My Breastfeeding Journey

Yep, you read that correctly, folks. This is going to be the post where I talk about my boobs. Well, let me rephrase that. I will be talking about my boobs' function and my successful breastfeeding journey. I have had some friends who are pregnant or new moms ask me how I've made this all work and keep Kennedy exclusively breastfed. I honestly think I got very lucky for the most part, but there are definitely some other things that I did that helped Kennedy and me. This will probably be a long post, but I hope that it helps and encourages those that are about to embark on that journey.

Let me preface this post by saying that just because I breastfeed, it doesn't mean I look down upon women who don't or cannot. I know this is a touchy subject among moms, and things like these can get judge-y, but my intention here is not to bash bottle feeding. Yes, I am a huge breastfeeding advocate, but no I will not think any less of any mother who does not.

Moving right along.

I'm going to break this up into what I did at each stage of infancy and other life changes in hopes of simplifying all of this. I think the most important thing to note here is I had really no knowledge or idea of what breastfeeding would be like before I had Kennedy. I was essentially clueless and uninformed. Always researching has helped a ton.

39 weeks pregnant

PRE-BABY
I purchased the book Breastfeeding Made Simple (to which my husband made a joke at how a book so "simple" shouldn't be over 200 pages...ha). It empowered me and really made me look forward to getting breastfeeding right. Yes, it can be preachy throughout the book, but really understanding every single aspect of breastfeeding made me feel confident to start. Because, like I said, I was clueless. If you were to only purchase one breastfeeding book, I would totally recommend this one (I researched the heck out of which book to buy and this is the only one I ended up buying besides the What to Expect in the First Year, which has a breastfeeding section). Okay, maybe I'm not that knowledgeable because I only read one book. Does the internet count, too? I will say KellyMom is a good resource, as well.

hours after birth

IN THE HOSPITAL
I think our time in the hospital was crucial to my successful breastfeeding experience. I was lucky to not have any severe birth issues and Kennedy did not have to be in the NICU, thank God. When we were sent to recovery after my c-section, we tried to breastfeed her, but she really wasn't interested in that. The nurses told me not to worry and that I could try again when we are in our postpartum room. So, I practiced her latch over and over. Poor Greg having to help me out of bed or bring her to me every couple of hours (it was impossible after a c-section) was not fun for him but essential for me. I had the lactation consultant come in a few times, and I even called the baby's nurse at 4 a.m. because I was frustrated about her latch. I wanted to take this very seriously, and the encouragement I received from everyone in the hospital really helped. They told me as long as she was dirtying diapers she was fine. What made me feel better is that I was explained that a newborn's stomach is the size of a quarter those first few days of life, and so many people want to overfeed newborns. Just because a baby is crying, it doesn't mean he/she needed to eat immediately. The colostrum was enough for her, even though my milk hadn't "came in." We stayed a total of three nights in the hospital without a pacifier and just me, and she seemed fine!

one week old

THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO
When we made it home, we luckily had a lot of help from family members (still recovering from surgery was hard). Like I said, my milk came in the day after we got home. Kennedy actually slept a lot, and even through the night. But since she was jaundiced, I had to feed her every 2-3 hours, even if it meant waking her up. I downloaded a baby feeding log app onto my iPhone to help me keep track of feedings and on which side I started and ended on. Apparently you're supposed to start with one side, and for the next feeding, you start with the other side (even though the previous side ended with that side). The main focus here was to be consistent with feedings in order to build my supply while also helping with Kennedy's jaundice. My nipples definitely were cracked and hurt quite a bit these first couple of weeks, but it was important to push through it (and use a lanolin cream).

a little over a month old, swaddled in her bassinet with Dexter's help

THE FIRST MONTH (OR TWO)
I have to be honest here - it really felt like all I did the first month or two was breastfeed. All the time. At least this gave me time to watch TV and read books. There really wasn't much that Greg could do because we didn't introduce a bottle for almost a month. We also didn't give her pacifiers (she really doesn't care for them and never really took one anyway). At times, it was stressful because I couldn't leave Greg with the baby for very long, because she relied on nursing every two to three hours. Sometimes Greg got frustrated because there wasn't much he could do since I was her main source of comfort, but he still was a great support system and supported breastfeeding. I think it was important to have at least a month or two off for maternity leave so I could really get into a rhythm. Another reason why I love breastfeeding is because I can feed her laying down. So nice during the night for night feedings. Since she was in a bassinet in our room until about four months, I felt much more rested when I was able to pull her into our bed every time she needed to nurse. And sometimes I would fall asleep with her there, in our bed. And that is okay. You gotta do what you gotta do as parents.

At her auntie Katie's house while mama was at work

BACK TO WORK
A few weeks before I had to go back to work, I started pumping to build up a reserve. It was hard to start pumping because I wouldn't get very much, but once I started to be consistent with it, I could get some to save up and freeze. We also tried introducing a bottle right before I went back to work, which was a little difficult at first. What ended up working best was the Playtex Drop-ins with the brown latex nipple. Everyone is different, though. While at work, it is particularly difficult to find a time to pump (teaching is like that), but I ended finding a time during the day and stuck with it. I just made sure to bring home what she would need for the next day, and we never needed to supplement during the day. I will say that Katie was definitely a trooper while taking care of her, because she did have trouble adjusting to the bottle that first week, but Katie pushed through it with her and took care of her so well!

Trying blueberries, at around 7 months old

AFTER STARTING SOLIDS
Once Kennedy started solid food, she started nursing less, since the solids were keeping her fuller longer. We started solids after she reached six months old, and I am glad that we waited that long. She really has only been sick once, and it wasn't that bad. After she started solids, she was nursing probably every 4 hours (which includes her two bottles while I'm at work). We have fed her a mixture of purees and finger foods, and she is capable of both successfully. The reason why I like both for her is that we can get more fruits in veggies into her diet when we give her purees while also incorporate independent eating through finger foods.

Daddy makes dinner time fun!

CURRENTLY
Kennedy is reaching a year old, and we have had a very successful breastfeeding journey. She now eats three full meals (and sometimes snacks) and then drinks her milk or nurses. She doesn't use a bottle anymore when she is at school - she drinks from a sippy cup. This is awesome so that she doesn't become attached to a bottle. I plan on switching Kennedy to cow's milk after she reaches a year and then maybe nurse her once or twice a day until she weans herself. I don't plan on extending breastfeeding until she's four, but I don't want to cut her off cold turkey. I would like it to be a gradual process. I already do not nurse her at bedtime so she doesn't associate bedtime with nursing and so Greg or anyone else can put her to bed easily.

Almost 11 months old

I know a lot of our success has to do with the fact that I have such an easy going child. I realize that there are a lot of factors with babies or mothers that either help make or break a breastfeeding journey. I realize that I am probably the easiest scenario of them all. Hopefully, in the future, the success I've had in the past will help with potential problem children. I think the important thing was just to listen to my instincts, be consistent at the very beginning, not worry about numbers (it's easy to get caught up in "ounces" and a particular number of how much she drinks), and assuring myself that if she is gaining weight, dirtying diapers, and thriving, she is good. Mother's instinct is totally a real thing, and intuition is huge when it comes to your child's needs, especially at the beginning.

If any of you have any stories you would like to share, please do! Or if you have any questions or comments, please leave them and I'll respond!

Oh, Christmas Tree?!

Each year the day after Thanksgiving (alright, so it's been the past three years), we trek down to the Christmas Tree Farm to pick out a tree. We decided to alternate cutting down our own pine and picking out an imported fir. This year was the year to cut down a pine.

So, with little miss Kennedy in tow, we headed out on the little hay ride, and got ourselves a tree. But while we're at it, isn't miss thing the most presh candy cane ever?

So, we pick out a tree and head home. Once we get it in the stand, we notice it's really crooked. I head out to Home Depot for a hand saw, and my pretty tush saws at the trunk until I have a clean edge.

We get it back into the stand and secure it in a spot where it looks pretty good...

I might also add that the ottoman makes a great baby barricade.

...Unless you look at it from this angle.

Why, yes, there is a 25 pound hand weight supporting it even still. I have big guns, - what can I say?

Alas, it started to lean more. And more. And more. We decided that it was too much of a hazard to let the Leaning Tower of Tree-sa exist in our house, although it did provide much character and one heck of a conversation piece. We discover that the trunk to this tricky tree (did you like that alliteration?) was almost a "C" shape, while the tree was manicured and sheared in a completely different direction. Nothing we could have noticed while it was growing in nature.

But we were determined. We UN-decorated the tree. Took off all the ornaments and lights that we had meticulously put on. Took it out of the base. Busted out the saw, yet again. Took another half foot off the trunk and shaped it in the opposite direction to counter it. Put it back in the base. Bam! It was much more centered, although quite a bit shorter. The living room floor was full of pine needles and saw dust. We worked frickin' hard.

While we were sweeping and vacuuming our plethora of pine needles and sawdust, the tree collapses. The tree defeated us.

And this is where the tree currently lies...

Would anyone like me to make them a fresh wreath?

Eleven Months

On Saturday, Miss Kennedy turned eleven months! Can we even believe this is the last month of her infancy? And once she reaches a year, she's a toddler? I can't even handle this. Can't. Even.

KENNEDY LATELY:
- She still has her eight teeth and is more into eating new foods! She will try just about anything. This one is certainly not a picky eater. At all.
- Kennedy eats three full meals and nurses about four times a day. She's a big girl.
- Miss thing is certainly all over the place, crawling everywhere and getting into everything. She has a little walker toy and she loves walking with that! She hasn't started walking on her own, but I think we're close.
- I am pretty sure Kennedy's first word was "Dexter." She points to him and says "deh-ta!" I thought it was a fluke because she says "dadadadada" all the time, but I specifically heard a "T" in there. Go figure, my child's first word is the cat's name. Haha!
- She will also now point to Greg and say "Dada." We are still trying to teach her "Mama."
- If you ask Kennedy "Where's Dexter?" She will look around the room and then points to him and says "Deh-ta!" when she sees him. She basically is obsessed with Dexter.
- Kennedy is beginning to understand "NO." She doesn't necessarily pay attention to it 100% of the time, but if you keep repeating it to her, she will get the picture. This includes grabbing the remotes or trying to turn off the cable box. I will tell her "No" before she gets to it and then puts her hand down. She will then whine because she knows she's not allowed to touch it, and then I will redirect her to something else, like a fun toy or Dexter. I think it's important to set boundaries for her but at the same time redirect her to something else she can do instead.
- She is a great sleeper still, going down between 6-8 p.m. and sleeping until 6:30-7:30 the next morning. She also takes two naps most days (at least one).
- Kennedy loves being a little parrot. She will repeat babble or noises that you do. It's so cute!
- This kid LOVES anything Mickey or Minnie Mouse. Hence her Halloween costume and her first birthday party theme!!
- On that note, I cannot believe I am already planning her party. The invites went out this week. Seriously. I can't handle this.

A MODELING PICTURE:

Gotta love that pose! Isn't that little hair bow adorable?! My friend Chelsea who works for the Hair Bow Company sent us some adorable things for Kennedy! I have a full review of that coming up soon! 

HOW SHE'S GROWN:

Happy Eleven Months, Baby Girl! I cannot believe how fast you've grown. I love you more and more each passing day!

Some of my Favorite Glossybox Goodies {vlog}

Many of you all subscribe to monthly subscriptions, as the monthly subscription services have swept the world! I joined Glossybox in June and it has quickly became my favorite subscription...ever.

And because I love it so much, I filmed a vlog a little more about it and some of the favorite things I've received in my boxes. Kennedy and Dexter even make an appearance, so that is even more of a reason to watch it!

I realize the video is kind of long, so feel free to skim through the parts where I talk about the products, but what's important is probably at the beginning and the end.


Do you have a favorite subscription box? Do tell! And don't forget, if you want to sign up for Glossybox, you can do so by clicking HERE!

Transformative Beauty: Day to Night Smoky Eye

Contrary to what you all might think, I haven't always been the biggest.... beauty queen. Case in point:

Shiny pink pants, zebra print, crazy oxford Doc Martens? Yeah....

Up until I really started to be comfortable with makeup and beauty routines (aka college, aka where everyone goes to find themselves.... thank goodness, because I needed to), I was scared to do anything besides really basic makeup. Foundation, mascara, eyeliner and some blush. Smoky eye was definitely out of the question. It was so untouchable and so out of my comfort zone. A smoky eye isn't really that untouchable. In fact, it's totally wearable. It doesn't mean that you have to make your entire eye black. You can do all sorts of colors! I, personally, am a fan of the gold/bronze smoky eye. It is also incredibly easy to take from day to night, which I am going to focus on today. Let's keep it simple! Here's what I used:

 

I'm using my favorite shadow palette (make sure you use one that has many options like the one pictured above), some gel eyeliner with the brush, and then a few eyeshadow brushes to pack on the color, blend, and smudge.

The key to a smoky eye is to make it look like there aren't any hard lines. So, when you line your eyes, make sure you smudge some of the eye shadow over it to blend it out. Take a fluffy eyeshadow brush and make sure you blend a lot all around the lid to get the entire look to "smoke" out. To balance the look, I used a neutral blush and nude lip, so that my eyes would stand out. It's important that your smoky eye doesn't conflict with anything else like a red lip.

 

For my daytime look, I wanted to keep it simple with a golden bronze look.

A golden smoky look is so easy to do. I focused on using the gold shade, all over the lid, then a bronze-y brown in the crease, and finally a dark shimmery brown in the outer corner and on the lower lash line. I then applied my gel liner, and then with a small smudge brush, I smudged some more of the gold and darkest shades over the liner to diffuse it.

 

It is so easy to take this look from day to night. Let's take a look.

In order to make this look more dramatic and date-worthy, I focused on taking the darkest shade in my palette, into my crease and outer corner to what I already had applied. I also applied it on my lower lash line and focused a lot on blending it out on my crease. Just taking this dark shade and applying it to what I already had makes a significant difference. 

 So, don't be afraid - try a smoky eye! It's pretty on everyone. And much better looking than an all pink and zebra ensemble.

Baby O. in Photos {volume 11}

Because I know you can never get enough of Miss Kennedy's little face! Do you blame me for taking too many pictures?

At her 9 month up check up  (I know, so long ago) // eating some linguine for the first time

On our Trader Joe's Trip // Encouraged to climb the stage steps

Blogger brunch OOTD // Good morning play time

Sleeping on the plane // Lookin' presh

Telling an important story // Time for more babyproofing

She loves the "find the acorn" // Spaghetti = toy

Can't get enough of my little princess? Follow me on Instagram!

Tiny Prints Holiday Cards + Giveaway!

If you have been around for a while, you know that I love Tiny Prints. I have used them for past paper good projects, such as last year's Christmas card and Kennedy's birth announcement:

Precious, right? Anyway, of course I would use Tiny Prints over any other options for Holiday Photo Cards. I'm so lucky that we are working together again this year! Here are some of the options I'm looking at this year. What do we think?

Right now, I'm drawn to number 2. I just love simplicity and vintage feel of it while also pulling in the actual reason for the season. Which one is your favorite?

Well, you're in luck! Go pick out a favorite here and then come enter my giveaway to win some for yourself! The giveaway enters this Friday so you only have a few days to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints, but opinions are all my own. Seriously, I would use Tiny Prints forever.

October Beauty Favorites

Can y'all believe it's already November?! I am ready for colder weather (it's 80 degrees here today, people) and Christmas drinks at Starbucks! I have been trying a lot of new things lately (which is no surprise), but I have also been reaching for some tried and true favorites. Let's talk about what I'm loving lately!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

TOUCH IN SOL FEEL LIKE HONEY MOON SKIN BASE
I received a half size product of this primer in one of my Glossyboxes. I am not a huge fan of primers with silicone in it (think Smashbox primer), because I feel like they really make me oily. I like a primer that feels hyrdrating and gives a smooth finish without being greasy. This primer, which is a brand I've never heard of or used, is exactly what I want. It's formulated with collagen and honey, and it even has little gold flakes in it! Glossybox rocks, people. I actually have a vlog coming up about why I love it and some of my favorite products I've received. ALSO, if you have thought about trying Glossybox but not sure, all of the proceeds of their boxes sold through November 6 will go towards Hurricane Sandy reliefs! It's a great way to try the subscription while also helping a great cause! Sign up HERE!

TARTE LIPSURGENCE LIP STAIN IN ENCHANTED
I've had this product for a little while and just haven't reached for it until lately. I love how moisturizing it is while also still being matte. The berry color is perfect for fall, and looks great with my skin tone. Plus it is formulated with all natural ingredients, which I appreciate.

MAC CREMESHEEN LIPSTICK IN SPEAK LOUDER
I picked this lipstick up when I did Back to Mac (save empty bottles and packages of Mac products and once you get  6, turn them into a Mac counter and they give you a free lipstick). I love that it has blue undertones, which makes my teeth look whiter. It's a bright punchy pink, which can be worn really loud or really subdued, depending on how much you apply. I love bright colors for fall, and this totally fits the bill.

MARY KAY LASH LOVE MASCARA (WATERPROOF)
BlogHer and Mary Kay sent me a loot of beauty products, and among them was this mascara. I love waterproof mascaras and I just have been reaching for this one more and more. I love the brush and the way it applies! It is so easy to layer and make it look very voluminous.

MAC STUDIOFINISH CONCEALER
I ran out of my beloved StudioFinish concealer a few months ago and I started using something else from the drugstore in the meantime. I picked some more up this weekend, and thank goodness I did. Yeah, this one is defnitely my favorite. My holy grail. Enough said.

DOVE DRY SHAMPOO
I have been a long time lover and user of the Suave Dry Shampoo. I saw the Dove one at Target when I ran out and went to replenish. I thought it was worth trying, since it was only about a dollar more than the Dove one. I just love it! The scent is really nice, and it works amazingly. I am very impressed with this and I am going to start making it a regular in my dry shampoo rotation.


So, there's my October favorites! What beauty items have you been reaching for and loving lately? Do share so I can add it to my "to try" list!