Four Months!

Today my little man is 4 months old!  What a fun milestone.  He's doing all kinds of cute things - just started rolling over, although he doesn't always know he can do it.  He babbles a lot and giggles and coos.  We'll start solid foods soon, but so far has plumped up beautiful on mommy milk alone.  He's happy and sweet.  He's learning how to sleep better all the time.  (Thank God!)

What?  How's mommy?  At four months seems like a good postpartum check in.  Well, physically I feel good.  A little more sleep would give me more energy, but that will come.  My body has just about returned to pre-pregnancy status, although there are changes that I think may never be the same again.  I'm still not in a regular exercise routine, but that will come.  Emotionally, I'm doing well.  In spite of occasional total-meltdowns, I am happier than I've ever been.  Learning to juggle all of the things I want to do with all of the things I have to do is the hardest part.  Setting aside my personal ambitions for the work I've been called to is hard.  But I know - every day, I know - it is worth it.  Spiritually, I'm peaceful.  God has filled my life with so much love.  Not just through this baby, but through my sweetheart, friends, family, and (most of all) through Jesus.  It's a good day.  Four months ago, my life changed forever...for the better.

How are you (physically, emotionally, spiritually) today?  Take an inventory.  Be healthy!

Sunday Solitude

Solitude is a gift.  Moments alone to reflect, pray and meditate are vital.  Often these moments come as I rock a restless baby.

Today, I'm thinking about my friends, family and those around me in need.  Lifting them one by one in my mind, I pray.

Lord, give her strength, give him wisdom, bless their home, bring him peace.  Father, thank you for the gift of my friends and family.  Thank you for the works you are doing in their lives.  Thank you that you are already in their tomorrows.  Give them peace today.  I'll take some too. 

xo & amen.

Cookies and (Mommy) Milk

Breastfeeding is hard work.  It can be exhausting for moms, frustrating for babies and incredibly beautiful at the same time.  In addition to a variety of physical benefits for moms, including helping melt away pounds postpartum, it also helps facilitate a deep level of bonding between mother and baby.  For a small number of women, breastfeeding isn't an option because of health reasons or other physical limitations and for others it becomes too difficult in the face of managing so many other demands of caring for a new baby.  There is no nutrition that is equal to breastmilk, since it provides the perfect nutrition for your baby, plus passes along some immunity and introduces good bacteria in a way that formula does not.  That said, formula is the next best choice and the most important thing is to feed your baby the best you can and give him plenty of love and attention.

One frequent concern and challenge is whether or not mom is making enough milk to support a healthy baby.  In general, if baby is growing well and having regular wet and dirty diapers, there is no need to worry about volume.  Here are some keys to help support adequate milk production:

• Eat enough calories.  It takes as much as 800 calories to produce breastmilk (which is why many breastfeeding mommas experience great weight loss).  Don't worry about weight loss, especially during the early months of breastfeeding.  Eat enough to support yourself and the milk that your baby needs.  Eating too few calories could result in low milk production.
• Drink plenty of water.  Being properly hydrated during pregnancy was essential - nothing's changed.  Postpartum, you will be losing a lot of fluid as your body sheds the excess fluid it needed to support baby in utero, plus now you will be losing fluids as you feed junior.  Being dehydrated may contribute to low milk production.
• Discuss any medications or supplements with your physician or midwife to determine their safety during breastfeeding.  Some substances can pass through breastmilk to your baby, so be sure you discuss it with her before trying any home remedy or supplement to increase your milk supply.

There are some out there who believe in the possibility that certain foods can support lactation and maybe they do, but I could find much research to support it.  Oft cited foods include oatmeal, brewer's yeast, walnuts, and flax meal - really nutritious foods without a doubt.  Oatmeal provides slowly digested carbohydrates and fiber, which help provide energy to tired mommas and promote, er...regularity.  Brewer's yeast is a source of B vitamins, also important for energy production.  Meanwhile, walnuts and flax are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids to help fight inflammation and which some studies have linked to lower incidences of postpartum depression.  So whether or not these foods make more milk, they are certainly foods worth eating.  Here's my favorite way to bring these foods together - in a cookie!  Whether your breastfeeding or not, these delicious cookies (which are almost like granola bars) are good stuff.

Yield: 28 cookies

• 2 c whole rolled oats 
• 1/2c flax meal 
• 2 heaping Tbs nutritional/brewers yeast 
• 1tsp salt 
• 1Tbs cinnamon
• 1/4c milk 
• 1 egg 
• 2Tbs olive oil 
• 3Tbs molasses 
• 1/4c brown sugar
• 1/4c raisins 
• 1/4c chopped nuts 

Mix all of these dry ingredients, oats through cinnamon, together in a large bowl and set aside.  Mix all wet ingredients and sugar together in a small bowl and add to dry ingredients, stirring just until everything is moistened.  Add raisins and nuts and fold into mixture.

 

Portion cookies by large tablespoons on prepared sheet pans. Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden.  Enjoy with your favorite tea or milk.

How to Care for Mommy

I've learned a lot about how to care for a baby, how to function on very little sleep, even how to juggle laundry, dinner, and nursing a newborn.  I'm still learning how to care for a mommy.  After such a crazy week, I practiced a little self-care.  If you're not familiar with the concept, it basically means that I did some things that had no purpose except to make me smile, feel good, and relax.  Novel concept, huh?!  We mommys are notorious for taking care of everyone else.  The truth is that we have to take care of ourselves in order to be able to take care of others well.  I enlisted the help of my favorite aunt to care for Baby G for a few hours so that I could do that.  It doesn't have to be an expensive spa day, although that would be awe-some.  It can just be indulging in s-l-o-w-l-y enjoying some of your favorite things.  Being mindful and present in your/my life.  Here's how I did it.

I drank a latte.  Even though I made it myself, it was a treat. 
Real foamed whole milk and cinnamon - didn't spare anything and I drank it slowly.

I went shopping. By. My. Self.

Bought this cute Anthropologie sweater - perfect with a chunky black belt, tights or leggings and boots - for a steal.

And this denim jacket (ignore the pants and imagine it with something way cuter).

I went outside and stood in the sunshine.

And took a brisk walk.

Then, I listened to my baby babble and laugh and I kissed him all over his face.

I took some time to breathe and remember that life is one day at a time.  Today is good.  Whenever today is.  How will you take care of yourself today?

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:34

On Balance

I'm feeling completely out of balance.  There, I said it.  With my little guy just having turned 3 months old (actually 14 weeks already - how did that happen?!), I feel like I should have it all together by now.  Shouldn't I be able to spread my time out equally to cover maintaining a beautiful and clean home, prepare beautiful and delicious (not to mention perfectly nutritionally balanced) meals, and an successful career, all the while regaining my pre-pregnancy (or better) body and looking beautifully rested?  Come on!  When I'm thinking like this, I have to ask myself, is it about me or everyone else?  Am I worried about the image or the reality of my life?  Who cares anyway?
 

Source: I have no idea. Found on FB and saved weeks and weeks ago. I'll do better, I promise. 
If it's yours, please let me know and I'll credit you or remove it - your choice.

Last Friday, I missed a meeting. Granted, I didn't get a meeting reminder on my not-so-smart phone (which is my brain some days), but I knew I had a meeting.  I returned home from some time at the office and planned to join the meeting by phone, but the wheels fell off and my son needed all of my attention.  He got it.  The meeting went on without me.

Tuesday, I missed another meeting.  My childcare (which is totally reliable and seriously wonderful) fell through - I didn't want a vomiting nanny anyway.  I see you shaking your head in agreement.

I'm at least a month behind on reading for some volunteer work that I do.  I may never catch up.

I double booked myself this week on at least two occasions. 

The laundry is about to swallow me.  I don't think I have another clean bib in the house and my little guy's cloth diapers are almost all dirty.  We're about to be down to the ragged ones - you know, momma, the ones that you never use and often think about cutting into cleaning cloths?  Yeah, those.

And yet...the days go on with a familiar and comfortable rhythm. I wake up to find my sweet little guy smiling in his crib, ready to start the day.  Nurse, change diaper, change clothes (sometimes multiple times for both of us), play, nap - repeat.  In between, write, email, call, let the dog out - let the dog in 42 times.

Source: As above.

Balance is an illusion - much like control.  We can't control everything, but we can control some things.  I can't control anything beyond what's sitting in this seat.  Sometimes I don't feel like I can control that.  What I can control is my attitude, my self-talk.  My reactions.  My choices.  I choose to breathe.  I choose to relax.  I choose to receive love and joy and peace from my Heavenly Father through His Word and the gifts of my sweetheart, my precious little boy, and my loyal pup.  For me, that's what real balance is - everything else is...everything else. Have a healthy day!

Beginning...Again

My friend Karen used to say, Sherry, you can start your day over anytime you like.  It's advice I've taken time and again in my life.  Whether to restart a day, a week, month, career...whatever.  Now I'm applying it to my blogging.  I'm beginning again.  New address (URL), same me.  My friend also used to say, no matter where you go there you are.  Ha!  Translation: you can move, but not away from yourself. More than anything, my friend helped me learn that everything we do is done one step, one decision, one day at a time.

I would like to source this, but I have no idea where I got it.  Sorry!

As I begin (this blog) again, my life is different and I have so much to share!  In August, my Sweetheart and I welcomed a new little one into our lives with the birth of our first child, baby G.  He's the joy of my days and a happy, healthy, bouncing baby boy.  Growing like crazy and we're learning as we go.  Some of my posts will be about him.

They say a baby changes everything and boy is it true!  My life is very different than it ever has been before.  My schedule is...well, unpredictable. I'm in new territory, learning to care for every need of another person.  My body is different after growing a little human being and then birthing him into the world.  I'm emotionally more raw and sensitive than I can ever remember. (New mommas, can I get an Amen?!)  Even my thoughts and feelings on nutrition have changed a lot.  From the time I found out I was pregnant, I began to be even more careful and thoughtful about what I eat.  Some things that never bothered me before suddenly became unacceptable foods to eat.  I'll be sharing bunches of that here, I'm sure.

About 1/2 way, full term, and about 6 weeks post-baby!

Finally, I've got a new job.  Or rather...and old job.  Mommying is now my #1 job!  Now, I know my friends who work outside the home mommy their children as their most important job too, so don't get me wrong.  What I mean is that it's the job that takes my days and nights nearly 24/7.  I decided not to return to my (wonderful) job in marketing for a commodity board, but instead to cut back my hours and work contract so that I could work from home most of the time, devoting myself more fully to daily being a hands-on mom.  After all, at nearly 40, I waited a long time to get this job - I want to enjoy every moment.  Balancing being Mommy with being Dietitian Sherry will be an important topic.

Serious multitasking happening here.

Let's review...what can you expect from this blog?

• Posts about all things baby - breastfeeding, sleeping (or not), scheduling, introducing solids (coming soon!), cloth diapering, skincare, getting your body back, etc. etc.  Want to know a secret?  Sometimes I feel clueless too, but I'll share what I'm learning.
• What to eat - and NOT eat - and how to select, prepare, and get your family to eat nutritious and delicious foods.  This is no tease, I'm serious.  My green-vegetable-averse husband eats nearly everything I prepare for him.  I'll share my secrets!
• Balance - how the heck do I do it all?  I don't, but together we'll talk about how to do what we can and do it well.  This includes faith, basic husband care, balancing baby, home and career.  Confession? I don't have this all figured out either, but I'm learning to give myself grace, pray for guidance and lean into the supports God has placed around me.
• Random nutrition stuff - I love nutrition (and food).  My areas of special interest include food allergies, digestive health, vegetarianism (or flexitarianism), the microbiome/probiotics, and really delicious, healthy cooking. Tune in for regular doses of nutrition randomness.

So that's it. My weekly, semi-daily, regular dietary confessions.  Hope you will make this blog a regular part of your day as I regularly share my heart and whatever wisdom I've been given.  Be healthy!