Weekend Plans – Crafting Ahead!
I am so looking forward to this weekend. Not only do I get to spend the whole thing with Elias, but I have a lot of crafting to do. Xyron has some project deadlines that I must complete, and being that I have a newborn, I have waited until the last possible minute to do them. I have projects that need to be made for QVC due this week (how much does that rock? My projects are going to be on QVC!) and projects for the winter Hobby Lobby scrapbooking magazine due in two weeks. They also want a bunch of baby projects for the website. I have some of those done, but really want to be able to send them a nice big box chock full of projects, since they are so generous in sending me products to work with.
The Hobby Lobby stuff all has to come from Hobby Lobby, and since they are closed on Sundays, Elias and I will be making the trip there at some point today – hopefully this morning. We’ll see if he is going to let that happen. He has been wanting to nurse or be bottle-fed ALL the time this week. It is exhausting me beyond measure. And, I hurt. I have been breastfeeding for seven weeks, and I feel like it shouldn’t hurt anymore, you know? Last night I was crying because I was in so much pain. It isn’t mastitis or thrush, that I know. It was getting better, but then it hit me like a ton of bricks again last night. I think I need to go back to the lactation consultant. I don’t want to give up, but man, I didn’t expect it to be this hard.
Okay, sorry for the tangent.
This weekend, I also want to do a little photo shoot of this little guy (check out that strong neck!). 
I bet you were surprised by who was in the picture, weren’t you? 🙂 He is getting so big – I can’t believe it. He is already more than 12 pounds… with how much he eats, it is no surprise. 🙂
What are your plans for the holiday weekend? If you haven’t voted, I hope that is in the cards. Voting closes Sunday night!
Jessica,
I’m a local, haven’t posted much. I was just at HL in Franklin yesterday!
Anyway, usually if the baby has a day or two (or week or two) where he/she seems to be eating a bunch more than usual, they’re having a growth spurt! Whoohoo! Your body will adjust and he will generally learn to take a bit more at each feeding, and then suddenly, you’ll be back to a “normal” schedule.
You’ll have periods where they start a particular habit, like waking up suddenly every day at a weird time, or having nightmares every night or whatever, and you’ll think, how much more can I take? Then, a few weeks laters, it’s over and you look back and realize it was only for 2 weeks, not that much in the big scheme of things. It just seems like a bigger deal when it’s happening.
Whew, sorry to ramble. I have a 5.5 yr old and an 18 mo old, both girls, and it’s even easier to step back and the see the big picture on the 2nd kiddo.
Good luck…hmm…HL opened a 1/2 hr ago…have fun!
Jessica,
Elias is so stinkin cute!!!!! I know exactly how you are feeling over the whole breastfeeding thing. I was able to breast feed successfully for three months then my milk just dried up with no warning!!! TMI? Sorry! It is such a challenge of patience and determination. Keep your head up! It will get better!!
And good luck on the voting!! 🙂
I totally agree about the growth spurt thing. Also, my son used to want to nurse ALL THE TIME, and the doctor said he was using me instead of a pacifier. So, I quickly got him hooked on his binky. It REALLY helped a lot — especially for car and plane rides, and shopping! Another non-related tip — watch to see what his favorite thing is, and buy several. Some kids love certain toys, etc., but once they’re worn out you can’t wash it or replace it. My son loved this one blankie from Lands End, so I bought several, and gave him a clean one each day so they were “worn out” the same — he never knew we had a closet full of them and it didn’t throw up for a loop when we lost one at the mall.
Hang in there. Is it in the nipple area or when your milk comes down and the surge of hormones? Sorry to be so blunt about it but I have done this 4 times… I had something similiar with I believe it was my third baby, Maybe second- who know but anyway the breast area just hurt for no reason. It hurt when she latched on, it hurt when the milk came down and I just used warm compresses and alot of GOOD breats cream and it eventually worked it way out. Sometimes when you start to pump more than you nurse it can get backed up far into the duct areas and hurt like a u know what. I can remember crying the whole time she would nurse. Masybe for about a week at the most and then it resolved itself. HANG IN THERE. Def go to the lacatation consultant= that is what they are there for. I hope this helped. Call me if you need to. Expert on nursing.
My weekend plans consist of haircut- pedicure and some light shopping. My kids and hubby went to visit our first son at his college-. So I have the next 3 days to MYSELF!!!!!!!
YEAH BABY!!! I love time to myself now more than ever – now that I work full time after being home for 18 years man time to me is a dream. I will email you my number- If you need any help with the nursing thing- I hope that is not wierd or something?????
I do not want it to be posted for everyone to have-
PS I am the chick who asked for an announcement. I printed the one you had on the site- I hope that was OK and I pray for you all!!!
Never have commented before, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to encourage you to keep with the breastfeeding!
I nursed each of mine for 12 months. I can’t tell you have many times I wanted to give up with the first one. Cracked nipples put us in the ER once. She was spitting up blood and we didn’t realize it was coming from me! So, needless to say, I know it can be difficult, but it is SOOOOO worth it!
I agree with the others it is probably a growth spurt. He also is probably needing more sucking time. Once you realize the milk is gone and he is just sucking to suck, pull him off and stick a pacifier in there!
Hang in there!
HI SWEETHEART….Love the picture of Elias holding his head up like such a big boy. I’ve been showing his pics at work everyday to all the guest. It makes missing you guys alittle easier. We are at the gun club for the paralized vets shoot today.Its a great event one we are really proud to host! Have a great day. xoxoxo mom
Jessica, I nursed 3. Each one was longer than the one before with my 3rd child being totally weaned at 16 months. I found that I had to hold the baby different, at times, when I was really uncomfortable. I would nurse the “normal” way and then do the football hold as well. It sounds odd to think it this way but it was almost like with the “normal” hold, the milk wasn’t draining out of some spots of the breast. By holding the baby the football hold way it would drain those areas that hurt so bad at times. Hope it was helpful. Hang in there with the breast feeding, it is SO worthwhile to do it as long as you can. Nothing is sweeter than that nursing baby!
Hey Jess! I’m really confused about Xyron and what it is you do???
Yesterday I went to D.eals (a dollar store) and found great scrapbooking supplies for only a buck. While some of their stuff IS pretty cheesy, there is always some really cool, great looking pages and stickers and embellishments as well.
I wanted to throw in some words of encouragement, too. Nursing was SO SO very hard for us at the beginning but here we are still going strong at nearly 14 months (I’m ready to wean, he has other plans.) It took until Will was nearly 10 weeks old for the pain to officially go away. It was mostly over-sensitivity that caused the majority of the problems–nothing that could be pinpointed. I think our breasts eventually give in and the pain goes away. (ha ha–my husband would be horrified that I just said that.) Anywho– I totally understand feeling like you want to give up. Try and stick it out but know that if you choose to stop it is ok! Breastfeeding does not determine your success as a mother. It’s good to hear that from time to time. One good piece of advice I was told… don’t quit on your worst day. Trust me, I wanted to but that word kept ringing in my head. Oh yes, one last thing, my son Will is also a chunker (11 pounds at birth) who LOVED to nurse all the time. I think some kids are just hungrier as they enter growth spurts. After a few months (maybe two) I could tell when he was really hungry and when he was just pacifying himself on me.
P.S. I’ve said it before–Elias is one cute kid!
Hi Jessica. I came across your blog via Angie’s. Congrats on your new baby! He is precious!
About the nursing issues…I nursed both of my girls, but the first 2-3 months were awful!!! I found something that SAVED my life called the Nipple Shield. It is made by Medela. You can find them at Babies R Us and Target. It “does” exactly as the title says. 🙂 It is the greatest thing ever made. Hopefully this will help you as much as it did me!!! Hang in there!!!!!
I’m going to chime in on nursing too. I had lots of problems breastfeeding in the beginning. I went through the typical cracked nipples at the very beginning, and once those healed up I was surprised that my nipples still hurt. Like you said, there was no real reason (I couldn’t see any cracks, or anything) but literally if I let the shower water hit them it was so painful, or if my bra brushed up against them it was like stabbing pain shooting through them, and when it was getting to be time to breastfeed I would literally cringe and dread it because of the pain.
BUT it got better. Probably around 10-12 weeks. I didn’t do anything differently, it just got better. I think after a while your nipples just toughen up and get used to it.
I definitely think getting in touch with the lactation consultant is a great idea. You can never have too much support, and you will be so glad you stuck with it (I nursed until my little girl was 20 months old).
One other thing to try is Soothies. They are these little gel patches that you can put on in between feedings and they are wonderful. I would actually keep them in the fridge and put them on immediately after feedings and they were wonderful. So try them if you haven’t already used them. Good luck!
Hi Jessica,
I don’t have a ton of advice–I was not able to nurse naturally with either of my kids, but bottle-fed breastmilk for 4 months with the first and 6 weeks with the second. Every little bit helps, but I agree when you said you didn’t think it would be this hard. When I was pregnant, everyone made it seem like my baby would be born, I’d hold it to my breast, and bam! He’d take in a full meal. Ugh. I can remember the tears and guilt. So hang in there. I hope it gets better for you!!!
And yes, to quote a PP, he IS “stinkin’ cute!!” What a little charmer…enjoy your weekend!
And I’m keeping my fingers crossed on the voting! 🙂
Hi Jessica!
I came here by way of Angie…been reading faithfully since the day she asked us to pray for Elias to get here safely!
I have been wanting to comment for ages, but duty called today…although I haven’t practiced in a while due to health issues, I am a lactation consultant and breastfeeding educator. I have seen sooo many women come to what I call the 7 week mountain. I don’t know WHY it’s 7 weeks, seriously…but it almost always is!
Before I really advise you, I need to ask some questions about certain foods you eat and the type of pump you use, so I don’t want to do all that here, but if you want to email me, I would be SO happy to offer any advice or constructive criticism from what I’ve been able to glean over the years. (I say that because I learned almost nothing during my certification as compared to actually being in the trenches with nursing moms, where I learned everything)
My email is liz_adkiss@yahoo.com
I love seeing you guys grow as a family. It’s truly touching. This “blog” thing is so wild…I found myself thinking of you all day on your first day back to work, and I cried when I read Matthew’s pre-birth letter to Elias.
Oh, Matthew, by the by? Uh, Brilliant. My husband and I are positively salivating over the excerpts of “Churched”…we even pre-ordered two copies because we didn’t want a repeat of the whole last-installment-of-Harry-Potter thing, where we thought one book would be enough to “share” and subsequently mentioned ‘divorce’ the only time EVER in our marriage. (Okay, we didn’t mention “divorce”, per se…but we DID have our only fight ev-er)
We love Matthew’s “Church Under The Bridge” style and feel like if Jesus forewent the trumpets and great glory when He decided to return, He’d probably choose to hang out with someone like Matthew. (I would be loading all this sugar on him, but his blogger comment thingy is meant to me)
I also just love seeing your crafts. (I thought of you the other day when I saw a t-shirt that said “Scrapbooking Addict: I need a 12×12 Step Program”) I have grand ideas about so many things, and then I get overwhelmed when it comes time for idea to turn into execution. We’re in the process of adopting and I really want to “get it together” in time to make a rockin’ birth announcement…
As usual, I’ve gone on too long. PLEASE feel free to email me if your regular LC is unavailable or even if you just want a second opinion.
-Liz
Ok, look at Elias for a second. Just look at his cute little 12 pound self…and imagine giving birth to him just 14 ounces ago. Yep. My kid was 11lb. 2oz. at birth.
Soooo cute! Such a little man already!
Hi Jessica! I found your blog from Angie’s and love reading about your craftiness and Elias! I just thought I would encourage you as you continue to nurse. I nursed my daughter for 12 months. It was so hard, but so worth it! I am also a working mom, and I want to encourage you that exclusively nursing is totally possible. I am COMPLETELY in agreement with Ashely N.-try a nipple shield. I used the one by Medela the ENTIRE time I nursed. My daughter couldn’t latch on to just me so this helped, and it totally saved my nipples! (That’s not a sentence you type everyday. Ha!) There are warnings on the package about using them and your milk supply going away, but I was fine for a whole year. Talk to your lactation consultant and go for it. You can do it! Thanks for a great blog.
http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/08/medela-tender-c.html
check this out for those breastfeeding aches and pains!
Jessica,
I found your blog through Angie’s when we were both pregnant and due around the same time. My little girl was born July 24th (though I was due the 13th!). I loved reading your posts about pregnancy and getting ready for your little one to arrive. It helped me not go stir crazy as I waited…and waited…and waited! Plus, it helps to know someone else is going through the same kind of things.
My daughter has gone through the same phase this past week that your little guy is doing. She wanted to nurse every hour during the day and it would take THREE feedings within an hour and a half to put her to bed at night. She also would suck a little and then pull back. My mom, who’s a lactation consultant said it’s because she’s going through a growth spurt and she’s stimulating me to produce more milk. I hear you on the frustration and the pain. I have been so sore and have been in tears several times. As my mom and my husband have reminded me, it will get better and I’m doing something right because she’s growing and she’s healthy. I’ve found that Medela’s Lanolin cream really helps…along with sleep whenever you can get it! Just know that you’re not alone. I’ll be praying for you!
~Stephanie
By the way, I just realized someone mentioned using a nipple shield…I have had to use it from the beginning because my daughter didn’t get to nurse for the first six days or so. (She was in the NICU for 11 days due to seizures from an infection she developed in utero and the medication made her very sleep for the first six days.) It really does help. And, I wanted you to know that I’ve doubted nursing her when I’ve been so frustrated but I keep at it with my husband’s support and my mom’s encouragement. I know it’s the best thing for her and it will get easier over time. Take care!
Hi jessica just wanted to say stay on this blog instead of the sw cause they are still nasty, and immature on that one. All the moms here are loving and caring. I would like to see Sw track those nasty comments to which are entree’s and disqualify them from the voting. I’m glad it’s over tonight, its been too much drama for a holiday weekend.
Hang in there with the nursing..especially if you have lasted this long. It WILL get better. I remember about a week with each of my girls that I had extreme pain — but it did get better and go away completely. It may have to do with Elias’ latch…and your lactation consultant could certainly help you with that. Once you get past the pain you will actually be able to enjoy it 🙂 Hope you are getting lots of crafting done !!!!
Don’t give up! My first son nursed ALL.THE.TIME.
I believe it is too early to put them on a feeding schedule before 4 months or so. I know that feeling of exhaustion and wanting to quit; just remember it won’t be like this forever.
Babies go through growth spurts as well where they need to eat more. If I remember correctly, they have one around age 8 weeks or so.
I don’t remember when I stopped hurting while nursing. My second baby just turned one. I am still nursing him and getting some soreness b/c he has teeth coming in. Things change and your body changes to respond to the needs of the baby.
You can do it, Mama!
Jessica,
I have no comments on the nursing subject, but I do watch QVC & love it, so PLEASE let us know when your projects are going to be on. I don't want to miss it. So cool, Jess !
Have a wonderful Labor Day.
Love,
Jackie Carl (Marion, IN)
E is holding his head up to get a peek of the award his mommy won! I tagged you on my blog, go check it out!
Hey there Jessica,
I just got my giveaway books! Thank you so much. I’m so excited to read both of them. You two are great. Also, good luck in the contest! I linked your blog and your contest video on my blog hoping to get more feedback for ya!
-Kayla Grace
Hello!
Just thought of something i wanted to share with all my friends (and bloggin buddies). I was putting my 2 and 3 year olds down tonight and i saw samuel’s baby hand print and foot print frame that i did for him as an infant. Each month i took a pic of him and “stamped” his hand and foot on a sheet of cardstock. i tried to do the same with gabi, but i must say that i missed a few :). I know this is so random, but i just wanted to share. Those little prints and pics mean the world to me and make me so happy!!!