The serious flaws of breastfeeding (pumping to be exact).....

Have you ever actually seen anyone squeeze blood out of a turnip?  No?  Of course not.  Don't you know how hard it is to squeeze blood out of a turnip?

Well....that's sort of how I am feeling about using the breast pump these days.  I am so over it right now I could scream.  Don't get me wrong....I love nursing the baby.  I love that bonding time we have together and I especially love all of the good things that her body gets from my milk.  I also love that breastfeeding is free and oddly enough, I love those middle of the night feedings where she sleepily wraps her little hand around my arm while she nurses (seriously...melts my heart).  I don't, however, love having to lug my pump to and from work each day.  I don't love having to take a minimum of 30 minutes out of my day to go pump, in a room that is not my office and barely private.  Also....it's cold when the A/C is on!

I especially don't love those days where I swear I pump for 20+ minutes and only get 3 ounces.  I wish I could understand the reasoning behind mysterious pumping sessions, but I cannot.  Some days I only pump for 15 minutes and end up with 8-10 ounces.  Some days it's like trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip and all I want to do is throw a fit in the conference room floor (this is my "not so private or personal" lactation space).  And yes, I realize the saying "squeeze blood out of a turnip" is not being used in proper context, but this blog is honestly anything BUT proper. 

This is just so frustrating.  As of right now I send the baby to school with two breast milk bottles and one formula bottle.  My body should be producing enough milk that I can send her with 3 breast milk bottles each day, but, apparently, it refuses to cooperate.  And it seems like each day my milk production goes down little by little.  This week I am struggling just to come up with enough milk to send two bottles.  I fear that if I send her with anymore formula she may revolt and turn that school upside down, because BOY does she HATE formula. 

Am I doing something wrong?  I realize there actually is a breast feeding handbook, so I cannot use the excuse that breastfeeding doesn't come with a handbook.  But, I am much too lazy to read this book, also....it sounds really boring.  Maybe someone out there has a better idea of what to do?  Or maybe this is just how it goes for some women.  Maybe, for us, I won't be the one deciding when it's time to stop breastfeeding, maybe my body will make that decision for me.  Geez...who knows....

They say it takes a village to raise a child.  I need a village of lactating women!  Anyone know where I can find this PARTICULAR village?

Clearly she's advanced

Parenthood = the land where the simplest of tasks become bitter sweet.

She's growing!  And just like everyone who has ever raised a child has declared, she is indeed growing too quickly.

Just today I packed up more of her 3 month clothing.  The pants she has been wearing since she was about 8 weeks old now resemble carpi's on her little baby legs.  I realize she is nearly 5 months old, so the shock of her not fitting into her 3 month pants wore off fairly quickly, but it's still hard to believe! 

She is a rolling machine!  She now rolls all over the place when on the floor. Sometimes right after I lay her down on her back I will look back and find her like this........

And yes, she is always so proud of herself!  Her rolling has gotten frequent enough that we had to remove the bumpers from her crib. 

It's just crib bumpers and 3 month pants, but it's these constant reminders that our little peanut is growing!  She isn't just growing, she's thriving and learning and developing cool new skills (even if it is just rolling over).  Although we realize these milestones are tiny in the big scheme of her journey in life, they are bittersweet for us.  Because this adorable little peanut will only be this little for so long.  Soon she'll be crawling, and walking, and talking (and since she is so obviously advanced in the world of infants I am sure these skills will come along very soon)!

I never want to forget these days, yet I can't wait to see what each new day holds for her!  I am so grateful to call myself her Mommy, because she is truly amazing! 


Yep.............
CLEARLY she's advanced (at least in hand gestures and hair)!

Chicago photo dump.....

Obviously I have been a terrible blogger lately.  Between work and an infant baby and training for the upcoming half marathon in Nashville at the end of April.....I have plenty of excuses.  So just pick the excuse that makes you feel the best and makes me look the least like a slacker! 

I survived the trip to Indiana and Chicago for St. Paddy's Day.  It was a tough weekend (being away from the peanut) but we had so much fun romping around the city and spending time with some great friends.  Here are just a few of the pictures I took in Chicago......