No Dairy ain't so scary!

Its been about almost 2 weeks until I kicked dairy to the curb. And you know what? It hasn't been that bad. I've slipped up a few times. Like the one time I ordered and ate a cheeseburger or downed a bag of peanut m&ms. Oops.

Here are the changes I have seen this far...

Adley

- less baby acne

- doesn't cry/fuss when gassy

- regular BMs similar to when she was a newbie

Happy Baby = Happy Mommy 

I am 100% avoiding major dairy products for Adley, but I too, have experienced some rewards from this experimentation.

Mommy

- small weight loss (2 pounds)

- I don't feel bloated at all!!!!

- regular BMs (tmi, but it's awesome)

My plan of action is to keep this no dairy gig up until Adley's 4 month appointment at the end of the month. I will get my doctors advice on reintroducing dairy or avoiding it for a few more months. I would be totally on board to avoiding it longer. 

Because I enjoy self torture, I've given up soft drinks this week as well. I've read that there is no way that could upset her tummy, since carbonation doesn't enter my bloodstream, but I'm convincing myself it is necessary! Ha! 

Adventures in Breastfeeding (Dairy)

It wasn't a question if I would breastfeed Adley. I successfully nursed Kendall a little over a year (took a month or so to wean) and didn't regret a single second.

Fast forward to this past March when Adley was born and I was back in the nursing game! Breastfeeding the second time around has been a great experience thus far, and I credit a lot of that to being a more experienced (and more calm) mother.

























I am lucky to have a great supply and Adley is a latching champ. Ha!

However, I am facing a different kind of struggle! And that is one of no dairy.

Adley had a few diapers that left me worried and concerned. I talked to my doctor about them and she suggested I cut out dairy for a week or so and see what happens. I am guessing that I will slowly reintroduce dairy into my diet to see if the issue reoccurs? I don't know.

I have friends and have read that dairy can cause other problems with baby like gas or extra fussiness. I don't feel like Adley is fussier than usual, but she does act like she is in pain sometimes when she is gassy or constipated. 

I joke that cheese makes me foam at the mouth and brag about having the willpower to avoid a Krispy Kreme donut because it has dairy in it, but I really am ok with changing my diet. I would do whatever I need to do to keep giving her my milk, unless I knew it wasn't good for her. 

I've been getting creative with my dairy free options. I found some Ghiardelli chocolate chips I can eat and honey tastes good on toast. I need to chuck the Mint Chocolate chip and provolone cheese from the fridge though. They just keep looking at me.

Ever experience this? Know of any good dairy free meals/foods?

Shopping Shenanigans

Tuesday we ventured out to our local SAMs club with my mom. I just love buying things in bulk and my purchases are always so random. I purchased a bag of parmesan encrusted tilapia, a big bag of Boom Chicka Pop, a dress for K, and an inflatable pool. Ha!

 

I thought the pool would be nice for Kendall to have in the backyard. My parents have an in ground pool across the street but nothing beats a good kiddie pool in your own backyard! And for $30 you can’t beat it!

 

Kendall was loving this chaise lounge. Ha!

Funny story about this picture… We will title it, “You might be a redneck if you nurse your baby in a Liquor Barn parking lot”.

We aren’t drinkers at all. My hubs drinks an occasional beer, but I rarely drink. Maybe once every 2-3 years. Ha! Anyway, my mom had a coupon for the Liquor Barn she got in some Christmas Bazaar basket and she was going to use it to buy decorations for my brothers college graduation party.

Well, as soon as she went in the store Adley woke up hungry! So I crawled myself to the third row cargo area and nursed her! Ha! No shame in my game. My baby has to eat!

Weigh In Wednesday

I think I will jump on this train again. I need to keep track of things and stay accountable. Unfortunately, my scale needs a new battery (and a nicer attitude) so I won't be weighing in this week.

I have started working out and I feel great. I'm not that consistent. I'm trying to ease back into things. Last week it was just taking a walk a few times. Very casual and with the kiddos.

Monday night I actually attempted Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred and it wasn't terrible. My tailbone(or sciatic nerve) hurt a little afterwards so I don't know if I overdid it. I'm a little sore, but not really. I kind of did my own pace but I didn't feel like it was too much. I'm going to start out doing it every other day and go from there.

I definitely feel more like myself when I exercise. Now if I could just get a grasp on this eating better deal.

I'm tracking calories on MyFitnessPal (mrsryan555 - look me up). I'm giving myself 2000 calories a day. This may seem high, but I'm also exclusively breastfeeding (supplying nourishment for a tiny, growing Adley) and that's more important than dropping weight. I read some where that breastfeeding burns 20 calories an ounce, and I pump/nurse 5-6 ounces at least 6 times a day. So that means I could be burning up to 700 calories a day feeding my babe! Thank you, Adley! Hence the 2000 calories!
Plus, as much as I'd love to drop the weight quickly, it needs to come off slowly. So it will stick. It took 9 months to gain almost 50 pounds, so I'm giving myself time to lose that last 25 pounds.

I know by continuing to exercise and by fine tuning my eating, I will get there. :)

Thrifty Tuesday: Breast Pump Style

Without getting all political on my blog, let me just say that there is one benefit of all this healthcare crap I actually appreciate and find important. Breastfeeding!

If you followed my blog back when Kendall was a babe, then you know I nursed her for 14 months. My goal was 6 months and then it just became so easy. Around 1 year I started weaning her but it took a few months. I am a huge breastfeeding advocate because I truly believe it is the best for baby and for mommy too. Plus you save a TON of money! And did I mention the weight loss?

So, of course, I intend to nurse Adley.

A few friends of mine had mentioned that they were able to score a breast pump for free via their insurance. I called my insurance (Humana) and sure enough, they will cover a breast pump at 100% up to a $200 value.

But don’t you have a breast pump? Yes, I do. I shelled out $300 for my Medela Pump in Style w/ tote before K was born. It was also my 3rd arm when I went back to work. And it is still in great shape. In fact, I just paid $15 to replace the tubing, valves, membranes, bottles, etc. BUT we pay a lot of money to have good insurance so I do not feel bad about getting another one for FREE! I know I will use them both!

If you’re pregnant, I highly advise you to call your insurance to check and see if they cover a breast pump. My insurance provided me a list of websites I could go to get one that is covered and I didn’t even have to pay shipping.

So that’s my thrifty deal for the week! I hope this was helpful for someone out there!

First toddler tantrum and ta-ta's

I'm just living the dream tonight being lazy on the couch. I broiled tilapia for dinner so I'm letting Kendall run around in a diaper since our house is 5000 degrees and the Mr. Has retreated from his hunting grounds and is lesson planning. So 19 kids and counting and sister wives are my plans for the evening.
We had a great weekend! Kendall and I picked up my cousin Becca yesterday and we headed to my aunts church for a Christmas Bazaar. They had all these gift baskets set up for a silent auction. I won a basket of about 30 books for Kendall.
After the Bazaar, we went to lunch with Becca at a Mexican restaurant. Kendall threw a fit. Full blown throwing herself on the ground get-me-out-of-this-restaurant fit! I didn't even know she could do that at one!!! She didn't want to eat or sit in her high hair. Sitting in the booth or my lap was not going to work so I thought she would stand and hold my hand. No! She went walking and when I went to pick her up, her body went limp, she arched her back and laid on the dirty floor.
I have my hands full. Thank goodness (for momma) there were only two other patrons dining... Who also thought she was about 2 years old. No... She is one and already throwing fits.

In other Kendall related news... I've been trying to wean her and get her to start drinking cows milk. I had planned on nursing her a year and I'm so glad I was able to accomplish this and provide for her this way. I know cutting her off cold turkey isn't going to happen and wouldn't be best for her ( or the ta-ta's) so I'm hoping to completely stop nursing by Christmas.
Part of me feels embarrassed I'm still nursing her and I know I shouldn't feel this way. I think others' opinions and society's view on nursing longer than one year make me feel this way. It's so stupid that I care what others think because it's not about them. But honestly, I'm ready to have my body back too. For almost 2 years I've been pregnant or nursing which restricts so much.
Here are the issues. 1) she doesn't really care for cows milk unless it's warm 2) she loves to nurse and 3) I don't know how to wean her in a way that is good for us both.
I keep hoping she will just refuse to nurse and then I will know she's ready. I want it to happen naturally and on her terms. So for now I'm trying to distract her and cut out one nursing session a day. I know it will end and am confident I'm going about it the right way in my heart.

My 2 cents

I'm sure you have heard in some capacity the war of words going on about breastfeeding in the news. You can get the details from this article.

Here is how the Academy of Breastfeeding Responded:

ABM President responds to Obama/Bachman controversy

In response to “Breastfeeding Plan Mixes Partisan Reactions” (2-17-11), it is essential to first be reminded that breastfeeding is a health issue, not a political or social one. The data are well substantiated to show the value of breastfeeding to babies, mothers, and the community as well. Breastfeeding provides the perfect nutrition as well as infection protection, immunology protection, allergy protection and obesity
protection. Formula is a solution of nutrients with no antibodies, enzymes, or other protective factors.
It’s about time we remove barriers for breastfeeding mothers. After years of exhorting mothers to “try harder”, we’ve finally started to implement policies that remove the “booby traps” that undermine success. With the WIC Program spending billions on infant formula, the now available IRS one-time deduction for breastfeeding equipment is merely a drop in the bottle!
Gerald Calnen, MD
President
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
New Rochelle, New York 10801
914 740-2115
http://www.bfmed.org/
This letter was submitted to the editor of The New York Times

I love the way the ABM responded. I agree that not everyone wants/can breastfeed and that it is a personal decision. However, I think if there were better resources for mothers in hospitals, at home and in their workplace more women would choose to breastfeed for some length of time.

I think it's wonderful that someone can deduct breastpump costs from their taxes. Honestly I think breast milk storage supplies should be in this category too. I'm saving so much money by choosing to breastfeed and like the ABM president said the government could save a lot of money too. Look how many people receive formula through government programs. Formula is not cheap!

I'm not trying to get all political and clearly I don't think it's a left or right issue. I think it's a health and society issue. America, unlike all other countries it seems, is not breastfeeding friendly. The one time I breastfed Kendall in public I felt so weird about it. Why? It's perfectly naturally and it's what my body is designed to do and I was covered. I felt weird about it because our society has made us feel weird about it.
I think if places were more breastfeeding friendly it wouldn't be such an issue. I'm not saying every public place needs to have a "Mother's room" like one you would find at Babies R Us. I just think it would be nice to have a chair in the bathroom at places like malls and airports.

I'm off my soapbox now! Happy Wednesday!
I leave you with one very happy loves her mommy's milk so much she falls asleep while eating baby girl!

Kendall's News Debut

A while back Kendall and I were asked by her pediatrician to participate in a breastfeeding press conference. I didn't really know too much about it until I arrived at Metro Hall with my super star in tow.
It was a press conference held by Louisville mayor Greg Fischer and local hospital representatives to encourage and support new moms with breastfeeding. You can read the article here.

Here is the video:
I'm wearing a pink sweater, bouncing my baby... unfortunately you can't see Kendall because the lady in the green sweater (who is my awesome Pediatrician mentioned in article link above) is right in front of me - the mayor told Kendall he liked her bow :)

As you all know I'm a huge breastfeeding advocate. I love the health benefits it provides to my daughter and myself. I love how it's free and the best nutrition I can offer. I love the bond and special time I get to share with my baby while nursing.
I was very excited to participate in this event today with Kendall. Today was a special memory!

Once again I'm slacking taking pictures... actually my new camera is just really too bulky to carry with everything else I lug around. So without further adieu here is my iphone pic of Kendall by the Mayor's office.