Henry is 11 months!

Eleven months ago I was handed my perfect 9.7 lb baby boy. Every month I take his pictures to compare to the growth of the prior month, and reflect on that beautiful, life-changing day. Most days have me wishing he'd entered my life sooner so I had more time to love him.

In one month's time I will have a one year old. For me this is harder than turning 30. Time feels like it keeps reminding me that it's one year closer to my baby boy becoming a big boy.
I'm quickly snapped back to reality when I think of all this baby has brought to my life, and how much more we have to learn from each other. It makes the prospect of having a ONE year old seem less daunting. ;) Don't get me wrong, I'm proud beyond measure, I just get overwhelmed when I think of the whiplash I'm getting from flying time. They tell ya time flies, but I had no idea it would be lightning speed.

Over the Labor Day weekend he took his first steps! Proud moment. His cousins were visiting and I think they gave him just the encouragement he needed- well really I think he just wanted to keep up.

He has now shunned pretty much anything puréed. He wants to eat what momma and daddy are eating. I'm actually kind of relieved not to have to make special accommodations for his food. I joke that he's become my accountability partner bc he eats half my food now! He's still going strong in breast feeding. He's had moments on our journey when he's made me believe he was going to wean and the next week he'll be back on like he needed to catch up for lost time. I'm beginning to wonder if he'll breast feed til he goes to college. ;)

Daddy taught him how to blow raspberries. He thinks it's funny. Momma thinks otherwise.

No new words, but lots of new sounds. He likes to match pitches with you.

This baby loves to dance! He'll hear a commercial with a catchy tune and I'll find him bouncing to it.

His fave toy this month is a ball.

He loves eskimo and butterfly kisses. He laughs when I do it.

He got his second baby cold/cough. I think he contracted it from the petrie dish called Legoland. That place was swarming with lil walking germs.

He does these incredibly cute faces. One is squinting his eyes and smiling really big, showing his teeth. Precious. His newest expression is raising his eyebrows and making his eyes really large. So cute!

I love this baby so much, all eleven months of him. Never before have I had about 12 emotions running through me at one time; motherhood has a way of doing that to me.

Heisel Rules! {the Nest}

Henry is 10 Months!

My baby boy is 10 months today, August 10th! It's hard to believe that in 2 short months, my newborn baby, my growing roley poley, my little love will be one. Oh I dare not ponder on that too long, after all, I have 2 whole months to try to come to grips with that reality.

It seems as though this little man is growing rapidly. He'll practice something new and have it just about down pat in a couple days! And I dare not look away for too long or else he's either {quietly} scampering up the stairs- this kid is NEVER quiet, except when he is slyly sneaking up the stairs! He's also growing so quickly! We joke that he grows in his sleep because we swear by morning he's at least an inch bigger! And his hair is getting so long- on top and on his left side. The right side is growing a little slower. He still has a ton of hair on top and I get asked if I cut it into a mohawk-nope, that's just Henry's cool self!

He walks holding onto things still, but he has so much confidence doing it now. He holds onto the coffee table and pushes his chest and belly out, and kind of bounces. It's really entertaining to watch! He also has a push toy that he really like walking behind. He has been letting go of whatever he's holding onto and standing still for a few seconds before realizing what he's doing and immediately sits down. He's also responding to music. When he hears music that catches his attention, he'll bounce or sway. Of course he still loves it when Matt plays guitar.

Henry plays shy guy, and he makes the most precious face. He looks away, squints his eyes really tightly, and gets a big, cheesy grin on his face. I haven't been able to capture this on camera yet, but I'd certainly love to remember that face forever. The innocence.

He's starting to understand that Daddy goes bye bye to work, and he'll cry when Matt leaves. :( And then he gets really excited when Matt comes home!

Henry has perfected ma-ma and da-da. He also knows certain commands, like "where's puppy?", "do you want boobie?"- this kid doesn't miss a meal! ;) Speaking of food- he likes yogurt, chicken, egg salad, sweet potatoes, and spaghetti. He won't hardly eat baby food anymore; he's far more interested in what we're eating-hence the entrees listed above. He wouldn't eat his sweet potatoes the other day until I put the gravy on them that we were eating. My lil gourmet baby!

Henry LOVES bathtime. He always has, but now it's fun because he plays with his bath toys. He likes to splash, too. Last month he found his "boy part". I'm still amazed at how young that starts. (He'll be  so mad at me one day for typing that (if he ever reads this!)

Henry loves his Cozy Coupe car. Well, pretty much anything he can stroll in-he loves. But he can honk the horn in the car now.

He loves books. We keep a stack in the living room and he likes to go rearrange read them. He has this one that has a mirror in it and we find him "kissing baby" often. Heart melting, I tell ya!

Henry still has 8 teeth, but with the drooling he's been doing and the fussy bouts, I'm guessing more are soon to come. No fever, though, and the fussies don't usually last long.

Such a fun age. Learning and growing and we get to witness it all, again, through Henry's eyes. Most days I just stare at him in amazement- still, 10 months later, trying to convince myself that we made him. Started from nothing but love and molded into our image. Most of the time he looks like daddy, but when he's asleep, and when he first wakes up-he's all me.

I love this kid and everything that he's brought into my life. I'm tired. I don't get to do what I want to do-pretty much ever, and I'm constantly being followed. That might not sound too appealing at first glance, but the images that come to mind when I think of those- dozing off while holding my sleeping baby boy, playing what HE wants to play and watching him learn, and hearing the dirt and noise follow me around because he loves his momma that much-those, to me, are all pure joy.

Henry- Momma is so proud of you. Every single little thing, and the big things too. You keep growing and I'll keep pinching myself to make sure this is all real.

Heisel Rules! {the Nest}

Breastfeeding Basics- What Worked for Me!

In honor of breastfeeding week (last week), I thought I'd share my breastfeeding journey-what worked for me! This is to help others, but also so I can refer back to this in the future.

To me, breastfeeding is natural, helps you bond with baby, is nurturing, and FREE. I believe all of those things. Still, though, I had no idea what to expect. I remember seeing my mom breastfeed my brother and youngest sister, my sister breastfed her 2 boys, and my aunt breastfed as well. Heck, I even breastfed my cabbage patch dolls when I was young (ha!), so I was familiar with it, but there were so many things that I didn't know, that I couldn't have known until I delved in. I found that I had questions that I hadn't known to ask at that time.

Part of this journey is taught and most of it is, well, learning as you go. Your journey will look different than mine, and that's ok; this is what worked for me. Be open to ideas from others, but also be prepared to have to figure out what works best for you. That might mean trying different things until you find what works for you.

Disclaimer- I'm not a pro, not claiming to be, but I was given valuable information and I believe in passing that on.

I Make Milk-what's your superpower?
First of all, your milk may take days to come in- DAYS. Mine took 3.5 days. (Actually, first day home I had crazy big, unrecognizable milk jugs.) This is normal. Just know that your body knows what it's doing and produces small amounts of colostrum for your tiny one to munch on while he waits for the milk to flow.
Henry came out HUNGRY. I mean, he had a hard latch and would munch for long periods at a time. He wanted food and NOW! The nurses offered on several occasions to give him formula to supplement. I politely declined and was starting to get desperate to feed my baby as he seemed like he was starving. In my case, I had a very sweet friend who had an infant she was nursing and she was sweet enough to share some of her milk with Henry. For those who are turning up your nose to this-if you know the person and they are healthy, then it's ok to share breast milk. That being said, I wouldn't ask a random stranger.

Things to do to help your milk come in- LOTS and LOTS of skin to skin with your baby. If you don't know what this is- cuddle your naked baby (or diapered) to your bare chest. Both mom and dad can do this with the child. I did this a lot with Henry, and Matt did as well. It also helps to decrease other newborn ailments that are common-breathing problems, heart rate issues, colic, poor latch. Plus it's great for bonding!

Matt & Henry cuddling skin to skin

My doula also brought me some flavored coconut water. It was yummy, but it's also said to help milk production. Plenty of water is important. If you're not drinking enough water, your milk production may slow down. I can tell when I'm not drinking enough water because my breasts won't feel as full as they usually do. Mother's Milk Tea is another good option. I still use this one. It's an acquired taste, but if you add some honey and a splash of citrus (orange or lemon juice) make it easier to drink.

From belly to boob
It's so important to establish the latch right away. After 45 hours of labor, and still no baby, I had to have a cesarean (which was surprisingly a great experience btw), and I was allowed to nurse Henry about 15-20 minutes after he was born. He took to it right away and needed very little coaching from me. I had a wonderful doula who was able to stand right by me in case I needed coaching or encouragement, since it was my first time. She was a great resource to have. You can also ask for a lactation specialist. Most hospitals have them on staff and they are more than happy to offer support, and this is especially helpful if your little one is having any issues with properly latching. We had a nurse ask us daily if we wanted to talk to one. Use this resource if your baby is having trouble latching or if you have any questions. Be patient and remember, you're not broken, you might just need coaching and practice, and that's okay. To those who want to learn, there's no such thing as a stupid question.

No pain, no gain?
It might hurt at first, but it'll be worth it if you can stick with it. My aunt experienced no pain with breastfeeding her first baby, while my sister experienced some pain during breastfeeding. Having been there, done that, she kindly provided me with a list of essentials to help with the pain that I'll list below. But first, if I can offer some encouragement- I can remember the exact day that it stopped hurting. Henry was 2 weeks old, to the day, and I remember not feeling pain any longer; it just kinda went away, and I thought, "ok, I've GOT this!" and from then on out I focused on enjoying that time with Henry.
The pain won't last forever. And to me, a little learning pain was worth it for the nutrition I was offering my son. At times, it'll feel like a piranha latching on, but most days there's no pain involved now. I heard someone say, "Try it for 2 weeks, and if it's still not for you, start researching other alternatives." This is great advice, as it took a solid 2 weeks before I felt like I was doing it right and no longer any pain.

Pain Management-
1. Hale's Nipple Cream- the first 24 hours wasn't so bad, but the 2nd day of hard, endless sucking, made my nipples sore! My sister (who is also a nurse) recommended Newman's Nipple Cream/Hale's Nipple Cream. Both are compounded and can only be prescribed. I have both but preferred Hale's. It seemed to numb the pain and make it go away the fastest. Literally, by the next feeding, they were feeling better. You use a TINY bit and it worked wonders.

2. Lansinoh cool gel pads

These are a little pricey ($9 for 2), but I PROMISE they are worth it! When it was really bad, I'd use the cream above and slip on the cooling pads. Instant relief!

3. I've heard cabbage leaves, slid right in your bra, over your breasts provides natural relief. I never tried this, but it seems legit.


My Fave Products

Bravado nursing bras- 

This was a recommendation from my sister and my aunt, and it's been GREAT! I have 4- 2 nude color and 2 black. I rotate them so they don't get too worn out. They are comfortable with adjustable straps and a stretchy fabric. They also have 4 clasp sizes in the back to adjust with your changing body. I ordered medium, started on the 1st clasp and now-almost 10 months later-I'm on the 4th, tightest clasp. They also have a removable pad that is GREAT at hiding the uncontrollable "headlights". ;)

You can purchase these from many places, including Target, but I found a killer sale at Gap.com and scored them nearly 60% off! Watch for those sales!

Breast pads

I tried several different kinds. I didn't like Medela-they made my nipples dry and crack, Lansinoh weren't as soft and there was only one sticky strip so they'd fall out of my bra, Nuk were flat, and Johnson & Johnson ones were small and bulky so you could see a ring through my shirt. :( 

My favorite disposable ones were these Playtex- 

These are soft, have a contoured shape and a long sticky strip to stick to your bra. These held their shape and stayed on when pulling down the bra to breast feed. They also came in convenient single packages. The packaging was even super soft material! These were awesome!!

I got a pair of Bamboobies washable pads and they were super soft too! And they're in the shape of cute hearts! These are made of super soft material.

Mother Tucker Compression Nursing Tanks

My mom bought these for me when I was about 12 hours postpartum, and I never thought I'd use them. Fast forward 9 months and I'm still loving them! Thanks, Mom! :)

After having a baby, there's nothing worse then feeling like your stomach is going to fall out of your butt, and these helped combat that by holding everything in. ;) Plus, it is apparently really important to compress the stomach area to help with healing and get your tummy back to that six pack quicker-who am I kidding, I've never had a flat stomach!

 Seriously, these have been great! I have 1 nude color and 1 black one. I still wear a bravado bra underneath, but the cups of these are so easy to pull to the side and nurse! These are kinda pricey, but I promise they are so worth it!

Wireless crossover nursing tank/bra-for night nursing

I started out with 1 nursing bra for night and 1 tank top (from target), and I quickly went on the hunt for more! I LOVE the rampage brand of nursing bras for night nursing. They are comfortable with NO clasps because who wants metal jabbing into them while they sleep?! They are stretchy and can be used while pregnant and throughout your entire nursing journey. They pull to the side really easily for quick access at night. I bought mine at Burlington because I found the first one there by accident. Medela sells one that's fairly similar. I have one of those, but prefer the Rampage ones.

My Brest Friend Deluxe (nursing pillow)

I had a severe case of pregger carpal tunnel- my hands and wrists hurt really badly, especially when I was having to prop Henry's head up to nurse. This pillow is more structured, firmer, than a boppy pillow and held him higher up, closer to my breast. It made nursing MUCH easier! 

Nursing tops 

You don't really need to spend tons of money on expensive tops that unclip, fold over, pull up, pull to the side, etc.  I got a few v-neck tees from Target that were made from a stretchy material and were very easy to pull down. When you nurse in public for the first time, it'll feel awkward and you'll want quick access to get it done fast. When you become more comfortable, you'll care less about what others think, but initially you'll want easy, quick access. You can also get a nursing cover if you want to be more discreet, but Henry hated being covered up; he'd kick it off or pull it away nearly every time. I was causing more of a scene wrestling him under the blanket than if I had just nursed without it. I'm NOT a bathroom nurser so I had to figure out what worked best for me…AND Henry. I got used to wearing a tank under my shirts (see Mother Tucker Tanks above). I'd pull my top shirt up to nurse and my midsection would still be covered by the tank below. That's what I found to work best for us. :)

Breast Pump

Let's face it-not everyone can nurse their baby for every feeding. Some ladies have to go back to work or, in my case, your nips just hurt and you need to let Daddy have a turn. Pumping milk can be a great alternative. I use the Medela breast pump. I don't pump too often now because my little likes it best straight from the source, but I try to pump when he's not interested in eating to keep my flow up. Early on, though, I was feeding and pumping often. My milk let down hard and quick. That was something else I wasn't prepared for. Henry was choking a little bit early on, so I'd pump and little before I fed him until he got used to eating with a fast flow. He got it eventually, and I didn't have to do that as often.

Note-I took this to the hospital with me, and I had some pain when pumping so my friend brought some larger sized horns and it felt-SO.MUCH.BETTER!! This isn't measured by how large your breast are, but it's more about the areola and nipple. your nipple should be able to fit in the base of the horn easily.

Just so you know, you DON'T have to buy a breast pump. You can self express milk out. When done properly, you can get more milk out than if you were to pump. We birthed at Shawnee Mission and this was a video we were required to watch before we could leave. I'm so glad I did, though, because I had never heard of it before then. I self expressed for months, but my postpartum carpal tunnel kept flaring up so I had to revert back to pumping to give my hands a rest. I also had to do this several times in the car when Henry was hungry and we couldn't pull over. (Matt was driving, by the way.) Express it into a bottle, and feed! Voila! 

Bottles

I've always heard not to give your baby any other nipple, aside from yours, while you're breastfeeding. I took this very literally with Henry. Aside from the small amount of breast milk from my friend at 2 days old that we gave him through a syringe and a cheap nipple, he never had anything else for months. He wouldn't even take a pacifier. I wanted to make sure we didn't have any latch issues. However, at about 3 or 4 months I thought I'd let Daddy take a turn, but Henry wasn't really interested in any other nipple, but mine. I'm not an expert, but I truly believe he just got used to only mine. Which is ok in my case because I was home 24/7 to feed him, but anyone that has to go back to work might experience issues with this as well. I'd ask a lactation specialist, but if it was me, I'd let Daddy take a feeding or 2 with a bottle of pumped milk after 2 weeks of good latch breastfeeding. If he/she starts rejecting momma's nipple, cut back on the bottle feedings for awhile until he/she is better adjusted. But, please ask a professional before taking my advice. 

Note- I tried several bottles and found that a plain Medela nipple is what Henry would take-sometimes. At about 4 months, I bought him the Nuk Learner Sippy Cup and he loved it!

Aden & Anais burp bibs (burp cloths)

These are awesome! I was using simple try-fold cloth diapers for burp cloths until I found these. They are the same cotton/muslin type material that is super soft and absorbent, but these are curved so they can fit around your shoulder/neck to catch any stray projectiles. Bonus-they have snaps so they can grow with your little one to become a bib! Plus, they come in all kinds of cute patterns and prints. I also rave about the Aden & Anais swaddle blankets. WELL worth the money! You can pick these up at most stores and Amazon! They run about $9-$10 for 2.

………

Truthfully, aside from products that sure make life easier, the most important thing you can arm yourself with is patience, encouragement, and a supportive partner/family member/friend. It was crucial that my husband not only support my decision to breastfeed, but to offer encouragement when it feels like it's really tough- when my nipples have cracked and bled and are no longer recognizable, or I'm exhausted from all-night feedings. It takes time. It takes care. It takes love. All of which can be helped along by a partner that is willing to just sit with you and tell you, "you're doing a great job" and, "it'll all be alright." 

Just know that I believe in you. You're doing a great job, and it will be alright.

Heisel Rules! {the Nest}

Henry is 9 months!

Nine months ago, I had been up for nearly 2 days…exhausted and eagerly awaiting the arrival our dear Henry. He took his sweet time getting here, but he sure isn't taking that liberty when growing. I look at him each morning and swear he's grown an inch overnight. I have to constantly remind myself that he, in fact, used to be little, despite his strong stature (for a baby). Today, at the grocery store, we met a sweet baby that was smaller than Henry and a month older than he is! Henry looked like a giant next to that lil guy! Oh, Dear Baby Boy, slooooow down. I'm not sure my fragile Mommy Heart can keep up with this pace.

*** Today's photoshoot was brought to you by the letter "N" for Naptime…because that's the only time he'd manage to sit still long enough for a photo! I actually enjoyed studying and admiring his every roll and eyelash. My beautiful boy!

Henry has 8 teeth- 4 on top and 4 on the bottom. He infrequently exercises his jaw muscles while nursing. Ouch! Luckily, it's not too often!

Henry eats solid foods a little more now- he likes Gerber "Puffies", animal crackers, fishie crackers, and he even had a few bites of rice. He'll eat steamed sweet potato, but refuses it when pureed. His gag reflex is getting less sensitive now so he rarely throws up when presented with new solids/strange textures. Although he loves all the above foods, he still prefers Momma's Milk. I've been giving it to him in his zippy cup and he's been very responsive to that. He prefers the straw sippy cups, though.

Henry said his first word- ma-ma, followed by da-da a few days later. He babbles a lot now and makes new sounds everyday…baba, and a sssss noise are a few he enjoys.

Henry is pulling up on anything and everything and has been for several weeks….but now he likes to walk holding onto whatever it is he manages to pull up on. He'll walk and nearly run assisted! It's not long now! Oh, and Henry LOVES power cords. We have to constantly pull him away from them!

Henry crawls up the stairs. This is cute aaaaaand notsocute! He crawls so fast that if I turn my head for one second, he'll have scurried to the stairs and looks at me, daring me to take one more step so he has a reason to start the climb. Baby gates are our best friends now. I swore I'd never need those….now we have 3! ha!

Henry LOVES the lower cupboards in the kitchen! I'm going to have to move some stuff around so that the Fiesta serving ware doesn't suffer a casualty!

He's still sporting those arm rolls muscles, which I adore! :)

His hair is getting longer and lighter. I can barely notice those 6 super long hairs that used to blow in the wind!

Henry took his first train ride to visit my Aunt in Illinois, who had just had a baby. He did rather well, to my surprise! I was scared he wouldn't like it.

He's still a very happy guy, which I'm thankful for! He "makes" friends, aka flirts with very girl he sees! And he still things every uniformed man is daddy!

Playtime is so much fun now! Henry mimics some noises that we make.

I love this stage in his life, even if it is brief. Soon he'll be running and won't stop! Sooo, I'll enjoy my baby boy…while he's still a baby.

I mean, would you look at this "smies" (smile with your eyes)…melts me into a puddle!

His current favorite toy- wooden truck.

I frequently find him here…gazing out the window…mostly looking for puppy.

Happy 9 months, son. Momma and Dadda sure do love you! But seriously, let me catch my breath before you start walking/falling…and giving me a heart attack! It's bad enough that my heart skips a beat now when you bump your head or pinch your finger.

Heisel Rules!

Henry's 1st Independence Day!

Another "first" for Henry has come and went- his first 4th of July! This year we had a cookout with some people from our neighborhood and then we walked to the fireworks show on post, which was nothing short of spectacular! It was near the pond on the base and they had a great, long show! Henry watched in amazement and he even stayed awake for most of the show! I'm so impressed that he wasn't scared of the loud BOOMS and even more impressed that he could fall asleep during that as well! :) I wonder if he'll be scared of them next year? Hopefully not because I love fireworks!

In true mom-tog fashion, I took a few pics of this lil man to mark his very first 4th! Juuuust a few! :)

I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th!

Happy 4th from the Heisels!

Heisel Rules!