to provide researchers with an entirely ethical means of harvesting stem cells for research without the debate that has dogged the harvesting of cells from embryos.

Further research on immune cells, which have also been found in breast milk and have already been shown to survive the baby’s digestive process, could provide a pathway to developing targets to beat certain viruses or bacteria.

Yet another awesome reminder of what breastmilk does for our little ones! :)

Win a True Fit Car Seat @ Seven Dogs and a Baby

Seven Dogs and a Baby is having a great giveaway for a True Fit Car Seat! This car seat is the only one you will ever use. It can be used for a baby 5 pounds to a toddler size 65 pounds! CLICK HERE for a chance to win! Blog about it for another chance!

Win a $100 GC @ Good for the Kids

Good for the Kids is having a Grand Re-Opening Giveaway for a one hundred dollar gift certificate to their wonderful store!!! Just click here for a chance to win! Blog about it for another chance! Good luck!

My Little Girl is a Happy Panda!

Anna is now on the Happy Panda website! CLICK HERE and see who is in the last photo! You'll see someone familiar! :)

Thank you all for helping me decide which photo to choose! This photo received the most votes:

Wordless Wednesday: Lovin on Baby

My daughter turned 18 months old on the 19th. These are two of the photos of my daughter loving on "Baby" her dolly.
Also CLICK HERE to see two more photos and help me decide which one you like most. Thanks!

Chesapeake Ribbons!

I recently won 3 of Chesapeake Ribbons' bows. They came in the mail today. They are beautiful. They aren't teeny little bows, either (which is what I expected), they are the huge poofy girly bows! I'm so excited!!! I can't wait for Anna to have enough hair for ponies and bows. You might call me obsessive... I can't deny it, though! ;)

Anyhow, here are the 3 beautiful bows that I received from Chesapeake Ribbons:

The Lauren Bow! This bow is big, poofy, girly, and even a little silky soft. I love it!
The next bow I won is the ultra-girly, pink and white polka dotted Meggan Bow. It's so adorable that I want to cry because Anna doesn't have enough hair for it yet (actually I did put it in her hair, but she yanked it out---yowch! Maybe give it a year?)
My last bow, the Valentine Bow is really adorable! I'm praying Anna has enough hair for it for next February 14th! Mine actually is red with white hearts. It's so cute!!!
Thank you Chesapeake Ribbons!!!
Also, see CR's blog by clicking HERE!

Also, Chesapeake Ribbons is a proud sponsor of the upcoming Cyber Baby Shower in July!

Woman Breastfeeds EIGHT Babies!

CHENGDU, China - A Chinese policewoman is contributing to the country’s massive earthquake relief effort in a very personal way -- by breastfeeding eight babies.

A newspaper in Chengdu, the capital of quake-hit Sichuan province, devoted a special page to the 29-year-old woman, calling her a “hero.”

The woman from the quake-ravaged town of Jiangyou has just had a child herself, the Western Urban Daily said.

She is nursing the children of three women who were left homeless by the quake and are too traumatised to give milk, as well as five orphans, the report said.

The babies who lost their parents have been put in an orphanage which does not have powdered milk, it said.

An estimated 50,000 people were killed in the May 12 earthquake, China’s worst natural disaster in a generation.

SEE SOURCE ARTICLE HERE.

Making milk truly is a superpower! This woman is my hero!!!

Help Me Decide!

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

Hi! I took photos of Anna in her Fabulous onesie from Happy Panda Baby. I have to decide between the two following photos, but I'm not sure which one! I love the first one because her eyes look so green and big and I love her expression. I also love the second because she has her hands up and it's so adorable (by the way, I said Praise Jesus and she stuck her hands in the air... so cute!) but I also love her expression here, too. So which one would you choose?
Thanks, Sarah

18 Months Old Today

Today marks two very special occasions. One I knew immediately, that my daughter is eighteen months old today, and the other I didn't think too much of it until another lady celebrated her anniversary... today marks eighteen months of breastfeeding. One and a half years. It's hard to believe it. I've been very blessed that my breastfeeding experience has been blessedly uneventful. Breastfeeding has been relatively painless... I think. I seem to have a high pain tolerance. And I've never had to deal with Mastitis (thank God!)... my sister had it with two of her four children and it led to her weaning her youngest at around 8 months. That would've been heartbreaking for me. I cherish this experience. It's a blessing! I've only had plugged breast ducts on three or four occasions. If I'm right that can lead to Mastitis, but I've always been able to catch it immediately and relieve the clog very quickly. Anyhow... here is a photo taken yesterday of my daughter on the eve of her 1 and a half year birthday.
PS: Do you know how difficult it is to get an eighteen month old (or a toddler of any age, for that matter) to sit still enough for a photo to turn out clearly? Plus I use the digital feature on my camera and IT STINKS!!! Here's to praying for a better camera. Maybe I'll win one? LOL. That would be nice! ;)

PPS: Sorry you all have to read my complaints about the camera so much. It takes great footage, but the photography sucks. *sigh*

Breastfeeding Fact O' The Week

Tandem Breastfeeding

Do you need to wean in order to become pregnant again? No, you do not. Although I am sure there is a small percentage of women who must in order to become pregnant, but it is far from impossible.

Some women might worry that if they breastfeed a toddler then there won't be enough milk for the new infant. This is not true. In fact, our breasts are amazing things. They will create enough milk for two children at any volume. Tandem breastfeeding often helps to meet the needs of two children. The older child will not be left out and will get that one-on-one special nursing time with mom, too. You'd be surprised at how often this is practiced all over the world.

For more information, click here or here.