Sorry for the lack of posts

It's been a while since I've posted. Boo on that! Things have been super busy around here. Wonder Baby is growing and changing at a rate that catches me completely off guard! She is now mobile (army scoot, anyone?) and comprehends so much more of what goes on around her, and the discovery in her eyes in magical. It also means she smiles and laughs a lot more! She's so cool.

On the flip side, the strict bedtime routine I instituted and enforced for three weeks only worked for two weeks. And what a glorious two weeks that was. After a week of straight failure I have given up...back to the drawing board. Her sleeping habits change all the time, and she is waking up at least once a night most of the week--something she hasn't done consistently since she was less than two months old. Needless to say (but I am going to say it anyway), I am one tired momma!

Some recent snapshots of the little princess:

Bedtime Super Powers

I just want to take a moment and praise bedtimes.

I detested bedtimes growing up, and perhaps I still do. But only for myself.

For kids? BRING IT.

Emma has had a loosely structured bedtime since she started sleeping through the night. It has become necessary to establish a strict bedtime, and the results have been soooooooooo amazing. I love having the evenings to spend with Darren.

Tonight I babysat a family for the second time ever, and for the second time, I was able to witness the fruits of that effort. These kids have a strict bedtime, and even though they still try to push the limits (albeit not as hard with me as I'm sure they do with their mother), they go to bed more or less when they are supposed to. Emma also slept, just like she is supposed to.

Even though I can't take credit for these obedient kiddos, I feel like I have super powers because they were ALL in bed by 8 o'clock.

It is my sincerest wish that this kind of evening order will be something that I can establish and maintain for my children the entire time they are growing up (within reason). It is so darn peaceful. I love it.

Enlightening article about the feeding habits of newborns

I love to talk about breastfeeding.

I did not know before I gave birth that I would become such a passionate advocate for breastfeeding education and knowledge, but WOW....have I ever...

I am a member of a local peer support group with a Facebook page. It is a private forum in which mothers can ask questions, share information, share knowledge, share support, vent their frustrations, etc.  The group is "run" by a board of breastfeeding counselors with a wide variety of experience, qualification, and know-how. It is through this particular group that I have been exposed to situations and questions about breastfeeding that I couldn't have dreamed up if I tried! THERE ARE INNUMERABLE POSSIBILITIES...good and bad.

A common concern I have read posted time and time and time and time again is about newborn feeding behavior. Are they getting enough? Am I even doing this right? Why does this baby want to eat all the time?

Today, somebody shared a link to a blog post that I loved. It is written from the perspective of the newborn, and addresses the above-mentioned concerns, among many others. It dispels several myths about breastfeeding that unfortunately circulate around society, perpetuating the distribution of available misinformation.

I love it because it educates, and does so in a clever and comforting way. Moms who choose to breastfeed ought to find it useful!

Read the article here: Baby Explains- Normal Newborn Behavior