Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Love, Elliott Faith :)

Our Very Own little Valentine

I mean, really. Who could possibly decline this precious little Valentine??

It would have been really cute and sweet to send out little Valentine's to Ellie's friends and family, but I am still working on sending out the final birth announcements and thank-you cards, so I was not about to spend anymore time, or money on postage, sending out additional pieces of mail. Instead, we took this picture,  and sent it via text and face.book to our loved ones. We got a great response!

We had a very quiet and sweet first Valentine's Day as a family. Our friends, Shaun and Crystal, who were graduate Students when Jared and I first started working with the CSF, brought over a dinner of mexican rice and bean burritos. The meal was soooo delicious! Basically, if you do the cooking for me, and it doesn't involve broccoli, seafood, or celery, I will think it tastes good!

In honor of the holiday of love, I set our table kinda fancy smancy - you know, table cloth, burgundy napkins and placemats, multiple sized forks, plates, and glasses.... and candle-less silver candlestick holders, because someone didn't realize we had burned all our table candles down to nubs. For my contribution to the meal I purchased some white and red sparkling grape juice - we party hard up in here - and tried my hand at chocolate covered strawberries. If you discount the fact that afterwards I was somehow covered head to toe in chocolate and dew drop sized burns from my ghetto rigged double boiler, they were a success! At least, my husband was very impressed. Not sure what that says about my here to now display of culinary art or skill....

It was a lovely evening catching up with friends, and lots of "Ellie admiring." For some reason, I didn't take a single picture of the even. UGH!

The day before I was induced, I ran to the store on my way home from work to pick up a few toiletries, and realized the Valentine's Day cards were already out on display. Having no idea what our life would be looking like leading up to Valentine's day with a baby, I went ahead and picked out cards for Jared, from myself and Ellie, and hid them away. Amazingly, I remembered where I placed them! Jared surprised both Ellie and I with cards of our own, a dvd for me - so sweet!

Mine and Jared's cards to each other

Ellie and Jared's cards to each other... melt my hear!

I decided to get crafty for his gift this year, and made something that I think will enjoy as a family for years to come. Shout out to Pinterest for this gem of a find! Sarah, at Life Sweet Life, was kind enough share this project of her for free - Thanks, Sarah!

The "I Love You Because" print is a free printable I downloaded and framed. Then you get a dry erase marker, and write whatever message you would like!

The frame is set right next to where Jared places his wallet, phone, and keys, so he can easily see it as he comes home and leaves for work. I try and update this at least every other day.

You can find you very own printable here!

Breast Feeding

How hysterically funny is this thing? Not sure if it is real and purchasable or not, but its been circulating on Face.book recently. Actually, my dad of all people showed me this! Ha

This is a scheduled post for the PAIL blogroll, coordinated by Elphaba, on you guessed it: Feeding babies via the Ta.Ta's ;) I apologize ahead of time to my dad and brothers, or any other guys, who occasionally read my blog. Don't worry, the above picture is is graphic as it gets.

For starters, let's start with my favorite breast feeding products.
(These products are linked back to BRU's website. I have not been sponsored by the store. This is just where I purchased my supplies. These are my own thoughts and opinions.)

• The Boppy: My mom is so jealous of this creation! This comfy little pillow is so helpful during those early days, after delivery, to keep the baby in an a comfortable nursing position, saving your back, arms, and shoulders until your "mom muscles" are nicely developed. It can also be used for tummy time for the baby, and as a positioner to help the baby sit up. I recommend getting the plain muslin boppy, and purchasing a cover(s). That way when life's little mishaps spew, spill, and squirt all over the much loved and used boppy, the cover can be removed and washed, and its as good as new

 http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2507965

• The Hooter Hider: Yes, this is really what they are called, and they are genius! The strap around the neck keeps the baby from batting the blanket down, keeping you modest and covered. The neck piece also has structure to it so that you and the baby can make eyed contact during the feeding, which I love. I also think it helps the babies not feel so isolated/smothered as they get older. I am a very private/modest person and wasn't sure how I would feel about breastfeeding in public, but I quickly realized/learned if I only breastfed behind closed doors, I would never  rarely be able to socialize. This thing goes everywhere with me, and Ellie and I have already eaten/fed in numerous social settings. I strongly recommend moms start using this early on in the nursing journey so the baby gets used to eating "covered." 

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4438709

• Soothies: these are pricey, but I would honestly pay twice as much for  them, they are that darn good. I realize lanolin is the "healer" of choice, but it honestly did not think it worked all that well for me. Soothies and vitamin E oil were my go to pain reducers/healers. The Soothies are usually good for up to 3 days. Most hospitals have samples of them, so be sure to stock up while you are there!

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3956438&prodFindSrc=search

• Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breastpump - On-the-Go Tote: Every nursing mother needs a breast pump - no questions asked! This pump came highly recommended to me by many moms and lactation consultants. Yes, it is expensive, however,  everyone who I  know that has one has been able to use them after all their pregnancies, for years. This is another item, I pack up and take everywhere with me. Don't worry... while I might be comfortable nursing in public, I am not going to be allowing the public to view this "cow-esque" experience anytime soon. Few things make you feel more animalistic then hooking yourself up to a breast pump.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10812796

• Medela Bottles and Accessories: I think the Medela brand bottles/nipples are the best compliment to breast feeding. All their bottles attach to the breast pump as well. I am not a huge fan of the breast milk bags, as I think they are difficult to handle and very easy to spill. Once you start pumping, you view your milk as liquid gold and even just a few spilled drops can nearly bring on the tears. 

 http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3502390&kw=3502390&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2255957&sr=1&origkw=3502390

• If you are going to be taking the time to pump, you need the hands-free options! This is what I use, and it is extremely comfortable and secure. While, I don't go around the house vacuuming or dusting while hooked up to my hands-free device, but I can do many sedentary activities while pumping, which is very nice/helpful when pressed for time.

 http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10816124

• Supplemental Nursing System: I recommend purchasing one of these and bringing it, unopened, to the hospital. You may not need it, in which case, you can just return it. However, if you are like me and your milk takes days to come in, this will save your sanity, life, and make your baby much happier. I did not have one, and luckily had a nurse who help us set up a makeshift system, but taping a feeding tube to your already sore bo.ob and attaching it to a syringe that someone has to hold over your shoulder is far from ideal. Either system gets the job done, and I credit this (and our 1.5 hour feedings until my milk came in - ugh) with keeping Ellie from having to use the bili-lights. Another cool use for this system is for adoptive moms who have to use formula but still want to experience the bonding that comes with nursing!

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/51/supplemental-nursing-system-sns

Those a my Product Pearls  to breast feeding success!

I used to tell my patients and their families all the time - Knowledge is Power - do your research!  As "natural" as breast feeding is, it doesn't just come naturally for many. Some babies are just not going to be good nursers, some moms realize they do not enjoy the process. It hurts, it takes time, and lots of planning. With all the post-pregnancy hormones swirling, breast feeding challenges can create the perfect environment for one stressed out mama!! Stress and breastfeeding are not good combinations, especially early on.

Find lactation consultants in your area before you deliver, and meet with them, if at all possible. Not all personalities are good fits. Do research on your own. Have support supplies (i.e sooties, mother's milk tea, etc..) bought ahead of time. 

Don't waste time reading/worrying about all the things that can go wrong - it will make you go crazy. Again, those hormones are not your friends at this point, and will drive you to the cliff of insanity. Instead, educate yourself on what's normal. This way when it is going good, you will great about yourself, and then when something isn't right, and you can take the steps to rationally and systematically deal with it. 

I am so thankful we chose the breastfeeding route and that, once my milk finally came in, Ellie was a nursing champ. It was hard at first, having to have help feeding her every 1.5 hours around the clock. It hurt way more then I ever expected, and way longer then I had planned (so so incredibly sore and cracked for 6 weeks, and still experience extreme, if intermittent soreness).

 It has been such an incredible bonding experience for me and Ellie. I adore the faces she makes as she comes towards me to eat - only nursing anticipation makes her express those faces. I love the way she looks up at me out of the corner of her eye while she eats. She even smiles sometimes during her few and brief breaks from gulping.:) 

I find it mind-boggling that God created my body to make the exact nutrients that my daughter needs. Its overwhelming at times and extremely humbling. Overwhelming in that, wow, how creative is our God?? Overwhelming in that, I have been given the gift to nourishing my daughter - a gift that I am responsible to guard and protect. Its a good practice for the how the choices I make now will affect Ellie in the years to come. Right now, the music I listen to or the TV I watch doesn't affect her all that much, although I am very mindful of what she is exposed to in the media realm. However, the simplest things, such as what I eat, do affect her in the here and now. These are baby practice steps for bigger decisions to come. Humbling, in that God trusts me enough to entrust me with the gift of nourishing my daughter, and the ability to do so. 

I know so many women long for those moments of feeding a baby at their breast, and have yet to experience it. I still find myself looking at my daughter, especially during our feeding times and saying "Wow God, why me? What did I ever do to deserve such an amazing gift?" And the truth is, I didn't do anything to deserve it. For some reason, I was one of the ones God chose to show His love to in the form of a child. If you are one of those who has yet to experience this gift of God's love, it doesn't mean He loves me anymore then He loves you, although trust me, I know it can feel like that times! He loves and treasures you so much, and has the best and perfect plan for your life. A plan that will display His perfect love for you over time!

Nursing isn't the right choice or option for everyone, and I sincerely wish moms wouldn't make other moms feel guilty about either choice. Parenting is about making the best choice for you and your family, and being secure in that choice. 

So there are my thoughts on Feeding Via the Ta.Ta's! I have been blessed to be surrounded by several lactation consultants and other nursing moms, and I feel like Ellie and I have experienced great nursing success, so feel free to ask me any questions!

And just because she is so stinking cute...

Holidays

Here is another post catching up on what has been going during my silence on the blogsphere. Probably not really all that interesting or thrilling for anyone other then myself, (and probably my mom!) but I want it recorded for my memory later on down the road.

We spent Thanksgiving in middle Tennessee this year with my family. It was the first Thanksgiving I have had back home since we were married - we have either spent the day in Knoxville with Jared's family, or with my dad's side of the family in the Tri-Cities of TN. Thank goodness we did, otherwise, thanks to my bed rest, I would not have spent any of the Holidays with my side of the family.

Most of the aunts, uncles, and cousins on my mom's side of the family gathered at my Nanny and PopPop Ambrogi's  (Italian much?) house for way too much food! The first year Jared spent a holiday with this part of my family, he thought the horderves were the actual meal. I could make an entire meal out of my Nanny's roasted peppers - YUM!

After the meal, it was a toss up who's belly was bigger...

Looks like I definitely had everyone beat!:)

Jared and Mary Grace

My baby brother, Christopher

Unfortunately she is not wearing heels, and I am not stooping down.
And that would be Christopher in the background:)

Mary Grace, me, Nanny, my mom, and my sister-in-law, Jenny

Thanksgiving weekend was also my birthday weekend, so we celebrated with my favorite dishes and immediate family... and of course, a few gifts.:)

my mom and sister were just a tad obsessed with my belly... and touching it

We were back in Middle TN a few weekends later for my shower. Afterwards,  the family was kind enough to indulge my desire to go to the Opryland Hotel to see all the Christmas decorations. Most of our family Christmas pictures were taken there as child.

Back in the day..

Ha ha, we were pretty stinking cute

Years later...

Me and my youngest brother, Christopher

Elliott Siblings, All grown up

Mary Grace, me, Christopher, Matthew, and Daniel

In-laws, Jenny and Jared, as the bookend additions

My Amazing Parents!

The boys were very disappointed in the Lion's Head Fountain

This was a very different Christmas Holiday for us - with the upcoming baby, bed rest, travel restriction, etc... In my family, growing up, the focus was very much on the true meaning for the season - Christ's birth. Decorations, gifts, and other holiday traditions were very much minimalized. Which I like. It made the focus much more about the birth of Jesus, as well as just spending time as a family. Now, regardless of how Christmas is spent/celebrated, I always enjoy it, and don't feel sad or like I am missing such sentimental family traditions, etc... I do, however, like to make it a  special and meaningful time.

We had had a very busy fall, as we do most years, with the college ministry. Therefore, we usually save  all our Christmas shopping and decorating for December (and often times for the week before!) Of course, we did this again this year, but quickly had to change our plans... I wasn't about to go out in the Christmas shopping aisle traffic jams being pushed in a wheel chair! Luckily, with my big family we just draw names, so we only had two gifts to find, and since they were for my Mom and sister (again this year!) it was dear, sweet Etsy to the rescue! Its a good thing I came off bed rest when I did - otherwise, I could have spent our life savings on that one website! Jared's family is smaller, and we only "gift" immediate family. Both families were very understanding about our situation, so thankfully there was no pressure in the gift department. It was gift cards for everyone!:) I had known what I was getting Jared for months already, and luckily, it could be purchased and gift wrapped via on-line purchasing!

I had already decided, even before the being put on bed rest, that I wasn't going to decorate for Christmas. I have a BAD habit of loving the the decor so much I don't take it down until well into January. I may have even been known to be taking down the Christmas time on Valentine's Day. Again, emphasis on the maybe. Luckily, this decision was made and kept... otherwise, we may still have decorations up!:)

We spent Christmas Eve-Eve:) with Jared's dad's side of the family. We don't get to see them very much, but this year all the cousins, aunts, and uncles were present, and we all had a very nice time visiting and catching up. Next Christmas there will be three little ones crawling around the Christmas tree - exciting!

A new family tradition I have enjoyed since joining Jared's family is the Christmas Eve service at our church. It was my first "public" outing since going on bed rest. I was very thankful to be able to get out and see people! It was also night to create some new memories for this service. Last year, I was in a pretty dark place emotionally with the infertility stuff. I had just found out I was yet again not pregnant, and we were told at the end of the service some of our dear friends were expecting a baby that spring. Christmas seems to be especially hard for anyone who is longing for a baby. The Christian theme centers around a baby, Jesus, as well as his mother... two things you want and long to be - a baby and a mom. Plus, its about children - the childlike wonder of all things sparkly, magical, and exciting. Those still waiting don't get to take part in Elf on the Shelf activities, don't buy presents for their kids, don't have kids waking them up early Christmas morning, etc.. Its just tough. If you have any friends who are longing for a baby around the Holidays, please be especially kind and tender towards them.

It was such a quietly special evening for me. I thought of, and related, to Mary, the mother of Jesus, so much this past December. She took these things and pondered them in her heart, totally described my state of being. There was so much going on, and coming alive inside me, emotionally as well as physically. It is safe to say I had tears in my eyes during every carol we sang, in celebration of the birth of Christ.

Here we are at our church after the service

We spent Christmas morning as just the two of us... sleeping in!:) He got a me tripod for my cameras! I am so excited to start using it! That's right, its still in the box. I am not a fan of pictures of myself, however, I do want my little girl to be able to look back one day and see pictures of the two of us together. Having a tripod will help with this I think. So far, we have had enough family and friends around visiting that have been willing to take pictures for us.

Oh, I also got a swanky electric blanket!:) My husband so hoped my internal thermostat would change while I was pregnant, but no such luck. I froze every night, like I always do, and he suffocated under all the blankets I would pile on our bed. Some of our friends were talking about a heated mattress they had and how it "saved" their marriage.:)  Jared couldn't find the mattress pad, so went with the blanket option. It has a preheat setting that he would turn on for me every night so that the sheets on my side of the bed were nice and toasty by the time I crawled into bed.

Here is a picture of  my gift to him:

After opening our gifts from each other, we enjoyed a nice quiet brunch with Jared's immediate family. Then it was off to his grandparents to celebrate the day with his mom's side of the family. After that we went back to Jared's parents house to open family gifts. Below are pictures of the two of us as we were leaving his parents house. It had been the busiest weekend I had in a month, and I was wicked exhausted. All I wanted to do at this point was crawl in to bed!

My mom, dad, and two youngest siblings stopped by our house on their way home from visiting my Dad's family in the Tri-Cities to see us and finish up our gift exchange.

We are so incredibly blessed to be able to celebrate these times with our wonderful families so effortlessly. I am so thankful our parents don't put pressure on us to be with both sides of the family for all the holidays. I want our kids to appreciate the importance of quality family time during the holidays, and our parents respect that wish. 

Everyone kept reminding us to enjoy the quiet holidays, as it would be our last without a little one to running around.:)