Wednesday, September 04, 2013
The 4th Trimester is Over
Some major changes have happened in the last two weeks though. #1, We put Aria on goat milk. Meyenberg evaporated (canned) goat milk to be exact. We got this idea from my cousin Andrea, who also has 4 girls, all of whom have had the same intolerances as my girls. Her girls have not been able to have any formula either. So when she discovered that her last baby tolerated evaporated goat milk, it was huge. It was huge for me as well, since Aria couldn't tolerate our usual "go-to" formula that we rely on when I can't keep up with the diet anymore.
I wanted to make it at least 6 months nursing Aria, but unfortunately, we found out that rice was bothering her somewhat. Once I cut it out, she was less fussy, and not spitting up as much. BUT, since that was such a staple food for me, I was starting to be hypoglycemic...very frequently getting shaking hands, light headed and dizzy, and feeling awful. I was trying to eat quinoa 2-3 times a day and it was getting really old. I didn't want to eat at all. I know I was getting malnourished, despite my faithfulness taking my multi-vitamin. It was one thing to just have a yucky diet. It was another trying to take care of my family when I felt like I was about to pass out all the time. So when this solution of goat milk showed up, we decided to try it. On August 23rd, Samuel's 36th birthday, we left the baby with his parents and we went off to dinner. I ate in a restaurant for the first time in 4 months. We went to Famous Daves. I ordered an entire rack of ribs, and grilled pineapple (SOO GOOD!) and fries, and then a huge bread pudding that was just unreal, it was so delicious. The baby took the bottle pretty well (we've tried a bottle before so it wasn't soo hard for her) and there has been no going back. I started eating again, Olive Garden the next day, Cafe Rio a few days later, and just lots of glorious FRUIT! I'd missed it so much.
Okay, so she did really well, and we haven't looked back. I am totally having anxiety that in another week or so, something in the goat milk will have built up and start causing problems, so I am still pumping 3 x a day JUST IN CASE. And since Ella still doesn't eat much and still drinks some formula every night before bed, I've been GIVING HER THE BREASTMILK!!! HAHAHA! I think this is hilariously awesome. I have been mixing in 1/3 breastmilk with formula, now we're up to 1/2. I would love it if eventually she was at 100% breastmilk again. I let my kids stay on the bottle til their 3 since that's about the only way they get any food and vitamins down them. Whatever.
So since she was doing so well on that, and because she hit the 4 month and 14 lb benchmark, it meant it was SLEEP TRAINING time!!! I was really ready to do this, and so was she. We have been co-sleeping all this time, which I LOVE- her night sleep was not a problem. It was mostly her ability to fall asleep, on her own, during the day, and especially right before we all went to bed. She could NOT do it without a "carnival ride" as Samuel once put it. She was usually her fussiest at night, and didn't ever feel really good, so it took a lot of distraction for her to be able to relax and fall asleep. Many nights I would spend 20 minutes rocking, bouncing, and doing deep, slow squats to get her to fall asleep. Then she'd keep waking up and every 40 minutes and I'd either have to lay by her to keep her asleep, or just get her up, and try again, all night, until midnight. So there was no relief at the end of the day, that mandatory "quiet, recharging time" that I need desperately. We'd get the other 3 to bed, only to have 5 more hours of battling the baby. And my back and shoulders were so fatigued by the end of the day. My right shoulder blade started burning so bad all the time, especially at night, that there was a point that I couldn't physically hold her and bounce her anymore, and Samuel would always have to take over, whether he wanted to or not. He was always willing to take a turn, but honestly I didn't mind. I liked having an excuse to hide in the bedroom because I was exhausted and didn't want to stay up all night socializing with his parents. I love them and they are soooo sweet and kind, but as I recently discovered, I am an introvert and by the end of the day I am really in need of quiet alone time that requires NO talking. It's harder to do when you live with your very friendly in-laws. :)
Anyway, I am using the book I always use, that always works, called the Sleepeasy Solution. It helps you wean them off night feedings (it's extra easy if you are bottle-feeding and can see how many ounces they are getting) and it does require some "crying it out" but it is a kind way of doing it and it works in a week or less. Aria is doing fantastic and learning quickly, especially at night. Last night was night 3 and she slept 11.5 hours, with us giving her one large "dream feed" (she's half asleep and doesn't wake up) and then a "wean feed", 2 oz at 2:30 a.m., Samuel is so kind to do this feed for me cause he falls back asleep so easily. Her naps are hit and miss. This morning she cried for 10 minutes, then slept for 2.5 hours, one of her longest naps ever. But right now she is screaming again, it's been about 30 minutes. I have to go pick up my girls in 35 minutes so either way, it's not going to be a good nap for her, if she gets one at all. Oh well. My in-laws are out of town so it's the perfect time to sleep train her-- so they don't have to cringe at the crying and want to pick her up. Anyway, it's amazing to put her to bed at 8 and have the rest of the night to hang out with Samuel, fold laundry, watch TV, read, just be FREE again!!!
So, a little more Aria update:
on her 4 month birthday she was 75% for both height and weight, 14 lbs 9 oz, 25.5 inches, 41 cm head, and she has been rolling from tummy to back since before she was 3 months old, and just this week she totally mastered back to tummy (perfect! now she can sleep on her tummy!). She still hasn't belly laughed for me, she's almost laughed a bunch, especially at Ella and Annie, but she's much more calm and content since on goat milk, and will play in the exersaucer, her bouncy chair, or even laying on the floor. I never could do that during the first 3.5 months. It's a relief. That's really an understatement. Oh, and she just found her toes!! One of my favorite things!
Aria's eyes are starting to change colors, probably turning brown, and she has the longest, curliest eyelashes. People comment on them a lot. I think the shape of her eyes makes them curl, like she has a built-in eyelash curler, thanks to her eyeshape and face structure.
I started working out when she was 3 months old, and was feeling WONDERFUL, but my milk immediately started to disappear. I tried ONE cup of Mother's Milk tea and Aria broke out horribly in a rash and she screamed for days. So no herbs to help boost the milk supply. I quit working out in order to make enough milk, but now I am really ready to start again. I have a 3 month gym membership and I just love their classes- Step, BodyPump (lifting to music), Zumba, and I really love Yoga. That's done my body some serious good. I lost the 40 lbs of baby weight, but gained 2 lbs back when I started eating normally. I want to lose 5-7 more so I need to be careful what I eat....starting tomorrow. :)
More updates coming soon...the girls' first day of school and Kalia's 6th birthday party must be documented, of course! Samuel is back in school full-time and will probably take his LPN certification exam soon, as soon as he feels ready and confident that he'll pass it. It costs $550 so he doesn't want to take it until he's sure he's going to pass. Then he might just start working to get through the last 9 months of nursing school.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Kalia's Kindergarten Graduation + Annie's Preschool Graduation
Annie got to do an academic preschool and Joy School with me and other moms. This was her graduation from Miss Tanya's preschool, which really helped Annie get ready for kindergarten. She is going to start even though she is too young. She tested in early so that she will only be a year behind Kalia. I didn't want a 2 year gap in school when they are only 14 months apart. (Annie missed the deadline by 3 months.) I thought these little cap and gowns were the cutest thing ever.
Aria's blessing
Samuel blessed her on May 26, 2013. It was Aria's one month birthday. :)
She was blessed in the ward that I grew up in, so that was extra special. The ward meets at 9 a.m., which is 8 a.m. to our Arizona bodies, so getting everyone up and there on time and looking nice was a bit of work. Aria was awake the whole time but didn't cry (always my biggest worry, silly as it sounds.) Samuel gave her a really beautiful blessing, and in the circle with him was my Grandpa Don, my dad, my uncle's Daryl and Tyler, my brother-in-law Wayne (Jeff was in China), and my brother Jonny. Both my Dad, Daryl, and Tyler all told me afterwards that Aria was really focusing on her attention somewhere above her. My dad gave me a cool talk that mentions how important it is, this day that they get their name and blessing, and how there are angels who have watched over the little one until this event happens, and maybe this is when they stop seeing them as frequently. They must have lingered around her ALL day, because she was staring up...ALL DAY. Like, you'll notice in these pictures that she is looking up in half of them. I wish I knew who was present. I'm pretty sure my Grandma Loy and Grandpa Bama (my mom's parents) were there- she is, after all, named after her Grandma Karen.
My dad wrote some things down, and I loved what he shared, and I wanted to include them here for our family record. He said,
"As I stood next to Samuel, in the circle of priesthood holders, I looked into the beautiful eyes of Baby Aria- I confess that I did not close my eyes but continued to look at her while she received her first blessing in the name of Jesus Christ. It was clear to me that she was looking up to the right of Samuel- gazing intently at someone or something. She continued to do this for the duration of the blessing. This is not the first time I have noticed this- Baby Titan did the same thing. He was also looking past the circle of the priesthood holders. They were or appeared to be in contact with angels- maybe they were saying goodbye. It was like they were thanking them for looking after them until they were safely blessed and protected in and by the name of Jesus Christ and His power and authority- safe from Satan and his destroying angels, until the receive the next saving ordinance of the Gospel- baptism. Then when they become accountable for their own actions they will become willing to take His name upon them and given the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost to guide and protect them. Angels will continue to look after them as they did when I I had my close encounter with that bear. I am just beginning to understand what it means to "Take His name upon us." Aria & Titan have been given an earthly name and a fathers blessing, and it was done in the name of Jesus Christ, a name they will continue to take upon them every time they receive a sacred ordinance, and with that name they will continue to be blessed, protected, and watched over by angels- maybe the same ones they saw during their blessings."
The blessing said that she would be full of joy and be a light and comfort to her family, that she would enjoy the spirit in her heart, as a song, like unto her name. She was blessed to be safe and happy. She was told that her Heavenly Father loves her and that she would have a life of joy (this word was mentioned at least 3 times in the blessing) and that as she would be faithful she would be blessed. She was told to share her faith and her joy, and as she would grow to maturity, she could have the opportunity to serve a mission. She was blessed to be faithful so that she could receive many blessings. She was reminded of the importance of prayer and scripture study, and would be blessed to have all the things in life that she would desire, which are righteous. She was blessed to remember the importance of a temple marriage and to be a strength to her husband and to serve with him.
One of the things that has been especially neat about our sweet little Aria is that she really responds to music and singing. She LOVES it. She smiles and coos and gives you 100% attention when you sing to her. It's so perfect, seeing as her name means "a beautiful song". She really does seem to have a joyful disposition and she really makes a lot of effort to communicate with us. I wonder if she'll grow up wanting to talk a lot or communicate a lot. She seems much more intent on this as a baby than any of my other babies. Maybe she will really love to sing. I don't know. But she has brought me a ton of joy and I am so thankful for her sweet little spirit. She started smiling over the weekend (giving her Grandpa Don the biggest smile of all when she met him for the first time.) She loved her Grandma Ruth too- once she started smiling at them, she started smiling for everyone, and now she is a smiley little thing. I can't get enough of her sweet smiles. Now she is almost 3 months old and is becoming more entertained with toys. She reaches for things and grabs them and she also loves to use her feet to kick the toys in her bouncy chair- just like her sister Kalia did.
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| This is Kalia having fun kicking her toys as well |
Memorial Day Weekend in St. George
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